With summer fast approaching, it seems the days of sweater weather and fuzzy blankets are behind us until fall. Luckily, fun and creativity is always in season at downtown Vancouver’s premier craft store, Hook and Needle.
Located at 621 Broadway, Hook and Needle is Vancouver’s brand new destination for all things yarn and fiber. Whether it’s knitting, crochet or other yarn-based crafts, Hook and Needle has supplies for DIY enthusiasts of all walks of life.
Helmed by co-owners Kelly Johnson and Rachel Lien, the fledgling shop is home to a wide variety of delightfully vibrant, locally sourced yarn. Some standouts include Malabrigo yarn, which offers a large range of color options at an affordable price, and the Portland-based Knitted Wit yarn, which boasts vibrant and whimsical color palettes.
In addition to yarns and fibers, the store also offers a selection of crochet hooks, knitting needles and other crafting tools, as well as fun DIY kits and artisan gifts made by local artists.
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Hook and Needle officially opened April 29, neatly coinciding with National Local Yarn Shop Day and marking a long-awaited moment for the pair of co-owners.
“We’ve both been avid fiber artists for a long time and have always enjoyed knitting or crocheting to unwind after a stressful day at work,” Johnson said. “We’re so excited to be able to share our hobby with even more people now through our new shop; it’s really been a dream come true.”
Prior to becoming business owners, Johnson and Lien were no strangers to long hours working on their feet, with Johnson and Lien previously working as a hairstylist and registered nurse, respectively. After long, physically and emotionally taxing shifts, they each found comfort being able to come home to a beloved hobby, such as knitting or crocheting.
The pair had mused about quitting their old jobs to focus on their craft for years, but the dream always seemed like one that would have to wait for retirement. But when Vancouver’s previous local yarn shop closed over the course of the pandemic, Johnson and Lien were inspired to finally take the leap.
“There’s a great need for local hobby shops in our community,” Johnson said. “When the old yarn shop closed for good, we just knew we needed to be the ones to fill that need.”
Now that their dreams have been made reality, Johnson and Lien work daily to make their store a welcoming and inclusive space for patrons of all backgrounds to gather over a shared love of crafting and creating.
Hook and Needle hosts a series of monthly events, workshops, craft meetups and classes, encouraging veteran fiber artists and first-time crafters to join in the fun and grow their skills.
With the goal of opening the store accomplished, Johnson and Lien have their eyes fixed on a new set of ambitions. As Hook and Needle continues to grow, the duo hope to expand to add a spinning wheel to the shop and host classes on how to make yarn from scratch. They also aspire to have their business be included in next year’s Rose City Yarn Crawl.
For further information on Hook and Needle or to view the shop’s full set of wares, visit www.hookandneedlefiber.com.
