To love a yarn store
Posted by Bookish Wendy in General, Hey! She knits., Nobody puts Baby in the cornerYes, yes I realize that Sophia could do BOTH quilting and knitting. In fact, I bet she’ll be so whip smart she could do both AT THE SAME TIME. However, if I give her crafting soul to my mother, without a fight, what will we argue about? Hmmmm? Answer me that? Ha! Anyone who has been in, has observed, or has been within a spitting distance of a mother-daughter couple knows that there is no lack of topics to argue about.
So, we are back from Upstate NY and it was a lovely trip. I grew up there and still love to visit and spend time with family and friends. Sophia was lucky to be spoiled by great-aunts, uncles, second cousins and family friends. She was unfazed by the crazy that is our family. She will fit right in.
While in NY my mom and I travelled to three local knitting stores. I am surprised to hear that some of you are from and/or have lived in Rochester! I tend to think of it as a place unknown to all but me…that and I often tend to opperate this blog as if I am in a vacuum. Aside from my lovie friends I tend to forget that others are reading and not commenting. The lurkers have been out lately and reminding me that there are people out there - I love it because it introduces me to new blogs and you all are smart, fun, women!
Anyway - the yarn stores. I learned to knit after moving away from my home town. As a result I had no idea if there were yarn stores in the area. A few years ago I began to explore a bit and found two that I try to stop at each time I am at my parent’s house. I recently discovered that there were quite a few more in the area that I was missing! I tried to find reviews or a list of local shops but was not successful. So, for the google-fu-ers who find there way here I will review MY THOUGHTS on those knitting stores that I made it to during my last visit to Rochester. I hope to get to the rest of the stores sometime during future visits.
The first I mentioned yesterday - Spirit Works Knitting and Design located in Irondiquoit. This shop is large (by Boston standards) and well organized. The staff is friendly but not overbearing. I have probably been in this shop a dozen times and have never felt pressured or annoyed with the staff - which makes me think that they encourage browsing. (Which is what I find myself doing in many yarn stores not for lack of want but lack of bank account. Although I often get caught and cannot resist the temptation.) This shop carries many of the major brands both on the high end and low end. I am also pleasently surprised with the change in their stock. They have increased their inventory since they first openned and every visit brings a new surprise. They have also increased their book inventory and have tons of pattern pamplets. Judging from the activity in the shop and the store’s website and blog building community is high on this store’s priority list. There are some great areas within the store for social interaction. My dad and husband particullary like the grouping of couches near the front - complete with a coffee table. The store is just down the street from The Great House of Guitars (HOG) - a Rochester institution. If you’re new to the area or visiting and in to music and/or guitars it is worth a stop in, just check your OCD at the door and be ready to step back in time! Spirit Works is one of the stores that I visit each time I go to Rochester.
From there we travelled to a store that was new to me - Knit ‘n Purl in Brighton’s Twelve Corners area. I am not sure when this store was established but I have a feeling it has been there for awhile. I will have to check with my peeps in town to double check this fact. The samples sprinkled around the store are definitely of the older boxier type. The stock is incredibly well established and there is a large variety for such a small store. There were many yarns here that were not at Spirit Works - something that I love to see in local stores - variety amongst them! There was some Misson Falls and more Noro than I have EVER seen in any other store. The Noro was the biggest surprise. Noro has a ton of different yarns and I was psyched to see such a selection live and in person. This was my first visit to this store and I could see myself going back as it is easy to get to and close to my parent’s house. The store does not have as much space as Spirit Works and isn’t organized quite as well but it does have a system and the sheer volume of yarn would likely guarantee you would go home with something.
