Do you consider yourself a good shopper? Were you one of those teenagers whose idea of a perfect Saturday was one spent mooching with your friends round your favourite haunts, trying things on and preening in the fitting rooms? Truly, that could not have been further from my personal reality. I am not a good or patient clothes shopper. It's something I have tried to get better at, but really it is still a mission to be conquered rather than a pleasure in it's own right.
But retailing of other things? Well, I love it. Principally the way that a really good shop can make you feel like you could move in and never ever leave. The sense of excitement when you know there is a visit on the cards and the urge to buy something there, so that you can capture a tiny bit of the essence of the place to take home with you.
Last week, Monica and I went on a field trip to a new yarn shop. It is called The Fibreworks and is in Chipping Norton. Claire and Leslie, the lovely owners opened their shop in October and had emailed to tempt us over for a look. Well, you don't need to ask twice. All yarn shops are, in my book, a good thing. Pretty colours, balls and skeins for squishing, new things to discover. In short, temptation.
And on this front, The Fibreworks delivers in spades. They stock a really well curated choice of yarns - familiar staples like Debbie Bliss, great affordable options like Lang yarns (not too familiar to me, but I was impressed by what I saw) and the wonderfully niche things like locally grown alpaca!
But it takes more than good stock to achieve the retail X factor. It helps to have charming owners. Claire was in the middle of teaching a beginners sock knitting workshop in the studio upstairs, but she still made time for a chat and let us ooh and aah over their plans for the Spring window display (there were knitted mouse y-fronts involved - it warranted close inspection!)
And Leslie was just lovely and incredibly knowledgeable about their stock - helping me to identify a likely substitute yarn candidate from a secret box of pre-release samples. Quite honestly, I could happily have just plonked myself down on the window seat and nattered to her. Which is, I'm sure, what many of the customers feel.
Because there is an atmosphere of coming home inside the shop. Which I may have totally failed to capture by neglecting to remember my decent camera on the day we visited. So excuse the 'happy snap' nature of the photos.
Everywhere you kook, there are the little personal touches that make you smile.
And leave you feeling inspired.
In short, it's one of those places - the kind which you tell friends who might be passing that way to stop at. Because you know that the magic will work on them too and you'd hate for them to miss it.
And it is places like this that reassure me that even in these day of infinite choice, internet shopping and the ease of bargain hunting online, that great independent shops will continue to exist and thrive. And yes, you know a little something came home with me.
What's your favourite place to buy yarn? Will you make a special trip to visit? Why do you love it?
Google maps tells me that CN is just 57 mins away from Worcester. A44 here I come.
Posted by: Sue | 09 March 2012 at 17:51
ooh it looks fantastic! so what did you buy!
Posted by: driftwood | 09 March 2012 at 17:58
My favourite yarn shop is Wool for Ewe in Rosemount Aberdeen.......... but it's an hour and a half away and oh so well worth the journey.
Please, please tell, - what did you bring home with you?
Posted by: Carol | 09 March 2012 at 18:14
I'm with Carol. What did you buy and what will you make with it?
Posted by: Emma | 09 March 2012 at 19:28
Ooh that looks like my kind of shop! Unfortunately I don't really have a particular shop that I go to for such crafty items, I get things from all over. There was a shop I used to visit a lot in Manchester called Abakhans which did EVERYTHING but I don't even live in the same country as that shop anymore, it's a bit too far to go :-)
Posted by: Caroline@puppydogstails | 09 March 2012 at 19:42
What a gorgeous shop! Sadly too far for me to travel to, although I do get down that way from time to time. I'm lucky in that I have Stash in Chester not too far away, but I'm always looking for somewhere new with different yarns :D
Oh, and I'll add my plea to tell us what you bought please :D
Posted by: Annie | 09 March 2012 at 19:44
I wish I could knit.... Ax
Posted by: Magic Bean | 09 March 2012 at 20:08
I wish I could knit as well ....
Posted by: Terri Chant | 09 March 2012 at 20:55
Sorry - did't mean to be secretive - I got some Lang felting wool as I am on a bowl-making kick.
