Flee
So I’m fleeing the country on short notice once again. Well, compared to previous flights, this one is actually with a huge amount of notice…whole days in fact. The summarized version is that I’ll be in Toronto this Saturday. It’s been a shockingly long time since I’ve been to Toronto, the last time was way back in November 2007.
Now in 2007 I was a very new knitter. How new? Well, consulting my ravelry notes, I see that I took my very first sock ever with me on that trip in 2007.
Even back then I knew that Toronto had a certain reputation as a yarn store haven. But I didn’t really have the resources (wasn’t yet a ravelry member…found yarn stores a bit intimidating) to properly appreciate it. All that’s different now. Yarn stores no longer scary. Putting ‘town name’ and ‘yarn store’ in google before leaving for a trip is now standard practice. But more importantly, I have you guys and can shamelessly ask you what your favorite yarn stores in any given spot are. So, Toronto, Saturday, any suggestions?
ETA: Lies…it turns out I’m telling you all terrible lies. It seems I was actually last in Toronto in February of 2009. But it was for just long enough to have lunch with a friend and buy one wee ball of yarn…not anything resembling a proper visit. This will be a rather longer trip (a few nights rather than a few hours) and afford much more opportunity for socalizing with wool.
The Purple Purl and Lettuce Knit, first of all. Then, Romni Wools, for a completely different kind of LYS. Then… the Bata Shoe Museum? Mokuba for ribbons and trims, or the Workroom for sewing lovelinesses? More LYSes, of which there are several?
Or… come out to Shall We Knit? in Waterloo (~1 hr away) and take a class with the ladies of Knitty (Amy, Jillian, Kate, AND Denny)!
ENJOY!
I second Purple Purl, Romni Wools, and Lettuce Knit. I also add The Knit Cafe. I would consider Lettuce Knit and The Knit Cafe to be quite small yarn stores however, but with some harder to find brands. The Purple Purl has some great unique brands (lots of which are Canadian, i.e. Dye Version, Viola, Tanis Fiber Arts). Romni Wools is HUGE, hard to look through the way they stack the yarn but a very large selection (brands such as Rowan, Classic Elite, Debbie Bliss, Malabrigo, Manos del Uruguay, etc.). If you’re near the Markham area at all(30-45min away), Mary’s Yarns in Unionville is a nice store in an old house and the Unionville area is great
Not a LYS, but the Textile Museum is fabulous. I could have spent a week in their library.
I completely agree with Purple Purl, Lettuce Knit, Romni Wools, but you can’t forget Americo on Queen Street.
Both the Textile Museum and Batta Shoe Museums are worth checking out!
And for the other Little Nikki’s Coffee Shop(gotta order her mini donuts!) just off the beaten path from Queen St. W before Spadina, and for sausage and atmosphere go to Wvrst (Wvrst.com).
GO LEAFS?
Ohhhh…not just yarn recommendations but donut recommendations…you rock!
Go to Romni, directly to Romni. Honestly, the other shops are cute and cozy and in knitter terms in the city are equivalent to the cool girls in high school but Romni is in another category altogether and I would imagine pretty unique. Its less LYS and more Wool Department Store. Especially if you are yarn savvy. Plus Americo is right down the street, a short walk away. Then get on the streetcar and go waaaaay east to the Purple Purl – they do stock lots of Canadian indie stuff that is worth checking out.
Enjoy our city eh!