Best Craft Stores in New England for Supplies & Classes

In an increasingly digital world, scrolling and clicking may have their place, but when it comes to gift-giving, there are far better uses for your hands. Knitting, weaving, painting, beading—there’s no end to the ways that a little time and effort can yield one-of-a-kind treasures. You’ll need supplies, too, which any craft shop is happy to provide. Some places, though, offer that extra something: connection with other creatives. With classes, events, and social get-togethers, they share the message that when you do it yourself, you don’t have to go it alone.

Discover the best craft stores in New England for yarn, art supplies, sewing, and more, plus creative classes and workshops that bring makers together.

Best Craft Stores in New England for Supplies & Classes

Connecticut Craft Stores for Community

Knit New Haven, New Haven

Drawing knitting, crocheting, weaving, and spinning enthusiasts alike, New Haven’s headquarters for all things yarn offers the perfect fibers, weights, and colors for projects from delicate lace to chunky sweaters. Books, patterns, buttons, and notions—plus tools that go way beyond basic needles and hooks to things like Amish-style yarn swifts—round out the extensive inventory. Knit New Haven offers group or private lessons and hosts a twice-monthly knit night where enthusiasts can work and share advice as they sort out a knotty, or knitty, problem or two.

Make-Modern, Darien

With four Connecticut locations, Make-Modern is all about bringing crafters together in a lively workshop environment. Weekly classes, held at Make-Modern in Darien as well as in Greenwich, Westport, and Ridgefield, are offered at both adult and children’s levels as they cover the finer points of knitting and crocheting, machine sewing, and more. For teens, there’s even a “fashion foundations” class, with participants making five useful projects to take home. A nine-week summer camp program introduces first-to-sixth graders to a different craft each week. And how about an adult “craft and sip” party? That’s here, too.

Papercraft Clubhouse, Old Saybrook

Scrapbookers and other enthusiasts of the paper arts find what the proprietors call a “clubhouse atmosphere” at this welcoming shop that’s recently moved from Westbrook to Old Saybrook. Tired of roaming the card racks to find just the right store-bought greeting? Shop here for everything necessary for crafting unique cards for all holidays and special events—and sign up for classes that show how it’s done. There’s also an impressive inventory of scrapbooking albums and binders, special papers and card stock, adhesives, inks, and accents from glitter to stickers to ribbons to … well, you get the picture.

Maine Craft Stores for Community

Fiddlehead Artisan Supply, Belfast

The folks at this Midcoast Maine establishment don’t specialize. Instead, they cater to a miscellany of textile artisans, painters and printmakers, jewelry crafters, and the like; they even offer classes in the craft—yes, it’s a craft—of keeping journals. Fiddlehead is the place to browse fabrics for clothing, home decor, and quilting; embroidery thread and supplies; origami, tissue, and crepe paper. Need materials for dollmaking? They’re here, too. First-timers can get their bearings with an array of kits, books, patterns, and expert-led classes, while wee crafters can shop a children’s department with its own stock of drawing and painting supplies.

The Mix, Brunswick

Fostering “fine and fun” art projects is the mission at Brunswick’s hot spot for painting and drawing materials. It’s also a community educational resource, with a schedule of classes that change with the seasons (among the recent offerings: acrylic painting, stamp carving, tin earrings, and mandalas). Wednesday is “open studio” day, when artists can bring their projects and share workspace at The Mix or, in good weather, out on the lawn. On second Fridays in summer, the shop hosts a party with live music, art sales, locally baked pies, and a tie-dye T-shirt workshop.

Olde School Fiber & Craft, Gorham

At a shop known for its lush kaleidoscope of yarns—lacy to bulky, linen to worsted wool—and kits for knitting, weaving, and more, what’s especially “olde school” is the commitment to building a real sense of community. There’s an open stitching circle on Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings, a Sunday craft club with a rotating group of instructors, and classes in subjects as diverse as reverse appliqué and sashiko, a kind of functional Japanese embroidery. The gatherings and classes all contribute to fulfilling the shop’s mission to keep “slow making” traditions alive.

Terrarium, Portland

Lots of artists paint plants, but here’s a chance to create works of art with the real thing, alive and growing. Terrarium is a one-stop shop for getting started in its namesake gardening technique, stocking a broad spectrum of bottles and jars, soil, rocks, moss, and, of course, plants. Best of all, customers can design and stock their terrariums right on the premises, with the assistance of knowledgeable staffers. And if hunger pangs strike, you can tack on something from Terrarium’s food and drink menu, which offers snacks like Bugs in Dirt, a combo of chocolate pudding, cookie crumbles, and gummy insects.

