Anyone following me on Instagram and Facebook will be well aware from all the pics I've been posting that I've just spent nine days in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
It's been an incredible trip and I've so much to share I'll have to break it down over two or three blog posts. For those who love wool as much as I do this is the post for you!!!
A short #3 bus journey from the Downtown Vancouver waterfront up Main Street to 28th Street drops you off at the door of Three Bags Full yarn store. I headed up there one-day last week intending to stay a while then take a walk on to a fabric shop I'd heard about.
Well, I fell in love with the store, forgot my previous plans and sat on this gorgeous sofa for the next four hours knitting and chatting with staff and other customers.
I couldn't resist taking lots of pics (with permission) to share with you and wait till you see all the scrumptious yarn and fabulous colours.
This is the view as you walk in the store...
...on the right there's some fab accessories/notions, locally sourced hand turned bodkin cases, needles and more
and did you spot the incredible baskets in the front window and displayed around the store?
These Baba Tree African baskets are ethically made by the weavers of Bolgatanga, northern Ghana, you can read more about them here. In store prices start at CAN $22 and this little beauty just had to come home with me (as did the wool you can see in it but more about that later!).
Alongside the baskets you might also have spotted this Noro yarn
and Elisa, who works in the store, is busy knitting some of it up as a table runner.
I think she's going to felt it for this inviting 'sit and knit at me' table in the centre of the store
and she's already created this felted sample that's also on display.
More shelves of Noro on the left, I tried not to notice them too much, it's one of my favourite yarns and I've already got lots in my stash!
I know many of you love Koigu sock yarn - check out this wall full of it.
And more sock yarn by Franziska Uhl, hand dyed in Germany
If you're looking for a little Canadian something to take home how about this Prairie Wool?
More scrumptious colour on the centre table - if I remember rightly this is Bhada wool from the Netherlands - perfect for wet and dry felting -
alongside this Kid Silk Haze from Rowan
I'm crazy for this wool having used it several years ago in the Ghost colourway to make this Kim Hargreaves designed 'Down' jumper.
More eye candy
and then I spotted this particular wall of wool...
...how I love these soft colours
it's Lopi Lettlopi from Iceland.
I just couldn't resist and when Elisa showed me it knitted up in a Nordic Wind shawl I knew I had to replicate it - the pattern by cabinfour is available to purchase here on Ravelry and those five balls of wool are all mine!
Update at February 2016:
I've made my own Nordic Wind Shawl now - you can read more about it here.
For good measure here's a couple more pics of the walls
and then the notions section right by where I settled up for my purchases.
I think I was very restrained, don't you?!!!
Elisa and May, who were working in the store the day I visited, were so welcoming and helpful and we've already become Ravelry friends; I just wish I lived closer and could pop back regularly.
For full details of everything Three Bags Full has in store and online you can visit their website here. Their classes page is here and they're also on Instagram, Facebook, and Ravelry and their blog is a great follow, full of eye candy.
Three Bags Full Knit Shop
4458 Main Street, Vancouver, BC
If you love yarn and are visiting Vancouver I highly recommend you take a trip out to this wonderful store, I'm so glad I did - Chris :D
Read my second Exploring Vancouver post The Cloth Shop and my third about my Sea To Sky Highway Road Trip by clicking the images below:
For details of other fabric, yarn, trim and notion stores that I've visited around the world along with the NYC stores I love, exhibitions and events I've attended and wonderful people I've been lucky to meet click the links below or in my sidebar :D
Clicking on an image will take you to a new page of crafty goodness :)
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.
