Maker-minded: Fabric and yarn stores in Toronto
Whether you’re looking for a super-soft fabric for a baby onesie, or some robust wool for a winter scarf, Toronto is flush west to east with fine wool, yarn and fabric stores, stocked with all the materials and accessories you’ll need for your next creation. Plus, if you're looking for a little inspiration, you'll find fellow maker-minded folks browsing the stacks and bins at these Toronto fabric and yarn stores.
King Textiles
161 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5V 2L6The king of Toronto fabric shops is located in the heart of the city’s old textile district on lower Spadina. When you’re this big, no one can force you to budge. The 10,000 sq. ft. space is a playground, dreamscape and gold mine for interior designers, fashionistas, upholsterers and, yes, YOU, the humble home sewer looking for that perfect swatch for a new set of curtains or dress pattern. Warning: this spot is the definition of sprawling; leave a crumb trail so you can find your way out.
Fabric.Works
832 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G 1M2Attention: crochet, embroidery and knitting enthusiasts – this is your Shangri-La. We should also alert the quilters, dressmakers and anyone with a passion for fine fabric, rich colours and meticulously sourced products. Eweknit is on a mission to stock the finest artisanal yarns for all your knitting crafts. Shop here for instructional books, designer textiles and sewing kits as well. You can also sign up for classes to learn new skills.
Len's Mill Store
66 Orfus Rd, North York, ON M6A 1L9If Len’s could speak, it would probably scream. The kitschy factory outlet on the Orfus discount strip seems to aspire to become the new Honest Ed’s (but Ed never had a knitting department like this one). Check it out: bin upon bin of quality yarn in a kaleidoscope of colours. And the fabric section is just as impressive. You’ll find brand name bolts in every material, colour and print, plus countless patterns to boot!
Wools Ltd Romni
658 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1E5This dedicated yarn shop just oozes credibility. It must be the decades of experience and family ties that give it such gravitas. Mother-and-son team Marilyn and John Leonard are well known and well respected in the Toronto knitting community. Marilyn has guided the shop through several relocations since she co-founded the business over 40 years ago. Today it’s a prime source of natural fibre yarns and knitting equipment for dedicated hobbyists. Classes here are hands-on, usually held in small groups and involving plenty of one-on-one instruction.
The Yarn Guy
15 Gower Street, Toronto, ON M4B 1E3There are 31 brands and more than 600 types of yarn listed on the website of this East York shop. The major product categories also include knitting and crochet accessories, instructional books, knitting machines, sewing machines and quilting tools. The Yarn Guy deals only with the biggest and best manufacturers and makes large-volume purchases to keep prices competitive. Check for the latest specials online before you visit or order directly through the website.
Knit-O-Matic
1378 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M5R 3J1It’s places like this Wychwood shop that make knitting fun. Vivid balls and braids of yarn are as bright as candy and just as tempting. That’s how they get you hooked – pun intended. Knit-O-Matic not only sells everything you need to knit and crochet, but they’re also eager to teach you how. They offer group and private classes for all skill levels with particular emphasis on beginners, including classes designed for kids 8 and older.
Yarns Untangled
90 Nassau St, Toronto, ON M5T 1M7Leave it to Kensington Market, the soul of the city’s local artisan culture, to have a craft boutique supplying sustainably produced, natural wool yarns. Yarns Untangled is a serious knitting resource offering expert instruction, equipment and a chance to comingle with other like-minded crafters looking to swap tips and tales. Ask founders Brenna and Amelia to tell you the story about how they knit an adult sweater out of human hair. Seriously.
The Workroom
1340 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6K 1L4There’s a small army of gifted instructors and designers behind The Workroom marquee. This is equal parts store, sewing studio and collaborative workshop where skills are learned and transferred and projects conceived and nurtured to completion. The Workroom sells a huge variety of sewing fabrics, patterns, notions (sewing accessories like buttons, marking pens, needles and thread) supporting a community of working professionals and home hobbyists.
Maryan's Fabric Ltd
3213 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4N 2L3When your project calls for the finest fabrics and most deluxe details, look to Maryan’s, located on Yonge Street, north of Lawrence. Local designers come here for bridal fabrics and other extraordinary garments in exclusive silk, chiffons, taffeta and crepes, wools, velvets and jersey fabrics. The store also specializes in elaborate trims and designer buttons.