Massachusetts Craft Stores for Community

BeadCache, Mansfield

No store in New England carries a larger and more varied inventory of beads than the aptly named BeadCache. In an eye-popping riot of color, the shop displays a wealth of gemstone beads, Swarovski crystals, finely shaped and polished cabochons, seed beads, and lots more, along with jewelry-making supplies and tools (there’s a jewelry repair service, too). Sign up for classes, or just ask the friendly staff for a quick tutorial in basic beading skills. BeadCache even features a party room, which groups of up to 12 (in number, not age) can reserve.

Craftworks, Northborough

Deeply woven into the fabric of Northborough since it began as a crafts co-op back in 1979, Craftworks is still a place where you can browse artwork and gifts made by hand. But they’re keen to help you put your own to use, with an events calendar so busy there’s a chance to learn something new every day—not to mention commune with others in charity knitting meetups, “Sit ’n’ Stitch” sessions, and even a book club. Stop in for advice or supplies. Settle in for a class. Or just enjoy spending time in a business that, with its participation in food drives and other community-outreach efforts, wears its local heart on its sleeve.

Gather Here, Cambridge

Serious sewing enthusiasts, here’s a one-stop-shopping option for you. Ranking among Greater Boston’s most comprehensively stocked fiber arts destinations, Gather Here sells an array of natural and synthetic fabrics—from canvas to chambray, denim to voile—along with yarns and thread, kits and patterns, and tools. It also carries Bernina and Bernette sewing machines and accessories. And all textile crafters are invited to, yes, gather here at the self-described “stitch lounge,” where they can meet like-minded folks, work on their projects, or take a class.

Stitch House, Dorchester

Since debuting in 2007, Stitch House has been a vibrant expression of founder Annissa Essaibi George’s passion for handcrafting as well as her service-oriented ethos. The former Boston city councilor oversees a cozy storefront filled with fiber-arts supplies and the sounds of crafters at work or gathered in fellowship, or both. In addition to offering lessons and open knitting and crochet sessions, Stitch House invites all to join in on projects such as knitting whimsical headwear for young cancer patients and making quilts for use at Hanover’s Cardinal Cushing Centers, an organization that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

New Hampshire Craft Stores for Community

Dorr Mill Store, Guild

Unlike most craft shops, Dorr offers finished apparel along with the supplies for crafting exquisite woolens at home. That’s the key word: woolens. The shop’s selection of piece goods includes woolen fabrics in all manner of textures, colors, weights, and patterns that are suitable for projects as simple as scarves or as ambitious as winter outerwear. Also in stock are yarns, rug-hooking tools, dyes, threads, and kits for appliqué, punch needlework, felting, and so on. As for those ready-made items? There are hats and sweaters, blankets and throws, shawls and scarves—just take your pick. Or attend the monthly open fiber-arts day and enjoy snacks and camaraderie while working on your own creation.

Harrisville Designs, Harrisville

The National Historic Landmark town of Harrisville boasts a textile tradition dating back to the 1790s. And for the past half century or so, it’s been the home of Harrisville Designs, one of the few surviving American woolen mills. The family-run mill produces the natural woolen yarns favored by knitters and weavers, along with the carded fleece used in felting and spinning. Weavers also come to Harrisville for the company’s handmade looms, available in seven styles including a rug loom. A place to learn as well as to buy, Harrisville offers weaving workshops for varying skill levels, plus sessions that focus on activities like spinning and knitting.

Paper, Pen & Palette, Wolfeboro

Tucked into a jam-packed location upstairs from Black’s Paper Store, just a couple of blocks from the Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront, this somewhat deceptively named shop is actually two stores in one—and then some. The three “P”s of its name are well represented, with a wealth of oil, acrylic, and watercolor paints, along with fine drawing paper, pencils, and pens. But there’s also a full complement of yarns for knitting and crocheting, embroidery thread, and felting supplies. Stop in on Thursday mornings and join the knitting and crocheting group—all skill levels welcome.

