I adore my Local Yarn Shop. It is within walking distance of my workplace, and it tests my willpower every day. I can hear it calling to me now, offering sweet promises of miles and miles of scrumptious fibers. Hm. I am on my lunch break, and I did get paid a couple days ago, and there's a darling little number in my Ravelry queue that I've been dying to start...
Ahem! Sorry about that. Where was I? Oh, yeah, my LYS. I'd been buying yarn for years from big box craft stores. Until I moved to Indiana, I never really had an accessible local shop, so I never knew what I was missing. I thought the selections at Michaels and JoAnn Etc. were pretty comprehensive. But the first time I walked into The Sheep's Clothing, those notions vanished out the window. Here in front of my eyes was the grandest knitter's toy store that existed!
My eyes were opened to so many possibilities and questions. At first it was intimidating. I'd had several years of knitting experience under my belt, but I felt like a newbie again in the presence of all these fibers I'd never worked with, tools I'd never seen, and books that used words I'd never heard of before. Then, however, came the second part of the wonder of LYS's: the staff. They made me feel at home in absolutely no time, flat. They made me feel like my questions were intelligent questions, and that I had enough experience to tackle anything they had to throw my way. And when I asked questions, I got real, in-depth answers! If I asked about fingering or DK weight in the big box stores, I'd get a blank look half the time.
LYS's are more than just stores. They're more than help desks and classrooms, too. They're havens for like-minded people. They're great places to find people who get just as excited as you about a new project, or pattern book, or yarn line, or what have you. The people you meet there will form bonds with you right away. They'll cheer you on when you get through that last cable row, and share your sorrow when you drop several stitches in a fine gague ring lace project that you hadn't gotten around to using a lifeline for just yet.
So when the eyes of your family and co-workers glaze over when you tell them about your most recent felting venture, go to your LYS. They'll be delighted to swap stitching stories with you. The conversations at LYS's are like no other. Come on, where else can you ask a lady "Are you loose?" and not get your face slapped?
