The first shop we went to was Princeton Yarns. We arrived shortly after they opened and were intrigued by not only the beautiful photographs and yarn but also by the vintage magazines, including Knitting Traditions (a periodic offering by Piece Work magazine). This place is tucked away in an indoor mall in the Shops at Harbor Village in a cute little fishing community.
The place also offers some sort of large format photo printing and fills its "beyond yarn height" walls with gorgeous photographs framed and ready to be purchased. Nowhere to sit and knit in this place... but it's a great spot to shop and find some unique treasures.
270 Capistrano Road #20
Princeton by the Sea, CA 94018
Phone: (650) 712-1440
http://www.princetonyarns.com/
My only critique of this shop? There was nowhere to sit and knit. Not that I was intending to sit and knit today at a shop but it's still part of the ambiance I love to see when visiting a shop. Perhaps their yarn inventory pushed the seating out of this shop.... there is a cute bench outside waiting for someone to sit, knit, and enjoy people watching in this little town.
Dewey (the dog) was enamored with the llamas... or was it the other way around? There's a cute photo in here of these two saying "howdy" to each other!
205 North Street, Pescadero, CA 94060
Phone: (650) 879-0480
http://www.harleyfarms.com/
I also noticed something I loved: - a box of "free" yarn - with some "rules" attached... one free ball of yarn to any child under 12... one ball of yarn to anyone else who wants to exchange a ball for one in their stash... the yarns can be from stash, purchased at Nine Rubies or elsewhere... and it's all on the honor system. I found this idea of sharing yarn and stash refreshing - especially in a yarn shop like this. One of the other things I liked about that little box was that it was not hidden in a back corner... it was given prime real estate right by the front door (next to some knittig magazines free for the taking). Nine Rubies is the winner in today's crawl. Bright, cheery, organized, welcoming, beautiful and inspiring, with lots of books, snacks, and smiling faces.
28 E. 3rd Ave #100
San Mateo, CA 94401
Phone: (650) 685-6205
http://www.ninerubies.com/