PORTLAND
The city boasts destinations galore to keep visitors busy.
Portland has a reputation as a crafty city, and with good reason. If you’re planning a visit, check
out the frequent craft fairs, classes and workshops, and the world-class Museum of Contemporary
Craft. But for great shopping, these four destinations are dear to my heart.
YARNIA
4183 S.E. Division St.
yarniapdx.com
“Come, let’s make yarn,” says the
Yarnia website. Indeed, this is a store
where the shelves are lined with big
cones of single-filament fibers: wool,
cotton, silk, mohair, acrylic — you
name it. You select just the fibers and
colors you want, and Yarnia’s staff will
wind you a cone of your own custom
yarn, right on the spot.
Owner Lindsey Ross (pictured at top
left), herself an avid knitter, will help
you figure out how much yarn you’ll
need, and what fibers will combine
best for your project. It’s enough to
make you weep, really.
Get a healthy vegetarian lunch at
Kalga Cafe, just up the street at 4147
S.E. Division. They serve Mexican, Middle
Eastern, and Thai food, and they make
a yummy vegan pizza.
Diane Gilleland runs DI Y Alert (diyalert.
com), a website devoted to all things
crafty in Portland, Ore.
