The Loom

We are having a lovely holiday. So far it has been peaceful, relaxing, unplanned, following our noses wherever whim takes us. Today we traveled out of Victoria into the surrounding area, and I managed to find four yarn stores. The last store on the list turned out to be my favorite...

The Loom (click for map) is located just south of Duncan on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. I walked through the door and my jaw dropped to the floor. David came in, glanced around, and informed me that he would be waiting for me (aka napping) in the car. "Take your time," he said. (And he meant it. Isn't he great?!?)

Yarn, floor to ceiling. Shelves and shelves and shelves of it, in every available color. Hidden treasures and gems. Bags and balls and stacks and bundles of yarn, patterns, books in the nooks, needles and hooks and notions and... oh my! Paradise!

Difficult to describe, it is worth a visit if you are living or traveling in the area. There is no website but it is easy to find, and nothing short of a physical visit could do the place justice. The owner, Gaye, was very friendly and we had a nice chat about the trials and joys of running such a store, which she has done for the past eighteen years.

While I was there I picked up a set of bamboo DPNs (I am using my foreign yarn-store visits to build my arsenal of sock knitting tools) and a skein of Fleece Artist "Sea Wool" sock yarn. I find that skeins of sock yarn make great souvenirs; once I am settled in Vancouver and have a moment to catch my breath, I will share my latest acquisitions.