The next set of stores in our store spotlights are the Bay Area Stores. While we won’t be going into San Francisco proper due to hills and parking issues; we are visiting many stores in the surrounding areas. Learn about each of these amazing locations below:
Purlesence – Wednesday May 6th 11am-6pm
What makes your store special? We have a large community area for people to hang out and knit, crochet or spin. We are the main spinning and weaving store in the Silicon Valley. We carry a large selection of hand dyed and US produced yarns, and a variety of Fair Trade produced yarns. We love fine yarns and create loads of lace and light garments.
What is your favorite yarn? Can’t decide, too many!
What is your favorite place to eat in your area? Dish ‘n Dash
What yarns can customers find in your shop? Kollage, Malabrigo, Manos del Uruguay, Madeline Tosh, Dream in Color, Shalimar, FyberSpates, Reywa, Elemental Affects, Skacel, Cascade, Plymouth, Crystal Palace, Ozark Handspun, Opal, Swan’s Island, Shibui, Pepperberry, Jade Sapphire MJ Yarns
What is your favorite things to knit or crochet? Cardigans, small shawls, socks and more socks, hats
Is there parking at your store? Loads of free parking
A Verb For Keeping Warm – Thursday May 7th 11am-7pm
What makes your store special? Our shop focuses on natural materials, especially those grown and crafted in the US. We have an educational dye garden and our own natural dyeing studio, where we produce our own line of naturally dyed yarn and fabric.
We love enabling knitters and sewists to create their own garments, to use their clothing to tell the story of how it was made and the care that went into it. In our shop, you can select fabric to sew a shirt and pick out yarn to knit a cardigan to wear over it! We have our own line of in-house sewing patterns that feature modern styles that fit into your wardrobe.
We offer classes in knitting, sewing, weaving, spinning, natural dyeing, and embroidery, and love to fly special teachers in from around the world to share their knowledge.
What is your favorite yarn? Pioneer!
What is your favorite place to eat in your area? We love our neighborhood cupcake shop, James & the Giant Cupcake, as well as all our local eateries.
What yarns can customers find in your shop? Our own line of naturally dyed yarn, including US wool yarns Pioneer, Clover, and Big Sky. Other US produced lines, including Quince & Co, Brooklyn Tweed, Thirteen Mile Lamb & Wool Co, Sally Fox’s yarn and sliver, Jill Draper, Spincycle, & Stonehedge Fiber Mill. We also love our yarns by Shibui, Fibre Co, Woolfolk, Madelinetosh, and Malabrigo.
What is your favorite things to knit or crochet? We love sweaters, warm and cozy for the winter or breezy layers for the summer. And our favorite accessories are probably cowls, so versatile and stylable!
Is there parking at your store? There is street parking
Cast Away & Folk – Saturday May 9th 10am-5pm
What makes your store special? Our shop is over 4000 square feet! We are located in a 110 year old brick warehouse in the heart of Santa Rosa’s Historic Railroad Square. Well lit with cork floors, brick walls and minimal clean displays it feels cozy and modern and rustic all at the same time. We sell sewing, weaving, felting & embroidery supplies as well. Our yarn selection is large and varied and mostly natural fibers of course.
What is your favorite yarn? Currently I am loving Sincere Sheep Shepherdess!
What is your favorite place to eat in your area? We are in an area of several great restaurants like Khoom Lana That, Sushi to Dai for, The Pullman Kitchen, The Toad in the Hole pub, Flying Goat Coffee. Not right in our area but in town not too far is Rosso (wood fired pizza and they make their own cheese yum!) and Zazu (upscale with fancy cocktails and raise their own pork yum!). Not too close but if you’re passing through San Rafael (an hour or so south) you MUST go to Sol Food- Purto Rican food. Gorgeous and delicious!
What yarns can customers find in your shop? Swan Island, Shibui, Manos, Malabrigo, The Fibre Co, Isager, Twirl, Freia, Noro, Rowan, Berroco, Cascade, Schoppel, Cobasi, Knit Collage, Misti, Ito, Sincere Sheep, Mirasol, Elsebeth Levold, Juniper Creek and more!
What is your favorite things to knit or crochet? I love top down cardigans and shawls. I also love making small household items like washcloths & rugs.
Is there parking at your store? Yes, but it’s not free
A Yarn Less Raveled – Sunday May 10th 11am-5pm
What makes your store special? Our shop is well-lit, welcoming, and offers a wide variety of fine yarns, needles, and notions. We provide samples for inspiration, help for projects, and our sitting areas are available to knitters and crocheters any time the shop is open. We love seeing returning customers as well as getting to know new customers from near and far!
What is your favorite yarn? I don’t have one favorite, however I seem to use mostly fingering weight hand-dyed yarns.
What is your favorite place to eat in your area? Our shopping center boasts one of the best restaurants in the Bay Area – Esin Cafe. We recommend making reservations, as they can get busy, especially on the weekends. Also in our center is Amici’s for Italian casual family dining and a variety of thin crust pizzas, Maria Maria for Mexican style food and great sangria and margaritas. Downtown Danville, located about a mile from the shop, also offers many delicious dining options.
What yarns can customers find in your shop? Our comprehensive list can be found on our website, however we feature many hand-dyed yarns from local California dyers like Alchemy, Phydeaux, Black Diamond Alpacas, Freia Fibers, Sincere Sheep, and Anzula, as well as other well-known dyers like Madelinetosh, Malabrigo, Classic Elite, Rowan, Jade Sapphire, and Tahki Stacy Charles.
We also are one of the few shops to offer Signature Needles Circular Convertibles in addition to Knitter’s Pride, Lantern Moon, and ChaioGoo needles.
What is your favorite things to knit or crochet? I’d be the first to admit that I have “Knitting ADD” and have many projects on needles right now. I most frequently knit shawls, cowls, and socks, although I’m working on a sweater right now too. I’m intrigued by new techniques, I love knitting lace, and am drawn to two- and three-colored shawls like Color Affection, Drachenfels, Bryum, and Amidst. I’m just starting a Curls shawl as well, and am fascinated by Hunter’s approach and the wide range of stitch patterns.
Is there parking at your store? Yes, the Rose Garden center offers a parking lot.