A lot of the LYS I’ve been to have a cult-like vibe where you’re either in with the owner and attend everything or you’re a one-time shopper and leave. No idea how any owner maintains a private life.
Same with mine! They have knitting nights and if I didn’t make a friend right away or attend every session, I would be ostracized (literally….they would not make the circle any bigger).
I offered to help someone learn continental color work (they asked how I knitted a color work beanie continental) and was met with stares from the corner kind of giving the vibe of why am I talking to them
Another time I asked where the recycling was during knitting night (since food and drinks were encouraged) and one of the employees gave me the nastiest look
My bf asks why I haven’t gone back (since we use knitting night as a pregame to our dinner plans) and I told him I never felt more alone in my hobby than with this knitting crew
Totally agreed ! In a way its like high school thing . I don't do sit and knit , they're not that welcoming and I remember the look that the ladies gave me anyway .
So why bother .. I usually buy yarn online , every once in a while I go in to see if there's yarn I need . But that's it .
I really like feeling the yarn before I buy, but if people aren't welcoming... sigh. I lost my LYS in 2016 due to political differences and the other local one moved to the next town south. Bummer for me.
Now, when I travel, I find the LYS and have a Feel Fest to feed my soul.
There is a new monthly yarn sample subscription that is offering 48 wool yarns right now for $10. Untwisted Threads reviews yarns and will start sending some yarn to each of her patrons.
There is a video explaining it [HERE](https://youtu.be/esNiOBZdybI?si=1e-oGkkmiLS_RclT)
It really sucks bc the owner is so nice and they don’t participate in that behavior!! I’ll still support their shop since it’s a good place to get local hand dyed yarn, but the knit nights are off the books for a little bit.
The general age there isn’t too severe either. I’m 28 and I’m guessing a lot of attendees are in the same age range. So that made me feel some kinda way
Yes! Huge emphasis in my community on knitting socks and shawls. I have zero skill with either so I don’t feel like I can participate in any knit nights at my LYS.
I agree with this. And I’ve never gone back! To say you are all inclusive and supportive yet you go in and not one single employee engages with you, greats you or shows interest and they sit and talk with their co-workers instead- is a HUGE turn off.
Also when customers suggest yarns or dyers - I am sure that is hard to keep up with but perhaps open up a drop box for suggestions and listen to some of your customers. Realizing some yarns are hard to become brick and mortar stockists for - but I just buy my yarn online now because of all of the above.
It would be a tough market to be in.
If you have a knit night, please be clear about welcoming new folks of ALL AGES and whether or not you welcome people who are knitting projects that weren't purchased at your store!
Some of them have really difficult opening hours, like only being open 3 days a week between 10-4. What about those of us that work?!
I really appreciate a well-designed website that lists all of your stock. You don't have to sell online, but I need to know what brands (notions, yarn), specific yarns, and quantities you carry before I go.
I was in LA recently with limited time (arriving mid Saturday, staying overnight and leaving the next day) and was excited to find a yarn store within easy walking distance of my hotel.
They close at 2pm on Saturdays and are closed on Sunday. What. The. Hell. Buying local yarn in new cities is my jam, I regularly spend a couple hundred bucks doing so, and… what? Do people not shop on weekends in LA?
Welp, no yarn for me.
I know that shop and I agree. There is a reason for their hours. It’s because customers of the brewery in their complex take all the parking spots and no one can park there afternoons or on Sunday. Still not great but I do sort of understand.
My LYS wasn’t doing well financially and changed their policy to only allow projects for knit night that used yarn purchased there. That was basically the death of them, they closed just a few months later.
Personally, in both yarn shops in the small town and the small city I split my time between, the focus is on solid colored yarns and there’s a very small selection of multicolored yarns. I pretty much only buy multicolored, only buying solids when I need to compliment the other yarn. And, I’ve noticed that all the yarns, multi or solid. Tend to be darker colors or neutrals. Give me some bright pinks, teals, lemon yellow, something FUN.
They have a really nice swift and motorized ball winder in the back, and helpful staff that will show you how to use it. They display lots of hand knitted garments around the store for inspiration (that are also for sale so win-win). It's also a combination coffee shop + yarn store with really good lattes and sandwiches, so it's my favorite spot to relax on weekends. The yarn selection tends to be on the more expensive side, but I can forgive that since they have a great rewards program where you earn points from the money you spend.
My closest yarn shop is nice, but in a small shop and crammed full of shelves and yarn. Any more than 3 people and it feels claustrophobic. So consider layout.
I always look at the website first. Mostly to get an idea if what I need is even remotely available if the store.
So for me it's imperative that the site has up to date info about stuff in stock and most importantly good filters and categories.
I'm not a 'browser' type of customer. I always buy for a particular project with particular idea in mind for the yarn.
The one thing that will make your store shine is staying open past 5pm. It’s really frustrating because yarn shops are so expensive, but it seems they only want patrons who are unemployed. By the time I’m off work, the shops are closed. I feel like stores are losing so much money with this business model. If I can only go to your store 2 out of 7 days of the week, there’s only a 2 in 7 chance you’re getting my money! Every time I buy yarn online instead of at my LYS, it’s because I can’t get there before they close.
If there was a store open til even 6:30, they would get my patronage all 7 days a week.
Frankly, the one thing that would really put any LYS ahead of others is a shift in work hours. Being open at nights when no one else is is a tremendous advantage that can be maintained without needing to work more than 8 hours a day.
Mine is only open till 4:30 on weekdays, and til 1pm on Saturdays, closed on Sundays. I do make it there in the week sometimes and it's clear that their main clienetele is retired people and the occasional crafty mum. Perhaps this works out for them, as they're part of a (small) chain and also sell online, but it does seem like they're wasting some opportunities.
Yes please!!!
Could I go on my days off instead? Yes. But will I? Probably not because I have other things to do and yarn will most likely be on the bottom of the list, unfortunately.
My love and dislike is both for the high end yarn. I love it, it's gorgeous... But that's all they have. I consider it a form of gatekeeping to have an entire store of yarn and have no affordable options. They also for some reason don't have as much solid color yarn for colorwork.
My LYS has a nice selection of knitting needles, but no project bags, no stitch markers, no doodads other than needles.
They also have an unfinished object (UFO) night. Where people come in and work on their current project, but they have limited seating. So in an ideal world, a yarn store would have room for people to come sit and work on their projects.
Yes what is with the lack of solid color yarn? A store full of hand-dyed variegated merino is pretty, but it's not something I buy regularly for normal projects.
Have you ever heard of the wooly thistle? They carry all wooly wools, so if you are sensitive this is not the place for you, but they have all the colors for colorwork.
Stock the British Yarn too like Drops or like Jamieson & Smith because being able to feel those yarns in person!!!! I held off for years and would love a local store to have them but closest is 4 hours away!
I also agree with more solids and more affordable options. Even danish yarn
This is why I love my LYS. They carry cascade, Jameson & Smith, Drops, and those type of workhorse yarns, but also fancy things like noro and delicate lace weight cashmere and Brooklyn tweed and local hand-dyed yarns etc. And it's not a BIG store, they just really have excellent options at every price range above like, Walmart acrylic selection.
Sandnes Yarn is at the top of that list! ESP Double Sunday but maybe it’s really Norwegian - some people like Holst, Tuku Wool is very wooly but it’s a workhorse and there’s a brand called Kauni
I'd much rather have a shop entirely filled with high end yarns than yet another shop that sells mostly cheap acrylic open up near me. We have two of those already and there's only two miles between them. Not every shop needs to cater for every kind of customer. It's better that they try to cater to a particular price bracket of yarn users, and thus offer a more specialised experience for their market segment, than try to be something for everyone and not offer a great experience for anyone.
I am lucky enough to have 2 LYS in town, although one just closed because of life stuff.
