Stix-n-Stitches is closing. I’m not sure why but it made me mindful of how few local yarn & fiber craft stores we have left. I realize that the chain craft stores sell a lot of yarn and so do the web-based stores but I can’t get help from them when I need it. They can’t talk me off the ledge when I think I can’t finish a project either. I love being able to talk to other knitters, crocheters and finding out what they are doing or have tried. I need that person to person contact. These stores also carry great yarns in different price ranges so there is something for everyone!
So support your LYS (Knitknack at 1914 Springfield Avenue in Maplewood, N J is mine) we can’t afford to have them disappear!
Sadly, a lot of fiber-related stores have closed. I think it is important for fiber crafters to support their local yarn stores as much as possible. Besides, as you note, that’s where you go when you need advice or help – or if you want to dreamily browse. While Joanne’s and Michael’s continue in many strip malls across the country, their yarn selections are quite limited. I don’t know how their customer service vis-a-vis yarns, knitting & crocheting is as I think I’ve been into a Michael’s maybe once and Joanne’s maybe once a year for non-knitting related items (e.g., sewing thread or a zipper).
While I do use Caron Simply Soft yarn I don’t use much else from places like Michael’s. They don’t even have a good selection of crochet hooks or knitting needles. I have seen pattern demo’s at AC Moore but you certainly can’t get the individual help you get at your LYS