2310 NE Broadway, 503-922-1150, twistedyarnshop.com.

While yarn shops tend to enmesh themselves in the fabrics of their neighborhoods, Twisted has earned a special relationship with its clientele. That's thanks to the boutique's dizzying range of services and bustling schedule. Specialists lead a variety of instructional courses at negligible prices, and participation in the store's monthly knit-along projects requires neither registration nor purchase.