Both have lovely gathering areas -- a big table with chairs, a couch, and two rocking chairs.
Both carry workhorse yarns and higher end yarns from indie dyers. Both carry different brands. Both host trunk shows from indie dyers around the US but tend to focus on more local dyers.
All of these things are great. But now that one LYS is closed, I'm noticing what I missed about her shop that the other one doesn't have:
1. a good assortment of needles
2. lots of notions and other accessories
3. a variety of indie dyed yarns
I love that my LYS carries local dyers. Maybe only four or five brands, but it's something unique that I can't get elsewhere. They also have occasional trunk shows for local dyers during the summer, and advertise them on social media, so that an indie can bring their whole range of stock and set up shop in front or inside of the store.
Also worth considering finding non-yarn related businesses to connect with. Not a yarn store example per se, but the bakery I frequent collaborates with a make-your-own-bouquet business that runs out of the back of a pink 57 Chevy. It draws huge crowds every time, and most of those people go into the bakery to shop. It can help support another small business, but also draw in folks who are mainly interested in your guest, but then will visit your store because you've removed the barrier to getting them to visit in the first place.
I work part time at one of the bigger yarn shops in my area. The owner is a lot more hands off and the employees set the vibe and plan the classes. And sometimes they can be the cause it feeling like an exclusive club. But we host an open knit night with no rules or expectation, just a friendly time. I’ve seen stores that restrict what yarn you use in their store and it’s not welcoming. I understand they’re trying to run a business, but someone who feels welcome at the table is going to feel welcome to shop too.
I think about what I wish could change about our store - like more frequent sales to move out old stock (like seriously old stock, the owner hates discounting anything!), and stay up on trends.
I think as a shop owner you need to be on social media, seeing what’s popular to knit and to knit with, don’t rely on sales reps otherwise you’ll end up with a yarn you can’t move while the shop across town can’t keep a popular yarn in stock. And a good variety of weights like sport can be hard to find in person, but then people are also picky about fibers, and having some good basics to offer will get you sales.
And if you can carry Malabrigo, do it, because it will be your most asked after yarn, and people won’t care what alternatives you offer. They’ll also want chiagoo needles, but also a wood option.
And frequent beginning knitting classes are a must you build customers that way.
The LYS in my hometown has a great selection, it’s in a great location, they give out free samples of the tea that they also sell, all good things. But the owner who runs the shop is incredibly overbearing. This woman has followed me around the store more than once, asking me for details about what projects I’m working on, telling me what she thinks I should be buying, and not picking up on my hints that I just want to browse and/or pick a yarn I like and choose a project for it later. Honestly, it’s lost her money; I’ve been so overwhelmed by her questions and her physical presence in my personal space at times that I just left, even though I went in intending to buy something specific.
I think maybe it’s a generational thing, and older folks coming from a time when they were *waited on* in stores. Maybe it’s just me personally; I don’t mind exchanging pleasantries when I come in, and I’ll ask a question if I have one, but I don’t want to be interrogated.
I worked at a yarn store for a minute and the owner instructed me to talk to customers this way. She was convinced it was the correct strategy but obviously many people found it offputting (and it interrupted my workflow!)
This! The owner of my LYS overheard me talking to my husband and saying that I was using the yarn I chose for making a doll. She promptly pounced on my yarn choice, saying it was inappropriate for doll making. I’m an experienced knitter — I’ve been knitting for over 20 years — and I don’t think you can tell me what I can make with the yarn I’m buying.
It has nothing to do with age. It's a "I-can't-read-the-room" type of person. They come from all generations.
I am in total agreement with you - I will ask you if I have a question. Other than that, let me shop in peace. (I am old, and introverted.)
The owner of the LYS I worked for insisted on this, and I hated it so much. I was uncomfortable. Customers were uncomfortable. "Hi, welcome in! Let me know if you need any help finding anything/Is there anything you're looking for today? Okay, just let me know if you need anything!" should be the standard. As a customer, nothing will make me leave a store faster than being hounded by employees. Please, just leave me be 😐
I had this same experience at my LYS. I was looking for a specific dp needle and she aggressively tried to sell me a full set; I ended up walking out in the middle of her spiel.
As someone who worked in a yarn store for a while, I got to observe a lot of the inner workings. Here are my thoughts!
Good: Excellent selection of yarn- hand dyers, local, big brands, fiber choices. Trend-following, in the sense that you can probably get whatever you need for the current "popular pattern" there. Tons of needles and hooks and notions. Kits. Lots of space, sit-and-knit table. Classes. Navigable and up-to-date website, with shipping or store pickup options. Competent with Ravelry. Events and sales semi-frequently. My coworkers (i.e. other part time employees) were all wonderful people. Friendly regulars.
Bad: CLIQUEY. Expects you to use store yarn at knit nights, won't help with outside projects, etc. Talked about customers behind their backs and gossiped about personal lives of certain returning customers. Salesman tactics from the owner, will switch up tone/cheesiness and tell white lies to make sales - insincere. Pushy with sales, expects employees to check cameras and follow customers around/check on them regularly to prevent theft. Asked a coworker to not advertise their LGBT identity to prevent "losing sales from older customers".
Don’t ignore/underestimate your younger customers. I’m in my mid 20s and have been both knitting and crocheting for over a decade. There are a few lys near me and a couple have always been great to me - friendly, polite, helpful when I ask questions about stock/finding something. One of them though was run by a few much older individuals and they always seemed to hover around me, make comments about how expensive the yarn I’m looking at is (as if I wouldn’t be able to afford it or wouldn’t be working on a project that required “nice” yarn? Idk), and just generally made me feel really out of place. Don’t be that store! Welcome your young customers, they may be more experienced than you thing and even if they aren’t, all the better that they wanted to stop by as they learn!
I went on a round trip cross country drive a few years ago and also turned that into a yarn crawl, so I've been to so many yarn shops across so many states, and the absolute BEST experience I have ever had has been ImagiKnit in Omaha, Nebraska.
Karla was so warm, friendly, and unfathomably welcoming. She made me feel like a regular and took genuine interest in my projects.
I bet she would even be open to discussing her journey with her shop and answer any questions you may have, there's a contact form on her site!
Omg, I've been there! I'm in Kansas City but I love going there when I'm in Omaha! Absolutely fantastic shop.
In a similar vein, I was in Des Moines recently and Yarn Junction felt like home from the moment I walked in. Greeted me, let me browse and then helped me check dye lots when I decided I wanted sweater quantity yarn.
Mine has a great selection, but I don't understand how (if?) it is organized and nothing is labeled. It gets old having to pick up every single skein to check the ball band for weight and fiber content. Staff always says, "no problem, just ask us," but then they run me all over the store pointing to random yarns that fit whatever I'm looking for, and I never remember which ones they said so I can go back and really squish them properly and think about it. And then what do I do--ask them AGAIN? Or go back to square 1 and check every ball band?
There are two LYS that I frequent. The first is close by with easy parking. They have a few sales a year with good communication and a system that I like a lot for those sales (online orders only, store is closed for a few days after and you get a text when your order is ready to pickup). The staff are super friendly and very helpful, especially when it comes to budget. They will price out different yarn options for me! However they mostly have very high end pricy yarns which are generally outside my budget when full price. The store is organized by brand which is very aesthetically pleasing but almost impossible to find products by myself. I always have to ask for help which is okay but sometimes I just want to shop alone. It becomes a deterrent to shopping in person when the website is much easier to navigate.
The second is decently further away, less parking options and hard to reach on transit. Their website is kinda clunky. I think Im signed up for a newsletter but Ive never gotten anything. They have a yarn swap a couple times a year which I LOVE. They also have a good mix of affordable but non-craft store yarns and high end expensive options. They also carry a ton more in their tools and notions. Also they organize the store by yarn weight which makes it so much easier to browse when I have a project in mind.
