Yes, Wet Coast Wools has one of Vancouver's best yarn selections. And yes, that yarn is neatly arranged in a miraculous roomy, bright space that will allow you to find what you want quickly, or enjoy the process of exploring the options until you find fresh inspiration. And true, it also has a great selection of knitting needles and accessories -- whatever you need to start or finish your next project.
But none of these are what makes Wet Coast my favourite local yarn shop. What makes Wet Coast my go-to is that it's by far the friendliest, most welcoming shop in town (or at least on the West side.)
The very first time I visited Wet Coast, as a newbie knitter, the two salespeople encouraged me to browse, answered all my questions about their selection, and offered me (great) advice in choosing the yarn for my first large-scale project. I loved how they entered into the challenge of helping me figure out the right combination of fibers without making me feel embarrassed by my ignorance or pressured to buy.
I felt just as welcome on subsequent visits, when I've always found one or two people sitting at the big work table in the middle of the room, happy to help out with my latest knitting crisis ("wait, *how* do I pick up this dropped stitch?") or to advice (again, pressure-free) on my next purchase. Even when I materialized with some yarn I'd purchased out-of-town, and wanted to buy a second skein to go with it, my challenge was welcomed: Glenda (the store's delightful owner) did an AMAZING job of picking out the most incredibly perfect yarn to combine with what I had on hand.
The store's weekly knitting night is just as friendly. The one time I took my kid for an evening of knitting, we were welcomed by a very warm group of women, most of whom were clearly regulars. Even as newcomers, we felt like we belonged.
I'm so lucky that Wet Coast Wools is not only the friendliest knitting store on the West Side, but also the store closest to our house. But believe me, it would be worth driving across town for this selection and this warmth. read more