Seeking Info about Madison Wisconsin Area LYS

[RileyCat]

Greetings!

 

After the holidays I plan to start up a Madison, Wisconsin CGOA chapter. I was shocked to see that the Madison Knitting Guild has over 450 members, but there is not a CGOA chapter in Madison. So sad! As much as I'd love to christen this chapter the "MadTown Hookers," I'm going to play it safe and call it the Madison Area Crochet Guild (MACG). I figure if the group wants to do any charitable projects in conjunction with any religious or spiritual orgainzations, the "Hooker" name won't get in the way.

 

I've noticed on the CGOA Yahoo Group that many chapters meet at libraries or a classroom at Michael's, JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby. Some meet once a month on a weekend afternoon, others meet once a month on a weekday evening.

 

Since we are blessed with many local yarn shops (LYS) in the Madison area, I'd like to have the meeting location rotate each month among them. My criteria are easy parking (good), meeting and/or classroom space (a plus), and coffee (a priority!). I will be stuck working the week between Christmas and New Year's, so I figured I'd call around or take a few long lunch breaks to check out the LYS listed below. If you have any info or insight about any of them, I'd appreciate your opinions!

 

When I approach each LYS, I would like to know if they would be willing to be a "featured" LYS of the month. With that, I am considering hosting two CGOA meetings each month at the featured LYS, one on a weekday evening and another on a weekend afternoon. I am the mother of a 16-month old very busy, very chatty (and very cute, if I might say so myself!) little girl, so I understand how some people would not like to come on a weekday evening. Although, I will be there because I need a BREAK during the week! The weekend meeting time provides another option for people who would rather meet on a weekend. Crochet junkies like me can come twice a month.

 

Below is a list of the LYS that I have visited or found on the Internet:

 

The Sow's Ear, Verona

http://www.knitandsip.com/

· Coffee & pastries onsite, yum! Lots of space. On-street parking

 

Stitcher's Crossing, Mineral Point Rd., Madison

http://www.stitcherscrossing.com/ (website under construction)

· Bruegger's Bagels is next door. Abundant off-street parking. Classroom/meeting space

 

Coyote Yarns, Parmenter St (or Elmwood Ave?), Middleton

No website of its own but it is referenced on many yarn manufacturers' websites.

· I don't know anything about this place. I'll go check it out next week.

 

Lakeside Fibers, Lakeside St., almost downtown Madison

http://www.lakesidefibers.com/

· I used to live in this neighborhood, so I'm assuming parking is on-street only. But, it is a coffee shop, too! Another place I need to check out.

 

Off the Beaten Path, Femrite Dr., Monona

http://www.knitmeone.com/default.jsp

· An internet find with coffee shop. I need to visit. From the looks of its website, I'll never want to leave.

 

Prairie Junction Yarn, Main St., Sun Prairie

No website of its own but it is referenced on many yarn manufacturers' websites

· Coffee? Parking? Space? I'll need to visit.

 

Woodland Studios Yarn Shop, Main St., Stoughton

http://www.woodland-studios.com/

· Website shows classroom space. Looks like a classy joint. I need to visit.

 

Although I find The Knitting Tree on Monroe Street to be quaint, parking is a nightmare and the space is quite small. Plus, there are other near west and west side options in Madison, so I do not plan on investigating The Knitting Tree further. Same for the Weaving Workshop / The Glitter Workshop in downtown Madison on the 900 block of E. Johnson St. The hours are bad (not open very often) and parking in that neighborhood would be terrible, so I'm not going to look into that place, either. Maybe Lakeside Fibers, just off of Monona Bay, will turn out to be a good downtown option.

 

I found some other places that sound nice but they are outside of Dane County. I'm putting these yarn shops in a "Field Trip" category:

 

Susan's Fiber Shop, N250 Hwy A, Columbus (www.susansfibershop.com)

 

Corner Stitch Shop, 524 Oak St., Suite 3, Baraboo (No website of its own but it is referenced on many yarn manufacturers' websites)

 

Any input you can provide is greatly appreciated! Thank you,

 

Debra Morse

Fitchburg, WI