The Puget Sound area has a large number of local yarn stores (LYS) with some very incredible selections of yarn and fiber.  Each year, there is a LYS Tour of shops in the area that wish to participate.  This year, there were 26 stores on the Tour, and I know of at least one that wasn’t open in time to be on the Tour – the very awesome Stilly River Yarns opened by my friend Lindsey just opened.

Last year, we moved up the weekend after the LYS Tour, so I didn’t have a chance to participate. I was very excited this year! With E’s ballet performances happening the same weekend, I knew I wouldn’t have the chance to do much over the weekend, so I tried to get in as many as possible during the week.

Each store provides a free knitting and crochet pattern, and a button. There are tote bags for the Tour with a spot to put each button. You can also have a passport stamped at each store and submit an entry for prizes once you visit 9, 18, or 26 shops.

Here’s a map of the stores (and routes) I traveled.  If you open up the map, you can look at each day separately.

My biggest day was Thursday. I took the day off and hit seven different stores with three friends.  It was a beautiful day, and we had lots of fun.  Plus, we had lunch at Rain City Burgers.  I need to take Andy and E there!

I’m really looking forward to next year’s yarn tour. I hope to have one of the weekend days free so that I can take ferries to the island shops.