Who puts “more meaningless stuff” on their Christmas list? No one. On the other hand, who wouldn’t want something loved ones have made with their own hands, in a color that matches their eyes, perhaps?
If there’s good news about this recession, it’s that it has encouraged people to turn to fewer, smaller, handcrafted gifts.
Anyone can knit a scarf or hat. But if you’re dead certain you’re all thumbs, how about custom-painting a mug, plate or picture frame at a studio that will fire it for you? Then all you have to do is collect and wrap your creation.
Crafting classes fill up fast this time of year, but never assume that all the spots are taken. A little craft-shop etiquette is in order, though: Understand that these stores are businesses; in other words, don’t ask for hours of help if you didn’t get at least some of your materials at the shop.
1. Lambspun of Colorado
If you believe that fiber crafts are all about the creative journey, you’ll love this shop. Each corner has something to delight the eye, tempt the wallet and fire the creative spirit — so much so that it inspired writer Maggie Sefton’s knitting mystery series (Maggie herself pops in from time to time).
A giant farmstead table sits in one room, inviting you to plop down your bag and whip out your latest project. Spinning supplies and weaving accoutrements each have their own rooms. Finding something specific can be a bit of a challenge — actually, every nook and cranny is so beguiling, remembering what you came in for can be difficult. Don’t hesitate to ask one of the friendly staffers.
Insider tip: If your fiber habit is driving you (or other family members) to drink, the Back Porch Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch. Check the website for knitting tea times; you can rent spinning wheels by the week.
Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and Tuesdays until 8 p.m. 1101 E. Lincoln Ave., Fort Collins; 970-484-1998;
2. Dynamik Ceramix (formerly Color Your World)
Shop dogs Peekaboo the pug and Scamp the Chihuahua mix will greet you at the door of this paint-your-own pottery house. Owner Nancy Abdulrazzak has racks of unglazed bisque wares. An $8 studio fee covers all the glazes and the firing; you also purchase your ceramic item ($5 to $50) from among the mugs, plates, covered casseroles, picture and mirror frames and figurines. The shop does kids and adult parties.
Insider tip: Ask about glass-fusing classes; you can also rent time on the pottery wheel for $10 an hour.
Monday-Saturday noon-6 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m.; 240 Walnut St., Fort Collins; 970-495-1145;
3. Shuttles, Spindles & Skeins
This Boulder shop, open since 1992, is one of the area’s wise elder sisters of craft. If it can be built by manipulating fiber, they know how here. The class list encompasses knitting, crochet, weaving, spinning, felting, basketry and dyeing. You can rent time with the “sweater doctor” if your project has you stymied. Books are almost everywhere, including what seems like every issue of Interweave Knits ever published and every kind of calendar that a fiber freak could wish for. Yarns range from basic, including a full palette of Lopi and Brown Sheep, to exotic cashmeres and alpaca. The button selection is as outstanding as the help you’ll get choosing a project.
Insider tip: If you knit for small children, check out frequent instructor Roxana Bartlett’s adorable little sweater patterns.
Monday 12-6, Tuesday-Saturday 10-6; check website for Sunday hours; 635 S. Broadway, Boulder (Table Mesa Shopping Center); 303-494-1071;
4. Showers of Flowers
This Lakewood store claims to be the world’s largest yarn store — 14,000 square feet of it. Founder Sharon Hayward Sturm took up crochet after a broken leg laid her up for three months, and she found herself crocheting flowers to give back to those who sent her flowers during her injury. Together, she and knitter Jackie Briggs launched the shop, so they have both hemispheres of the yarn world covered.
Insider tip: The store’s website has links to free online patterns.
Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Sunday. 6900 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood; 303-233-2525; showersof
5. Fancy Tiger
Calling all hipsters: This South Broadway cubbyhole is prepared to keep you in all kinds of stitches, whether they’re on your sewing machine or a pair of pointy or hooked sticks. Each year, the store offers its own needle-felted Christmas ornament kits: wacky, adorable felted animals that anyone can make in an hour.
