Yarnia

You pick from a variety of fibers and colors to ply your own yarn! Overwhelming to do your first time, but let your imagination run rampant. Make sure you get enough material for your project the first time as materials can take a long time to come back into the store again when out of stock.

I was visiting Portland earlier this month and as an avid knitter knew this might be a fun yarn shop to visit. I wasn’t disappointed, what a unique experience. Lacy (spelling?) was a great help. I had brought a pattern in with me, told her what fiber and color I was looking for, and what my budget was. She had me knit several swatches, until I got a combination that worked out, I’m very happy with the yarn. Great customer service, unique yarn that you create yourself. I would definitely recommend this store.

The only yarn shop like this in the world that I know of. Great service, wide selection and they ship too! I always make a point of shopping there when I visit Portlalnd. I’ve also bought yarn from them online. LOVE this place!

I stopped in yesterday while visiting Portland. The concept of creating your own yarn is brilliant. I also really love being able to get exactly the amount that you need versus having to purchase skeins and end up with hundreds of yards more than the pattern may require.

This place is dangerous. If you are a lover of colors and fibers and textures of all types, be very cautious. The permutations of yarn combinations you’re free to create here is unimaginable.
Yarnia does yarn by the pound, which is great for those of us who HATE it when we end up with loads of weird-​length yarn skeins after projects; you only pay for what you need and will use. I came here because I needed two different color yarns for a sweater. I’m not a pro at all of the technicalities of yarn since I’ve only ever bought the stuff by the skein at Joann’s, so naturally I was a little overwhelmed when I entered. The lovely lady working came to my rescue and helped me put together two very awesome colors at just the right bulk, being sure to measure thickness exactly, and even helped pick the right blend of wool, merino, and acrylic that would be a little more economical for me. She was SUPER knowledgeable and so unbelievably helpful and was more than happy to take about 30 minutes of her time to help me create the perfect combinations. She calculated exactly how much I would need based on my pattern, exactly how much it would cost per ounce, and then whipped up two cones on their fancy spinner and off I went with my very own custom yarn blends.
The yarn itself is very high quality. I’ve found that it knits up MUCH more nicely than anything you would buy in the store.
The store is lovely; they have a little tea corner and a nice cozy nook where you can sit down and knit a swatch of something you’re trying to decide on, «try before you buy» if you will. They do knit-​alongs here on certain nights of the week and also put out «project» cones that supply you with just the right amount of yarn you need for the project that’s printed on a piece of paper inside the cone. When I visited they had fingerless glove project cones at $ 10…and the colors were super cute!
I had a great experience here. Whether you know what you want, have absolutely no freaking clue what you want, or even have a question about some weird pattern issue, the gal who runs this place is an expert in her craft and will get you set up in no time!

This is my absolute favorite local yarn store. True, it’s definitely not your «typical» yarn store, but there’s a reason «typical» isn’t «wonderful».
I used to go to the old location once in a blue moon and hover over the bargain bin, scared to wind up my own blend. I loved the yarn and knitting with it was the utmost pleasurable experience (especially if a strand of silky bamboo or two was in there). But yesterday I finally took the plunge and they helped me out. Let me tell you — picking colors is HARD. But the employee there (wish I had asked her name!) was incredibly helpful, while simultaneously not «stalking and eyeing» you like I’ve had trouble with at other yarn stores. I wanted to make a matching hat/​mittens/​sock set out of 500 yards of 100% alpaca in enough yarn to make worsted weight (I run cold, and hey — I looooooove alpaca. It’s my dream fiber.). She honestly answered my questions about what would look best on me, since I was stumped. That’s really nice when you can go to a female associate at a store and get a genuine opinion, instead of a panicked look and a, «Ummmmm,» where it’s clear they’re worried anything negative might upset the customer and botch a sale. Those places never really tell me anything. Here she actually listened and pointed out yarns I liked that would wash me out and which ones would be ideal, and I was super grateful for that! The process of elimination is CRUCIAL when there are so many color combinations it gets overwhelming. When I didn’t need help (I was in the throes of more color anguish) she was furiously knitting away at a large, mysterious project — it was truly impressive.
Once we had narrowed it down to two color combinations she wound up small portions on a ruler for me and DH to gander at. Then she offered a seat and needles so that I could knit a swatch from those colors to make certain it was what I wanted (wow!). What awesome customer service to let you try it out before you wind it up! The seating area has this really nifty kind of Victorian-​vintage vibe but is actually comfortable. I was a little nervous at first, but she didn’t peer over my shoulder or scrutinize while I knit the swatch at all so I soon relaxed. No performance anxiety here!
Watching the machine wind up my yarn was a ton of fun, and I am super happy with it. I went in thinking autumn colors, yet worrying about winter colors to make later. Yet I walked out with both reflected in my yarn so it will be equally appropriate for either season now. :) I could not be happier. Highly recommend Yarnia, you can’t go wrong here. They are quite affordable, super incredibly nice/​genuine, and helpful. I can’t wait to go back — maybe I’ll wind up some durable sock yarn next time!