Our last stop for the day was The Yarne Source in Henrietta. This store is teeny tiny and packed to the gills it definitely made me a feel a bit overwhelmed. The staff was friendly and jovial. They were thrilled to meet Sophia and ogled over her for a bit. The stock was average, no Rowan which is a downside for a LYS if it is your only source of yarn. But with so many other yarn stores in the area I suppose this is not too big of a deal. The yarn seemed to be organized by color, but even this was not the rule. Color organization is a pet-peeve of mine. Only because you are completely dependent on the store clerk to help you find a specific yarn if you already have it in mind before you enter the store. The weekend I was there the store had a fashion show planned at a local country club. I happened to catch a newscast featuring this up-and-coming event. The fashions showed on what I saw of the broadcast were a bit off my radar. A lot of novelty yarns and funkier knits, not so much my cup of tea. However, if you are in to that kind of style judging from that broadcast this would be the store for you. I would be curious to see the rest of their fashion shows line of samples (there are a few shown on the homepage of the website).
There are other stores in the area…some that I have been to, others that I have yet to visit. I’ll be checking them out during future visits and hopefully will report back here!
Here is a picture of Sophia with her Grandma.
Here she is at 7 weeks.
She’s looking more and more like her dad every day, especially when she makes this face…
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Oh my! Her skin is just GORGEOUS! I can smell her from here - and not in the bad way. Thanks for sharing her.
Oh Rochester yarn stores. I have rants and raves about all of ‘em and probably shouldn’t air them here. If you are curious, drop me a line
And I think Sophia (who’s name I LOVE) looks like her momma. Of course, I don’t think I’ve seen any pics of her daddy…..
Which Boston stores do you frequent?
You and your mom could be sisters. My mom and I are the same. Sophia is adorable!!!!
i was at the yarn source too on my week in Henrietta–literally around the corner from my sisters.
It was my first time there…didn’t expect too much and i wasn’t disappointed..
I bought some sock yarn so It wasn’t all bad.
It looks and sounds like you got to relax on your little break! Hope you’re doing better — Sophia is so very, very precious!
Thanks so much for the rundown on the shops…you rock! I will probably make my way to Upstate later in the summer, so this info is so valuable (Sister lives in Penfield, Mom lives in Phelps). I also started knitting after I moved away from there, so I have no knowledge of shops in that area (I come from a long line of quilters, so the fabric shops are easy to find).
Love the big face picture!
Well, heck, in that last picture she looks like me when I wake up in the morning! Poor kid. I’m just teasing–she’s adorable. And Sophia is one of my favorite names (I don’t have any girls, so I named my dog Sophie). There’s nothing better than family when you have a new baby. Good for you for making sure she gets to spend time with them.
Thanks for the info, Wendy! This will come in very useful this summer when we move. It’s odd - I seem to be dealing with the stress of moving by acquiring more yarn…sock yarn to be exact. I’m just glad we’re moving to someplace where all this wool will come in handy! I’ll need to be reminded of this next winter, I think.
All the best!
awww… so cute! Even when angry.
Awww! Bookish Baby and Bookish Grandma! A great review on family and travel! I feel like I was there! One of my BBF lives in Rochester
So, were you able to resist some yarn?
Well, the zeitgeist coughs up a ball of - that’s right - _yarn_ for you, your pals, and dear readers:
http://www.themovieinsider.com/movies/mid/4025
Can you say, Julia?
Best,
John
Knit ‘n Purl is right near MY mother’s place, too! When I go to visit her, I do like stopping in there. I don’t mind scattered if I’m just browsing as long as the staff can help find stuff I need (and they did).
How strange that my reaction to your review of the Yarne Source is exactly the opposite. Whenever I am in town I make it a POINT of going to this special sweet store. I find it much easier to shop with the yarns being arranged in color sequence don every mind asking for help as this shop is one of the few LYS stores that are so free about offering any assistance where other shops are much less attentive if at all helpful. Obviously you have not been in the shop recently as they’ve opened up the floor plan and it feels wonderfully engaging to be in the center of all their wonderful array of yarns, some I have not seen elsewhere.
Though small, I find the shop HUGE in creativity, trendy knitting and crocheting, and always on the edge of what’s new while also continuing with the tried and true. Their NORO collection is fantastic so I am not sure why you did not notice this. They don’t carry Rowan in the store but can order it at any time. They recently taken on fabulous new lines like Louet, Lorna’s Laces and Heirloom yarns which I don’t find elsewhere, and which are very in with the lace knitting. There sock collection is second to none and their creations always terrific while being simple to make.
