Black Locust Farm: A big yarn shop in a small village

The Woman Behind It All
A self-professed “yarn junkie”, Cathy Kaltenbach has been knitting since she was 9 and tiptoed into spinning as a teenager.  Black Locust Farm began in 2002 when Trooper, Cathy’s German Shepherd, asked for sheep for his birthday.  Suddenly, there was wool, which was a good excuse to get a spinning wheel.  Then there was yarn, which was a good reason to open a shop.  The shop started small, in Cathy’s living room at Black Locust Farm, moved into a small corner of a yoga studio, then progressed into our current space in the historic bank building on the square in Lodi.

Shop and Stay Awhile
Looking for a yarn paradise?  You will find it here.  A destination shop, Black Locust Farm offers a large inventory of fine yarns, materials, and tools catering to beginners and experienced makers alike.  We are bi-stitchual and love both knitters and crocheters. Inspiration is always in abundance at Black Locust Farm. Our feature wall changes with the seasons, and we have a large number of samples on display. 

We have a passion for independent dyers and carry yarn from Ancient Arts, Destination Yarns, McMullen, Palmer, Purl Talk, Zee Zee Textiles, and others.  Ancient Arts, Destination Yarns, and Zee Zee Textiles have all created beautiful, shop exclusive colors.  In addition, we offer yarns from well-known brands, including Berroco, Cascade, Fiber Company, Koigu, Madeline Tosh, Malabrigo, Noro, Plymouth, Sweet Georgia, and others.  You will find luxury and budget-friendly options and a diverse fiber selection. We also carry a large variety of tools and notions.

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At Black Locust Farm, we are committed to support you on your journey as a maker. We are happy to provide advice, insight, and support for your project and answer your questions.  Cathy loves to teach, from beginners through advanced stitchers.  If you buy your products here, we will get you started on the basics for free.

We are a friendly place to knit and crochet; you will almost always find people stitching at our table.  Black Locust Farm is the gathering place for a warm and community of makers. Stop in and make with us, the table is always open.

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Classes
Classes are offered regularly and focus on techniques and/or skill-building.  Cathy also offers one-on-one spinning classes. Recent class offerings include brioche, mosaic knitting, stranded color work, a sweater class, and a sock class. Our next class will be a color work cowl focusing on the ladderback jacquard technique for carrying yarn. Watch our blog and socials for news about this and other upcoming classes.  Is there a class you would like to take? Let us know; we are open to suggestions.

Make-Alongs
We hold regular make-alongs.  Our current make-along is the Jethro pattern by Tanis Lavallee, which combines crochet and knitting.  Keep an eye on our blog and socials for news of upcoming make-alongs.

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Special Events
Black Locust Farm often hosts trunk shows by independent dyers.  Destination Yarns, Purl Talk, and Zee Zee Textiles have all visited with trunk shows in the last year. Destination Yarn will be returning this fall for a trunk show. Watch our socials and blog for dates and details.
 
We observe Local Yarn Store Day in April and Knit in Public Day in June, celebrating together with special yarn, patterns, and give aways.
 
We participate in The Heartland Yarn Adventure in the summer and The Yarn Discovery Tour in September.  These events also include the premiere of shop exclusive colorways by our favorite indy dyers.

Plan Your Visit
We are open for extended hours during the Yarn Discovery Tour. Plenty of parking is available on the square.

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11am - 5pm
Wednesday: 11am - 5pm
Thursday:  11am - 6pm
Friday: 11am -6pm
Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm

Where to Eat in Lodi
The shop favorite is Moxie’s Grille, which is less than a mile from the shop.  Moxie’s has a large, varied menu and daily specials. We are partial to their salads, burgers, and pizza. On the square in Lodi and within walking distance of the shop you will find pizza, sandwiches, and a coffee shop. A few miles away at the I-71 exit, there are numerous fast-food options and a Bob Evans.