Daydreaming & Day-tripping
From the lush vineyards of Livermore to breathtaking sunsets in Pacifica, the San Francisco Bay Area is full of iconic views, delicious food, and the very best local yarn shops. But with such an abundance of choice, it might feel a little overwhelming.
Don’t worry! We’ve got you. Here’s a series of day trips, breaking the BAYCrawl into bite-sized chunks.
Reminder! Before you head out, confirm each shop’s hours!
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(San Rafael ⇔ Half Moon Bay)
44 miles each way
Start your day at…
STOP 1: Atelier Yarns Marin
1707 4th St, San Rafael, CA 94901
Atelier Marin specializes in luxurious natural fibers and hand-dyed gems. They offer knowledgeable and friendly service, expert private lessons and comprehensive class schedules for all levels of knitting and crochet, and have an extensive selection of yarns, needles, patterns, books, knitting bags and accessories made locally and from around the world.
From Atelier Marin, cross the street to…
STOP 2: Dharma Trading Co.
1604 4th St, San Rafael, CA 94901
The Dharma Trading Co Store & Showroom is the premier knitting yarn source for the San Francisco North Bay. It has been serving bay area knitters, crocheters, dyers, and weavers since 1975.
Need a coffee and a snack? Stop by Pink Owl Coffee (1100 4th Street) and/or Johnny’s Doughnuts (1617 4th Street). Doughnuts and coffee are always better together! Hungrier? Try Sol Food Kitchens for an amazing meal (903 Lincoln Ave).
From San Rafael, make your way south down Highway 101, over the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge, through the Presidio, and to the Sunset District of San Francisco to find…
STOP 3: Love Fest Fibers
3300 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122
Love Fest Fibers offers small-batch, sustainably sourced yarn and fiber goods. Their collections spark creativity in makers while creating meaningful opportunities to support and elevate fiber-producing communities.
Need a pick-me-up and a view? Just down the street from Love Fest Fibers, you’ll find Andytown Coffee Roasters for coffee, drinks, and baked goods (3655 Lawton Street). Beautiful Ocean Beach is just steps away to the west!
From San Francisco, make your way south to Pacifica, where you’ll pass the famous oceanfront Taco Bell (seriously!) along beautiful Highway 1. A little further down the coast and you’ll reach…
STOP 4: Royal Bee Yarn
1922 Palmetto Ave, Pacifica, CA 94044
Royal Bee Yarn is a cozy coastal yarn shop offering a curated selection of sustainable yarns, beautiful tools and thoughtfully bundled kits. With a focus on community, creativity and handmade joy, the shop welcomes makers of all levels to learn, connect and be inspired. Whether you’re picking up your first project or your fiftieth, The Royal Bee is a space where everyone can feel right at home - enjoy our backyard patio while you visit!
Feeling peckish? Grab a bagel next door at David’s Bagels (1926 Palmetto Ave) or if you’re hungrier, grab a crab sandwich at ChitChat Cafe (2100 Beach Blvd) up the street at the pier. You may even spot some whales if you’re lucky! Need something stronger? Stop by Table Wine for a wine tasting (1710 Francisco Blvd Suite A).
Shopping for gifts? Pacifica has great locally owned businesses that are all within walking distance. Cotton Crustaceans (100 Santa Rosa Avenue) has hand drawn sea creature illustrations on t-shirts and hoodies plus other fun gifts. 7.3.1. Designs (1932 Palmetto Avenue), Malt & Stone (1625 Palmetto Avenue) and In The Attic (1925 Palmetto Avenue) are just a few must-see shops.
Take the scenic highway 1 south, passing beautiful coastal stops like Gray Whale Cove State Beach and Montara Beach to Half Moon Bay where you'll find...
STOP 5: Fengari Fiber Arts
415 Main St, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Fengari has been offering friendly and knowledgeable service for over 25 years in the coastal haven of Half Moon Bay. With an exceptional selection of yarns, needles, patterns, buttons, books, knitting accessories, and gifts, this unique and colorful space serves a warm and wonderful community of creative crafters from all over the globe.
