Knit NYC

This summer I took a week's vacation in the Big Apple. What do you think I did while I was there? Why I went to as many yarn shops as I could of course! Also, I visited a whole lotta skate shops (to keep my skateboarding teenage son  happy). In between all of those jaunts to yarn and skate shops we did do some sightseeing ;)

Knitting NYC near Battery Park. This was how I passed the time while my son tested a nearby skate park.

So here is my review of the shops I visited.

Purl Soho

The Yarn Wall at Purl Soho
That's me on the right :)

Purl Soho is an exquisite shop in, you guessed it, Soho. That's near the bottom of Manhattan. It may be the most popular shop on the map due to its vast advertising on knitting and craft sites to drive traffic to the shop's website. So the good news is you can shop Purl Soho right from home, no need to venture all the way to NYC. Many of my crafty friends have visited this beautiful shop and have declared it as a favorite. It not only boasts a great stash of yarn but you can find designer fabric, embroidery and needlework supplies and a selection of gifts, notions and accessories for the fibre enthusiast. The physical space is beautiful. Long and narrow with shelves along one side, tables of product down the centre and two skinny aisles for getting around. If you are a polycrafter, like myself, then this is a must-do shop for you. One of my favorite products is the Purl Soho Scrap Bags they put together. Its a pretty collection of colour coordinating designer fabric. Last year I bought a pack and it even had some really cool trim and heavy felt!

Knitty City

At the front of Knitty City. Love their shopping bags!

Available at Knitty City only $19.95

If you are in the Upper West Side you have to get to Knitty City. This shop wins the award for the most welcoming, down-home feeling of the bunch. There was so much activity with knitters gabbing and stitching at the table in the back of the shop. This is exactly what I want to find when I visit a yarn shop. It's packed to the ceiling with yummy skeins and a big basket of spinning fibre to keep the spinners satiated. There is also a wonderful library or stitching books and magazines. I picked up one of Vogue's limited edition copies of Vogue Crochet Magazine. Something to note is that this shop is accessible - friendly to those using walking aids or wheelchairs.

The Yarn Company

At the table in front of the big windows at the Yarn Company. The bags behind me are really cool. Look to be made from recycled materials.

While you're in the Upper West Side you might as well visit the Yarn Company, just around the corner from Knitty City. The Yarn Company is located on the second floor, you have to walk up some steep steps to access the shop. I was a little confused what door to use to enter the shop and rang the bell for the wrong entrance. Ooops! When I found the right door I went on in and found a bright well organized room. I was hoping to find a huge selection of spinning fibres, and left a little disappointed. I would have like to see more variety of hand dyed fibres. But it was nice to see they carried hand dyed by a little indie dyer. The shop looks like it lives in a couple of converted apartments. The main room is spacious with big windows letting in lots of natural light. Big heavy tables are parked in front of the windows with stools inviting patrons to sit and knit or examine potential purchases. I purchased the current issue of Spin Off magazine this time. Trying to be conservative with my spending haha!

Brooklyn General Store


Located in my favorite NYC neighbourhood, Brooklyn. Brooklyn reminds me most of home and its a fantastic 'hood brimming with cafes, restaurants, indie shops and street sales. The Brooklyn General Store had me at hello. I found their website and watched their promo video. I was instantly in love. Go to the website's main page and click the play button on the jar just above the tagline "where country fiber warms the big city" and you'll see what I mean. Go ahead, I'll wait. Are you back? Wow! Just wow! The shop reminds me of Purl Soho, but less hectic. Its got designer fabric, the best yarn, crafty kits, spinning fibre, adorable ribbons and trims, and lovely gifts. I enjoyed the pottery and greeting cards. I loved the focus on carrying items from local artists. Big bonus points for that one! The back of the shop has a table and chairs for gathering and stitching. The front of the shop has a comfy arm chair. The store was perfect and if I was to open one myself I'd love for it to be just like this.

La Casita Yarn Shop Cafe

The last yarn shop on my tour was La Casita. I found this shop by accident while walking around Brooklyn and just minutes before closing time. The shop was packed! All it took was 5 or 6 people and we were at capacity. The little boutique was brimming with fibre, a huge table up front that ate up a lot of floor space and a cafe tucked neatly into the back of the store. It must be such a welcoming space for local knitters to grab a cuppa and then pull up a chair at the big table and knit the day away. The staff were friendly and cheerful, though it was the end of their day. I found some vintage buttons that I had been coveting for a while on Ebay. I was so excited when I saw them right there in the flesh! We would've stayed for a cup of tea, but unfortunately it was closing time. Next time I'll come earlier La Casita!

Alpacas from Eighth and Mud

At the beginning of the summer I took the opportunity to get out of the city for a day and tour a local alpaca farm. My friend and I set off for Alpacas from Eighth and Mud on a pretty, sunny week day. When we arrived we noticed alpacas prancing in fields on either side of a quaint little shop. I later learned that females were on one side and males on the other. Of course they only mix for breeding purposes! Baby alpacas, known as Crias, stayed with their moms.

We immediately went into the shop and met the farmer, a bubbly welcoming woman named Sharon. She answered all of our questions and showed us some of her hand made works. We feasted our eyes on the shelves of alpaca yarn, hand knit garments, wall hangings and I particularly admired the spinning fiber. You'll also find hand made jams and maple syrup in the gift shop.

Alpaca spinning fiber with silk noils.

Alpacas on Eighth and Mud is also a mill. They mill their own alpaca fiber and will do custom orders for local customers.

Sharon let us see the alpacas behind the scenes. The animals were really tentative around us strangers. 

Before we left we receive some "real eggs" from Sharon's chickens and directions on how to get to a local cheese maker's market.

The Montreal (Craft) Experience

Last weekend was my whirlwind trip to Montreal for the Spring Puces Pop hand made marketplace. It was a fantastic trip and it provided me an opportunity to meet some great folks, to knit a little somethin' somethin' for myself, and to shop some products from great artisans.

My table neighbours were Coucou Salut, a fantastic little shop providing unique screen printed and hand crafted plush toys, cushions, coin purses, coasters, and tea towels. I picked up a tooth monster to give to my son.

I also met half the team behind one of my favorite Toronto shops, Bookhou. Bookhou is also a master at screen printing original designs on linens, sweet hand embroidery, and maker of stunning tote bags. I picked up a plush sparrow pin and a gently hand embroidered pin backed button.

I had an opportunity to try hand crafted edible treats as well. I brought home some creamy caramels, and mouth watering gluten free peanut butter cookies.

I picked up a wonderful print from Todd Stewart of Montreal. I highly recommend checking out his work!

On Sunday evening I had a chance to take a walk in the neighbourhood known as the Plateau district. I dined on Chicken Roti, fried plantain, and mango juice. Walked a few blocks to a book shop open late and picked up a sweet French language book called "Coeurs". 

This book is full of the sweetest heart themed embroidery patterns. I couldn't resist purchasing it as it included a piece of canvas, embroidery needle, and DMC floss to get you started on a project right away.

I am working on the girl on the right.

So I flew home on Monday. The flight is just under 50min, however we were delayed 7 HOURS!! I worked on this sock the whole day, sipping Second Cup Coffee, Strawberry Chillers, and finally 3 glasses of red wine WHOO HOO!

Worked on 4 needles from the toe up.

The pattern I chose is the Dead Simple Lace Socks from "Socks form the Toe Up" by Wendy D. Johnson. I reduced the pattern by 1 repeat for this particular yarn because initially the socks were just coming out way too big. (thought that I DID check my guage, oh well)

Well, that pretty much concludes my show and tell from last weekend, hope you enjoyed ;)