Claremont Yarn Store Open Since 1989: Phebie's NeedleArt

Phebie's NeedleArt, at 532 W 1st Street, Suite 210 in Claremont's Packing House, is open Tuesday through Thursday and on Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM. It has been providing materials and classes since 1989. The shop sells specialty yarns, fibers, threads, buttons and beads, and it teaches knitting, crochet, Brazilian embroidery, cross stitch and weaving.

Phebie's is in Claremont's Packing House, a former citrus packing house at 532 W 1st Street that now holds shops and restaurants at the edge of Claremont Village. The shop is in Suite 210. The full address is 532 W 1st St, Suite 210, Claremont, CA 91711.

Claremont is a college town in the far east of Los Angeles County, home to the Claremont Colleges, and its village is lined with tree-shaded streets, bookshops and cafes. The Packing House sits within walking distance of the Metrolink station, so a visit can be done by train from Union Station as well as by car.

The shop's website states: Open Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM. That means it is closed Monday, Friday and Sunday, and that the doors shut at 3 PM even on Saturday. The window is short, so aim for late morning, when you can browse, ask questions and still have time for lunch in the village.

Because the hours are limited, the shop is not a place to drop in at the end of a workday. Plan it as a morning or midday stop. The email on the site is phebie@phebies.com for questions that do not need an immediate answer.

The home page says Phebie's NeedleArt has been providing the community with materials and classes to enhance creativity since 1989. That is a notable run for a specialty needlework shop, particularly one that sells hand-embroidery supplies and not only yarn. The shop's tagline lists its three main interests: yarn, Brazilian embroidery and beads.

The shop describes its mood as warm, inviting and creative, and says it welcomes visitors to come and be inspired. The inventory reflects that range, from specialty yarns and fibers to threads, buttons and beads. For a visitor who knits, the real discovery is the thread and bead side, which you rarely find in a pure yarn store.

The shop teaches Brazilian embroidery, a technique that uses a thick rayon thread to build raised, three-dimensional flowers on fabric. It is a different kind of stitching from cross stitch, which counts squares on an even-weave fabric, and a different one again from knitting, which builds fabric loop by loop. A beginner can learn a few of the basic stitches in a single sitting and walk out with a small flower on a hoop.

If this is new to you, ask the staff for a starter kit. Brazilian embroidery is a good travel project because it needs only a hoop, a few needles and a handful of threads. It also rewards color, since the flowers depend on a few shades that blend.

Phebie's says it offers private and group instruction for all ages and skill levels in four categories: knit and crochet, Brazilian embroidery, cross stitch and weaving. Private lessons suit people who want a specific skill, such as turning a heel or reading a chart, and group classes suit people who want a regular appointment and company.

The website does not list a price list or a schedule. Ask what level the next session is aimed at, how many weeks it runs and what materials you will need to buy.

The shop also joins the LA County Yarn Crawl. The home page advertises the 2026 Yarn Crawl, April 23 to 26, and the crawl's own site says all participating shops open Thursday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and on Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. If you want to see Phebie's in a festive mood, that is the weekend to go.

After your visit, walk east on 1st Street into the village, a short stroll. The streets are laid out in a grid with small-scale shops, cafes and restaurants, and the colleges' campuses begin a few blocks north. A morning at a needlework shop naturally leads to a long lunch.

If the weather is warm, sit outside. If you need a break from fiber, the tree-lined streets and the college grounds are a pleasant walk. Because Phebie's closes at 3 PM, the order of the day is simple: shop first, eat second, wander third.

If you knit, buy one skein of something you cannot find at a chain store and a project bag with a clear plan. If you embroider, buy a hoop, a pack of needles and a small set of threads in one color family, and ask for the pattern that goes with them. If you are shopping for a gift, a set of beads or a small embroidery kit is easier to wrap than a heap of yarn.

Skip the large purchase on your first visit. The shop is small, and it is better to start with a single project, take the class, and come back for more. That approach also lets the staff learn your tastes, which is how a shop that has lasted since 1989 keeps its customers.

Phebie's NeedleArt is at 532 W 1st St, Suite 210, Claremont, CA 91711, in the Packing House. Hours: Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday, 10 AM to 3 PM. It is closed Monday, Friday and Sunday.

Bring cash or a card, a project and your questions. Ask Karpo APP for the next stop in Claremont Village after you leave.