Yarn Barn of Kansas — Attraction in Lawrence

Came in to buy my 12-year-old who'd been spindle spinning for about 2 years a spinning wheel. Asked for help immediately upon coming in, were told to wait for 'just a minute,' even though the the two women working there weren't doing anything, just talking amongst themselves. 20mins later we still haven't been helped and at this point we've asked for help again and been told, 'just a minute' again. At this point my daughter just starts looking (NOT touching) at the wheels herself, and is immediately told by staff who had previously been ignoring us to get out of the spinning wheel area because my daughter could 'break something'. Staff knew why we were in the store, ignored us, and then chastised us for trying to look on our own (the spinning wheels aren't behind a counter or anything and there were multiple adult women with small children in the section, all of which were playing with the spinning wheels). My daughter has been doing fibre arts since she was 6 and in the 3 years we've lived in Lawrence, we've probably spent upwards of $5000 in this shop. We are a Rroma family and my daughter was also refused admittance to their youth knitting group when she was 10 after first being told she had to be able to cast-on and cast-off and would be confused, upon hearing that she could do both of those things and was actually learnign cables and shortrows, was told she was 'too advanced' and still couldn't join. I suspect (especially reading other reviews here) that the treatment we received may have had something to do with the fact that the other women and unsupervised children in the store that...

I live in Kansas City, but for yarn (and most recently for a rigid heddle weaving class), I go to Lawrence, KS, to a magnificent store called The Yarn Barn.

It is located downtown Lawrence, which is worth a day trip all on its own. Parking ont he street in front of the store (if you are lucky and note: during the week) is paid parking with an App. It is free on Sundays. If you don’t want to pay, there is a parking garage on the street parallel behind it on the top level.

Now to the important part: this place is a true unicorn in the yarn world. Yarn Barn has the most knowledgeable staff I have ever met in a yarn store. They hire true artisans who have studied at different fiber arts and who teach many of the classes.

This store introduced me to yarn I didn’t know existed. Once you use yarn like this, it’s impossible to go to Joann or Michael’s. Truly. The quality of their yarn and their looms and other equipment is impeccable.

Pictures attached are from a recent weaving class. I’m a prolific mosaic crocheter and love, love, love the Malabrigo yarn they sell from Uruguay and Peru as well as a brand called Sirdar from the UK…

If you’re wanting to learn a yarn or fiber craft, check out their website! They are one of the best yarn stores with the most competent teachers not only in the Midwest, but in...

I seem to be among the unlucky here--I have visited the store multiple times and usually received middling to okay service, but one visit just left a bad taste in my mouth. I selected my purchases and waited at the counter. And waited. And waited. Despite the fact that there were several employees milling about the store, either playing with a wheel or cranking on the yarn winder (with no other customer in sight??), I waited ten minutes for someone to come check me out. I haven't been back since, since they apparently don't want my money. Sad there's no other local option in Lawrence, but big boxes and online retailers are...