LAist: Crazy Aunt Purl's Top 10 Best Spots of 2006 To Get Your Crazy Yarn Lady On

Amanda

Sat, 13 Jan 2007 15:30:50 -0800

LAist, bless you for publishing this list. Can I just suggest you supervise the kids who add the links after the article is written? (I know Crazy Aunt Purl didn't put an incorrect link in her work!) The "Yarns Unlimited" you link to is in Bloomington, Indiana, and is clearly unrelated to the Santa Monica shop of the same name.

L.A. Girrrrl

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 01:13:37 -0800

Uhhh...do any of you "LA folks" go east of the 405 and 110? I liked the list until I didn't see Unravelled, in Monrovia, on your list. Then there's Liscat in the LBC (or like I call it, the Hipcat-Knitcat), Skein in Pasadena. Alamitos Bay Yarn Co., but yes, they are less snooty elsewhere. Oh, and that really cute little shop Knitting Pretty in Whittier and is totally shabby-chic cottage. Fun place.

Susan

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 09:30:01 -0800

A Crazy Aunt Purl list that actually went up to 10? Oh no she di-in't!

demondoll

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 18:07:26 -0800

I absolutley loooove Laurie! Thank you for all the great sites, when I'm in the area I'm on the hunt for stash...

Emily

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 09:45:39 -0800

Ooops - double check the link for #6, Yarns Unlimited.... the link is for a store by the same name in Indiana! Great list, Laurie, and as always, your great humor and insight are appreciated! Knit on!

Copperkist

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 22:14:21 -0800

If you end up all the way in Ventura for Anacapa Fine Yarns (which I also recommend), you should also swing a few blocks north to Fabric Town...a totally undiscovered yarn mecca...they have tons of all varieties (anywhere from Red Heart to the kind with Swarovski crystals in it) and most are at great prices. The staff tend to be unsocial, but they are pretty hands-off, if you're the browsing-for-hours type (like me!). This is not a sit-and-knit place, nor a "can you show me how to do a M1 increase" place, but you can find some great yarns at good prices!

marissa

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 17:04:15 -0800

I live in Northern Cali, but LisCat in Naples is fantastic. Alamitos Bay Yarn Co is also decent, but the ladies are MUCH friendlier at LisCat. Happy Knitting!

Liz G.

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 08:04:32 -0800

So timely!! I'm headin' to LA from TX next week - and have Christmas money to spend on all things Yarny! Love ya, Laurie! You and the kitty squad are the BEST!

aileen

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 07:40:38 -0800

Crazy Aunt Purl is the BEST!

Kylie

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 07:19:39 -0800

Hooray for Laurie! I'll definetely check out those shops next time I'm in LA.

Robin

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 06:31:10 -0800

I love Crazy Aunt Purl - and her cats - so if these are her favorites, then they are my favorites, too! And I've never even been to LA! But when I go, I will definitely visit these stores. Hey, maybe even Laurie will come sit and knit a awhile.

Cape Cod Kitty

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 03:21:57 -0800

Crazy Aunt Purl is the cats meow....the list could inspire a trip from Cape Cod to LA and her writing, so honest, entertaining and inspiring, is worth a visit each day! Great cat photos, too. Watch out for Soba!

Marie

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 23:10:54 -0800

Gotta add another vote for Unraveled in Monrovia! Then there's A Stitch in Time in San Marino (which is having a fab sale through the end of the month) and Abuelita's in South Pasadena. Thanks for getting our local Yarn Goddess to give you the "starter list". (from another Krazy Kat Lady with 4 cats)

Peggy Archer

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 22:23:59 -0800

YAY!!! More yarn stores for me to spend my retirement fund in! Best top ten ever!

dez

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 21:26:59 -0800

Hey Laurie,I just read the contributor's guidelines and they run off a list saying contributors can write about "politics, food, sports, gangs, knitting, books ..." My Gawd, does this mean that knitting is bigger than books, almost as big as gangs and approaching sports in popularity in L.A.? Girl, we need to get out game face on and go take on the crack dealers with our DPNs.

dez

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 21:20:17 -0800

Laurie, I now have 15 reasons to hope that L.A. doesn't go rumbling and tumbling off into the ocean: You, your four cats, and your yarn shop list. Thanks for the delightful post! Best, Dez, who hopes to visit bot you and the shops some day.

Amy

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 20:30:20 -0800

I love this list!! I know what I'm doin' this weekend!! Thanks Laurie. Love and Laughter, Amy

shelly

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 18:58:26 -0800

Laurie is the So Cal go to girl for yarn. She says it, I'm there (if I can get the chicken off the truck, ugh, I mean, you know, we have farm animals that block the driveway and stuff.....Never mind.)

