Another Road Trip, Another LYS

Years ago, I happened upon a little yarn store in Baltimore, called "A Good Yarn." It was wee tiny and stuffed with yarn and other knitting goodies. I shopped a bit, bought some sock yarn and that was that. Last week, a friend and I decided to meet there and I found that it had changed in a very interesting way.

It is still located in the heart of Fells Point, a historic neighborhood about 10 minutes from downtown Baltimore. What's changed is that the shop now specializes in American made yarn and, while there is a lot less to look at, I found the offerings very interesting. There are no specialty yarns (yaay!!) and very little in the way of alternative fibers, like bamboo and such. What you will find are wools of various weights, some wool blends and some cotton. Lorraine, the store owner, only handles about four companies but she knows each yarn intimately and can show you a garment knitted from everything in the shop, probably by her. (When was the last time you could say that?) It's very refreshing because I think you could go in with almost any kind of project or pattern in mind and I'll bet she could provide with at least one suitable yarn choice.

I fell in love with two different yarns, a worsted wool from Stonehedge Fiber Mill in Michigan and a wool and silk blend in DK weight from Harrisville Yarns in New Hampshire. Both were very nice, but the Shepherd's wool from the Michigan company won out because it was such a delicious turquoise color. By the time we finally left, I had decided to make another February Lady Sweater, because I felt that the yarn would really make the gull lace pattern shine.

As I drove home, I thought about how different A Good Yarn was, in relation to other stores I'd visited. Many offer an overwhelming number of yarn choices and yet, I can leave empty handed and totally unimpressed. I think Lorraine's little store is an example where "less is more" because she had things that I'd never seen or even heard of before. Even better than that, she knew from personal experience what each yarn had to offer and how it would work. I saw every yarn she had within the first 30 minutes and yet, we spent over two hours in the store and I can't wait to go back!

Tea + Crumpets + Yarn = Heaven

No trip to Bryce is complete without our annual trip to Fibersmyth, an absolute gem of a knitting shop in Woodstock, VA. Last year, while we were there, the owner's husband showed us an adjoining storage room where they planned to open a tea room and when we got there last week, we discovered that those plans have indeed become a reality--a quite wonderful reality.

Originally, the shop was located in an old stone townhouse in downtown Woodstock. Shortly after the present owner, Elizabeth McCarus, bought it in 2007, the business was moved to a large farmhouse farther out of town on the the main road. While the store's new location, amidst highway type businesses, lacks the charm of its former historic surroundings, a step inside reveals that the new space is a great improvement upon the old one. The rooms are now warm, inviting and full of natural light. The shop's collection of yarns is extensive, including my favorite "workhorse" yarn, Cascade 220, and other more luxurious offerings like Blue Sky Alpacas, Malabrigo, and Sublime. The shop also carries many Berroco yarns and some interesting local wools. This is a place where a knitter can spend many tranquil hours shopping for yarn and inspiration. It is also a place where a new knitter can find come for assistance and support. Whenever I've been there, I've witnessed the special care that Elizabeth extends to her beginners or, for that matter, anyone who seems to have questions.


The new tea room, The Cup and Crumpet, is the perfect addition to the shop. The offerings are mainly quiches, some sandwiches and soups, but, oh, the choices! I had a hard time deciding between the roasted asparagus sandwich, the leek quiche, and the tomato bisque. Julie got the bisque, Paul and Amy both ordered the roast beef on pumpernickel with (gorgonzola mayo), and I settled on the quiche. When the food came, conversation stopped and no one seemed to regret their choices. It was all SO good. Afterwards, we split a piece of Chocolate Decadence. After one bite, I wanted to grab it, hide under a table, eat the whole thing and lick the plate. But I didn't. Sometimes, I hate being a Good Girl.


Later, as we finished our tea, Julie proclaimed that Fibersmyth was her MOST FAVORITE LYS in the world. Think about it: good yarn, good food and a cute loo--how can you beat that?