5 Reasons to Love Your LYS

LYS Day (aka Local Yarn Store Day) is an annual fiber tradition celebrated on April 30^th. It calls on all “yarnies” to descend on their hometown shops to shower them with love and support. It is more important than ever as so many small businesses struggle to rebuild after the last two years.

If you love yarn, I don’t think you really need convincing to go to your local yarn store. However, I’m here to remind you why you should love your LYS! And at the end of this post, I invite you to share a link to your favorite local yarn shop in the comments.

Reason 1 – Squish Yarn in Person

If squishing and sniffing yarn were an Olympic sport, your LYS would be the training center. There is no better place to get up close and personal with skeins, hanks, and balls than in person at a yarn shop. You can see for yourself how a yarn feels (and smells). And the colors! Buying online might get you a great deal on a few skeins, but some colors are so hard to photograph. So, getting to see the actual colors in person is another big benefit.  

Related: What Makes Yarn Delicious?

Reason 2 – Experts Always on Call

Yarn store owners are passionate makers. They live and breathe yarn all day. Being completely immersed teaches them tips and tricks that the average knitter or crocheter might never come across. So, if you find yourself stuck in a pattern, get yourself over to your local shop. It’s quite likely they offer pattern support.

Reason 3 – Instant Community Connections

Like they say in the theme song to Cheers . . .

… Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came
You want to be where you can see
Our troubles are all the same
You want to be where everybody knows your name

Your LYS is your instant connection to your local community. I can guarantee that within your first five visits, the owner will remember you! And they will be excited for you to see a particular yarn they’ve just got in.

It’s also a great place to visit with your knitting or crochet group for fiber night. There is great camaraderie when stitching together and fiber friends get each other through the toughest times.

Related: One LYS’s Journey of Community, Change, and Success

Reason 4 – Seeing Samples and Trends

Have you seen the samples in your LYS?! Like getting to see the yarn in person, there is a major benefit to seeing finished samples in person. Often, they’ve taken the guesswork out of what yarns will make a good substitute, too. Plus, you get to see what others are working on.  Discovering new patterns is always exciting.

Reason 5 – Turn Non-Fiber People into Yarn Lovers

Have a non-fiber friend? Take them to the yarn store. Yarn is irresistible. Surrounded by the hundreds of colorful skeins, they won’t be able to help themselves. They’ll find one that makes them wonder if they could learn to knit or crochet. You’ll say, “that would make a beautiful scarf. Want me to teach you?” And with that you’ll have one more thing that binds you together as friends.

Related: 5 Reasons to Teach Your Loved Ones to Stitch

These top 5 reasons to love your LYS just scratch the surface! I’d love to hear the name of your local store and what makes it great. Please share in the comments below. Even better if you have a link to the shop’s website!

Related: Yarn Shops Near Yarn Fest Loveland

Originally published 4/11/2022. Updated 4/21/2023.

Serial yarn sniffer Kerry Bogert loves to spend her time knitting when she’s not collaborating with the team at Interweave or editing Interweave Knits magazine. Her passion for making things with her hands is only matched by her love for her children and a well-attenuated stout. Kerry endeavors to never stop learning, buying yarn, or collecting beads. Read her latest articles at Interweave.com.