You must be famished! For a great sandwich on the weekends, try Dad’s Luncheonette (225 Cabrillo Highway South) or any day of the week at The Garden Deli (356 Main Street). If you want something snackier, check out Half Moon Bay Wine & Cheese (421 Main Street) for a snack plate and glass of wine. You might find a place to stitch with a pastry in the charming indoor courtyard of Moonside Bakery (604 Main Street). For a delicious coffee for the drive home, try Rebyl Coffee & Food (225 Cabrillo Hwy S Unit 106C)
…and that’s the end of The Coastal Tour! -
(South San Francisco ⇔ Morgan Hill)
74 miles each way
Start your day at...
607 W Orange Avenue, South San Francisco CA 94080
Cottage Yarns, located in a former church in South San Francisco, has the most extensive selection of yarns, supplies and buttons on the Peninsula. They are literally stocked to the ceiling! Celebrating 60 years of continuous operation and with over 500 different yarns in stock, you are sure to find something to strike your fancy.
Satisfy your sweet tooth! Just down the road from Cottage is the iconic See’s Candies factory location (210 El Camino Real). See’s Candies has been making quality chocolate and candies for over 100 years! For lunch, Little Lucca (724 El Camino Real) is right across the street and is serving up huge deli sandwiches on the Bay Area’s favorite bread: Dutch crunch.
Head south down Highway 101, give a wave to SFO and visit a shop celebrating their first year in business!
1816 Magnolia Avenue, Burlingame CA 94010
Peninsula Flock Knits opened in February 2025 and carries a wide selection of yarns from well known brands as well as brands not carried by any other stores in California. In addition to carrying one of the largest selections of Knitting for Olive, they carry a deep selection of Malabrigo, Fonty, Noro, Plymouth, Isager and more.
To recharge and admire your purchases, visit Tiger Tea (1803 El Camino Real) for boba or Andersen Bakery (1849 El Camino Real) for delicious European and Asian baked goods and coffee.
If you want to grab a bite, Neal’s Coffee Shop (1845 El Camino Real)has diner-style offerings with outside seating and Yuanbao Jiaozi (1841 El Camino Real) serves Chinese dumplings and soups.Hop back on 101 going south to travel to your next destination…
781 Laurel Street, San Carlos CA 94070
Nordic Nest brings the charm of Scandinavian design to the Bay Area. They proudly offer yarn from Sandnes Garn (Scandinavia's most popular yarn brand) as well as a variety of gifts, including candles produced in-house, craft kits and home decor. They are excited to grow the knitting community on the Peninsula and welcome knitters of all levels and ages in their classes.
Need some fresh air? Just a half a block from the shop is Frank D Harrington Park (753 Laurel Street) offering benches and shade.
The perfect afternoon pick-me-up can be found at Groovy Goose (1221 San Carlos Avenue) a great place to sit, sip and stitch.Hop on 101 south to exit 400C to visit…
NEW LOCATION!
164 Main Street, Los Altos CA 94022
Uncommon Threads - now in a new space around the corner - is a welcoming and supportive yarn shop stocking a full range of beautiful yarns, tools and accessories for your projects. Whether you're investing in a sweater to treasure forever or treating yourself to a fun, fast and trendy piece, they'll help you find the perfect yarn and pattern pairing. At Uncommon Threads, you'll find favorites like Rowan, Isager, La Bien Aimée, ITO, Berroco, Lang, and much more.
If you're in the shopping groove, downtown Los Altos is full of fun shops and boutiques. Sewists will love the fabric store Needles Studio (334 State Street) just two blocks away. Fashionistas won't want to miss Repeter Consignment (308 State Street) and book worms of any age should visit Linden Tree Books (265 State Street).
By now you must be hungry! The team at Uncommon Threads recommends Cafe Nur (280 Main Street) for Mediterranean, Rustic House (295 Main Street) for oysters and seafood, Pho Cabin (200 State Street) for Vietnamese, Tacos al Vapor Michoacan (131 Main Street) for street tacos, Tre Monti (270 Main Street) for Sicilian, and State of Mind (101 Plaza N) for pizza.
Don't unravel yet because we have just two more stops to go! Just 20 minutes south down 280 will bring you to your next stop.
