Hi, my name is Theresa and I’m a yarnaholic. Until now, I had nowhere close to me to indulge in my addiction, only expensive boutique-type yarn stores. Then the Michaels on 99th and Columbus opened, and all hope of a yarn-free existence faded away.

All melodrama aside, Michaels is known to crafters as a Mecca for their various hobbies, bringing scrapbooking, knitting and crocheting, floral arranging, and baking, as well as a myriad of other leisurely pursuits, together under one roof at very reasonable prices.

I’ve been in my fair share of Michaels, and, while a bit smaller than some of the megastores I’ve seen in the suburbs, this new store doesn’t fail to please. When I went, it had just opened (along with the adjacent Whole Foods and TJ Maxx) AND it was right before Christmas. The store was very crowded while the shelves were a little understocked. I did, however, manage to find exactly what I was looking for. Hopefully once the general public realizes that this crafting superstore is here to stay, the frenzy will die down making it more comfortable to really explore.

As I’m sure you can deduce, I happen to knit and crochet, so my area of focus in the store is the knitting/crocheting section (i.e., the yarn). If you’ve never been to a Michaels, and you’re interested in yarn, expect companies like Lion’s Brand, Red Heart, Caron, Paton’s, to name a few. This is not to replace the neighborhood yarn store you know and love; Michaels just carries larger-brand, less expensive yarn. So if you’re looking for yarn for that baby blanket or a child’s project, Michaels might be a better option than spending $100 on something that will be worn for a week.

If you’re a crafter, and even if you aren’t, I highly recommend checking out a Michaels closest to you (if you live anywhere in Manhattan, chances are, the one on 99th and Columbus is it). Maybe you’ll find a new project in a hobby you love or be inspired to try something totally different!