teaching sewing confidence, tip by tip

Saturday 30 May 2015

Exploring Vancouver BC - Three Bags Full


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.

22 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Let's go together and take Nini and Chelsey too!!! Failing that let's all get together over the summer closer to home - Chris :D x

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  2. Looks scrumptious!!! The colors are incredible... thanks for sharing such a wonderful shop. I can see why you stayed awhile.

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  3. One of my favourite shops, although I don't get there as often as I'd like. AND I've been to the Custom Woollen Mills in Carstairs. I bought a sock kit that I have only petted and not knit...

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    1. Ha, I do a lot, buying, petting but not making. Next time I visit we'll have to visit that Woollen Mill together. You know when I got home I watched a week's worth of Coronation Street after a four year abstinence, you really started something mentioning it to me!!! - Chris x

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  4. What a fabulous shop, my credit card would have been in serious danger there!

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  5. What a great shop and in such beautiful surrounds. My heart skipped a couple when I saw the title on the reader... I live in Vancouver (the first one) in WA. Just a bit south, so nicer weather.
    Hugs

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    1. Funny you should say that Terri but my husband tells me a trip to Portland and Vancouver (WA) is on the cards for later this year or early next year. Do you have any quilting and yarn recommendations for me of where I should visit when I'm there? - Chris :D

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  6. JUST "Three-Bags-Full"..?! -- I'd be backing up 3 TRUCKS to *FILL*!! And, camping out on that sofa...
    Anyway, THANK YOU for this "Catalogue" spread of GOODIES! -- My Best BFF lives in the Vancouver area, but I haven't had a chance to visit in years. Hopefully, I'll get the opportunity to again *before* They move back to the EAST Coast. I already had one yarn shop on my "LIST" that's close by to Them - [88 STITCHES] - but I will certainly be adding THIS ONE to it as well! - BTW, $22. for that Handbag is rather a good price.
    #SoooooJealous
    ;-D

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    Replies
    1. Oh get yourself over to see them before they leave, I'm jealous that you might get back there before me!!! - Chris :D

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  7. That's the kind of shop I would come out of with a very light purse!
    I had a friend who emigrated to Vancouver and we keep in touch on facebook but I've not seen her in over 20 years - maybe I need to arrange a trip to see her and then take a quick shopping detour!

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    1. What a great reason to visit Julia and be sure to take an empty suitcase on the way out for that journey home, I did!!! - Chris :D

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  8. Wow what a beautiful shop, would end up with 3 bags full of goodies if I visited here.

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  9. Oooh, I love that shawl! I will definitely try to go by there when I get to go to Vancouver. We have moved to Washington and it is definitely on our to do list, or should I say to go list :) I really think I need one of those wonderful baskets! Thanks for sharing your adventures!
    Beth

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    Replies
    1. Oh do drop by and check it out, it's a great store. Seattle is on my travel list in the next couple of months, do you have any quilting/yarn must do/visit recommendations for me for when I'm there? - Chris

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  10. Thank you for all those gratuitous wool photos. I would want to buy all of the things! And sink into that couch and crochet at that table! What a fabulous shop. You were very admirably restrained with your purchases!

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  11. Knitters Heaven! I am surprised that you were able to leave Chrissie :)

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  12. What an amazing shop! Vancouver has just shot to the top of my 'to emigrate to' list! I think you were very restrained :)

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    1. You know before we visited my husband said to me 'don't like it too much we can't move here'. Two days into our visit and he was the one trying to work out if it was possible for us to move there!!! It's absolutely gorgeous and the people were wonderful; if I was told I had to move there I wouldn't be putting up a fight - Chris :D

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  13. Wow! I am not a knitter, but what a gorgeous shop! I have two of those African baskets and love them.

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  14. Wow, what an awesome shop! Vancouver looks beautiful! Thank you for sharing this with us at the #HomeMattersParty this week!

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  15. What a beautiful and impressive shop! Thanks for sharing this at fabulous Friday! Will be doing another party this thursday night
    Maria

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I love to hear from everyone, thank you for taking the time to read my blog and share your thoughts. Please leave a message to let me know you visited, it's a great way to get to know you all better too :)

Chris Dodsley


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