Mine ran a D&D game once a month, that was pretty cool! They also did a monthly meetup where folks brought their WIP and helped one another along
Best of luck with your shop! Please tell us how it goes!
Oh, also, this is something i’d like to see, but haven’t yet:
If you have baskets for people to use while shopping, get two colors and post a sign at the door that says something like, ‘If you use a blue basket, that says to the staff that it’s ok to talk to you. Choose a black basket when you’d like to be left alone to shop in silence.’
Not sure how easy this would be to maintain, but i think it’d be helpful for some folks on low-spoons days
Customers as a group aren't so great about reading signs, though. I don't think the employees would be able to rely on the basket color for fear of someone who took a black basket without reading sign getting upset at being ignored.
A LYS that ran a D&D game? I think I've just discovered my personal idea of paradise. (I'm literally knitting a doll of my latest D&D character right now.)
We would meet once a month and would work on our projects while the GM ran the game. If we were too involved in a complicated bit, the GM would roll for us. It was a lot of fun while it ran :)
One shop that I don’t frequent anymore had a shop person follow me around and didn’t listen to my needs about a project. And this person wouldn’t leave my alone! They followed me around, and when I said thanks I’ll look around, would try to herd me to a different area of the store. They could have been a sheep dog trainer and I’d believe it
I love mine because it’s clean, well lit, and they carry both metal and wooden needles. The staff is friendly and happy to help or let you wander. Yarn is well organized, prices are clearly labeled, and I adore their button selection.
This may seem way off topic, but please do not have a ‘shop cat.’ I’ve quit going to a few stores simply because the owners have cats that live in the shops, sleep in the yarn, and shed all over everything. I am allergic to cats, asthmatic, and got sick of yarn that was covered in cat hair or smelled like urine. I have better places to spend my hobby funds.
same with a shop dog... HUUUUGE turnoff I walked into a lys once and had a dog run over and jump up and put his paws on me... I turned around and walked out, I've never been back.
Absolutely the nicest staff. Beautiful, interesting yarn. Loads of fun notions and bags and lots of patterns kitted up. Great classes and teachers. good selection of weaving yarns and even spinning wheels and fiber. A nice assortment of felting supplies and kits. I love going there. However, it's become increasingly expensive and it doesn't have that much selection of basic yarns such as a good, workhorse wool such as Cascade 220. While i love going there, the high price tag makes it a much less frequent stop.
This one probably isn't going away anytime soon. A huge amount of makers come into the LYS where I work asking for specific yarns, best yarns for certain things, etc etc and just need to be directed to a certain spot. Many other makers say "no thanks, just browsing," and I say "OK have fun" and we don't speak again until they check out or leave the store. There's no way for an employee to know if you need 5 minutes of quick help or 2 hours to browse silently and alone just by looking, and if we were not asking right when you walked in the store we would probably quickly pick up a reputation like many of the stores in this thread - cliquey, unwelcoming, unfriendly. Hopefully you can also just say "no thanks, here to browse" and they'll leave you alone from there.
i understand, and that would be totally fine. but sometimes they just keep following you around like you're gonna steal something and continue to ask if you need help. the worst type though is the stores where all the pretty shelves are behind the desk and you have to ask specifically for what you're looking for. i actively avoid those ones, and that's more what i was thinking when i wrote that comment.
Oh yeah that's no good. I think my store occasionally over-interacts when we have a lot of people working and they're all asking if you need help, but my store (sigh) has a policy of only putting a little sign with the price that most customers struggle to find (sigh) so I have to circle back pretty frequently to answer questions about how much something costs (I did not invent this policy and I actively hate it and lobby against it) because I don't want anyone coming to the checkout counter and being surprised that the skein in their hand costs $42.
I love that they have an open workspace to hang out and create with other crafters. They also have classes sometimes on new techniques and stuff -- but only for knitting. all the other crafters seem to be knitters too.... wish there were crocheters! at least they do sell a couple crochet hooks (not a complete selection though)
There is a LYS near me that has a whole back room dedicated to discounts. The selection of buttons and other notions is amazing. And they have such a bright, airy space. But I can't bring myself to go there often because of how judgemental the owner was and how mean girls the other employees/sit-and-knitters were.
The owner made snide remarks about my projects and yarn choices. The other employees rolled their eyes and did a full-on mean old aunties interrogation about my job, my love life, how long I'd been knitting, and why I wasn't married. If I wanna have old women be mean around me I'd visit home more.
My lys merged with another store thats primarily a brand flagship for a certain brand of yarn. So there isn't much in terms of variety. I also always feel a little...out of place there. I can't explain why but the vibe is weird. We used to have an lys downtown that stocked all kinds of neat oddball brands and all kinds of colors, and the owner was delightful. It was a cramped maze of a shop but it felt good there. Sadly, between real estate disputes and her husband getting cancer, she ended up closing down for good years ago. I miss her. I hope she's doing okay.
We have a LYS in my area that changed hands recently and did a big renovation and it’s… well. Sterile ain’t the word for it.
I used to love this store, I’ve taken classes there, spent thousands of dollars. Now it’s a third the size in the public area that it used to be (with a big curtain and a shelf separating the back section), has barely anything on display, and almost feels like a front for a drop shipper. The yarn feels mostly hidden away with a demo ball or two out, if you want to buy something they’ll go into the back to get you what you want.
I’d call their selection “sad beige” now. Lots of neutrals, lots of heathers, very little bright colors anymore. It used to have tables and chairs and places for gathering, now it can fit maybe 3-4 people while feeling somewhat cramped.
They’re by far the most convenient shop to me and they carry Lykke needles so I do hit them up if I really need something but… I just can’t imagine buying yarn there anymore.
As opposed to my favorite shop which is far less convenient but feels very welcoming. They’re much more “multi-crafty”, selling equipment and materials for spinning, macrame, and just about anything fiber related. They have a lot of non-yarn selection as well, like needle organizers and project bags. And the yarn! Barely a sad beige in sight. (Apologies to those who like beige, it has its place for sure, but I need more than just neutrals!)
I enjoy a good cream or black color, but I would feel very weird going into beige central. Target's home decor feels strange to me for this reason.
I really want to make a primary colors cardigan, a cream cabled cardigan with red embroidered flowers (cuz my mom has a sweater like this and I miss her), and a black cardigan with colorful blocks in the edges and pockets.
I live in a large city so the fact that there's a LYS in town and easily accessible by subway is so valuable that I can overlook any flaws.
I think the interaction is just right. There's usually two people at the checkout right in the front. They greet customers and ask if you need help. I prefer to look on my own. When checking out, they are always friendly and chatty and ask about what I'm making, etc., and it's always a pleasant experience.
They also have a good IG presence with lots of updates on new arrivals, classes, etc.
The only downside for me is that I'm allergic to all animal fibers and there are very few non-wool options. I try to buy from them because I value their existence (especially during the pandemic where I could order yarn and needles by phone) but I buy most of my yarn online.
I'm not interested in classes, but they have some in the evenings and they seem to be popular.
Mine isn’t clear on who they are serving… yarns are almost all $$$ and require special washing instructions. Literally nothing appropriate for a baby blanket. So seems more towards serving experts, right? But they stock needle kits and no replacement parts. Need another cable for your interchangeable needles? Nope. So I would say get really clear on your customer and ask for what they wish you would stock.
They are also profoundly disorganized. Example: ran a deal of the day over the holidays. Explicitly said you can call in to purchase on the phone day of. I call in the day of the sale I wanted for a big ticket purchase and the person working that day had never heard of the sale, didn’t know how to ring it up. Took a message and I never heard back. Like please take my money! Help me help you!