1702 Meridian Avenue, Suite H, San Jose CA 95125
Fillory is a place where people can explore their creativity and express themselves without judgement. It is a world of possibilities that was built for our community, where support is always available and where you can find the best quality tools for your trade. Fillory is a social haven for makers with fun, educational classes, regular MALs and more.
Book lovers should check out Recycle Bookstore (1066 The Alameda) for their next read and if you need a bite, why not grab a burrito from Tacos Al Pastor 2 (1629 Meridian Ave) before hitting the road to your last stop?Head south on 280 to 101 to Morgan Hill and you'll find yourself in the oasis that is…
16375 Monterey Highway J, Morgan Hill, CA 95037A
Pop of Color offers a bright and fun space filled with yarns and notions to suit every budget. They welcome crafters of all abilities and ages and are working towards becoming a yarn store with a strong footprint that supports local dyers and makers along with independent small businesses.
Vegans and the veggie-curious will rejoice when they see the menu at Craft Roots (17230 Monterey Road), voted one of America's best vegan restaurants.
Unwind from your long day of crawling by visiting one of the many local wineries in Morgan Hill. Grinds Vines and Automobilia (17400 Monterey Road) and Kelly Brewing (70 E 4th Street) are two favorites!
…and that’s the end of The Tech Trek!
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(Alameda ⇔ Livermore)
36 miles each way
Start your day at…
1602 Webster Street, Alameda CA 94501
Coven of Stitches is a queer AAPI-owned shop that focuses on building community and broadening crafters’ skill sets. They keep their calendar full of social events, affinity group meetups, and classes - there is always something going on in the Covenstead! While they (of course) have beautiful yarn and knit and crochet classes, they also have spinning and felting fiber, spinning wheels, beginner-friendly kits to introduce you to new crafts, and classes for crafts like basket and broom making. Come and craft some magic!
Looking for more craft supplies? The ReCrafting Company (2449 Santa Clara Ave.) is a great resource for crafters, offering the opportunity to de-stash their surplus crafting material and supplies on consignment. Bead Inspirations (1544 Park Street) will help you embellish or bead-dazzle your next project and Needle in a Haystack (2433 Mariner Square Loop) offers needlepoint supplies. Shop for treasures at Thrifty Kitty (1509 Webster Street), metaphysical supplies at Feathered Outlaw (1506 Webster Street) and for books check out Rocket Reuse (1355 Park Street) or Books Inc (1344 Park Street). Play a few games of pinball at the Pacific Pinball Museum (1510 Webster Street) which displays rare and vintage playable pinball machines amid local art. This itinerary has the fewest stops, so feel free to stay awhile!
When you're ready to bid adieu to your new friends at Coven, you'll pop on 880 and make your way south to Hayward. You've arrived at...
943 C Street, Hayward CA 94541
Established in July of 2021, Aranea Craft Studio is Hayward's very own yarn and fabric store. Aranea (which means "spider" in Latin!) supports the diverse community of crafters and their creative growth by providing an inclusive and community-oriented environment. They have become a haven in the Bay Area for their weaving support and expertise. In addition to materials and notions for making, they offer classes and lessons on a quarterly schedule, featuring both in-house and local guest instructors.
If you want to stop and stitch a bit, the Hayward Public Library (888 C Street) boasts impressive architecture and is located right across the street from Heritage Park (the former home of Don Guillermo Castro). If a nibble is what you're after, customer favorites are Snappy's Cafe (978 A Street), Buffalo Bills Brewery (1082 B Street), Acqua e Farina (22622 Main Street), Soheila Bakery (22656 Mission Blvd) and The Gurkha Kitchen (855 B Street).
When you're ready to make your way east to Livermore, hop on 580 to our 3rd stop...
2155 Las Positas Court Suite F, Livermore, CA 94551
In the heart of Livermore’s wine country. Stitch & Revel is a boutique-style yarn shop that’s equal parts cozy hazel and creative playground. Every corner is filled with inspiring yarns, from luxurious hand-dyed fibers to budget-friendly favorites. They provide an elevated and fun experience for makers of all kinds, hosting fun, fiber-themed events that celebrate community, creativity and the joy of making. Proudly BIPOC and AAPI owned.
