Foraging for Fiber - Brownsville Stitching Parlor

There is nothing more comforting than stepping into a store that is filled with all of the fibers that one can squish. Admittedly I have resorted to doing this at big box stores in their fiber aisle if there are no LYS in the area. Am I embarrassed? No. Do I still do it? Of course.

The lack of LYS in my area have pushed me to explore. And when I am presented with the opportunity to explore a new LYS I seize it! Local Yarn Shops are not as common as one would think. In fact in Oregon most of the shops are concentrated in the Portland area. And if you venture down the I-5 corridor you may find some sprinkled here and there. For those weekend warriors who may venture off to the coast they may be lucky enough to find some that are open on the weekends. 

You may ask, why are you so obsessed with local shops? Or why doesn't she shop online? 

Well, let's just say that I love shopping (ehem looking and touching everything) and LYS hunting is actually a hobby of mine. Nothing cheers me up more than meeting other crafters in person who understand the love for the craft. And why shop online when I can "forage" for the goodies that I want from local folks who may or may not appreciate the sale more? 

So in spirit of my hunt I want to share a shop that is in a quaint little town. A town that reminds me a lot of Stars Hollow in a way. It's cute, it's small, and folks treat you like family, Brownsville, OR. And if you are familiar with Stand By Me, the town Castle Rock was set in Brownsville. 

The LYS for this week is: Brownsville Stitching Parlor. 

Brownsville Stitching Parlor occupies a building that is well known in the area, The C.J. Howe Building. History tells us that The C.J. Howe Building was credited with saving the business district in Brownsville  from a large fire in 1919 by acting as a fire barrier! Though the inside was remodeled, the beauty of the building has been preserved. 

When you walk up to the shop you will notice two large shop windows, one of which allows you to see a large knitting nook. Once inside there are walls and aisles full of yarn. In an attempt to make knitting affordable Jaime has curated her selection to contain a variety of brands, fibers, weights, and colors that fit many budgets. And if you can't find what you are looking for Jaime happily says, "I can see if I can get it from my supplier." 

When I stepped into this shop I almost forgot that it was possible to touch quality yarn (made of animal fiber) that wasn't going to break my bank. And while I do love me some Indie Dyer yarn I am perfectly aware that there are many folks who may not have the expendable income to splurge. So if you are looking to make any of Andrea Mowry's recent masterpieces but you can't imagine spending $150 + to make one shawl, I strongly recommend that you go check out the affordable options at shops like this one. 

Now back to the supplies....

Naturally, she has also stocked her shop with all sorts of needles - knitter's pride, Addi, Chiaogoo, Lykke, Susan bates to name a few. It is also worth mentioning that she had the square needles from Knitter's pride (Cubics) for those who have ergonomic needs. Needless to say the needle wall was very inclusive and I even picked up some Nova Patina's to try out! 

As far as COVID precautions go - this shop was prepared. They had their hand sanitizer out and a quick reminder for folks about the state mandate.  The owner and the visitors all wore masks, and for that I am very thankful. 

All in all, this shop was so cute and genuine. Nothing about this shop screamed "big box" and you certainly don't feel like you don't belong. If COVID wasn't ruining my vibes I would have stayed to knit. 

So if you find yourself on an LYS hunt, I encourage you to go check them out. Chances are that you will also come out with some yarns and needles WITHOUT feeling guilty.