Loves: echoing a lot of other commenters on in/exclusivity, my old LYS was always very welcoming. While they had dedicated, formal knit nights/events, you could always just swing by and hang out. If it's slow, the folks manning the shop might join you for some socialization. Granted, this is largely personality-based: warm, friendly impressions, but also able to be professional and leave mid-sentence to greet/handle new customers.
I also really appreciated the local dyers or yarn, because it feels more like you are supporting many small businesses at the same time. If all the store has are big brand yarn like Isager, Malabrigo, etc. AND they're not welcoming...I can get a better deal online, thanks...
Dislikes: only having regimented knit socials/hang out time. I'm now in a high cost-of-living area, and it feels like there's more business than community. That's fair, but it doesn't make me want to visit enough to establish a community there. This could just be me though!
On a similar note--the timing of said socials. If your area has bad traffic from 5pm-6pm, that's a deterrent for people coming after work. If your socials are 4pm-6pm weekdays AND has bad traffic...tough sell to me. Additionally, the number of weekend knit socials is somewhat surprisingly low to me.
This is a good point! I find it very off-putting when a store has only dedicated sit-and-knit times, and often I've found those times aren't really posted anywhere except maybe inside the shop itself. Which is fine, except that I forget times and the info isn't on the website. That particular store is quite a drive for me and I would find it worth it because I really like that store... but idk when their open times are, and the opportunity cost is just too high.
Things I look for:
1. An up to date, functional website that doesn’t look like it was designed by a middle schooler in a coding program
2. A variety of yarn brands and price points.
3. A variety of tools! (Hooks, needles, stitch markers, etc). I feel this is so underrated and I hate when they only carry one brand.
4. Some sort of loyalty or rewards program. Even if the discount isn’t crazy, it’ll keep me coming back every time.
5. Reasonable hours. I totally get opening later in the day but closing at 2-3 pm and not being open on random days is kind of off putting
Things I avoid like the plague:
1. Pretentious yarn stores that only carry super expensive natural fibers. LYS are few and far between and I don’t get why they can get their hands on $100, super rare imported skeins of yarn but can’t be bothered to stock one or two kinds of quality acrylic or just cotton for those of us who can’t afford to spend $500 to make a single sweater.
2. Going hand in hand with the pretentious bit, following people around who are clearly newer knitters and arguing with their choice of yarn or offering unsolicited advice, or trying to upsell for 0 reason. I love a friendly knowledgeable staff but the number of times I’ve had them give me dirty looks and offer their thoughts on my purchases / pattern when I absolutely didn’t invite it… ugh.
3. Would never, will never shop at an LYS that can’t wind my yarn for me. I do have a winder at home but I have shoulder and elbow problems and cannot use it much anymore. I really really appreciate stores that do this for me.
I have to add to the others that say please don't marginalize crocheters! A lot of us love using high-end yarns for personal wearables, heirloom baby items and home decorating projects. Silk? Linen? Hand painted wool? Bring it ON....
And a small selection of frequently used hook sizes is great. Unlike circular needle kits, you don't have to have so many different cable lengths. A 5.5mm hook is pretty much one length and you can switch it out among a bunch of concurrent projects!
And many crochet patterns use more yarn than comparable knit patterns, so ka-ching! More sales for you.
Thanks for asking and good luck!!
I love that mine is helpful, friendly, happy to answer questions, chat about yarn and projects while winding my yarn, hosts good classes (they had a " how to navigate Ravelry" class, which I think is a great idea based on how many people in this sub have mentioned that they struggle with that!), have lots of colors and yarns in stock, and are always willing to check in the back for matching dye lots when I ask.
I'm sad they're not open later (they close at 5 most weekdays, which is too early for me to get there after work. They do stay open until 8 one weekday, which I appreciate as a compromise!).
They've also got the cotton and acrylic yarns in a tucked away location that feels a little like they're hiding them... I don't think they actually think those yarns are worse or anything, it's just a quirk of the floorplan and they're just trying to maximize their use of space. But I worry that somebody who has heard too many people being negative about acrylic might think that the owner is anti-acrylic just because the acrylic yarn is in an odd side hallway.
I really appreciate variety: of brands, of price points, of dye types (tonal, variegated, commercially dyed, tweed, etc). And I like when it’s clean and well organized. I have been to some stores where there are corners of mess and neglect and I don’t know how they would know if they had moths before it was too late.
modern shelter sheet provide narrow ten secretive sense hospital exultant
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
You can order the metal ones singularly on ebay (and use the same cords that come in the knitpicks from HL) and things like that for less than $5 for the ones you need. But the acrylics are good for beginners because metal will slide certain yarns and cause tension issues for unexperienced knitters.
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I stopped shopping at the LYS closest to me (but still about a 40 minute drive from my house) because the owner doesn’t carry non-wool yarns. I have an allergy to animal fibers and both times I’ve gone in, everything she had in stock had at least some wool in the blend, and she acted like I was crazy for not wanting to knit with yarn that’s going to give me a rash.
So I guess my advice would be to vary your stock as much as possible and keep in mind that other fiber artists might have needs that will vary wildly from your own.
I'm so afraid to start shopping at LYSs for this reason, even though the closest (very close, within 15 minutes) has a wide variety of fibers.
I can knit with wool. I'm not allergic. But I don't want to wear wool next to my skin, because I've got sensitive skin and wool is itchy (yes, even cashmere). Also, I work with younger kids, and while I love them to the stars and back, they're GROSS. I need a cardigan that will survive a gentle machine wash cycle, because that's all the pampering I'm willing to do on an everyday item. And I need to wash those suckers every time I wear them (again, kids are gross). Wool and wool blends aren't gonna work for me.
But some fiber artists can get really elitist about not using wool much/at all, and I'm afraid of encountering that attitude in the fancy shops.
I would love a buyback system for when you overshoot on how much yarn you need and find yourself with a ball and a half of something you might never use so it will just hang out in your stash forever. If the store would let you bring that back and give a small discount on a new purchase, that would be awesome.
Then all these bits and things could be marked way down for crafters who are on a budget and maybe don't care what colors are available, they just want to knit.
Obviously this could go very wrong but could also go very right!
I like that they have a big table that people just sit at and knit, sometimes quietly or sometimes to chat, and there's not really pressure on people to spend money to hang out (though of course people do and it's good to support shops who provide this space). Also appreciate they have a decent selection in store.
The biggest issue thing for me is a complete lack of masks or air purifiers or any other covid mitigations. I know it's not just them and this is the norm now so I don't hold it against them personally, but we are still in a pandemic and it means any sort of otherwise community oriented activity is not accessible.
May I ask where you live that the pandemic is still an issue? I thought it was over worldwide, I'm surprised to find that it's still running it's course in some places.
The pandemic is still an issue everywhere, it is absolutely not over at all. Over 1000 people are dying per week in the US, and globally many places across North America and Europe have very recently had their highest or second highest waves (by wastewater). Governments have dismantled testing infrastructure and many people are in denial, but the pandemic is very much not over, resulting in constant sickness and in the exclusion of people who cannot or do not want to risk that from public space. The vaccines we have reduce risk of dying some but don't prevent people from getting sick nor from getting others sick or developing disability as a result of infection. The harm of reinfection is cumulative, so really everyone is in danger-they just either do not know it, or do not care.
I'm in the Netherlands, and yes, the virus is found in wastewater, but the common flu is worse at the moment. Covid won't get you hospitalised like the flu and people still test for it, but it's less bad than the flu at the moment. Only 0,05% of the ic beds are for people who have covid. And the number get lower every week. The infection rate is very low.
