Yarn Day Trips – The South Sound & Heading East
Caitlyn Wilson
Woolpack Contributor
If you have been following our regular Yarn Day Trip features, you will know that Caitlyn has been having a wonderful year of yarn store exploration. In this latest article Caitlyn fills us in on her summer fiber adventures with friends.
A crocheted aquarium in Our Local Yarn Store
The long days of summer are starting to disappear but with fall approaching what better time to visit our state capital? For our July day trip we set out to visit three destinations in Olympia and we had a blast! First off we stopped in Lacey for Shipwreck Beads. I’ve always seen the highway sign for this place but I’ve never made it a point to go, so with my crafting friends beside me this was our first stop. We were amazed at the selection. It was an entire warehouse sized shopping floor! We all got a little something; maybe you’ll be seeing beads pop up in our knitting.
Our next stop was Our Local Yarn Shop, a nice shop in downtown Olympia. They were having a knitting circle when we stopped by, and everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Their selection was great, with entire rooms dedicated to different fibers, and well signposted labeling throughout. I especially liked the section in the back for needle felting.
We stopped for lunch at Rica Cocina, where the tacos were incredible and the waitstaff were so friendly. They had a house-made salsa bar that was delicious, and it was so fun to try all the different types.
Our last stop of the day was Lost and Found Crafts, a secondhand crafting store. They had some yarns and knitting notions, but a vast collection further of every type of craft you can think of. Stamping, beading, quilting, needlepoint, and scrapbooking were all on display, with tons more tucked in every corner. It felt like a true treasure trove.
This trip was a branch out from just knitting/crocheting, and I think Olympia showed us the best of the crafting world!
We headed to Ellensburg, a great town about two hours east of Seattle. The local yarn store is called Yarn Folk, and it was wonderful. There’s a great selection of different types and weights of yarn, and the decor on the walls was beautiful as well. The whole space is filled with light and it was a treat to visit. I especially liked the branded tape measures and rulers; they were a lovely clean design, and you always need a way to measure!
We popped next door to visit The Botany Shop, where they had lovely plants (some of which were crocheted!) The street was full of great shops and it was nice to explore. We stopped for lunch at The Palace Cafe, an American style eatery with great service and generous portions. It was the perfect stop for relaxation in the middle of our day.
On the way back to the van, we passed Windy Stitches and Stash, a quilting store, and decided to stop in. Their selection of fabrics was gorgeous! We chatted a bit with a group of ladies all doing a quilt-a-long together, and it was fun to live vicariously through them and their fabric choices.
We got back in the van and headed westward. Our next stop was in Cle Elum, a shop called Ruby’s Store. It looked small from the front, but that was deceptive, because inside was a very long and deep space full of crafting supplies. The yarn is right up front, along with embroidery supplies, but they also have fabric, ribbons, buttons, bag hardware, and basically anything you can think of! I loved the ribbon selection and bought a length of red satin heart-shaped ribbon, just for the whimsy.
We walked down the street to Pioneer Coffee Roasting Co., for a pick-me-up drink for the drive home. Besides drinks, they had beautiful bakery treats and a great atmosphere. We finished up the day with a pleasant drive back over the mountains. It’s always so fun to drive along with friends!
Tune in next month when we visit Leavenworth and Wenatchee!
Check in next month when we visit Olympia!