After a day of yarny adventures, visit their neighbor Velvet Head Spa (2133 Las Positas Court) for a relaxing service to unwind and recharge. If it’s dinner time, you’ll find yummy Thai food that was featured on two Food Network shows at Lanna Thai(2270 Las Positas Court) or scrumptious sushi at Tommy Katsu (2476 Las Positas Court).
Just about 5 minutes down the road you'll be at your final destination...
STOP 4: In Between Stitches167 North Livermore Ave, Livermore, CA 94550In Between Stitches is a treasure trove of yarns, quilting fabrics, embroidery, knitting, and crochet supplies. They offer friendly, personalized service to crafters of all modalities and levels. In addition to a plethora of classes, In Between Stitches hosts open craft times, craft-alongs, and support sessions. Most recently, they have expanded our services to Machine Quilting Services. They can't wait to welcome you to their vibrant, creative community.
Enjoy downtown Livermore! There are a plethora of cute shops and restaurants to discover while you are here. Peruse Sweet Hope Soaps Co and Vault California (both at 21 S Livermore Ave) or Blue Door Antiques at 321 N L Street. And who knows? The Olive Oil Pantry (2053 First Street) might make olive your dreams come true! ;) For a brew, check out First Street Alehouse (2106 First Street) or Sons of Liberty (2327 First Street). A lot of beloved wineries are just down the road (like Page Mill, Retzlaff, Wente, Los Positas and Cuda Ridge), but be sure to check their hours before venturing over as many of them close in the late afternoon. Locanda Wine Bar (2293 First Street) is open late if you are looking for a great place to end your day with a glass of vino
.…and that’s the end of Flying Down 580!
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Play “ring around” the East Bay! You will start and end in Berkeley
54 mile loop.
Start your day at…
2921 College Avenue, Berkeley CA 94705
ImagiKnit East is the East Bay extension of ImagiKnit San Francisco and opened in February of 2024. In a charming space that housed Sweet Dreams Toy Store for almost 40 years, ImagiKnit East features the same great selection of yarns, supplies and craft kits but also a huge variety of gifts and goodies. Be sure to check out their back classroom - it doubles as an art gallery featuring local artists on a rotating basis.
Start your day off right! Grab a scone (with the seasonal jam and butter!) and cup of coffee across the street at Baker & Commons (2900 College Avenue). If you're more of a donut person, Dream Fluff (2637 Ashby Avenue) is elite. Go Bears! The University of California (Cal) is just a few blocks north on College Ave. If you have never seen the campus, it's worth a visit! The Campanile clock tower (Sather Tower) is a Berkeley landmark. Since there is no such thing as too much fiber fun, it might be worth the detour to visit The Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles (2982 Adeline Street), a legacy museum with a fun selection of unique notions and handicraft supplies.
CA 24-E will bring you to our next stop in the lovely Lafayette...
3409 Mount Diablo Blvd, Suite D, Lafayette CA 94549
Busy Stix is your go-to stop for yarn, notions, and craft-related books and magazines. They offer a variety of fine yarns along with kits to help you create your dream project. Additionally, they host a variety of classes, ranging from introductory knitting and crochet to workshops focusing on advanced techniques. Don't miss their signature line, Bella Yarn!
Get your nature fix by visiting the Lafayette Reservoir. It's the perfect place for a walk or hike, a picnic or maybe even paddle boarding. If it's sustenance you're after, Hideout Kitchen and Cafe (32 Lafayette Circle) or Tutu's (53 Lafayette Circle) have some yummy brunch options.
Come on busy bees, it's time to zip over to Busywork! You can take 680N all the way there or better yet take Alhambra Avenue which will bring you right by the John Muir National Historic Site (4202 Alhambra Ave).
605 Main Street, Martinez CA 94553
Busywork is a bright and colorful shop designed to inspire creativity. They have a curated selection of beautiful yarns, tools, and supplies that we find essential to maintaining our own creative practices. Their yarns are selected with a focus on natural fibers, beautiful colors, and interesting textures. Their interests extend beyond fiber arts and into the intersection of creativity and community. Come by and pick up a project and a sketchbook, nail polish, fun zine, or even a skateboard from our little brother shop, Bored, a micro skate shop tucked in the corner!