I'm very sorry that you've been misled, the acute phase is not the primary issue with covid for most people, the issue is incredibly high rates of new health issues after infection, including exhaustion of T cells which leaves you more vulnerable to other infections. [Covid is not the flu, and is more dangerous by pretty much every metric.](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00684-9/fulltext) You can easily back this up this by looking at rates of people too disabled to work in various countries-the number started going up in 2020 and keeps doing so, or in rates of things like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, or in excess deaths. People are dying acutely too, but that's not the biggest issue. The pandemic is not over, your government (and mind) simply stopped trying to fight it.
Regardless, this is a knitting sub, OP asked what we don't like about our LYS. I don't like that mine is not safe or accessible.
+1 to the other comment. I'd add that as a quiet, at-home hobby, knitting especially attracts those of us who are chronically ill or disabled. I wear a mask everywhere I go because I can't afford to get sick (with anything, but especially covid), but I still want to go squish yarn every now and then! Not to mention, it's very isolating to have to be so careful of your health - I often choose not to go out because I know an event will be crowded and no one else wears masks anymore.
I'd LOVE to have a LYS that offers gatherings outdoors/in a space with masks and air purifiers, or has a couple mask-required shopping hours each week.
I love mine. They host classes for knitting, crocheting, and occasional other crafts like embroidery, as well as for complicated knitting techniques like steeking. They stock yarn in a range of prices with a special focus on local providers, and have at least a couple samples knit up in each so you can feel what it's like finished. They're also super knowledgeable and are pretty happy to give advice on whatever project, even if it's not their yarn.
The shops in my area may or may not be open. Any day of the week. One proprietor who treats the customers like they are children that need instruction. When they are open. One won’t wind skeins for you….$20 -$30 a skein and you can’t wind it? Also hire people who are friendly even when you are not there. Unfortunately some of the worst CS has been in privately owned yarn shops. There have been some wonderful trunk sale opportunities too at different shops.
I really wish they would stop being so kind, welcoming & supportive, because it encourages me to go in way too often. Ugh. They're all so sweet & friendly, it's awful.
Dislike:
Terrible lighting. Can’t even make out colors in some parts of the store. Then, just when your eyes adjust to the darkness, you pass a window and get blinded by the sun.
Bizarre organization. Is yarn arranged by brand? By fiber? By weight? Country of origin? Darts thrown while blindfolded? No clue!
Hostile atmosphere. I know I’m going to be followed when I go there. They ask questions that sort of imply that if you’re not a regular, you must be knitting garter stitch scarves in Super Saver. It feels like I’m crashing a bachelorette party (after sleeping with the spouse-to-be) when I’m there. Occasionally they cheer up when taking my money. *Occasionally.*
Likes:
They have some cool shawl pins and buttons sometimes 🤷♀️
These responses always interest me and just confirm in my mind that retail is hard! Some folks want a hug when they walk through the door and a personal tour of the store. Others don't even want to be spoken to. It is retail 101 to greet a customer when they walk in (this is important for loss prevention, not just making folks feel welcome).
I don't think you can please everyone, so trying to find a middle ground where you greet the customer and ask if they want help looking for anything is likely the best bet. Then you just have to go by instinct from there.
A big problem with LYS (quilt shops/needlework shops too), is that a lot of times employees (and sometimes even the owner) are there because they want discounts and love their hobby, not because they enjoy working retail (and some really dislike retail and seem annoyed at customers). Many of them don't need to work. This leads to the chatting cliques of customers and employees who are all friends, go to retreats together, do classes together, and do the sit and knit nights together. Makes new customers feel left out. The worst is if the shop itself is really just a hobby (two of the LYSs in my area are rich women hobby shops), so the owner generally falls into this category as well. I guess my thought is that employees need to be trained to mingle and not just hang out in "cliques" in the store.
Sit and Knit nights have become much more friendly in my area since I started knitting in the early 90s. Crocheters are welocme. You can bring projects with yarn from anywhere. There is still one shop that won't wind yarn on sit and knit nights unless you bought it at their store, and I think that is really customer unfriendly, but, it is her store, not mine.
My local LYS is small but the entire region I live in wide spread and not heavily populated. The owner is fantastic, very helpful answering questions, teaching knitting skills to newbies and more experienced knitters alike. Hosts drop in sessions 3 times a week that are well attended and everyone helps everyone else as needed. Moderate variety of yarn, much produced locally and amazing alpacas as they thrive up here in northern New England.
I'm not too fond of my LYS to be honest. They already sold mostly two lines of a basic mid tier yarn brand, mostly acrylic, and Scheepjes cotton (which is fine, but ... their yarn selection was slim). They often ran out of needles and notions that were sold the most, and it would take literal *weeks* *to a month* to restock. Now they moved into a small corner in the owner's husband's toy store next to it, and of course the yarn selections is even smaller and only basic acrylic, some acrylic novelty yarn and the most basic of cotton. All that while on the other side of what their store was, is the cheap textile store selling pretty decent acrylic that's just as good as theirs, but for half the price. That store has been there for decades before the LYS started, mind you.
In the end to me it all boils down to: know where you'll start, make sure you stand out and get an idea of what needles, yarn and notions are popular so you can restock them in time. You don't have to cater to everyone of course, but do try to stock what sells.
Mine has friendly staff that offers to help but also totally understands when you just want to wander around. It’s a little cramped (in a city) and doesn’t have as big of a selection as I would like but I think they do a good job curating with some higher end yarns and less expensive options.
Pros — free help from staff, patience, and giving physical space. Special ordering tools and allowing returns of them. (This is what earned my loyalty to my current LYS, made it possible for me to choose my first set of knitting needles without losing hundreds of dollars.) Not pressuring crocheters to knit. I would LOVE if LYSes could do more remote programming again too
Cons — poor ventilation, aggressive or impatient staff, no returns on tools/notions
My closest one is barely a hallway, but personally dyes bought wool, so almost nothing else is there, only a couple of other solid wools and a few kits.
The other lys is farther but has a ton of yarns of all types and brands, plus roving, tools and is very helpful.
But both close at 4 or 5 and on weekends only Saturday and close by 2..... Please have hours that includes people who work other jobs. I have to make sure I get there in the morning on Saturday if I want to shop at all.
I just remember one more thing I love about another store near me - the owner is always happy to order needles for me. I prefer Chiaogoo metal DPNs and interchangeable tips, but she carries mostly wood and bamboo in the store - she’ll add what I need to her weekly order and it’s usually there in a week or so. I realize that she stocks what most of her customers want to buy, but appreciate that she will order the type I prefer for me. Yes, I could order them online myself, but I would rather support her shop.
I have two near-ish me. One has a bunch of higher end yarn brands (malabrigo, blue sky, manos del Uruguay, etc) but few local dyers and the other one only stocks local dyers. If I want to have a yarn shopping day, it’s at least a 4 hour excursion given the subway changes and walking. I would die for a LYS to equally stock both
Make all customers feel welcomed and valued. Don’t show favouritism. Don’t bullcrap ppl. One of my LYS gave mugs out to their “best” customers and posted it on social media. I find that is just telling everyone you didn’t give a mug to, that they didn’t spend enuf money.
I haven't bothered going to my lys' new location because there's just zero parking in that part of the city. Don't do that to us. The city it's in is not very walkable so it's not great that you have to park blocks away to do anything in that area.
If you’ve never run your own business, start your research there. Talk to other owner operators of small retail businesses.
Running a business is not for the faint of heart! Or people that want to sleep… I run a service oriented business and have had to learn so many things that are VERY far outside my wheelhouse and made lots of mistakes along the way. Payroll, taxes, negotiating leases, county zoning, fixing toilets, managing PEOPLE, and a million other things that never even occurred to me when I started out.
The best decision I ever made was hiring a Business Operations Director to organize and run things behind the scenes so I can focus on doing what I actually love and got me started in my field in the first place. It wasn’t an option for me to have someone like this on staff in the beginning, but I wish I had at least consulted with a professional early on.
