The Debate: Crochet and Knitting Experiences, LYS Stories, and Yarn Community

I have noticed that in the fiber world, there is some cut-throat competition. There is the big debate of Susan Bates vs Boye Hooks, and then there is the even bigger debate that is talked about — Crochet or Knit? Oh my, it is crazy!

I have heard of loyal yarn stores being slightly rude to crocheters, and I actually got to witness it firsthand. I was in a little-used book and yarn shop in Tennessee. The store was old and looked it. It was a disarray of books, papers, and yarn piled everywhere.

When I walked in, I was greeted by a little Yorkie that snapped at me, and then I met the owner. She was older and spinning such lovely yarn. She paused, looked up, and asked, “Do you knit?” I felt like a deer in the headlights. I always buckle under these circumstances. I replied that I was getting into knitting and enjoyed it, but that I mostly crocheted at the time. Whew.

She then, without moving from her wheel, asked me where I was from and what I was looking for. She seemed okay with me, maybe because she had family that lived in the same town I was in. There was nothing in her store that was priced, and I had to dig through yarn on a table to find something that caught my attention. The entire time she was talking, she seemed bothered and not excited about me buying from her.

When I got back to our hotel room, I looked up the reviews on the store, and there it was. Others were not so thrilled with the customer service, which brings me to the topic of the day.

Have you ever been treated differently because you were a knitter or a crocheter? Was it in a yarn store, at a festival, or somewhere else? What is your local yarn store like?

I also want to say that I am blessed to have two yarn stores within twenty to thirty minutes of my home that are very nice and helpful to those who knit and crochet. I LOVE THEM!

Here are their links if you want to check them out: www.yarnsbyhpf.com   and www.yvies.com

Update: Local Yarn Stores and Related Videos

Since this post was first written, both of my beloved local yarn stores have closed. I am truly grateful for the time I spent in those shops, but things have changed in our area. The closest brick-and-mortar yarn store now is Tamming of the Ewe in Gadsden, Alabama, which is about a 45-minute drive from me. If you are nearby or planning a drive, it’s a great place to visit for yarn, tools, and friendly fiber conversation.

I’ve also been thinking more about community, yarn culture, and how we connect as makers online and in real life. I made a couple of videos that touch on topics related to this blog post:

📹 Knitting and Crochet Hot Takes — Where I share fun opinions and things I don’t do in fiber arts, including hot takes from both knitters and crocheters.
📹 Cringe Culture in the Yarn Community — A look at yarn snobbery, unsolicited advice, stash shaming, and social expectations within the fiber world.

If you’re curious about those conversations or want to laugh along with some honest takes, I’d love for you to check them out.