Dear Local Yarn Store,

[FrancesWeyr]

<start rant>

Dear Local Yarn Store,

This is just to let you know that when I rule the world, you will no longer be able to call yourself a "local yarn store" unless you offer more than one kind of knitting needles. I don't expect much from Walmart, and I am well aware that Michaels, JoAnn, and Hobby Lobby have a lot of irons in the fire and you are lucky if the purchasing manager knows the difference between a crochet hook and knitting needle so I am not terribly shocked when they have a poor selection. But I certainly expect more from you when you go to all the trouble of buying an ad in the Yellow Pages and having them paint up a sign with your cutesy name in yarn letters and hang it over a darling store front in the yuppified shopping district.

You have yarn from every conceivable beast, bug, and plant, but all your knitting needles are made out of the same stuff. What's up with that?! Ergonomics be damned, I am a grown up and if I want to knit with metal, I will pay the consequences. I am not saying that you can't knit your little brains out with bamboo, but you can't make me do it. I am taking my needle money elsewhere, and I'm taking my yarn money with it. That expensive pink and green stuff was terribly cute, but it was much easier to resist after looking over your needle display.

Sincerely,

A potential customer who made her first and last visit to your shop today.

<end rant>

[Lobug]

So sorry, Frances. You are right, an LYS should have some selection in their needles!!

[Holly]

Frances.....am I reading this correctly.....were you a little disappointed?

I am so lucky here locally. My little yarn shop will order anything you want even if she doesn't carry it.

I know it's too expensive for them to carry everything but most yarn shops do have a variety of knitting needles.

You should stop by one more time before writing her off....if she's a new shop she might not have all her stock in or maybe she couldn't afford to stock everything yet.

The more I read about the scarcity of good LYS the more I appreciate mine.
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www.knittinghaven.com

[FrancesWeyr]

[Kathryn]

I'm sorry to hear of your frustrations. I'm lucky in that there is a small LYS under the office where I used to work (I still work for the same company in the same city so I'm back there quite a bit), and a wonderful LYS just over an hours drive away. They have a Knit and Natter on the first Saturday of the month, and as hubby is always out on Saturdays, I generally go along.

Have you looked at Knitmap? There may be a LYS lurking around that you haven't seen elsewhere.
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[GrannieAnnie06]

WOW!!! Knitmap is COOL!!!!!
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[hils]

I agree - just found a store not too far away having a ravlery get-to-gether on march 1st - may try & go!!

[FrancesWeyr]

Very cool site, although it didn't have a lot of good news for me. The first store listed is now closed and I think the third one may be as well. The ones I visited are on there, but the others are a considerable drive.

Shipping is cheaper than half a tank of gas.

[Kathryn]

Sorry to hear that.
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[rachael]

That is frustrating.

My Michael's stocks a ton of different needles (wood and metal). I wonder why yours doesn't.

We have a great store called Yarntopia with really nice girls running it, and sitting and knitting is free. However, it is on the other side of town from me. Houston being so big, that's a 45 min. drive. When I am on that side of town, I do stop in.

[FrancesWeyr]

[KnittyPine]

oh my .. dont get me started on LYS's

The 2 we have here in town, are ...well.... * shrugs*

One is a long time shop of 30+ years, & was sold last year. One of the staff stayed on .. their new location ( off the beaten path) is hard to get to by bus or car.... and they dont have 5.5mm DPN * sighs* And you sorta need to be in market to mortgage something ...in order to knit.

The 2nd shop is new by 3 months or so...and they want your first born, for a skien. All natural colours but ...but .... a scarf to cost 60.00 ? ( 2 skeins alpaca)

Maybe Im just being cheap ..but to me thats alot of $$ for a scarve.

Then I have Michaels ...they dont have DPN .... only singles and its so frustrating. Their yarn sales weekly arent bad I suppose, cept you cant ever get enuff in a dye lot to make a garment .... 3 of this 6 of that.

Walmart doesnt have 5.5mm DNP either.... And they recently have dropped LION Brand ...and their yarn selection is down to 25% of what it once was.

So for now Im just learning new stitches and will try & use up my wee stash here.

Years ago I used to get 100% wool in the general store in the Ottawa Valley area. $5-6.00 a skein. Awesome wool ...I sure wish I had the foresight to have written the name of the mill down.

There is a new YS in Burlington...maybe next week, weather permitting I can make my way there & snoop a bit. (20 mins away)

I just would so happy to find a 5.5 DPN set of 4

stay safe !

Piney :)

[juniperloops]

I've heard from two people now that Wal mart is discontinuing their whole crafts dept. from floral and fabric to scrapbooking...Ours has no more DMC floss or cross stitch/needlepoint section anymore. They have taken out the fish tanks as well. One less distraction for my 7 year old...but they've added beer and wine...I thought crafting had made enough of a come back to warrent keeping the department! I wonder what will take its place?

[FrancesWeyr]

[rachael]