Dagny

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 16:18:56 -0800

Laurie, I am thinking of a trip south (not South of the Border this time) in February. If I show up, I so expect a tour of the yarn emporiums.

Debbie

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 15:45:40 -0800

Oh, now I have to add LA to my growing list of yarn store stops. Great list of places to go and now off to check out the internet stores listed. Gotta love Crazy Aunt Purl!

Myrinca

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 14:54:19 -0800

I have to add my 2 cents here and give a shout out to The Little Knittery in Los Feliz. It is a cute shop that doubles as a clothing boutique. The joint is run by 2 sassy gals who are always on hand to dole out some advice and info.

Leeny

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 14:24:26 -0800

I don't knit YET, but Laurie told us to comment and I'm on her side with knitterly love and crazy cat lady love!

Elisa

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 14:11:36 -0800

It's not in LA but another great yarn shop is Anacapa Fine Yarns in Ventura. Fabulous selection & great, friendly staff. Road trip anyone??

Dianne

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 12:59:07 -0800

Even if she is a crazy knitting cat person, this crazy crocheting dog person loves Laurie! Thanks for the list!

Roxanne

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 12:37:10 -0800

Fabulous...thank you! Going to check out the online shops listed!

Pamela

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 12:21:31 -0800

I go on a yarn safari to LA every so often. I have been to a few of these, now I have more on my list to stop at. Thanks for the list! Knitters rock!

Mel

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:50:17 -0800

Maybe the sale of maps to movie star homes should be replaced with a map of yarn shops (since there are so many). Thanks for the list! Yarn shopping is a hobby in and of itself.

Peeve

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:47:26 -0800

Yarn? Crazy Cat Ladies? Excellent!!!

Julia

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:43:00 -0800

Dang! I can't believe I am going to have to fly to California to get a decent yarn selection.

Joe Banks

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:41:36 -0800

The Inland Empire finally has a world class yarn shop! The Yarn Deli 515 New Jersey Street, Suite C Redlands, California 92373 (909) 793-7301 www.theyarndeli.com theyarndeli@aol.com Open Monday through Friday 11 am - 6 pm. Open Saturday 11 am - 3 pm. Closed Sunday They are located just off the I-10 freeway, between San Bernardino and Redlands: Exit the 10 Freeway at California Street and head south on California Street. Turn left onto Redlands Boulevard. Turn right onto New Jersey Street. They on the right hand side of the street in the New Jersey Office Plaza. (If you see Bracken Bird Farm, you've gone too far!)

sakurasaku

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:31:32 -0800

I'm printing out this list for my next trip to LA. Fabulous sushi and fabulous yarn shops....yummy. Thanks, Laurie!

TJ

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:22:40 -0800

Thanks for the list, Laurie. Some friends and I were planning a yarn crawl outside of the San Gabriel Valley, and this list will help us plan our itinerary. We have some great yarn shops out this way, though. Check out Unraveled in Monrovia -- great yarns, great space, wonderful classes.

janel

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:06:59 -0800

Hey Laurie, you rock! I'd just add that for spinning (you know you want to!) you should check out Stick & Stone in Van Nuys http://www.stick-and-stone.com and also A Mano and Stitch Cafe carry some spinning stuff too. If you feel like a little drive for knitting, Velona Needlecraft in Anaheim hills http://www.velona.com/ is really the greatest knitting store I've ever been in. The owner has been knitting forever and can help you with everything and they have hard to find books and yarns in addition to all the other stuff including those teensy lace needles (I bought some 000000's there). I've been to most of your picks and I concur that they're fab. -- Janel Laidman editor, Spindlicity an online magazine for handspinners http://www.Spindlicity.com

Amanda

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:06:57 -0800

Hooray! There can hardly be a more important list for LAist to publish, or a better choice for the author! A suggestion for number ten, and one I can personally testify is friendlier than several shops listed: Slipt Stitch in El Segundo. Small and friendly, with a great selection of yarn and hands down the best needle selection of any shop I've seen. Plus they're in a pleasant section of downtown that time forgot, and parking has never been an issue (a big plus in this area). Now I'm off to investigate the few on this list I haven't been to yet. Thank you, LAist and Crazy Aunt Purl!

Lucia

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 10:53:02 -0800

I have about as much chance of getting to LA as to the moon, but knitters rock, especially divorced knitters who live in the Valley and have four cats.

Merna

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 10:24:48 -0800

Great list Laurie! I've been to 6 of your almost 10. I bet the new Santa Monica store Compatto will be on next year's list. Until a few years ago, we didn't have all the choices of shops we do now.

noricum

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 09:55:28 -0800

Thanks for the photo credit. :) I love Crazy Aunt Purl! I'll have to check these shops out the next time I'm in LA!

Liz R

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 09:38:41 -0800

I love Laurie!!! If Crazy Aunt Purl loves the yarn shop then so do I!!!