So Much Yarn

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Cassandra and I have a tradition - when we travel, we try to check out yarn shops in other cities. And, while most yarn shops are eerily similar, it's cool to meet people from the crafting community when you're in a strange place. It's like making instant friends.

Of course, the danger of going to yarn stores while traveling is impulse purchasing and then having to pack your awesome finds.

Occasionally, a yarn shop will carry something you've never seen before or it will have a vibe that's different and interesting. These are the real gems and the reason that our tradition continues. You may remember that Cassandra visited Loopy Yarns in Chicago and found some gorgeous Madeline Tosh yarn that is currently being transformed into a sweater.

Sunny day in Seattle

While in Seattle recently, I had an afternoon away from my traveling companions and the convention. The weather was gorgeous so I decided to find a yarn shop and, if it was close enough, take a walk. I checked Yelp! (which, if you haven't used it, I highly recommend) and found a place that was just a few blocks away called So Much Yarn. The website wasn't great and the location was totally bizarre - on the second floor of a building above a Cost Plus World Market - but it was close by and would satisfy my craving for a yarn store visit.

As I traveled the five blocks to get there, I enjoyed the gorgeous sunny day as well as the discovery of streets I hadn't walked yet. I approached the Cost Plus, which is on a corner, and followed the directions I'd found on the website:

(We are located on Elliott Avenue, north of Lenora Street-the entrance is past Cost Plus.  Look for the tall black gate and take the elevator or stairs to the second floor, Suite 204)

Weird hall

Fortunately, the owners had seen fit to put a big, old sandwich board sign on the sidewalk so there was no mistaking the "tall black gate". I entered and headed up the stairs to a hallway of office suites. Very weird. Again, a well placed sign assuaged my confusion and sent me down to the end of the hall. As I got closer, I noticed that So Much Yarn was the only see-through glass door on the floor and I caught a glimpse of a wall of color. Honestly, it was kind of a relief.

I opened the door onto what can only be described as heaven. The shop is fairly small but makes use of every available bit of space. Floor to ceiling shelves are brimming with color and texture. It becomes immediately clear that Cascade is their work-horse yarn of choice - I've never seen such a large selection of Cascade varieties in one place. Obviously it would be impossible to carry the entire line however her representative sample is the one of the best I've seen. The shop also carries high-end favorites such as Noro, Malabrigo, and Shibui. There are a few novelty yarns as well as some unique items like the yarn made from sugar fiber which I was compelled to buy. In the center of the space, there's a "room" that has a large work table and some notions - like buttons. Behind the counter by the front door there's a spare but complete collection of needles and accessories.

I bee-lined to the back of the shop for some reason and found, in the back room, a small sale area and some of the more interesting yarns. This is where I discovered the sugar yarn. I also met a woman heavily laden with skeins who turned to me and said, "This place is amazing! I love everything in here!" I felt the same.

Sometimes it's the little touches that make a difference. The knitted samples on dress forms were all lovely - lots of Louisa Harding (I was told that the previous owner really loved Harding's stuff) - and there was a rack of finished scarves so customers could see how the various yarns knitted up. I was able to see how my sugar yarn would look when worked, which made the decision to buy it much easier. The store is neat as a pin and beautifully organized.

To be honest, I think that one of the reasons I love this shop so much is because the owner has a similar aesthetic to me. I'm not a huge fan of multiple colored or self-striping yarns. I don't like novelty yarns. And I don't like anything that's too fussy. So Much Yarn delivers exactly what I'm looking for - good quality yarns in beautiful colors without whimsy (I kind of hate whimsy).

My two purchases - the tan is the sugar yarn

I know that the owner is concerned about her location but I'm not sure she needs to be. The steps she's taken - the signage, good directions on the site and on Yelp, etc. - help a lot. And, honestly, the place got really busy while I was in there. On a Friday, during work hours. Most everyone that came in bought something. And that woman with the armload of yarn... She's from Australia and was on her way to an Alaskan cruise. Based on what I saw in her hands, that wasn't stopping her. She may have been the shop's best sale of the day.

- Alex

So Much Yarn...

2107 Elliott Avenue, Suite 204

Seattle, WA 98121

Phone:  206-443-0727

Toll free:  866-443-0727                           

Store Hours: 

Mon: Noon-6 | Tues: 10-8 | Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat: 10-6 | Sun: Noon-5