Downtown Martinez is a gem! If you are lucky enough to do this trip on a Sunday, Martinez hosts a fantastic Farmer's Market that Busywork participates in. Need an afternoon pick me up? Get some java at States Coffee (609 Ward Street) or Barrelista (736 Main Street) then buzz over to Faded Gold Vintage (604 Estudillo Street) and Knots and Found Plants (701 Escobar Street). Before heading back west, consider stopping by Waterfront Park (245 N Court Street) which is a fun place to picnic and watch skateboarders.
Hop on 80W and make your way through Richmond and El Cerrito until you make it to our next shop in Albany...
1325 Solano Avenue, Albany CA 94706
Avenue Yarns is your neighborhood full-service yarn and fiber store. Their offerings are carefully selected based on what they love and are inspired by. The shop is situated on Solano Avenue, part of a vibrant shopping district that bridges Albany and Berkeley. Avenue hosts regular knit and crochet help labs, group classes with expert teachers, community get togethers, make-a-longs and special events like yarn tastings and trunk shows.
Green thumbs and coffee enthusiasts alike will not want to miss Flowerland Nursery (1330 Solano Ave), a destination plant shop with a Highwire cafe nestled inside. If you're lookin' for lunch try Kim's Cafe for Vietnamese (1309 Solano Ave), China Village (1335 Solano Ave) or Delhi Diner (1373 Solano Ave). Solano is a shopping corridor so consider popping over to some neighboring shops like the consignment kids' store Toy Go Round (1361 Solano Ave), Oak Town Spice (1224 Solano Ave) or Umami Home + Gift (1178 Solano Ave) before heading off.
Take 580 or just make your way to San Pablo Avenue as you crawl towards...
STOP 5: A Verb for Keeping Warm
6328 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland CA 94608
A Verb for Keeping Warm offers unique, high-quality yarn, fabric, fiber, threads and tools to create textiles, clothing and art. They are driven by a love of making, nature and a belief that life is for learning. All of their house products are dyed using plants and cochineal to further their dream of seeing production of textiles done in a way that is fair, non-exploitative and ecologically sensitive. In addition to their namesake products, Verb features highly sought-after offerings from La Bien Aimee, Spincycle, Merchant and Mills and BUAISOU.
If you love thrifting or repurposing, Urban Ore (900 Murray Ave) is a legendary salvage yarn in the East Bay. Shop for greenery at Spiral Garden (2850 Sacramento Street) or pop over to Urban Farm Oasis (1441 Ashby Ave) for the coolest little co-op that has support for bee and chicken keeping and lots of fun gifts.
If it's time for a sweet treat, you will be pleasantly surprised by the nearby offerings! Check out Sweet Adeline Bakeshop (3350 Adeline Street), James and the Giant Cupcake (6326 San Pablo Ave), Third Culture Bakery (2701 Eighth Street) or Lois the Pie Queen (851 60th Street). If you need a heartier meal, have a peek at the menus of Cafe Colucci (5849 San Pablo Ave), Standard Fare (2701 Eighth Street) or Tamaleria Azteca (5751 Market Street) and fuel up!
It's time to close the loop and wind over to our final shop of the tour! A quick drive down 580 or San Pablo Ave will bring to…
651 Addison Street, Berkeley CA 94710
Black Squirrel Yarns is a community based shop in a bright, sunshine-filled space full of lovely yarns. They focus on non-superwash, indie dyed and budget friendly yarns. They also carry a great selection of embroidery, sashiko, felting and spinning supplies plus fun notions and stickers. If you are looking for help or advice on a project, they have experts available every day. Or maybe you just want to hang out? You are welcome to join them at the table any time or come to their socials.Fourth Street is known for shopping! Black Squirrel's favorites include The East Bay Vivarium reptile store (1827 5th Street), Stained Glass Garden (1800 4th Street) and The Builders Booksource (1817 4th Street).
We imagine by now you have worked up an appetite... Zut! On Fourth (1820 4th Street), Dumpling Time (1795 4th Street) and Tacubaya (1782 4th Street) are all great options. Finish your day with a brew from Great Notion (2031 4th Street) and watch the sunset over the Berkeley Marina. Cheers!
