
I was out today visiting local crafty places for DIY Alert profiles, and had the awesome geeky pleasure of experiencing Yarnia. This is a new local yarn store in which you – deep breath, now – design your own yarn!
Now, I’m going to write a detailed blog post on the other website about this place in a couple weeks, and I’ll point you there when I do. But there was no way I could wait that long to tell you how cool this is!
You first select from cones and cones of single-strand yarns. You can choose some cotton, some wool, some silk, mohair, bamboo, etc. And you can blend several strands of the same color, or strands of different colors, to create just the yarn you like.
Then, Lindsey Ross, who owns Yarnia and is super nice and helpful, threads all those strands onto this amazing machine, and spins you up a cone of yarn right there on the spot. Here’s my yarn in progress:

And here it is all finished:

. . . A nice blend of wool and wool/rayon strands, for a messenger bag that I’ll then adorn with Dorset buttons. I only hope I can be worthy of this yarn.
Yarnia sells yarn by the pound, by the way. It’s unbelievably reasonably priced that way – I was shocked at how little this cone cost.
If you’re local, go there immediately. And if you’re visiting Portland this summer, do stop by.
I have to go fondle my new yarn now.









![Validate my RSS feed [Valid RSS]](/valid-rss.png)

HOLY COW! I’m not even a huge yarn person, and this gets me all tingly!
Good thing I’m visiting Portland this summer ….
;)
HOLY COW! I’m not even a huge yarn person, and this gets me all tingly!
Good thing I’m visiting Portland this summer ….
;)
That settles it — I must visit Portland post haste… any chance she mail orders??
That settles it — I must visit Portland post haste… any chance she mail orders??
Oh.my.goodness. That is crazy awesome.
And your color choices look great. That’s going to be one nice bag.
Oh.my.goodness. That is crazy awesome.
And your color choices look great. That’s going to be one nice bag.
!!!!!!!!!!!
*falls over with excitement and joy*
why oh why do I not have the means to hop on a plane and come to Portland!?! This is so fiber nerdy, I love it!
!!!!!!!!!!!
*falls over with excitement and joy*
why oh why do I not have the means to hop on a plane and come to Portland!?! This is so fiber nerdy, I love it!
Wow!
Wow!
cooooooool! Let me know if you plan an encore visit, I would love to go again!
Can’t wait to see what you do with it… the bag idea sounds excellent.
cooooooool! Let me know if you plan an encore visit, I would love to go again!
Can’t wait to see what you do with it… the bag idea sounds excellent.
Not fair! Not fair! Not fair!
I live way too far away.
If ever there were a reason (or six hundred) to move to Portland, that yarn shop would definately be it.
Nice color choice(s).
(Slinking off to go pout…)
Not fair! Not fair! Not fair!
I live way too far away.
If ever there were a reason (or six hundred) to move to Portland, that yarn shop would definately be it.
Nice color choice(s).
(Slinking off to go pout…)
I don’t even KNIT or CROCHET, and I want this YARN experience!
I don’t even KNIT or CROCHET, and I want this YARN experience!
Custom, on demand fabrication. So cool.
Custom, on demand fabrication. So cool.
When can I come fondle too!!!!! How could you keep this a secret from your Mother who is already yarn crazy. Even more of an enticement to get that weaving loom.
When can I come fondle too!!!!! How could you keep this a secret from your Mother who is already yarn crazy. Even more of an enticement to get that weaving loom.
i’m with chris: i don’t know what to do with custom yarn, but i want it anyway! looking forward to seeing what you make!
i’m with chris: i don’t know what to do with custom yarn, but i want it anyway! looking forward to seeing what you make!
Yummy yarn!! Please share the bag when you’re done!
Yummy yarn!! Please share the bag when you’re done!