Bethany Beach Craft Shops

In this digital era, you may be surprised to learn that millennials are turning to crafting.  According to the Association For Creative Industries, 72% of crafters are among the 18-54 age group, while only 28% of crafters are older than 55. This trend be attributed to young celebrities who are into crafting. Taylor Swift is an avid crafter, making homemade snow globes and watercolor gifts. Paris Hilton even had her own line of scrapbooking supplies. Southern Charm’s Craig Conover is breaking all sorts of stereotypes. Not only is he young, but he’s a male sewer. Conover recently launched a new sewing lifestyle brand, called Sewing Down South.

Needlepoint, a craft dating back to 1500 BC in Egypt is back in vogue, and it’s not just popular around the holidays. Creating the diagonal stitch through the open-weave canvas is a very labor-intensive process, but it’s not a craft reserved for grandmothers. Designer Jonathan Adler’s obsession with the needlepoint craft in the early 2000s created the resurgence.

(Credit: Jonathan Adler https://www.jonathanadler.com/decor-and-pillows/pillows/needlepoint)

Crafts and creativity clearly has a broad spectrum. A study done by the Association For Creative Industries found that more than 60% of households participated in at least one creative activity last year. There’s an annual trade show dedicated to the creative industry, called Creativation. Whether your craft is paint, needlework, leather, sewing or framing – Creativation has representation from every medium. The show allows crafters to connect with stores, and crafters can watch manufactures demonstrate how to use new products and features.

(Credit: Creativation Show http://www.creativationshow.org/exhibitors/why-exhibit)

There’s no sign of the crafting industry slowing down. According to the Association For Creative Industries, the size of the US creative industry is over $40 billion, a 45% increase. To keep up with the trend, Bethany Beach has many craft shops offering a large selection of craft supplies and even hosts an annual Boardwalk Arts Festival which will be on Saturday, September 7th, 2019.

Sea Needles began in 1984 in Bethany by Eddy Mancari. Since then, Sea Needles has merged with Bethany Art and Framing and expanded its craft offerings to framing, yarn, and needlework. The yarn store offers a large collection of patterns, knitting needles, and yarn. The brands carried at Sea Needles includes some of the best in the industry, like EuroYarns, Skacel, Cascade Yarns, Berroco, and Rowan. If you’re in need of new knitting needles, our collection includes brand names such as Addi Rockets, Prym, Inox and Knitter’s Pride. If you’re a knitter, you know that there are numerous weights of yarns and endless knitting patterns. Sea Needles carries a selection of crochet patterns and knitting patterns for any weight of yarn. The shop also offers customers threads and embellishments for needlepoint canvas. What makes Sea Needles unique is its knitting and crochet clinic, which occurs on Tuesdays at 10:30 AM. The clinic is perfect if you’re in need of an expert to assist with a project you’re currently working on or need help getting started on one. Sea Needles is located near Playland Family Fun Center at 780 Garfield Pkwy in Bethany Beach and is open Monday through Saturday all year long.

(Credit: Sea Needles https://seaneedles.com/about-us/)

Don’t be fooled by its name, Tidepool Toys and Games in Bethany Beach is more than just toys and games, they’re a craft store located right on the beach. Just like Sea Needles, Tidepool Toys and Games is open year-round in an effort to serve both summer vacationers and full-time residents. Tidepool is located at 98 Garfield Parkway on the boardwalk in Bethany Beach and opens daily from 9 AM to 10 PM.

(Credit: TidepoolToys)

Salty Yarns is a stitchers paradise in Bethany Beach. Opening their doors over 30 years ago, Salty Yarns has grown to become the largest Needlework Store on the Delmarva Peninsula and the owners report no sign of slowing down. Their selection includes an extensive collection of specialty fibers, linens and finishing items. Brands carried at the store are top-notch, including Weeks Dye Works, Rainbow Gallery Fibers, Old Colonial Tuck-A-Ways, DMC and Caron Collection. What makes Salty Yarns unique is the ability to offer custom cuts for fabrics. Whatever project you’re working on, Salty Yarns is guaranteed to have the supplies needed for it. Visit Salty Yarns at 8th Street and Boardwalk in the Lankford Hotel.

The Bethany Beach Boardwalk Arts Festival is in its 41st year and will be held September 7, 2019. The annual event includes over 100 fine artists, displaying and selling their jewelry, porcelain, paintings, woodwork, metal, and baskets. It’s a very popular and well-attended event, despite being held after Labor Day, when the summer vacation season is officially over.