…and that’s the end of the Berkeley to Berkeley tour!
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Take advantage of the Bay's robust public transit systems and enjoy a car-free crawl day through San Francisco! You'll spend less time parking and more time perusing all the crafty goodness the city has to offer.
Start your day at...
1818 Divisadero Street, San Francisco 94115
Celebrating over 30 years in business, Atelier Yarns in San Francisco is a family-owned yarn shop specializing in luxurious natural fibers and hand-dyed gems. They have an extensive selection of yarns, needles, patterns, books, bags and accessories made locally and from around the world.
Fuel up! b. patisserie (2821 California Street) serves iconic Parisian and Viennese-style pastries, sandwiches and coffee. For burritos that rival what you'll find in the Mission, try El Burrito Express 2 (1812 Divisadero Street). Treat yourself to a manicure or pedicure at one of the many nail salons in Lower Pac Heights like Simply Unique Nails (1935 Divisadero Street), Artistic Nail & Spa (1826 Divisadero Street) or Toe-Asis Spa (1722 Divisadero Street).
Hop on the 24 bus and hop off when you see the rainbow crosswalks at 18th and Castro! You'll soon be at your next stop...
3897 18th Street, San Francisco CA 94114
ImagiKnit, located in the vibrant and historic Castro district of San Francisco and celebrating over 23 years in business, is just steps away from the iconic Dolores Park and Mission district. Here you will find wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling options in a huge range of yarn and supplies from luxe cashmeres and hand-dyed silks to workhouse wools, cottons and acrylics. They are known for their robust stock of Malabrigo, Knitting for Olive, Dan Doh, Woolfolk and much much more.
Sit and stitch! Dolores Park (one block away) is the perfect place to soak up some rays, picnic and people watch. For incredible espresso drinks, don't miss SPRO (500 Church Street). The iconic Tartine Bakery (600 Guerrero Street) is a couple blocks away but Le Marais (498 Sanchez Street) right across the street is a true gem. If it's ice-cream-o-clock, Bi-Rite Creamery (3692 18th Street) pairs perfectly with a trip to Dolores Park.
Head across the street and jump on the 33 bus. It will take you through Twin Peaks to the infamous Haight and Ashbury intersection which is just steps away from...
1322 Haight Street, San Francisco CA 94117Firebird Yarns is a colorful shop located in the historic Haight Ashbury neighborhood. They specialize in natural fibers and carry hand-dyed yarns from over a dozen indie yarn companies. Their staff loves color, and they are known for our yarn fades. Come by to build your own #firebirdfade, check out our most recent pinup crafter, or get some help from our bimonthly Stitch Doctor.
Haight Ashbury is a thriving neighborhood where cultures and eras meld together and was made famous by the hippie movement of the 1960s. You'll find vintage clothing, shoes, festival wear, books, plants and so much more. All that walking will work up an appetite but don't worry, it's hard to find a bad meal in San Francisco! Cha Cha Cha (1801 Haight Street) and the Pork Store Cafe (1451 Haight Street) are just two of gems you'll find along Haight Street.
Make your way to the N Judah either by walking (or taking the 6 or 43 bus) and before you know it you will be in the Sunset! Here you'll be steps away from our final stop in SF…
3300 Judah Street, San Francisco CA 94122
Love Fest Fibers beautifully curated space offering small-batch, sustainably-sourced yarn. They design their collections in partnership with women artisans in Tibet, Nepal, India and at home in California. They spin each line to spark creativity in makers while creating meaningful opportunities to support and elevate fiber-producing communities.
Judah Street in the Outer Sunset runs right into Ocean Beach and is known for its laid-back surfer vibes and the burgeoning community of other creative businesses like Case for Making (4037 Judah Street), General Store (4035 Judah Street) and Black Bird Bookstore (4541 Irving Street). Go and smell the roses! All the quiet, flower-filled meadows of Golden Gate Park are just 2 blocks away and Ocean Beach is just a 10 minute stroll down the hill.
…and that’s the end of the Muni tour!