I attended the fashion show and it was fabulous. Professionally and done with great preparation, over 200 people attended the lovely Locust Hill setting, raved about the show and begged for another next year. Perhaps you do not like the fashion knitting but many folks today do. I love the encouragement the owner, Susie, always gives and find that she is exceptionally giving and sharing about her patterns and ideas. Have you noticed her Parisian Tote design which constantly appears in Vogue Knitting magazines and other publications.
I was shocked at your review, as several of other very happy Yarne Source customers may be. Different tastes for different folks.
I LOVE going to Susie’s shop and am shocked at this review. I have been to many yarn shops across the country and hers really stands out WAY above the rest. I love how her crew puts colors together and how they LOVE to show and share their projects. I LOVE being in the store as it feels like I’ve fallen into a bit of heaven.
Their yarn selection is fantastic, both traditional and trendy and seems to offer something for everyone. Not sure what you were looking for but can’t believe your experience was anything less than WOW. I was sorry to not have attended the fashion show, but enjoyed seeing it on TV. What was not to like? A happy yarne source customer from down state NY.
I also can’t believe your review of Susie’s shop! I hosted her fashion show at Locust Hill Country Club. It was standing room only and featured items for the beginning knitter through the more advanced. It was truly an overwhelming success with many, many requests for the beginnings of an annual show.
I have yet to go to Susie’s shop where I haven’t been amazed at her vast knowledge of yarns, techniques, patterns, and expertise in fibers. I have yet to go to Susie’s when she hasn’t stopped what she was doing to focus solely on me and my project and/or requests. Many people go to her shop simply to hang out and knit because of the comfort level and her ability to untangle (no pun intended!) pattern directions.
Each of the yarn stores in Rochester has their strong point but Susie’s is definitely that she’s always on the cutting edge. She wants her customers(friends) to push themselves with their craft instead of becoming sedate in their knitting level. She has tremendous projects coming up for this fall/winter season and keeps us up-to-date constantly of new patterns, yarns, workshops, etc.
I didn’t know that the quality of a yarn shop was based on its size. Good thing you didn’t visit the all wool shop on South Ave. You would have given another inappropriate review on a quality store. I think you truly owe Susie an apology….
I am a frequent visitor to the Yarne Source and think it is a fabulous place. While it may be smaller than you are used to, they have a great selection. I never have failed to find yarn for projects and the staff is always ready and willing to help with suggestions or help. There are 2 evenings that the shop is open for help or just to come and sit and knit. Knitting is my therapy and weight control device. If my hands are busy, they aren’t feeding my face! The fashion show was outstanding.
I have been to both Knit and Purl and Spirit Works. The former is too stuffy and rigid. The latter is too far from my house. If you are looking for grandma’s yarn store,you might have to look harder in the Yarne Source to find what you want but it is there. If you want trendy and the latest, it is the place to go.
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Have been to many yarn stores across the country and consider the Yarne
Source one of the very best. So I’m angry that you would misrepresent it.
The stock is anything but “average”. You obviously didn’t take much time
to look. (Who goes to a yarn store w/a baby in tow, anyway?). There is
always something new and exciting in there. I love that the yarns are
arranged by color–it means that I DON’T have to ask for help. But if I
need help, Susie will drop whatever she’s doing–even special ordering
or tracking it down if it’s been discontinued. She is GREAT and one of the
most creative people I know. I think you owe her an apology.
If you’re going to set yourself up as some kind of “authority”, you have a
responsibility to be fair. You were anything but.
I find the Yarne Source feels like a home away from home. Friendly people who are genuinely glad to see you and give you a hug, just like family. They are always interested in your projects, what you are making, even if you didn’t buy the supplies there. Help is always offered, if needed, as are creative and useful suggestions.
The focus is pleasing the customers. If your choice of yarn is not available it can be ordered, as can tools you might be needing. Classes are small, fun, instructional and help is provided afterwards until ou successfully complete your project.
All aspects of fiber arts can be found here, knitting, crocheting, of course, but also are spinning yarn, needle felting, sewing, wet felting and weaving.
I LOVE THIS SHOP. Jan Delles