The 5 Best Yarn Shops in Ottawa That Have Every Type, Color, Weight, and Fiber You’re Looking For
Everybody has to start from somewhere. I, for one, had my first knitting project at the ripe age of 30 (it felt ripe to me, at least).
While the first red scarf I made wasn’t a very good one, I got hooked enough to start taking another crack at it.
The problem was that the yarn that my dear grandmother bestowed upon me was just about to run out, and the newbie me had no idea where you buy this stuff.
That’s when I, with the help of a lovely bunch of local knitters, started looking around for the best yarn shops in Ottawa, and now I finally have the time to list some of my personal favorites here.
How much does yarn cost in Ottawa?
Yarn in Ottawa typically costs between $10 and $50 per skein. However, this highly depends on the type of fiber, brand, and manufacturing process needed for the yarn.
1. Wool-Tyme
Address: 190 Colonnade Rd #2, Nepean
Phone: +1 613-225-9665
Business Hours:
- Mon-Wed: 9:30am – 5:00pm
- Thu: 9:30am – 8:00pm
- Fri: 9:30am – 6:00pm
- Sat: 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Sun: CLOSED
Wool-Tyme has amassed quite a following among knitters owing to its huge selection of yarn products and inclusive store atmosphere.
The place is a big store with many different sections, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming since everything is well-organized and labeled, even down to the length and thickness of the yarn.
We think it has one of the best varieties of yarn that can accompany you in a myriad of projects, from thinner lace weight types to double knitting (DK) variants.
It’s also a plus that they sell both budget-friendly and more expensive yarn materials, ensuring that there’s a product for sale at every price point.
The staff members are also generally nice and quick to assist you in your search for yarn. However, we’ve heard from some customers that some of them were inattentive and rude in the past.
A great variety of yarns
“Had an absolutely wonderful time here! A large store and very well organized and labeled. Also a large “tent sale” section. Lived all the knitted garments you could touch to see if you liked the feel of the finished product. A great variety of yarns, in a huge price range, so you didn’t break the bank to get a good quality yarn. Absolutely loved it!!”
– Annette Westermann, Google Review
It was a fabulous experience
“First time at Wool-Tyme and it was a fabulous experience. There is a large selection of yarn and very spacious store so pleasant to browse through. The expert staff was so helpful and they are generous with their time and knowledge! The service was outstanding! Congratulations! I’ll definitely be back! Thank you!”
– Linda Mondoux, Google Review
2. Wabi Sabi
Address: 1078 Wellington St. W
Phone: +1 613-725-5648
Business Hours:
- Mon-Wed: 11:00am – 5:00pm
- Thu: 11:00am – 7:00pm
- Fri: 11:00am – 5:00pm
- Sat: 10:00am – 5:00pm
- Sun: 12:00pm – 5:00pm
For a combination of high-quality yarn materials and welcoming staff, whom many locals love, we recommend checking out Wabi Sabi.
Whether you like to knit, spin, or weave away with a project, we think this store has got you covered with Canadian and European-made yarn from brands like Brassard, Kat’s Riverside Studio, Sandnes Garn, Lang, and many more.
The place is spacious and nicely kept, and there’s also a dedicated section for classes, which is great for beginners who want to learn the art of knitting or crocheting.
We love how knowledgeable the staff is when recommending yarn. Even when you present a discontinued type of yarn, they can easily find the closest duplicate to it by color, weight, and texture.
We think the prices at this shop are a bit higher compared to other places, but it’s nothing too unreasonable considering they sell a lot of luxury yarn.
Best yarn store I’ve ever been to
“Being a Hintonburg local, I might be biased, but I have to say that this is the best yarn store I’ve ever been to. You can find yarn for pretty much any project at a variety of price points and the staff are incredibly helpful. 10/10 definitely recommend!”
– Devin Templeton, Google Review
Beautiful and soft yarns
“Wonderful little yarn store. Found some beautiful and soft yarns that will make a great project. Love the open and airy layout and everything is very easy to find. The staff are very helpful and always willing to give a hand.”
– Andrew Bryson, Google Review
3. Yarns Ewe’ll Love
Address: 474 Hazeldean Rd, Kanata
Phone: +1 343-545-0737
Business Hours:
- Mon-Sat: 10:30am – 5:00pm
- Sun: 12:00pm – 4:00pm
If you want to surround yourself with an assortment of great yarn fibres and a team with a lot of experience under its belt, pay Yarns Ewe’ll Love a visit.
