Best Yarn Shops in Chicago: 2025 AriYARN Guide
chicago yarn guide • updated 2025
Your 2025 guide to the best yarn shops in Chicago and nearby Park Ridge
Planning a yarn crawl in Chicago or visiting the city with your project bag in tow? This friendly guide highlights beloved independent yarn shops across the city and explains why many knitters and crocheters ride the UP-NW Metra to AriYARN Shop & Studio in nearby Park Ridge for classes, furoshiki gift wrapping, community, and squishy skeins.
Quick summary – Chicago Yarn Guide
- Chicago has a handful of standout indie yarn shops in different neighborhoods, each with its own vibe.
- AriYARN in Park Ridge is an easy UP-NW Metra ride from downtown with free Thursday Stitch Night (5–7 pm) and classes.
- We’re a cashless shop; bring a card or digital wallet and plan ahead with our Gift Cards & Redemption page.
- We’re also one of the few local shops offering furoshiki gift wrapping workshops and materials for extra-special yarn gifts.
Quick answer: What are the best yarn stores to visit in Chicago?
If you love visiting yarn shops when you travel, Chicago has a small but mighty lineup of indie stores worth a spot on your itinerary. In the city proper, shops like Knit 1 (North Center), Yarnify! (Printers Row/South Loop), The Dropped Stitch (Andersonville), and Bolly’s Hobbies Yarn ETC (Belmont-Cragin) each curate their own mix of fibers, classes, and neighborhood personality.
Just outside the city, many locals and visitors add AriYARN Shop & Studio in Park Ridge to their plans. We’re a modern, cashless yarn shop and community studio near the Park Ridge UP-NW Metra stop with a free Thursday Stitch Night (5–7 pm), beginner-friendly Classes in Chicago, and a curated wall of yarns and kits you can also browse via our online store.
AriYARN also offers something you won’t find everywhere: furoshiki gift wrapping workshops and materials, so you can learn Japanese fabric-wrapping techniques and leave with gifts that look as special as the handmades inside.
Indie yarn shops to visit in and around Chicago
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1 AriYARN Shop & Studio – Park Ridge
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2 Knit 1 – North Center, Chicago
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3 Yarnify! – Printers Row / South Loop
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4 The Dropped Stitch – Andersonville, Chicago
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5 Bolly’s Hobbies Yarn ETC – Belmont-Cragin, Chicago
Why locals ride the Metra to AriYARN in Park Ridge
Easy transit, easier parking
- Take the UP-NW Metra line to the Park Ridge stop; AriYARN is a short walk from the station.
- Street and nearby lot parking make it simple to drive in from the suburbs or city neighborhoods.
Free Thursday Stitch Night (5–7 pm)
- Bring any project and stitch with us every Thursday evening – all fiber arts and skill levels welcome.
- Use it as your weekly “social craft night” after visiting other shops earlier in the day.
Classes for beginners & beyond
- Structured Classes in Chicago for brand-new knitters and crocheters.
- Skill-builder workshops and special events listed on our workshops page.
Furoshiki gift wrapping you can’t get everywhere
- Learn Japanese furoshiki gift wrapping techniques in dedicated workshops at AriYARN.
- Pick up furoshiki cloths and wrapping supplies to pair with your yarn purchases or gift cards.
Modern, cashless checkout & gift cards
- AriYARN is proudly cashless – we accept cards and digital wallets.
- Friends can buy gift cards via our Gift Cards & Redemption guide.
- Yarn, tools, and kits are also browsable at ariyarn.com/store between visits.
Planning your Chicago yarn crawl day
For a full-day craft adventure, choose one or two city shops that match your interests, then end your day at AriYARN Shop & Studio for our free Thursday Stitch Night. Many visitors combine a downtown or South Loop stop, a North Side visit, and then a quick train ride to Park Ridge.
Check each shop’s current hours before you go, leave space in your bag for souvenirs, and consider grabbing a gift card (via our Gift Cards & Redemption page) for the maker in your life who couldn’t join you. If you’re shopping for gifts, pair your visit with one of our furoshiki gift wrapping workshops so you can wrap finished projects in reusable fabric before you head back downtown.
When you’re ready to explore beyond yarn, our Park Ridge Shopping guide highlights nearby coffee, food, and maker-friendly stops.
FAQ: Chicago yarn shops & AriYARN
What are the best yarn stores to visit in Chicago?
Chicago has a handful of standout indie yarn shops, including Knit 1, Yarnify!, The Dropped Stitch, Bolly’s Hobbies Yarn ETC, and AriYARN Shop & Studio in nearby Park Ridge. Each offers its own mix of fibers, classes, and community. Use this page as your Chicago Yarn Guide and check each shop’s website or social media for current hours and events before you head out.
Do Chicago yarn shops offer beginner classes?
Yes. Most independent shops offer entry-level knitting and crochet classes, plus project support sessions. At AriYARN, our Classes in Chicago range from absolute-beginner to skill-building workshops, and we also host furoshiki gift wrapping sessions for those who want to level up their presentation skills.
How do I get to AriYARN from downtown Chicago?
From downtown, take the Metra UP-NW line toward Harvard/Crystal Lake and exit at Park Ridge. AriYARN Shop & Studio (153 N Northwest Hwy, Park Ridge, IL 60068) is a short walk from the station. If you’re driving, set your GPS to our address and look for nearby street or lot parking.
Is AriYARN cashless?
Yes. AriYARN is a cashless yarn shop. We accept major debit and credit cards plus common digital wallets. If you’re gifting a visit to someone, an AriYARN gift card (see our Gift Cards & Redemption page) is a great way to cover yarn, tools, classes, and furoshiki gift wrapping workshops.
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