Rhode Island Craft Stores for Community

Artists’ Exchange, Cranston

Here’s an arts collaborative that can’t be pigeonholed into one creative discipline—or two, or three. With a welcoming space that comprises art and ceramics studios, a gallery, and a theater, Artists’ Exchange offers classes in pottery, drawing, and painting, as well as ceramics workshops for beginners and open studio opportunities for the more experienced (with clay and glazes for sale, and kiln time available). The Art Survival Kit, assembled to order, is an Exchange specialty; for $25, you get drawing paper, watercolor paint and paper, crafting supplies, and an array of brushes, crayons and pastels, charcoal, and other essentials. Summer art and ceramics camps are open to kids as young as 6.

Creative Reuse Center of Rhode Island, Providence

“Any object needs to have more than one life,” says Elizabeth Ochs, who founded this craft-centric nonprofit to help turn “trash” into treasures. Recently relocated from East Providence to a much bigger space in Providence’s Valley neighborhood, the Creative Reuse Center stocks its warehouse-like space with donated yarn, paints, clay, fabric, and other supplies and tools that might otherwise go into the landfill. Anyone can shop the ever-changing inventory, but an annual membership brings with it discounts on purchases and classes, as well as early admission to pop-ups and sales.

Knit Club, Providence

The traditional yarn shop gets a stylish twist at this sunny little space in the Fox Point neighborhood. Opened in 2024 by designer Lindsay Degen, a RISD alum and founder of her own namesake fashion line, Knit Club sells luxe yarns while maintaining a down-to-earth, “all crafters welcome” vibe in its many classes and social events. There are free crafting circles twice a week, instruction sessions that are both practical (mending workshops, Crochet 101) and fun (knit a lobster!), and knit-and-crochet-along events that have included marathon viewings of the movie trilogy The Lord of the Rings.

Vermont Craft Stores for Community

Brainstorm art supply, Randolph

Tucked into the lofty upstairs of a former church, Brainstorm’s inventory touches nearly every creative base. Look for artists’ supplies in media as diverse as oils, charcoal, chalk, and tempera; printmaking and bookbinding necessities; and materials for textiles, jewelry, and carving. There’s even everyday needs like fountain pen ink (they sell the pens) and greeting cards. Workshops range from ice-dyeing to rug-hooking, and textured floral collage to woven vessels. Brainstorm offers professional framing services, along with mat boards and glass for DIY projects. In the shop’s loyalty program, customers can earn—what else?—“Braindrops.”

Green Mountain Yarn & Fiber, Rutland

Catering to beginning knitters attempting their first pair of socks as well as experienced fiber artists learning the secrets of Tunisian crochet, this is the place to find yarn in a comprehensive variety of weights and fibers—wool alpaca, linen, cotton, cashmere, bamboo, and, yes, yak. The shop also stocks the unspun or low-twist fibers known as roving, which is favored for especially chunky or plush knitting projects. Shop here for a wide selection of knitting needles, crochet hooks, and tabletop looms, along with buttons and notions, and check the website for classes that go from basic knitting to spinning and rigid heddle weaving.

Must Love Yarn, Shelburne

Owners Jennifer Arbuckle and Angela Zaikowski do indeed love yarn. The longtime knitters opened their shop over a decade ago, and it’s since become the place in the greater Burlington area for yarns from lace and superfine to super-bulky and jumbo, with an emphasis on wool that’s been sheared, processed, and dyed in Vermont. Among Arbuckle and Zaikowski’s suppliers is Fern Bridge Farm in the Champlain Valley, where former business partner Kelly Otty raises Shetland sheep. The commitment here to Green Mountain State products extends to wool shampoo, stitch markers, and handmade yarn bowls. The shop offers lessons and hosts yarn crafting nights twice a week.

Sparrow Art Supply, Middlebury

Created by watercolor artist Beth Bluestein, Sparrow embodies its founder’s belief that “art is for everyone.” And everyone—amateurs and professionals alike—can find what they need to create amid the shop’s trove of oil, acrylic, watercolor, and other paint media, as well as paper and sketch pads, canvas, printmaking supplies, brushes, frames, and storage solutions. For textile artisans, there are instruction books, patterns, and kits. A special children’s inventory helps introduce kids to drawing, painting, clay sculpture, and more. The shop is home to the Sparrow Artist Collective, which invites artists of all skill levels to enjoy support and community, and features a rotating gallery spotlighting a different local artist each month.

This feature was originally published as “Helping Hands” in the November/December 2026 issue of Yankee.

Bill Scheller

Bill Scheller is a travel writer and journalist based in northern Vermont. He is the author of more than 30 books.

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