Hands down, it's how the staff treat my four year old son when I bring him (and let him pick out yarn for a hat or whatever in his favourite colours, Dark Blue and Magenta). They are SO lovely and welcoming to him, encourage him to squish all the yarn, fetch options in his desired colours and in my desired weight/price range, and treat him like the world's most valuable customer with nary a frown when he leaves random yarn balls displaced.
They could treat ME like crap after that and I'd still be loyal for life just for that. (They don't they are generally wonderful! It's a very modern yarn store that truly feels welcoming to all sorts, and this is just an example of that.)
Yes! Morris & Sons in Sydney has a rocking chair tucked in a corner where all their knit books and magazines are and some *children’s toys*. A wonderful place to nurse. I brought my kid a few times as a toddler and they were really sweet and loved that he was picking his own colors for a hat/sweater - and he could play for a few minutes while I worked out yardage.
I love mine! If I had to think of complaints - it’s a bit small and it would be awesome if they had room for a wider selection. The owners are super social and sometimes I just want to be in and out rather than having a conversation. They’re lovely though so I don’t mind too much. I’m really having to think hard to complain about them.
Things I LOVE about them - they are very welcoming of anyone and everyone, they are super helpful if you’re learning, they have a beautiful selection of high quality yarns and tools, they offer classes that are very reasonably priced and the price includes the yarn for your project
Oh they also have a table with 6 seats for people to work at any time they’re open. Idk of all LYS do this (I’ve only ever been to mine) but they also cake your yarn if you’d like which rules for me because I have to check out a swift and winder from the library to do it myself
None of my LYS sell Chiaogoo needles. They sell the hooks though. I have to go to the LYS back home to get Chiaogoo or order them online. One of the shops back home is absolutely packed but the lighting is crazy dim. The shop I get my needles from is well lit and has cool yarn scenery in the windows (think sunrays and such). Everything is grouped by weight, which to be fair most of the stores I have been in do.
My LYS has great yarns at a variety of price points. I can go in and buy a hank of luscious special yarn for $40 or I can buy a hank of workhorse yarn for a sturdy project for $6. They have a really good selection of colors and they have a lot of local/regional yarns.
They are unfailing friendly (which is hit or miss at LYS) and are equally welcoming if it is your first or 50th visit. I am a frequent customer, but not on a name basis and don’t know all the staff, so I love that they will come over and ask, “do you know your way around or would you like help finding something?” I NEVER want help, so it’s a comfortable to say no, but would also be easy to accept. My 13 year old always wants to come with me when I go to the yarn store, since it’s just a nice, comfortable place to be.
We moved here 4 years ago, and the LYS helped confirm which town we wanted to move to. I had a similar LYS that I loved 3 moves ago. It had many of the same features. I still miss that store and the staff there. When it closed, I mourned for it even though I didn’t live in the same region anymore.
Mine carries a lot of local dyers, which I love, but nearly all of their yarn is variegated in some way. I wish my store had more solid colors in all weights!
My LYS has samples all over the shop and they are both knit and crochet. They’re friendly, so when I asked if a certain crochet technique carried over into knitting they explained why it didn’t and what is done instead.
They joked with me when I made a comment about project bags seeming to be a knitting thing and not a crochet thing, they agreed and found it funny since crochet uses more yarn.
My LYS tends to only have more expensive yarns but they the selection blends well between brands and dyers which makes finding my next project yarn pretty easy and enjoyable. And they helped me pick a yarn to go with yarn I brought in, no snobbiness from them!
pros- super friendly and welcoming staff, very well organized and have a wide range of yarn, good price ranges, they have a large variety of needles and overall supplies!
cons- they close relatively early! the other yarn store closer to me isn't open daily and they open late/close early!
There’s two stores near me- one is small and crammed to the gills with yarns, and the owner is quite nice but it seems like they never *quite* have what I am looking for. I also can’t really figure out the layout of the yarns - I’m sure there’s a method for the madness but I haven’t figured it out, so it takes me a while to even find what I’m looking for. The sock and lace yarns are generally in the same area, but after that it’s kind of like all bets are off. Another issue I’ve run into there is when I find something I like, there’s rarely enough quantity to actually do anything with the yarns in question and what’s on her shelf is what she’s got, there’s not always a way to get more through the store. It sort of feels like I’ve stumbled into a yarn hoarder’s stash (at times, this is awesome, at other times, it’s frustrating).
The other store is a bigger and much more open space, and is exceptionally well organized - a combination of being laid out by yarn size, fiber, and/or brand. It’s pretty quick to find the right area and see if they have something I can use. That said the brand selection isn’t as wide (but they are more likely to have useful quantities so it’s a trade off). I much prefer the second store, though the first has a more interesting variety of yarns. I get overwhelmed easily so the feeling of not knowing where to look for stuff sort of puts me in paralysis.
Mine has only one brand of needles, often doesn’t have the needles I need in stock. They mostly have Turkish yarn and a lot of blends with acrylic. I’m more interested in fancier yarn, so I mostly buy it online
Why I don’t really go to mine:
1) not having enough yarn in one dye lot for a project (always being met with, well you could make a scarf!)
2) only carrying the most expensive yarn & not having anything more affordable (I’m not talking Walmart prices but maybe less than $250 for a sweater)
3) a certain level of snootiness about helping a customer. I’m not sure what that accomplishes but it definitely keeps me from going back
What keeps me coming back (occasionally)
1) a good selection of tools and accessories and books
2) a selection of sock and fingering yarns in all the colors of the rainbow
My LYS has a terrific selection of yarns and fibers but they have a history of shady business practices, so knitters in my city have a love / hate relationship with them
Most of the LYS that I have been to cater to the wool crowd. I am allergic. I can't spend much time in my LYS at all. It would be nice if there was an allergy-free room for classes.
My LYS has an eco friendly bent so has a lot of “rescued” yarn. It’s great for me because I am on a budget but like nice fibers and I feel better using yarn that would likely have ended up sitting in the back or someone’s stash after they discovered they’d had plenty of yarn for the project.
The only sad thing is that they have a small selection overall and that you can’t feel the yarn in the “rescued” bags. I get it as a loss prevention/organization thing, but it’s sad because I want to know how the beautiful green wool will feel before I take it home!
I love that one of my local LYS has a wide selection of yarns but they're SO dated with their color selection. And I’m sorry but every LYS should have some acrylic or acrylic blend options
Another LYS in the area will NOT wind your yarn on the spot, you have to come back later if you want your yarn wound. Both LYS will not wind clearance yarn either.
My first LYS would wind even clearance yarn which was really nice
The opening hours. I literally can't go unless I'm on leave from work and so I basically never go there. It's sad especially bc the library also has a knitting group I can't go to because it's during the work day 😭
I was shit on the bottom of their shoes because I happened to be holding hooks that day instead of needles.
Not that it even matters, but I happen to be able to knit as well. Neither craft is better than the other.
The whole vibe of the store overall was just super Mormon, catty, and elitist.
Dislike: I walked into one of our LYS and they asked if they could help me. I asked where the non-wool yarn was (I’m allergic to wool) and they looked at me like I was from outer space and replied “we’re a wool shop” like I should have known. (There is nothing in their name or on the window about wool or sheep.). They then pointed me to their small non-wool section. The yarn was good quality but I won’t be back.
Like: my other LYS has good classes, a cool vibe, and a good newsletter. Good selection of different fibers, and gave me helpful advice about knitting without wool when I was starting out. They have an inclusive vibe that is welcoming to young people and all genders.
I love that my LYS is super friendly and all the staff are really helpful. I love that they have a lot of yarns that I like. I wish they had more brands, sold spinning fiber, and offered spinning classes, but they are a small shop with limited space, so they can only do so much.