I’m actually reposting my previous review from the last time I visited Portland. I understand that they were at a different location at the time, but I have every faith in the world that Lindsey’s new store is just as excellent as the last! Can’t wait to see the new digs next time I’m in town.
I was visiting the Portland area with the beau a couple of weeks ago and happened to stumble upon this rare and exciting gem. If you are into yarn this place is like heaven. The pre made cones are exquisite and the option to make your own custom yarn is very unique and enticing to the discerning fiber shopper. The quality is par none and the nice ladies that work there are helpful :)

This shop is great for a color fix and an inspiration when you are looking for new ways to combine color!
And lovely people work there.

I love Yarnia. It’s a great store to visit and they are very helpful for long distance purchasers as well. I live in California but visit Portland several times a year. Go visit Yarnia and you will not be disappointed.

The new store is FaBulous! Its in a great location. Lindsey is awesome and very helpful. I’m totally new to knitting but I can’t wait to get back to Yarnia and get started on my new project!

Lindsey and crew are super friendly and knowledgable about yarn and what to do with it. I dabble in crocheting so I put together a cone of fibers and colors that spoke to me. Well, it said, «pick me!» It has yet to tell me what exactly to make out of it. :-) A nice perk to this store, is they’ll save info on your special blend so you can always come back and get more.
Yarnia’s the furthest things from the mass produced yarns in the big box stores… closer to yarns practically spun right off a sheep’s back by someone who spins handmade yarn… but you get to call the shots on the colors, fibers, weight and amounts. Sweet!
This place is truly a one of a kind store and experience. I’d think any avid knitter/​crocheter would be addicted to it!

This is a a fab yarn shop. It is the candy store of yarn shops. The new location is awesome. Staff is always helpful.

I made my own custom yarn using colors from a painting that I wanted to coordinate with. It was fun and educational watching the yarn get pulled together. They were very friendly and helpful with a complete newbie.

I love love LOVE this store! It’s like no other yarn shop I’ve ever visited. Rather than pick out a skein of yarn, you can make your own blend out of different fibers and colors. This is fun for a project that is a gift, as it makes it a little extra handmade and special. Don’t be intimidated to make your own blend! It’s fun to do! Just make sure you give yourself some time to do it. The staff members are all very helpful and friendly. They also give great yarn advice!

Love, love, LOVE Yarnia! It’s so cool to be able to create your own unique yarn by having strands of your choice custom-​wound for you, and for such a reasonable price! And convenient; the beautiful new shop is right on the 15 bus line; you can get off the bus and walk right into the store. In addition to custom yarn, there are also prewounds and a variety of bargain cones and cone ends. Because it’s sold by the pound, the helpful owner will figure out exactly how much you need for your project. I am so thrilled with the new location; super convenient and you can get exactly the yarn you need! Drop everything and go there! :D

I love Yarnia! Not only is Lindsey the owner amazing (did you know she runs Urban Craft Uprising in Seattle too?!) — but the shop is so beautiful and every time I enter I just want to create yarn for projects I haven’t even thought of yet. The new shop takes Yarnia to a whole new level– it’s sleek and modern and oh-​so classy. One of Yarnia’s best qualities is that you just have to buy enough yarn for your intended project, so say good-​bye to half used skeins. I recently went into Yarnia with the intention of making a set of knitted rainbow balls for a new baby in my life– and I was able to buy just enough of each color, and the colors all ended up just the way I wanted thanks to the help of the lovely shop lady.

If you want something truly amazing for your next project i HIGHLY recommend Yarnia. I created a very fun and magical yarn for my sweater that i am making for myself (finally) and i am absolutly in love with it. And the gal working (Owner?) was so very helpful and calculated all that i was going to need. My boyfriend and I call the color I made the «Magical.» I will be making this place a regular place for me do buy yarn for my projects. They even have some pre done cones in different color ways and weights so there is a ton of options for any project you may have.