DIY City the mag |

Of course there are hundreds of yarn shops in New York City, but we thought we would share with you just a few of our favorites. Most cater to those who knit and crochet, but of course yarn can be used for so many great DIY projects.

Downtown Yarns is a lovely yarn shop with a well organized selection of delectable yarns. It is known as a neighborhood store in the East Village - 45 Avenue A. You can take the 6 train to Bleecker Street and walk east to Ave. A. They offer classes including the popular “Knitting Projects” class in which you pick your own project and make it with the teacher’s help. The store offers a wide selection of high end yarns, but you will feel comfortable browsing if you aren’t ready to make up your mind.

Knit-A-Way Brooklyn, located at 398 Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn, looks so inviting on the outside. Take the A or C train to Hoyt and then walk over to Atlantic. Inside you will find one of the largest selection of instructional books for knitters and crocheters in the city. They also offer discounts to members of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) (crochet.org) and the Big Apple Knitters Guild (BAKG)(bakg.org). Knit-A-Way offers a basic set of classes. If you already know the basics, the Sunday Circle group that meets on Sunday afternoons might be a great crochet/knitting class if you want to work at your own pace on a project of your choice. Also, there are usually some yarns on sale - a plus if you are budget conscious. The store tends to carry a wide selection of basic yarns.
knitaway.com

Others on our list:
Knit New York at 14th St and 2nd Ave. Take the N/R/4/5/6 to Union Square or the L to 1st or 3rd Ave. They have a cafe and if you are super nervous about learning - they have private lessons for knitting and crocheting. And if you really want to DIY it - you can plan a party at The Knit.
knitnewyork.com

Smiley’s Yarn Store is located in Queens at 9206 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven, NY. Smiley’s is known for its big holiday yarn sale. Smiley’s is a giant yarn outlet that is known for low prices. By train, you need to take the J to Woodhaven Blvd.
smileysyarns.com

School Products
The oldest yarn store in Manhattan, it is a favorite for many. We love fiber, so this is one of our fav places to visit. They also have machine knitting and weaving equipment for the hard core DIYs. And the owner, Berta Karapetyan, just published her new book Runway Knits. So head to Midtown and it is at 1201 Broadway Suite 301 between 28th & 29th Streets. Take the R or the W to 28th St. at hop out at Broadway. But don’t look for a storefront - it is located on the 3rd Floor.
schoolproducts.com

Habu Textiles
Kim, at yarnabuse (yarnabuse.com), says walking into Habu is like walking into “yarn church”. At this upscale yarn store you will find more than enough fiber to fondle, okay so you can’t fondle it, but you can buy it and make something gorgeous. You will find it at 135 W 29th St. You can also sign-up for some very interesting classes such as Reading Japanese Patterns. It is a showroom/gallery and a weaving studio. You will find a large selection of imported Japanese and Asian yarns. And it’s open on Saturdays!