Posted by: Ali | 10 March 2012 at 07:51
Wow! I will have to get myself up there! I used to live round the corner from Chipping Norton - bit gutted I moved now!
Posted by: Account Deleted | 10 March 2012 at 09:29
Oh I completely agree with you about clothes shopping! But yarn shopping is something else entirely. Bliss.
K x
Posted by: kristina | 10 March 2012 at 09:41
We've got a new one in Cambridge, and they offer you a cup of tea almost as soon as you walk through the door! And they sell little amigurumi eyes! You have to love a LYS.
Posted by: dottycookie | 10 March 2012 at 09:47
Daughter and I have Fibreworks on our summer visiting list - we'll we can dream! Our local woolshop is a bit of a disappointment in that it isn't very cozy though they are quite pleasant. (Not that I need yarn, I'm overstocked as I inherited someone else's stash but inevitably isn't all to my taste)
Posted by: Jane | 10 March 2012 at 10:57
What a lovely shop! One on the "must visit" list! Although on-line shopping is disconcertingly easy you do need to know what you want and sometimes the colours are not very true just on the wesites. I agree there's nothing to beat going in person and seeing / feeling yarn in the wool so to speak!
On another matter, Gillian at tales from a happy house "tagged" me yesterday. I have posted a tagging post (as per the instructions) and "tagged" you in turn. I hope you don't mind. If it's not your thing, feel free to ignore. Not sure about the etiquette of these things.
So glad the chocolate chip cookies went down well!
See you soon.
E x
Posted by: mrsthomasinatittlemouse | 10 March 2012 at 17:27
I found Fibreworks by accident one Saturday afternoon - and it's everything you have mentioned and more. The Wednesday evening knitting group is really great and very welcoming. Not been able to go much recently due to work and ill health - but it's really is a great LYS - I'd rather travel the 30 mile round trip than use the sadly less inspiring one closer to home.
Posted by: Catrina Rusher | 10 March 2012 at 20:26
I have a lovely shop called Fibre and Clay about half an hour away in Knutsford, Cheshire. They are so inspiring to visit aren't they but rather dangerous to the purse!
Posted by: French Knots | 10 March 2012 at 21:33
There's nothing like a wool shop. Sheer joy! Maybe it's because there aren't many around that makes them such a lovely find. I am lucky to have one in Dorking where I live. And what's more I go there every Friday morning for 'Knit and Natter'. Perfection!
Posted by: Lynne Kovan | 11 March 2012 at 14:55
What a fabulous looking shop! I love all the cosy bits. My LYS is great with really lovely people and scrummy wool - especially their own handpainted sock wool. They also have knit-and-natter groups 3 times a week and every other Monday evening which are fun. As for clothes shopping - hate it! Lucy xx
Posted by: lucylocket | 11 March 2012 at 18:42
Oooh, it sounds like a wonderful shop. I LOVE those cute yarn balls hanging there with the knitting needles in them. I hate clothes shopping too -- Yuck!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | 11 March 2012 at 19:43
Ooh, how lovely!
So far every time I discover a LYS near here it goes out of business about a month after I visit, which is starting to make me a little paranoid. At the moment I'm stuck buying yarn from chain craft stores and overstock stores. The search continues...
Posted by: UK lass in US | 11 March 2012 at 21:03
aaah, so that's why i always buy something, the yarn shop essence, i thought i was just greedy! i wanted to tell you about my 3 favourite shops, but since fibre and clay and stash have already been mentioned, i'll just tell you about the knit studio in newcastle...i would definately like to live there, surrounded by gorgeous yarn, friendly people and with a constant supply of tea and cakes - bliss, it's my happy place!
Cate, x
Posted by: whimsycate | 12 March 2012 at 20:53
oh my, what a treasure trove! It looks like my kind of retail therapy heaven. Sadly there aren't any decent yarnie shops really near to me anymore. When I feel like I drive I head up to Jolie which is such a pretty little shop full of lots of lovely things, aswell as a great yarn selection. We definitely need more shops like these around!
Posted by: Julie | 13 March 2012 at 16:55