Crafts aren’t just for kids – they can be wonderful outlets for adults too. Whether you’re an established crocheter or knitter or just starting to get hooked, look no further than your local yarn shop. Now’s the perfect time to plan a visit because we're at the start of the Steel Valley Yarn Crawl, which runs through August 9.
Shops are hosting special pop-ups and giving away prizes throughout the crawl! Get started by picking up a Yarn Crawl Passport (which you can find at any of these shops), and collecting stamps from every spot you visit.
Keep in mind: Most of the store hours vary day to day, so check online before you make the trip. Some have extended hours during the yarn crawl!
📍 Bellevue
This fiber craft store offers supplies and classes that get into specific techniques and skills, like Tunisian crochet, tapestry weaving, and how to use a drum carder. The Craft Room also hosts events, including a crafting happy hour every Wednesday.
📍 Oakmont
On Oakmont’s main drag just east of Pittsburgh, you’ll run into this cozy space that hosts Open Stitch Group every Tuesday and Thursday. Check out the full list of yarn brands they carry, including a few local PA ones!
📍 Greenfield
This shop sells yarns of all colors and weights, along with tools for crocheting and knitting. It's run by a mother daughter-duo and hosts classes and meet ups every week.
📍 Sewickley
Find yarn, knitting needles, and other tools at this shop that feels more like a cozy mountain cabin than a store. In addition to beginner walk-in classes, it’s also hosting a year-long “Knit-A-Long” where knitters can gather on a regular basis to work on the same project (and troubleshoot if things get tricky).
📍 McCandless
This space north of Pittsburgh has yarns and, as its name suggests, bits and bobs like crochet hooks, knitting needles, stitch counters, buttons and more. The shop hosts open craft-time on Fridays and Sundays, and runs a “Fiberside Chat” series to connect makers with fellow artists, designers, and industry professionals. It just celebrated five years in business!
Non-Yarn Shops Worth a Visit
If you’re handier with a needle and thread, then a visit to Firecracker Fabrics is in order. The Morningside shop sells notions (needles and other tools and accessories) and a variety of fabrics. (I’m eyeing some colorful options to make baby blankets for the new parents in my life. How cute are these cats?!) It’s adjacent to Cut & Sew Studio which hosts sewing and quilting classes for adults and children.
Seeking low-cost supplies? Swing by the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse in Point Breeze which accepts donated materials of all kinds: yarn, paper, fabric, and more. You may have to make the craft fit the medium, but the challenge can be part of the fun!
