Stitch House

From the moment you spy the magenta-colored walls, Stitch House, a yarn shop in Dorchester, gets you thinking about color. For yarns, there's a bright chartreuse alpaca, an intense marine-blue cotton, and the perfect basic-black merino - among dozens and dozens of other choices. Just as inspiring are the shop's hours: It's open on both weekend days, and Tuesday through Friday shoppers are welcome until a conveniently late 8 p.m. There are classes on knitting, crocheting, and quilting (though no quilting supplies are sold in the store). Stitch House, 846 Dorchester Avenue, Boston, 617-265-8013, stitchhousedorchester.com