Updated January 1, 2021.
Happy New Year!
When I moved to California in 1980, I was lost for needlepoint.
Yes, there were some stores in San Francisco, but I didn’t have time during my lunch hour to visit them. There was a knitting and needlepoint store on my way home from work, but it was not too exciting.
But all that changed when I moved to Rockridge, a neighborhood in North Oakland.
On the main street and just at the bottom of my street was a wonderful needlepoint store, The Crewel World. Owned by a lovely lady named Diane, this place was needlepoint heaven. There was lots of thread, more than the Persian Wool and floss combo of most places, canvas, books, charts, painted canvas, classes.
What joy!
In those days Jane Zimmerman, who lived nearby, also taught there, and Diane and the other employees who worked there were unfailing in their support. They were such thread addicts they would buy odd threads and sell them to people like me. I bought all sorts of things from them, DMC matte cotton, Empress Silk, and some mystery threads.
After a while, Diane sold the store and the new owner, Linda, kept the same friendly atmosphere. By that time I had kids and they never minded me with two kids in the stroller coming in (a sign of a great store to my mind). Linda had a second shop in Walnut Creek, which became my LNS when I got a job out there.
Like good friends, good shops aren’t just stitchy enablers; they become your friends, a haven, a place for creativity. Where would we be without them?
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
I’m so glad you mentioned Crewel World. My mother used to go there and loved that shop. I lived out in Danville, and my LNS was Stitch’N Time. They had pretty mauve paper bags to hold purchases, and I saved every small bag I could to pack school lunches. One day I overheard one of the boys saying “What I really hate is to get one of those pink Stitch’N Time bags!” Poor kids and their embarrassing Mom!
Crewel World and its awesome staff? Jane Zimmerman classes? Oh, my! Was introduced to needlework and needlepoint ages ago by this wonderful store. In fact, I have an old Crewel World yarn holder safely holding a variety of needlepoint yarns for a almost finished needlepoint project. Although I have other yarn holders, this specific one always puts a smile on my face.
Ages ago, there were a handful of awesome needlework stores in the greater San Francisco Bay area. I popped in an out of almost all of them. When I pull out some of Jane Zimmerman’s old class instructions or booklets, I always break out in a smile.
Did.Crewel World have a shop in Oakland on Grand Avenue, I was a customer there in 1976, I loved that place! Is there a store in the Walnut Creek area?
I don’t know, I did not move to the area until 1980, so I only know the shop in Rockridge.
Keep stitching,
Janet
I don’t know, I did not move to the area until 1980, so I only know the shop in Rockridge.
The is no longer a shop in Walnut Creek, although there was one there, near Kaiser for many years.
Keep stitching,
Janet