On my third trip to Spain, I asked to visit another Local Yarn Shop (LYS). My son and his girlfriend humored me, and we Uber-ed off to Bichus! It’s located on a quiet side street with a friendly staff who was able to communicate with me in English. It’s a beautiful store with a cheerful workspace, and yarn with lots and lots of color and texture! I cannot confirm or deny that I needed to leave some clothes with my daughter in Madrid to have room in my suitcase for all the yarn I bought!

From their website at www.bichusclub.com,

“Hi, I’m Ale, I was born in Buenos Aires and now I live in Madrid. I always wanted to be a teacher like my mom. Teaching is something I have inside me. Bichus began as a result of a change of life, uniting my two passions: teaching and work. I realized that we are happier when we move by developing the gifts that we carry within: That which comes from our hearts, that charges our batteries. Since I was a child, I learned that a work, done with care, with good materials connects directly with emotion, with our most intimate self. Going without haste and savoring each step allowed me to set up a comfortable, cozy workshop, full of wools, fabrics, colors and inspiration. A space that continues to reinvent and evolve.”

This is by far MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE Local Yarn Store (LYS)!

Located on the Sunny Slope edge of Caldwell, Idaho, almost as you cross the Snake River, this is the most amazing place: 

* Fireball Alpacas,

* I Make Yarn fiber mill, and

* Yarnageddon yarn store. 

They offer classes and private lessons in knitting, crocheting, spinning, and weaving in addition to tours of the mill and visits with the alpacas.

Check out their Facebook page at “Yarnageddon, a quaint yarn shop on an alpaca ranch in Idaho Wine Country.”

It’s a bit of a drive from Boise but Candace and Eddie Van Hout are the most gracious hosts so plan to stay a while when you visit! 

I’ve taken knitting and weaving classes there. 

This local yarn shop was found by my husband, son, and daughter while they were traveling! They Face-Timed me from the store, gave me a video tour then asked what I wanted them to purchase for me! Does family get better than that for a fiber addict like me? I think not!

From their website at www.alittleknitty.com: “We have a huge heart for all things yarn-related and for ALL people who enjoy yarn crafting. We are an inclusive gathering place for all races, religions, genders and crafts.”

During our day in Ketchikan, I only had time to visit one of the two Local Yarn Shops. I noticed Untangled Yarn & Fiber from the shuttle on the way back to the cruise ship. I located them online, and I am enjoying their strong Facebook and website presence. From their opening in July 2022, www.untangledyarnand fiber.com and their love for the work of A. A. Milne,

Not long ago, around a bend in the road, we found opportunity, and a yarn shop was born. 

Time was that most days you would find Deborah with a pair of knitting needles in her hands or close by as she jotted down notes for a new pattern, experimented with stitch combinations, and passed the time with a comfortable hobby. Nowadays, she has a new purpose for those pastimes, and, most days, you’ll find her sitting in the shop, happy to talk yarn, give knitting advice, and introduce others to her favorite dyers. If you look closely at just the right time, you might even find Eric in the corner with a pair of needles demonstrating what real yarn husbands are like. So, stop in and let’s talk! You may just make a new friend, because, as we all well know, “A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside.”

I ordered online. I am loving what I purchased and their great customer service!

Once again while traveling this year, my daughter humored me and we found “Lellabella is a quaint shop on Calle della Mandola, in the heart of Venice, Italy between the Rialto Bridge, La Fenice Theatre, and Saint Mark’s Square.” Check out their website at www.lellabellavenezia.com where you can “Enjoy the authenticity of Made in Italy brands and the charm of handmade items steeped in tradition.”

We found Lellabella on a narrow street. Our only problem was that, although we carefully checked the hours posted online, they were quite closed. The only reason I can think of is that it was Holy Week and we were in Italy (insert heavy sigh). I pressed my face against the windows and took these pictures… so close and yet so far….

While visiting my daughter in Spain last summer, we found this Local Yarn Shop but walked by only when it was closed. This year, however, I got to go in!

We were there during Semana Santa (Holy Week) in April and had just seen the processional outside a Catholic Church. It was delightful to see the tiny Holy Week processional created with such detail in the window at Con Agujas!

El Gato Negro (The Black Cat) in Madrid, Spain.

While visiting my daughter in Spain last summer, she humored me and took me to El Gato Negro yarn shop. It was interesting to learn that you cannot touch the yarn in the store! It’s a thing…

And then I got excited because I noticed you COULD touch the yarn in the clearance bin! I picked out some beautiful skeins only to get back to the AirB&B and noticed the store took all the information (weight, fiber content, etc.) off the clearance yarn… so maybe it wasn’t such a good deal after all…

I found not one, but two Local Yarn Shops. Sadly, I only had time to visit one…

From their website at www.fabulousfiberarts.com: 

“Do you like fine yarn? Bring your creative self to Fabulous Fiber Arts and More! We’re a full-service Locally owned Yarn Store in Ketchikan, Alaska. We offer locally hand dyed and commercial dyed yarns, classes, Knit-Alongs (KALs), Group Knitting, locally designed quilt and knitting patterns, and more. Come play with us! “

Way out of my color comfort zone, what do you think I should make with this pink/ orange yellow colorway?

Former business partners, Fabulous Fiber Arts carries Robin’s Nest Yarn!

And, as a reward for my ever-patient husband, I found this yarn at Fabulous Fibers from Mountain Meadow Wool in Buffalo, Wyoming. He’s getting a new hat! Shhhhh… don’t tell him!

You learn who your true friends are in a yarn  crisis! I couldn’t get internet access in Haines but had texting so I texted out an All Points Bulletin from the cruise ship asking for yarn shop info for Haines, Alaska, to be texted to me. Thank you, my fiber peeps!  You’re the best!

From their website at www.wildhavenwools.com: “Wildhaven Wools was born out of a need and a creative spark. At Wildhaven, our mission is to help kids and families spend more time playing outside. We create practical, comfortable, sustainable kids clothing that are designed for all-day outdoor play and are better for our planet.” More importantly to my journey, they carry Juneau Woolies yarn!

From their old website at www.aurorayarnsofalaska.com: Our hand-dyed yarns feature a wide and colorful selection of exciting and exclusive designs – allowing you to knit and crochet with the colors of the Alaska landscape! Yarns from local dyers and QIVIUT from the Northern Muskox fibers are our most luxurious findings! Browse the colorful array here at our on-line store!

From their new website at www.borealartworks.com: The word ‘boreal’ means ‘of the North’ and our shop features unique products created and inspired in our Alaskan and northern landscape. Miner with his dog statue. Love this colorway! The Norwegian Sun.