Can we make a list of brilliant yarn shops?

[Suddengeekgirl]

I am on the hunt for a good yarn shop near me in south derbyshire.

All the ones I've found so far either stock meh colours or squeaky acrylics and are definitely stuck in a time warp!

So, by the power of mumsnet, could we make a list of brilliant yarn shops, where they are and maybe what sort of stuff they have.

Afraid I can't add anything to the list though!

The Sheep shop in Cambridge!
Does fabulous workshops, has a wonderful selection and a sofa, where you can chill out whilst squishing your gorgeous new yarns.
[Grin]

That sounds fab!

The Woolclip in Caldbeck Cumbria - worth planning a holiday to visit!

Loop in Islington.

Masons in Abingdon - haberdashery, craft stuff etc in one shop and yarn and knitting stuff in another shop just down the road. It is an absolute Aladdin ' s cave. Fantastic!

Williams Wools in Kendal. Great yarn shop, helpful owner.

Most of the good stuff is online in afraid. There isn't really enough local demand for good yarns. Have seen a great yarn shop in brum open the close and purl city yarns in Manchester has gone.

The wool warehouse in leamington has a tiny shop area but is mostly on line.

Ravelry has a rare shop map

I've mentioned it on here before, but Cold spring Mills in Cottingly is great, the variety is quite frankly amazing. 3 Bags Full in Halifax is also fab,although much smaller, and there are no budget squeeky acrylics in sight! They have an amazing bargain bucket & a odd yarns bucket (slubby banana fibre yarn!?).

Purl & Jane in Skipton. Small but really good. All real wools, many are hand wash only, some single dye lots or undyed. So you'd need to plan what you wanted before you went.

I shall have to visit 3 Bags Full.

I love Knit Nottingham, Miaow

Eleanor is utterly bonkers. Did a couple of workshops there in 2012, and been back a few times since as we travel from Sleaford to Nottingham most Saturdays for ice hockey between September and April.

THREADJACK Have you been to the Cat Cafe in Nottingham yet?! Would love to go but gotta organise my ass sometime during the summer!

Telephone ooh I'll add that to my list. I keep idlly thinking about hand dying so natural undyed wool it a definite attraction. It's close enough to be a day out, or a stop to/from the ice cream farm.

Sitting Knitting, on the outskirts of Sutton Coldfield.

Would love to go to Knit Nottingham - Elaine looks an amazing woman!

Instore and online and usually at all the large craft shows - www.blacksheepwools.com/

Baa Ram Ewe in Leeds, lovely in store and good online. Nice selection of fancier yarns, their Titus range is nice. are we just listing actual real shops or can we mention online only. if so I would also say the website meadowyarn.co.uk , great supply of equipment and lovely selection of materials.

Baa ram ewe also have a harrogate store too now.

StitchUpp in High Street East, Uppingham, Rutland. Wonderful range of yarn, patterns and accessories. Also haberdashery.

The Knitting Corner, Curborough, lichfield. It stocks Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Noro etc. Nice sofa where you can sit and knit.

Get Knitted in Bristol (Brislington) is FAB :)

Unravelled in Denby Dale and Knitters Paradise in Cold Spring Mill @ Cullingworth.

Baa Ram Ewe don't have a Harrogate store any more, they have closed it and moved the Leeds one to Chapel Allerton. For me the new location is crap and I'm very disappointed that they've chosen somewhere completely un-wheelchair-friendly (wheelchair-unfriendly?). They had regulars who were wheelchair users as well, so not a theoretical problem.

Anyway, the choice of yarn is great, although the choice of needles is very poor. However, I won't give them my business any more.

Stitchery Do in Wokingham and C&H in Windsor

I highly recommend Christines of Bournville in Sycamore Road, Birmingham.
The shop is packed floor to ceiling full of lovely quality wools and there are lots of sample garments, etc made up so you can see how it knits/crochets up. Lots of accessories and the ladies are knowledgeable. Most often they are working on something of their own and they can help with most queries.
They also give classes.

They are an award-winning shop.
Their online site is worth a look.
Easy to get to by train as the station is just round the corner.

There's Crafty Ewe in Norwich (on St Giles) which is lovely, they've been really helpful when I've asked for advice. Gorgeous yarns inc handspuns, and often really good sales too.

And in Stockport there's Knit 2 Together in Reddish - moving from Houldsworth Mill to Reddish Road next week. The owner is very experienced and they teach classes too.

I have completely forgotten the name of the shop but if you are in West Cumbria - the wool shop in Millom (on Wellington Street) is worth a visit. Good mix of cheap acrylic and nice wool plus very helpful owners

Second The Woolclip in Caldbeck too