Don’t let the size of this local store in Kanata fool you, as there are a lot of yarn products to discover. Some of the ones that caught our eye include the super fine Alpaca Haze and the multi-colored West Yorkshire Spinners.
We like the fact that the store even displays handcrafted examples using their own yarn, which is a pretty good source of inspiration and motivation, especially for beginners.
The prices for their range of products are quite competitive when compared to other stores, and that also includes the numerous kits and other equipment they sell.
The overall customer service is generally good, but it hasn’t always been perfect. A past customer once told us that the staff gave the wrong yarn suggestion and wouldn’t order a refill.
Very much recommend a visit
“Lovely little yarn shop providing a good selection of yarn types, with sizeable range of price points, material and size. It is much more kitting and crocheting geared that the other yarn shops I have been to in Ottawa. Not necessarily a bad thing though. Very much recommend a visit whenever anyone is in the area.”
– Michelle G, Google Review
Nothing but fantastic
“I visited Yarns Ewe’ll Love for the second time last week. The staff has been nothing but fantastic the two times I’ve been in. I should have asked the employees name last week but she was so helpful! I explained what I was planning on making and she pointed out multiple options for me. The store has a great selection of some beautiful yarn! I picked some yarn up for 2 new projects.”
– Emily, Google Review
4. Fabrications Ottawa
Address: 1677A Carling Ave
Phone: +1 613-854-9091
Business Hours:
- Mon-Fri: 10:00am – 6:00pm
- Sat: 11:00am – 5:00pm
- Sun: 11:00am – 4:00pm
From Malabrigo Lace to Super Bulky Lanalpaca, Fabrications Ottawa offers a considerable number of yarn materials to support any kind of project.
Not only does the shop have an entire wall dedicated to only yarn, but the yarns themselves have a premium texture and are fairly priced.
We frequently hear from customers about how helpful the staff are, to the point where they even refer you to one of their competitors just in case they don’t have what you’re looking for.
They also receive compliments about the cleanliness and orderliness of the store. After visiting ourselves, we can confirm that it’s so easy to browse through their well-organized aisles.
We just feel that their online store system needs a little work. Some orders take a long time to be processed, while other orders get voided because the items are not in stock after all.
Always a treat to visit
“A distinctive store with an excellent selection of fabrics and yarns. The fabrics are well-curated and often difficult to find in other places. The staff and friendly and knowledgeable. It’s always a treat to visit and see what’s in store! Great newsletters with helpful tips and promos. A must-visit in Ottawa!”
– Barb P, Google Review
There is a wall of gorgeous yarns
“I adore this shop. It has lots of fabrics, including quilting cottons. It has patterns for clothes and bags with appropriate fabrics and notions. There is a wall of gorgeous yarns. There are books on crafting. Plus kits for embroidery and basket making. Plus there are classes! Great crafting shop.”
– J Bucknall, Google Review
5. Wool N’ Things
Address: Unit 20, 1439 Youville Dr, Orléans
Phone: +1 613-841-8689
Business Hours:
- Tue-Fri: 10:00am – 5:30pm
- Sat: 10:00am – 4:00pm
- Sun-Mon: CLOSED
Wool N’ Things is a sizable shop in Orléans that specializes in all things yarn-related, whether you’re looking to make a big sweater or a simple sock.
There’s no shortage of high-quality yarn here, especially if you opt for ones from the Rowan brand. From Silky Lace to Island Blend DK, the variety here is that of a store twice the size.
The yarns are neatly separated according to their type, texture, and brand, making it a breeze to keep track of the ones that pique your interest.
We found the staff very attentive and always eager to answer any questions we threw at them.
However, we’ve heard from several people that the owner is sometimes rude and even makes insulting comments behind their backs.
Really an amazing store
“Such a beautiful store – I’ve been to many local yarn stores in Ottawa and this is one of my favorites. The inside is so organized and clean, you can get lost looking at this yarn for a long time. Service was also great, a lady helped me how to identify yarn weight properly, and other things as well. Really an amazing store with so many options…”
– Giorgio Manasseri, Google Review
Excellent selection of yarns
“Always a pleasure to deal with. Excellent selection of yarns, needles and accessories. Very good selection of sock yarns, but also of most other weights. Lots of Rowan stuff. Also, posters showing how some brands knit up, which is very nice. I’ll be back.”
– Douglas K, Google Review