Romni Wools 658 Queen West, 416-703-0202, www.romniwools.com Rating: NNNNN
Owned by knit mistress Marilyn Leonard for nearly 30 years, Queen West landmark Romni Wools has made something of a name for itself as the shopping HQ for committed knitters and trendy bandwagon-jumpers alike. Specializing in natural fibre yarns and rare imports, this dyed-in-the-fleece artisan emporium features 6,000 square feet jammed to the rafters with, uh, crafters’ supplies. Not only will you find all the tools you’ll need to knit a sweater (patterns, needles, a mega-selection of yarn), but should you wish to kick your craft up a notch, spinning wheels are available for a DIY yarn-making session. Either way, this place will have you in stitches, as long as you’re not afraid of needles. (Badump-bump.)
Romni’s picks : Wool Slub hand-dyed 100-per-cent wool by Fleece Artist from Nova Scotia, $35/250g ball Italian-made Calliope cotton blend $16.99/50g skein Rowan magazines and books wooden knitting needles by Lantern Moon, a co-op in Vietnam that employs young women (and keeps them off the streets), from $27.
Look for : A variety of knitting classes (check the website or visit the store for details), Fleece Artist scarf set (comes with pattern and wool), Donegal tweed wool skeins by Tahki Stacy Charles from the U.S., and Debbie Bliss Cashmerino.
Store hours : Monday to Friday 10 am to 6 pm, Sunday 11 am to 5 pm.
