Tag: California

Yarns of the City – 27 June 2009

Anacapa Fine Yarns

This weekend Anacapa Fine Yarns celebrates its 5th birthday.  And what a party it is!  On Saturday, Judy (my MIL) and I wandered over, planning on some damage occurring to the budgets.  We got in a bit later than the 10:00 a.m. opening – not much later, just 30 minutes – and the place was packed!

Lois started this store after working in a large accounting firm for years, and the years of “taking care of the books” certainly showed in her foresight.  Anacapa has been able to grow with the business. Lois is a cheerful, friendly person – sunny and funny – and greets many of her customers by name.

The store has a lot of floor space, natural light, good artificial light, and cosy feel.  In the front is most of the yarn, with plenty of room for new shipments, books, buttons, needles and notions. There are knitting bags, bits of fluffy wool for spinners, and yarns for all budgets and tastes. In the far corner are the books, with a small, circular table where you can sit, knit, chat, and look at patterns.  In the back is an even larger room, for classes, and more yarn (what else?).  Lois has had trunk shows, authors, teachers, as well as monthly and on-going classes.

As the years have gone by, more yarn has come in, wonderful employees, and a group of friendly fans make this a great place for knitters to congregate.  Customer service is always available, and I have never had a bad moment here – until I look at all the woolly seduction!  Then – well – you know how that is!  Choices!  And some – just some – self-control!!

And the sale? Well, you can see how crowded it was. The line was verrrry long! Judy and I each got sock yarn. Judy got some grey-green-blue Koigu, and I got some ocean-blue-green. Judy also got a lovely sock yarn that was creamy with other colors dispersed through it. I also picked up a nice ball of manly Tofutsies for the esposo, and some – finally! – Mini Mochi in greens.

Anacapa is a gem of a yarn store, and if you are up in Ventura, California, don’t forget to visit.  They are open 6 days a week – closed on Monday.  The newsletter is published regularly – take a look and see what’s happening and who is showing up.

Happy 5th, Anacapa!

Yarns of the City – 30 May 2009

Eva’s Needlework, Thousand Oaks, CA

People of talent are found everywhere.  In particular, I like Eva Wiechmann of Eva’s Needlework. She’s a creative designer, having a number of books out. She has a series of books out called Pursenalities – lots of purse patterns, knitted, crocheted, and felted. Her newest one is called Simple Stitches, which contains sweaters and tops.  You can purchase these books at her online store.

If you are in passing through Thousand Oaks, check out her store. It’s the kind of yarn store I enjoy – jammed with stuff. She has an excellent selection of pattern books (in addition to her own). Samples from her books are on display, too, which gives the knitter a chance to see what they really look like.

Yarns of the City – 27 May 2009

Fabric Town USA, Ventura, CA

I love this store!

I’ve been shopping here for years. This is an old-fashioned, family-run store, located in the middle of Main Street of Ventura, CA. There are fabrics, sewing and knitting supplies, upholstery materials, patterns and buttons. Everything is beautifully displayed – the plain exterior belies the inside, trust me – and the service is superb. Many people who work at Fabric Town have been there a long time, and the service provided is some of the best by staff who know what they are talking about. Change is counted back to you, too, so no one is dumping a bunch of bills and coins in your hand. There is a courteousness here which dates back to earlier days.

Fabric Town carries high quality fabrics, if you sew. Silk, cottons, wools. Patterns include Vogue, Butterick, McCalls, and Simplicity, and some of the newer firms as well. Notions for sewing are all over, with a good button selection, zippers, pins, and whatever you might need. All is very reasonably priced. If you quilt, you won’t be disappointed, either.

Yarns and knitting supplies include acrylics made by Red Heart and Paton’s, as well as the good wools, cottons, silk blends, merinos, bamboo and such by Cascade, Berocco, Trendsetter, Crystal Palace, Knit One Crochet Two, and others. There are sock yarns, DK, sport, aran weight. The yarns are divided into categories, such as sock, and then nicely displayed on glass or wooden shelves. The book selection is not large, but the ones they have are nicely chosen. They also carry Clover knitting notions and my favorite aluminum needles, Susan somebody! They do not have an extensive class schedule, but have some knitting classes posted here and there.

Here is where they are located:
2686 E Main St
Ventura, CA 93003
(805) 643-3434

Although the address is on Main Street, you have to go around to the back, next to the BofA teller area. Check them out! They are open 7 days a week, too.