I was inspired to knit a hat as an illustration for a project I'm working on and decided to go all in instead of making it a one-off. I didn't want to go somewhere I'd be looked at suspect or like a unicorn, so I searched for a Black-owned yarn shop. To my surprise, Gathering Yarns was just 25 minutes from DC and worth the drive.
The yarn shop is a standard storefront in a strip mall, so it was both easy and difficult to find at the same time. You can't miss the mall itself, but you'll have to scan to notice the store. The interior is cute with a modest selection of yarn, needles, and other accessories. The skein I bought was reasonably priced, but since I'm a new knitter, relative value is still unclear.
I took the beginner knitting class and the instructors were great. They give you one-on-one attention and focus on your learning style and your strengths. I learned the basics and will definitely be going back for more lessons. All-in-all I really dig this place and will definitely be back. read more