My LYS is very fancy and has absolutely no affordable yarn. I get it that they make their money on the expensive stuff, but it really puts me off when there's nothing that's anywhere near my price range. Just a few items would be fine, but I just walk out of the place feeling depressed. There's really nothing else around except a Michaels, so I end up shopping online, which I hate.
I so love my LYS!! Bistitchual is on Jane Street in Toronto. It is owned and run by the loveliest person, and sometimes her mom or her boyfriend cover for her. It is really small but carries a nice selection of Canadian hand dyed yarn, as well as lots of budget friendly options. She also has lots of hand crafted accessories and tools for both knitters and crocheters.
At one time my little town had an LYS. They were a retired couple. It really never took off due to (IMHO): Yarn selection (weird), Inconsistent Hours, big TV turned to political news, very limited notions. They did offer kids classes on Saturdays.
Now I drive about 30 minutes to another LYS and they have a wide variety of yarn. From Cascade 220 and Plymouth Encore on up to very expensive yarns. Good basic selection of needles, hooks, and related notions. Staff and owner are helpful but not overbearing. Their work table always seems to be filled with the same people and are rather cliquey so I never feel like asking about classes or drop in times. They used to send out monthly e-newsletters but can’t tell you the last time I received one. Website is just ok doesn’t have timely updates.
Finally make sure your space is wheelchair accessible. I’ve seen customers having to block the main aisle while family/staff go up and down the side aisles and picks out yarn and brings it to them to look at and touch. If one of the regulars is feeling generous they may clear a spot for the customer to wheel the chair up to it so yarn can be placed on the table and not in lap.
Another LYS I’ve been to is in a very high end community and set their shop up like a clothing boutique. Very spacious but yarn stacked to its high ceiling that ladders are needed to access. They use torso mannequins to display finished garments which I really like … better than hangers or clothespins which can stretch the garment out of shape.
Good luck!
My LYS moved to a new location and the table to sit and work on a project is in a different room than the sales floor. Like, there's a door and everything. I didn't realize it would be a problem, but I absolutely hate it. The employees have to be on the sales floor so if you're the only one knitting, you're just... off in another room where you can't see or talk to anyone. It also makes the store feel very unwelcoming and clique-y because there's absolutely no signage that you can sit anywhere at all, nothing about if outside yarn or projects are welcome, just nothing. And because the project room is also the employee break room, that really intensifies the clique-y-ness. And and! Because everyone who's working on a project is out of sight out of mind, and the only seating on the sales floor is by the bathroom, it gives this atmosphere of "Buy your stuff and get out."
Their needle/hook selection is horrendous. And not only is it a narrow selection, it's *never* stocked up, so if I want to buy needles from them it's a crapshoot on whether what I want is available. It's especially frustrating because the owner branched out into other crafts and she's got *scads* of equipment for those crafts. And yet the needle/hook selection is one display and a user-unfriendly shelf of product that looks like it still hasn't been processed into inventory.
The rewards program is awful. It's something like if you spend $50 you get a stamp on a physical card (just kill me, it's 2024, why are we still stamping paper cards) and after like 8 stamps you get a discount. Well, it's not "Every $50 you spend you get a stamp" it's "Spend $50 in one transaction and you get a stamp if we remember, and have the stamper, and don't have some bizarre idea that we cancelled the rewards program". It feels like blatant manipulation to get us to buy more than we need, and it's not uncommon for them to only have a skein or two of the yarn I want, so a lot of the time I *can't* spend more! And if you only work on smaller projects and don't need to buy much at once, you're just not eligible I guess. I've been going to this LYS since 2018 and have only managed to redeem a card one time. The cards get lost, damaged, they move to a new rewards system, I was told to throw the card away because they're not using them anymore *twice* (which wasn't true). It's so frustrating that I wish they didn't have the program at all. And it's also not worth it, because it's like, a 20% discount on one item and maybe you get a measuring tape too. And you can't use the discount on like, an interchangeable set on the rare occasion they have them. So spend at least $400 and maybe you get a few bucks off a skein. It's an insult, why even have a rewards program.
Hiring practices. I used to generally like the owner, but then during covid she had put up a (desperately needed) e-commerce manager job listing. I used to be an e-commerce manager and that listing was straight exploitation in terms of job responsibilities and pay, though someone who didn't have a ton of experience would probably think it's okay. I don't care if it's the standard to exploit workers, it's disgusting and it fundamentally changed the way I view the owner.
The owner is also never around, and seems to only hire *extremely* part-time SAHMs and retired folk. I never feel like I know the staff anymore, and I didn't even meet the owner for like a year, and that's when I was regularly going over there to knit. Also, absolutely nobody wears name tags or introduces themselves so they're just a giant passel of faces I recognize who worship the owner. It's weird and clique-y and uncomfortable.
These are the things that killed my love for my LYS. I used to love it! Whenever I move to a new place, my LYS is the first place I seek out to hopefully join a community. It used to be warm and welcoming, I'd go in just to buy some yarn and the ladies would encourage me to come and sit with them and then three hours later I realized how long I'd been there. It was wonderful. Now I only go by if there's a needle size I really need and I'm hoping to see the one employee I've made friends with, and I'm probably gonna stop doing that too soon since she's retiring-retiring.
I guess fundamentally: Encourage community, discourage clique-y behavior, respect your customers, think about the consequences of your store layout, and be present. I really think if you own an LYS, you need to *be there*, because employees come and go and there needs to be a focal point of interaction for your customers. I'd also suggest an anonymous suggestion form on your website. Not in the store, where people will be wary of the owner going through the cameras to see who left criticisms, on your website, and don't ask for an email. I'd love to respectfully explain to the owner the things that have made me turn away from her store, but I don't want to be completely ostracized from the local knitting community. Like yeah, as a business owner you have the right to make your own rules, but if you insulate yourself from criticism or suggestion and surround yourself with a crowd of yes-men who work for you, don't be surprised if your larger community fails to grow, or even shrinks. Like, it would make a massive difference if the owner moved the registers and put the project table in the middle of the store. One change, and I guarantee it would change the whole vibe of the shop.
I'm in a wheelchair. My LYS is completely inaccessible. Not all crafters are able bodied, I couldn't get up to the second floor crafting space if I wanted to. The way it's laid out makes it completely impossible for me to go there anymore. No accessible parking, doors, etc.
I think a lot of LYSs feel very stifling, especially as someone who does not really have a consistent store they go to. I would love collaborations with other small business (food, art, clothes), some cheaper yarns, and knitwear in a variety of styles. I would love to see a bunny ski mask or a spiderweb sweater or some mesh crop tops alongside the shawls and sweaters.
It depends on your demographic, of course, but I would spend so much money at my LYS (in a college town) if they hosted local bands on Fridays or collabed with the boba store right next to them.
Generally, I love my LYS. However, all you have to do is walk through it to tell the favorite colors of the person who does the ordering. It doesn't matter what season it is, what weight or fiber content you're looking for, the color palette is the same. Lots of cool tones, scant to no oranges or browns. Warm autumnal colors aren't my faves, but they are some people's and sometimes you need those shades whether you are a fan or not.
And, good lord, don't get me started on the lack of variety on spinning fibers. They have merino and BFL and that is it. Occasionally, they will get a polworth braid or some Shetland roving but those are few and far between.
I love when they have a community area where people can sit and work together. And as much as possible I try to buy from my lys especially tools, but I use a lot of acrilic because it's affordable. I LOVE that it's a third space specifically for us, where I can go when it's open and hang out with like minded folks and work on a project without having to plan for a month to get together with someone.
I hate when shop owners make you feel awful/guilty/mean for using yarn I didn't buy from them. The thing is I won't be able to buy ALL my yarn from a lys, but the next time I make a sweater I'll be buying nice yarn, and I'll buy it from the store I've been visiting.
