After three successful years, 10 yarn shops from Port Washington to East Hampton will be participating in the fourth annual Long Island Yarn Crawl on April 19th through 22nd. Over the course of four days, yarn crafters — knitters, crocheters, weavers and spinners — are invited to participate in this self-guided tour of Long Island yarn shops, which will have extended hours and specials throughout the weekend. It is a great way for crafters to explore what our local fiber community has to offer and meet up with other local yarn enthusiasts.
Participants are invited to either pick up their Long Island Yarn Crawl Passport from a participating store or download and print a copy from the yarn crawl’s website, www.longislandyarncrawl.com. Participants can present the passport to receive a stamp as they “crawl” from shop to shop. Crawlers who collect stamps from all 10 stores will be entered to win amazing prizes: the grand prize of a $100 gift card to each of the participating stores; the second prize, over $400 of yarn donated by Gold Sponsor and local yarn distributor, Knitting Fever Inc. Those who return/turn in a passport with fewer than 10 stamps will be entered in a separate drawing to win additional prizes. Further prizes will be announced as the Yarn Crawl approaches.
Special edition Long Island Yarn Crawl bags can be purchased at participating shops, or are available as a free gift with a $40 minimum purchase (while supplies last). Each store has specials planned and will have drawings for door prizes during the crawl. Details will also be made available on the Long Island Yarn Crawl website.
This year’s Yarn Crawl features shops from all over Nassau & Suffolk counties:
● Altman’s Needlearts in Mattituck
● Black Sheep Knitworks in East Hampton
● Knit in Roslyn
● The Knitted Purl in Oyster Bay
● Knitting Cove & Yarn Shop in Port Jefferson
● The Knitting Garden in Huntington
● The Knitting Place in Port Washington
● The Knitting Store in Oceanside
● Long Island Yarn & Farm in Yaphank
● Sew What’s New & Yarn Too! in Islip
Long Island Yarn Crawl wishes to thank Long Island’s only yarn distributor Knitting Fever, Inc. (www.knittingfever.com) for helping make this event happen as the Gold Sponsor.
New this year, the yarn crawl hopes to inspire participants to make and wear designs by Long Island designers. Handmade Long Island encourages yarn crawlers to make and wear a project from a Long Island Designer on yarn crawl weekend. For a list of all Long Island Designers in our Ravelry group, go to www.ravelry.com/discuss/long-island-yarn-crawl/3728087/1-25. Post a picture of yourself with your completed project on Facebook or Instagram with our hash tag #HandmadeLongIsland and be entered in a drawing for a special prize. Also, a special pattern has been made for the crawl, Mermaid Spell. Go into one of the participating shops and buy two skeins of fingering yarn and receive the pattern for free. Mermaid Spell is created by local designer Joan Forgione.
This year, Long Island Yarn Crawl continues their tradition of encouraging participants to give back to the local community during the crawl, by partnering with a few local organizations looking for handcrafted items. One of their charitable focuses is babies born prematurely at local Long Island hospitals; they are collecting knitted or crocheted hats and blankets for these littlest ones. They are also accepting items on behalf of the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island and have asked for knitted or crocheted hats and blankets of any size, from infant to adult.
Yarn crafters of all backgrounds will explore Long Island’s rich fiber community during the yarn crawl weekend and make connections with fellow crafters. The different offerings and events at each shop are sure to provide crafting inspiration and ideas to all. It will be a wonderful Long Island celebration for yarn enthusiasts and is sure to be an event to remember.
