Betsy's Yarn & Tea Shop
Address
201 W 10th St
Lockport, IL 60441
(815) 836-0470
Yarn Crawl Hours
2026 crawl hours will be updated in July.
Get to know Fiber Friends Studios
1. What is your favorite part of the Chicago Yarn Crawl?
We love the chance to meet fiber artists from all over the Chicagoland area and see what projects they're working on, what yarn they're drawn to and what techniques are popular in the knitting and crochet scene right now. It's also a great opportunity to check out our fellow yarn stores and get to know them as well!
2. How long have you been in business and how did you get started?
Betsy's opened in 1999 making this our 27th year in business! Current owner, Robert Ciszek, opened the shop with his late wife, Sandra, who was a skilled knitter and crocheter. The shop, named after their daughter, was originally opened to sell the crafts that Sandra and her peers had started making for local markets and fairs, in addition to a variety of yarn, tea and candles. From the beginning, Sandra wanted Betsy’s to be a place where crafters could gather, build community and take knit and crochet classes no matter their skill level. Soon, the business grew and we moved into our current space in 2009!
3. What makes your shop unique?
Betsy's fills a special niche for people who want to be a part of a community. When you walk into Betsy's, you're not just walking into a retail space- you're welcomed into a friendly environment where you can feel the yarn, get opinions from other artists, talk about crafting, and get inspired by new ideas! When you shop with us, you're truly supporting a small business. We're a team of two- Robert, the owner and tea expert, and Maggie, the knit and crochet coordinator/instructor. We both truly love Betsy's and the encouragement we get from the community has had such a positive effect on our lives!
4. What is your favorite part of being an LYS owner?
The people- being a welcoming presence in the store and participating in the Lockport community is such a gift! We love seeing our regulars as well as new faces! Helping someone learn a new skill and get excited about crafting is incredibly rewarding and our knitters and crocheters inspire us every day to try new techniques, start that challenging pattern, or frog something and try again in a caring, friendly space.