Crafty...But Not Witchcrafty.

There is a street right in downtown Salem that is known not for the witchcraft that abounds all around.  I might describe it with just the word craft, but that doesn't quite do justice to this special little street.  Front Street, off Washington Street, has four beautiful shops that cater to creators of decorative and wearable art nestled in charming brick-and-granite buildings.

 SEED STITCH FINE YARN

21 Front Street Salem, MA 01970 | 978.744.5557

STORE HOURS:
Tues-Sat: 10 AM-5:30PM Thursday: 10 AM-8PM
Sunday: 12.00 PM-5:00 PM
Closed Monday 

Our first stop, on the right, is Seed Stitch Fine Yarn at 21 Front Street.  Owned by Courtney Heath, a Salem resident, Seed Stitch carries high-quality, hard-to-find yarn.  Alpaca, cashmere, silk.  It's hard to keep your hands off.  But you don't have to, because everything you need to begin a project can be found here.  Gorgeous samples, knitting and crocheting notions, patterns, and hands-on help.  I have gone to Seed Stitch when I've been entangled in a knotty problem, and the employees have been glad to help.  There are scheduled knitting groups, and people who just hang out playing with and telling yarns, so if you want to meet some new friends, you're always welcome.   Coming up is a yarn crawl, a self-guided tour of the finest yarn shops on the North Shore. Seed Stitch Yarn also offers classes--check their website for class offerings and times.

Knitters gather for a knitting with lace workshop at Seed Stitch

BEADWORKS

10 Front Street Salem, MA 01970 | 978.741.2323
 

STORE HOURS:
Tues-Sat: 10 AM-5:00PM

Wed., Thurs., & Fri.: 11AM-6PM

Closed Sunday 

More eye candy!  Shelves of it!  Boxes of it! My daughter and I hadn't intended to, but we left with 20 or so beautiful sparkly beads to decorate her newly-made-(by me)-from-recycled-sweaters slippers.  Beadworks, 10 Front Street, features rows and rows of sumptuous beads in all colors and materials,  from all over the world, ranging from about  $.30 to $5.00.  

Beadworks offers girls' night out and birthday parties, or if you're visiting in town and are feeling creative, stop by and make yourself at home and make yourself some jewelry!  There is a comfy workspace where you can "make the jewelry you want to wear",  Beadworks' motto, right there in the store. A great rainy-day activity.

Jewelry created at Beadworks

Beadworks' work area

B.F. GOODSTITCH

18 Front Street Salem, MA 01970 | 978.740.8986
 Call for hours and class information

 
B.F. Goodstitch is a charming needlepoint store with an equally charming proprietor, Englishwoman Fidelis Fenno.  A benchmark shop on Front Street, Goodstitch has been here for 11 years.  It sells fine embroidery and needlepoint supplies, including yarns and threads of silk, wool, and metallics.  B.F. Goodstitch specializes in hand-painted canvases for needlpoint as well as some cross-stitch canvases.  Often these are one-of-a-kind and can't be found elsewhere.  

Again, as in the other shops on this social street, classes and stitching groups can be had.   Embroidery, needlepoint, and  tassel-making are offered, and Fidelis can teach you how to make one beautiful tassel. Call for details.

An embroidery piece incorporating common motifs found in Salem, the willow and urn carved on early tombstones 

Wall of embroidery thread

MARKETPLACE QUILTS

6 Front Street Salem, MA 01970 | 978.740.3890

STORE HOURS:

Tuesday - Friday, 11:00 am - 5:30 pm
Sat 10:00 am - 5:30 pm

  A quaint display of all things quilty

Owned by Salem resident Maureen Clark, Marketplace Quilts has been on Front Street for 7 years, in Salem for 10.  It boasts fine-quality, 100% cotton quilting fabric in adorable designs that can't be found in the big box craft stores.  Quilting books and patterns for beginners to experts, and classes! You can book stitching time when you need access to an industrial machine and the occasional helping hand. And for locals, you can be spared a trip out to the malls when you need simple sewing notions such as needles and thread.  (This was a happy discovery for me--ANYTHING to stay away from a mall!)   There are also quilting circles (call for details).

Civil War Tribute Quilt