The Crafty Side of Life

I like to do crafty things. I've been crocheting for a few years, knitting for a few months and always attempting some sewing project. When we moved up here everyone told me that I needed to find a hobby for the winters. That first year I taught myself to crochet. And we ended up having an unusually mild winter. But since that first year the winters have been pretty typical. You get bound up inside either due to streaks of below zero temps or major amounts of snow (or both). And it's not like in the city - because even the most traveled highways around here aren't traveled enough to be free of snow and ice patches.

Until a few months ago I could get pretty much anything I needed and then some at the local Wal-Mart. Then our Wal-Mart decided to remodel and reorganize. Part of that process included ridding themselves of most of their craft department. Fabric = gone. Most other sewing notions are also gone. As well as their yarn selection. They still carry some colors of one weight of about 2 brands of yarn.

There is one craft store in town (which means the town that's almost 30 miles away). But they cater to mostly the higher class and vacationers around here. God forbid you are attempting something you have questions about. They have knowledge, sure, but for some reason they seem to enjoy turning their noses up at me and acting like whatever question I have is moronic. They are snobby and unhelpful. And a few times I've gone in and had questions but didn't get an opportunity to ask because they were on a personal call that was more important than my business.

I've pretty much sworn off the local craft store. (But somehow I still find myself popping in there!)

Aside from taking a 2 hour road trip to somewhere civilized enough to have a real craft store, the choices are a 50mile drive one way for a yarn store, or a 45mile drive in the opposite direction for a sewing store. Both stores are mom and pop operations. And both owners are very friendly, welcome questions, and love to talk about techniques and such. But it's hard to be able to get to either of them...

I have resorted to buying some things online, a few yarns (brands that I know), a few knitting needles and such. But I am very tactile. I like to go to the store and touch and feel what I'm buying when it comes to yarn and fabric. And I like to have someone to ask questions... once I become a little more experienced and knowledgeable, shopping online for these items will be more of an option.