The shop also carries lots of large-scale, modern-print fabrics for one-of-a-kind clothes, and handbags and patterns from Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner and Modkid. If you’re looking for the Handknit Heroes graphic novels, books like “Creepy Cute Crochet,” Japanese embroidery patterns or other souvenirs from the craft world’s cutting edge, this shop’s for you.
Insider tip: Too busy to DIY? Hit the South Broadway Christian Church, 23 Lincoln St., today for “Holiday Handmade,” a local artisans craft fair featuring Fancy Tiger regulars.
Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday noon-6 p.m.; 1 S. Broadway; 303-733-3855;
6. The Lamb Shoppe
Walking into the Lamb Shoppe is like stepping into the living room of a big, generous, laughing friend with exuberant but impeccable style. The Congress Park shop has structure, but also a welcoming, creative chaos that makes you feel right at home. The yarn selection runs from basic to sinfully luscious, and the store has needle sizes you won’t find everywhere. There’s always someone sitting at the black granite tables knitting; a curved coffee bar in the middle of the shop is handy for refueling.
Insider tip: Check out the raucous, once-a- month Saturday-night Pajama Jams, 5 p.m. to midnight. Need a quick gift? Get the “Boyfriend Beanie” pattern and some chunky alpaca yarn.
Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday noon-5 p.m. 3512 E. 12th Ave.; 303-322-2223;
7. The Modern Ewe
Shop dogs Chloe and Cuzco run to greet you at the door of this cozy Lowry Town Center spot, and owner Dana Juncker will tank you up with youthful exuberance.
At 24, the graphic-design graduate has had the business for just a year and is already selling her own line of cotton yarns. Make a mistake? She’ll sit down and help you “tink” — or un-knit — your project until all is right with its world. The shop carries Namaste knitting bags and a wide range of yarn, tools and gifts for knitters.
Insider tip: Ask Juncker about her new knitting bag that says, “Knit Fast. Die Warm.”
Monday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; 200 Quebec St., Building 500 Unit 101; 303-366-6601
8. A Knitted Peace
Even if you you’ve got a sweater you think is messed up beyond all hope, there’s enough crafting expertise in this elegant spot to help you sort it out.
Sample sweaters are the kinds of stylish wardrobe items you could wear to a job interview, but the store can still help you make a quick one-evening gift scarf. If you’re ready to take your knitting to the fine-arts level, there are unique yarns from Japan in such materials as stainless steel.
Insider tips: New classes — and even some free classes — are being added all the time. Watch the website for gift inspirations.
Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; 5654C S. Prince St. Littleton; 303-730-0366;
9. My Art Workshop
If you want your kids to know the joys of making gifts with their own hands, this 4,000-square-foot studio has your solution.
Sisters Kristen Hill and Kelley Piz (pronounced like “peas”) focus on fun but forgiving arts and crafts for ages 3 and up. Tie Dye Tuesdays let kids play with color for $7 per clothing item; other projects include pottery, stepping stones, wood projects, sand painting and spin painting. The sisters also do winter break craft camps.
Insider tip: For the truly last-minute gift, ask the owners about their new take-and-bake pottery that can be decorated with paint pens.
Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; and special events by appointment (closed Dec. 25-28); 9126 W. Bowles Ave. No. 2C, Littleton; 303-948-3598;
10. Colorful Yarns
Tucked on the bottom floor of a nondescript Centennial office building, this store is a must-visit for sock aficionados and anyone starved for color. There’s so much colorful yarn per square foot in these three rooms, it ought to be illegal. The selection of sock yarns from indie dyers, including Red Rocks Fiber Works in Morrison, is extensive; so is the variety of high-quality tools (including Lantern Moon circulars and Colonial rosewood double-points).
Insider tip: Plop down on the red leather sofa in the back room and peruse the vast and quirky “knit lit” selection.
Monday-Friday 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m-5 p.m.; Sunday 1-4 p.m. 2001 E. Easter Ave., Suite 101, Centennial, 303-798-2299;
Susan Clotfelter: sclotfelter@denverpost.com and
