What is the San Diego Yarn Crawl, and where are the local yarn shops?
A free, self-guided tour of the county's yarn shops (and in some years alpaca ranches) held every September, with stamps, exclusives and prizes. Shops range from Liberty Station to Ramona and Chula Vista.
- When
- September
- Cost
- Free
- Format
- Self-guided
- 2022 stops
- 8
Annually
Purchases optional
Incl. alpaca ranches
The short version
- The San Diego Yarn Crawl is held each September and is free to join.
- It's self-guided: visit participating shops at your own pace, collect stamps, and shop crawl-only colorways.
- The 2022 crawl had eight stops, including alpaca ranches, one with its own mill.
- Shops have included Apricot Yarn & Supply (Liberty Station), Ramona Country Yarn Store and Emy's Yarn in Chula Vista.
- Local dyers such as Magicland Yarn release special collections during the crawl.
The San Diego Yarn Crawl invites knitters, crocheters, weavers and other fiber fans to visit local yarn shops across the county over a few days each September. It's free; shops offer exclusive yarns and patterns, and visitors collect stamps toward prizes. In some years the route includes working alpaca ranches.
Yarn shops that have joined the crawl
Apricot Yarn & Supply
Liberty Station (former Naval Training Center)
Pacific Beach shop
In one of PB's original cottages
Emy's Yarn
Chula Vista; mural by Michelle Guerrero
San Marcos shop
North County
Ramona Country Yarn Store
Ramona
Alpaca ranches
In some years, one with a mill
Shops named in Chula Vista Today (2022), Rug Hooking Magazine and Magicland Yarn listings. Participants change each year.
Making the most of the crawl
- 01
Plan a route
Shops are spread from the coast to Ramona and the border. Group stops by area and pick two or three per day.
- 02
Check hours and exclusives
Shops post crawl-only colorways and trunk shows; dyers like Magicland Yarn have held several events during the crawl.
- 03
Bring a project
Many shops host stitch-alongs and seating for sitting and knitting.
- 04
Watch for the ranches
When alpaca ranches join, they're a highlight; wear closed shoes.
Other self-guided shopping crawls in San Diego include the San Diego Book Crawl in late April and a Vintage Crawl in late September. New in town? See how to meet people in San Diego.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 8, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Event dates, times and prices are set by the organizers and can change or sell out. Confirm with the organizer's own page before you plan around them.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
Chula Vista Today · 2022
Free annual event; alpaca ranches; eight stops in 2022
Rug Hooking Magazine
Held every September; shops from PB to San Marcos, Chula Vista, Ramona; Apricot Yarn at NTC
ma.to · Sept. 2026
Three crawl events in September 2026
KPBS · Sept. 2026
Comparable self-guided crawl, Sept. 25–27, 2026