Are there still small yarn shops around?

Dear Community,
are the small yarn shops becoming fewer and fewer because so much is done online these days? Do you feel like you’re missing out when you only shop online?

There’s still a small yarn and craft store in Neuss, since they also carry embroidery supplies.
Unfortunately, this store is also very expensive… yes, I understand that the prices are based on costs like rent, employees, overhead, etc… but I’m afraid that sooner or later, this store will have to close as well.

BTW: It’s a really cute shop, the ladies who work there are nice, and you can find almost anything you’re looking for. 

I’m lucky that there are three small shops in my area. I go to one of them regularly when I need something for my sewing projects. I usually buy yarn at the factory outlet.

But all three shops are run by women who, like me, are nearing retirement age or have been retired for a long time. I don’t even want to think about what will happen when they can no longer run the shops. 

Around here, there haven’t been any small shops selling yarn or craft supplies for a long time—the last one closed down at least 10 years ago.
There might still be something downtown, but getting into Cologne is quite a trek—Cologne isn’t exactly small, and I live on the very outskirts, so that’s about 12 or 13 km each way. Parking in the city is also a problem, and taking public transit wouldn’t really allow for a big shopping trip.
So that leaves only the internet.
But I see it this way, too: the main problem will be pricing. A store like that has rent to pay, needs to be heated, requires electricity, and the staff wants to earn a living, too—so it’s hard to compete with online retailers that don’t have a physical store.

We only have one small yarn shop left here locally—there used to be three. It’s the same with fabric stores; we used to have five in Schweinfurt, and now we only have one left.

Best regards, Inge

If I want to feel the yarn in person, I have to take public transportation to Berlin. That’s a one-hour trip one way. I’d be willing to invest that time, but then there’s the increased cost of travel—a BVG day pass costs 10.60 euros.

I know of three craft stores in Berlin, though they vary in quality. One is in Berlin-Pankow (“Herr U”) and mainly sells high-end yarn. The owner doesn’t just make a living from sales, though—he also regularly hosts crafting events. For example, every year you can book tickets for a boat cruise where everyone knits. There’s food, drinks, and crafts. That comes at a price. But it fosters customer loyalty, and people can buy the yarn right there from him.

The second shop in Berlin-Springpfuhl (“Wollke 7”) carries haberdashery and yarn. The owner has bravely weathered the COVID years, and the shop is still open. But she doesn’t rely solely on sales—she also teaches classes.

Fabric stores are also few and far between. I only know of one left at Alexanderplatz. It probably survives thanks to its central location right by the train station and because there isn’t much competition left.

Well, that’s a shame. I always loved the exciting, invigorating atmosphere in craft stores. You could see and touch the wool and fabrics, let your imagination run wild. And you always ended up buying more than you actually intended.

The internet can’t offer that. Even though there are more varieties, colors, and manufacturers—the “real” experience of seeing, touching, and buying is still missing. That’s why there are also many purchases that turn out wrong. And you can’t return fabric that’s already been cut. You just have to figure out what to do with it.

Anyone who has a craft store nearby can count themselves lucky.

Best regards, Ina

We actually still have one larger and one smaller yarn shop in the city center, as well as a button shop that carries various other craft supplies. The smaller yarn shop has had a new owner since the beginning of the year, so hopefully it has a bright future ahead. Also, until the middle of the year, public transportation is free on the first Saturday of every month—I’ve already taken advantage of this several times by visiting downtown and the yarn shops. I hope this offer gets extended.
Woolly regards
Irene

Oh, and by the way, there’s still a yarn shop in Darmstadt-Ahrheiligen with an incredible selection. It’s also worth asking there if you’re looking for something that’s no longer available in stores. Plus, they host a flea market twice a year featuring brand-name yarn at low prices.
Woolly regards
Irene

That’s great, Irene! If there were something like that where I live, I’d definitely use it for a stroll through town, too.

Back when I was still working in Berlin, I’d automatically be in the city and could stop here and there to browse the shops. I had an annual pass, so I didn’t really notice the travel costs. Nowadays, I have to factor those costs into my planned shopping trip. If I “just” wanted some inexpensive felting yarn for a pair of new felt slippers (cost: 10 euros), it wouldn’t be worth it with the travel costs. So I have to want to buy more for it to be worth it.

Hugs, Ina

There’s no yarn shop right near us. If I want to buy something, I’d have to drive into Munich. Since I’m not very mobile, that would be too much of a hassle for me.
Besides, I’ve often been disappointed lately because the selection keeps getting smaller. Sometimes they’d reorder, but that would take 1–2 weeks, and then I’d have to go into town again.
Yes, it’s nice to be able to feel the yarn and see everything “in person,” but I’m really glad to have the option to order online. That way, I have a huge selection, can take my time choosing, and get everything delivered right to my door. For me, that’s perfect!

Yeah, I’ve noticed that too—they’re becoming fewer and fewer.
Here in the city center, there’s still a small craft store that carries my cotton yarn; I shop there every now and then when I run out of yarn.
Otherwise, I sometimes find something at Rossmann, Action, Tedi, or Woolworth. But I have to search for it—mostly blended yarns, which I don’t like.

I’m still working on projects from my stash. I only go into town when it’s worth it (shopping, visiting residents at the nursing home and colleagues…), since I won’t have a monthly pass anymore starting in January (it’s gotten too expensive, going from 49 euros to 56 euros). So I’ll buy a ticket through the app, or when it gets warmer, I’ll walk (it takes 30 minutes) or ride my bike.

Here in the Ruhr region, we’re still pretty well-served—I can get to a few shops within a radius of about 20 km.

Depending on what you need, there’s still a pretty wide selection here, especially when it comes to fabrics.

Most of the shops aren’t right in the city center anymore, though, so getting there by public transit isn’t that easy even here.

In our town (about 16,000 residents), there’s still one store that sells sewing machines (mainly for repairs), as well as sewing supplies and yarn (mostly from one manufacturer). The store stays in business mainly through repairs and alterations. There’s also a fabric store (part of a chain). Unfortunately, the other sewing machine and fabric store closed down last year. When I need something I can’t find locally, I like to browse a yarn, fabric, and craft store in Bern or Lucerne, or the yarn market in a smaller town. Since I have an unlimited public transit pass, the travel costs aren’t a big deal.

In Gudensberg, the little shop that used to carry almost everything—from “Schießer Feinripp” to aprons, haberdashery, and yarn—has closed because the owners moved into a nursing home 😢😢.
It was a bit pricier, but I enjoyed buying “this and that” there! 
10 km away in Fritzlar, there’s still a (pretty pricey😢) yarn shop and a store that sells fabrics and sewing machines—and also repairs the latter. (For €100, I had mine—which had become sticky from sitting unused for so long—fixed up again!)

Let’s all keep up our crafting so these skills aren’t lost! ❤️

There’s still a yarn shop in our town that mainly carries yarn from one manufacturer and charges accordingly, but the shop is always packed. That’s partly because the two super-friendly shop owners give very thorough advice, help convert gauges, explain the texture and suitability of the yarn for specific projects, and provide excellent guidance overall. It doesn’t matter how many people are standing behind you at the register waiting—they don’t let it rattle them. People know this and come prepared to spend time there. You often learn something just by listening, even if it’s not about your own project. I really enjoy going there.