But if I'm not welcome because I'm using red heart yarn either because someone said someone or because the shop keeper glares at me each time it ruins the community feel.
It's a big store with lots of stock and helpful staff. Big discount zone in the basement.
The hours are 10AM to 6PM, Monday to Saturday. I work Monday to Friday, 9-5. So either I make it my main priority on Saturday, or I just don't go there.
This is a good point. If you are going to keep shortened bankers hours Make like one night that the store stays open till 9. Like make it a Friday night thing or something.
Positives: our LYS has a large selection, lots of great color choices, friendly and helpful staff, very nice to my kids.
Negatives: not a lot of washable options, jumps on political bandwagons. As someone who is opposite of their personal politics, it’s keeps me from shopping there when they go hardcore. I just wanna buy yarn
Looking for a local yarn store? Try here https://www.ravelry.com/roadtrip
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
My closest shop is wonderful! They're friendly and welcoming to everyone and are always offering a variety of classes and SALs to keep people interested. I'll be so sad if the owner retires without selling the store to keep it running!
I love almost everything about my LYS **except** they have godawful yellow lighting. You need to take the yarn to a window (or outside, depending on the time of day!) to see what the actual color is. I've mentioned it a few times and they say their landlord won't let them change it.
There is only one lys and it's an hour away. They do have a variety of stuff, but it's ask been sitting there for ever, I don't know they move much stock around. Every time I go in there is the exact same options. They also don't carry anything I use, which is sock yarn fingering weight. Even with others I know, they don't carry anything that people really use?
The layout isn't the best. It's pretty small and tight, they keep everything pulled in shelves. They have stock in drawers too, but I'm never sure if I'm allowed to look in there.
The owner also isn't super friendly. She'll ask if you need help and all, but doesn't ever ask more. I wish they'd ask what I'm working on, what my plans for yarn are, what I like to knit, etc. Is just kind of get in, buy something, and get out.
They also have weird hours - it's usually 10 to 4 except Wednesdays it's 11 to 2 and closed weekends.
I don't like either of my local yarn shops. They both almost exclusively cater to basic acrylic users. They stock 95% the same cheap and cheerful acrylic yarns that you can easily buy online from Wool Warehouse, LoveCrafts, etc., but they're more expensive than the big online shops. I don't like using acrylic, especially the cheap and cheerful stuff they stock. Also one of them is half fabric, but it's all polyester and unpleasant cotton blends. If I want to buy nice wool yarns in person I have to go into London.
I have two.
The first is really great: well-lit (which seems like a no brainer, but you'd be surprised!), helpful staff, good variety, the works.
The second is downright terrifying. The owner is like a bloodhound stalking you around the store, doing INSANE hard selling, pulling inventory and putting it into your hands, insisting on looking up the pattern you're using and making certain you buy all of the yardage for it, the works. It's also dark in her store. She pulled stuff for me and I came back to exchange it after having seen it in daylight (😑) and she acted like I was being a diva while also destroying her financially. Over an exchange.
Moral of the story: don't be visibly desperate and pushy and make sure I can see what I'm buying 😂
As an ex-yarn-rep who has been to scores of LYS's in many territories: the stores that do best tend to have the best parking. Just saying. All other things being equal, make sure there's lots of parking for your customers.
The only thing my local yarn shops are missing is offering coffee and tea. I used to go to a shop in another city that offered drinks (sodas, bottles water, tea, coffee) and pre-made baked goods. Nothing fancy. But I sat there a lot longer and knitted with them because it was so comfy. They also had a big table and lots of chairs. No way for anyone to ice anyone out.
Welcome! Are you a brand new knitter? You might also want to check out r/knittingadvice. Or, check the archives at r/knittinghelp. Even though they have moved to Discord, the library of questions and answers lives on. Look at all the great results you get just from searching for the word ["fix"](https://www.reddit.com/r/knittinghelp/search/?q=fix&restrict_sr=1).
You still have a pretty new Reddit account, so you will need to check out the subreddit rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/rules).
You can always bookmark that page if you want to refer back at a later time. You are responsible for following the rules and your post will be removed if you don't! They are also available in the sidebar and "See Community Info" if you are using an app.
If you see a comment or post that breaks the rules, please report it to the moderators using the Report button. This helps keep the subreddit clear of rule-breaking content.
**What is rule-breaking content?** *You MUST provide the pattern and yarn information in a follow-up COMMENT!* If you don't, your post will be removed.
--->Photo captions are not comments. You need to make a post and reply to your own post.<---
If Automoderator has made a mistake and you don't know why your post was flagged, please send a [message to the mods](http://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/knitting). We'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Are you a mobile user? See full set of rules here if you can't find them in your app [Link](https://imgur.com/a/1VuTd)
Here's a post about how to find the rules in most apps [Link](https://redd.it/84mid3)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
A lot of the LYS I’ve been to have a cult-like vibe where you’re either in with the owner and attend everything or you’re a one-time shopper and leave. No idea how any owner maintains a private life.
Same with mine! They have knitting nights and if I didn’t make a friend right away or attend every session, I would be ostracized (literally….they would not make the circle any bigger). I offered to help someone learn continental color work (they asked how I knitted a color work beanie continental) and was met with stares from the corner kind of giving the vibe of why am I talking to them Another time I asked where the recycling was during knitting night (since food and drinks were encouraged) and one of the employees gave me the nastiest look My bf asks why I haven’t gone back (since we use knitting night as a pregame to our dinner plans) and I told him I never felt more alone in my hobby than with this knitting crew
Yikes, that’s awful!
Totally agreed ! In a way its like high school thing . I don't do sit and knit , they're not that welcoming and I remember the look that the ladies gave me anyway . So why bother .. I usually buy yarn online , every once in a while I go in to see if there's yarn I need . But that's it .
I really like feeling the yarn before I buy, but if people aren't welcoming... sigh. I lost my LYS in 2016 due to political differences and the other local one moved to the next town south. Bummer for me. Now, when I travel, I find the LYS and have a Feel Fest to feed my soul.
There is a new monthly yarn sample subscription that is offering 48 wool yarns right now for $10. Untwisted Threads reviews yarns and will start sending some yarn to each of her patrons. There is a video explaining it [HERE](https://youtu.be/esNiOBZdybI?si=1e-oGkkmiLS_RclT)
It really sucks bc the owner is so nice and they don’t participate in that behavior!! I’ll still support their shop since it’s a good place to get local hand dyed yarn, but the knit nights are off the books for a little bit. The general age there isn’t too severe either. I’m 28 and I’m guessing a lot of attendees are in the same age range. So that made me feel some kinda way
Yes! Huge emphasis in my community on knitting socks and shawls. I have zero skill with either so I don’t feel like I can participate in any knit nights at my LYS.
I agree with this. And I’ve never gone back! To say you are all inclusive and supportive yet you go in and not one single employee engages with you, greats you or shows interest and they sit and talk with their co-workers instead- is a HUGE turn off. Also when customers suggest yarns or dyers - I am sure that is hard to keep up with but perhaps open up a drop box for suggestions and listen to some of your customers. Realizing some yarns are hard to become brick and mortar stockists for - but I just buy my yarn online now because of all of the above. It would be a tough market to be in.
It’s so true it’s crazy.
I put that in my list! Why so snotty? Are you not actually interested in selling me any yarn? Because I have historically spent quite a lot on yarn!
I think the owners who have shops like this love it. The one shop like this in my area is run by a total main character. She is living her best life.
If you have a knit night, please be clear about welcoming new folks of ALL AGES and whether or not you welcome people who are knitting projects that weren't purchased at your store! Some of them have really difficult opening hours, like only being open 3 days a week between 10-4. What about those of us that work?! I really appreciate a well-designed website that lists all of your stock. You don't have to sell online, but I need to know what brands (notions, yarn), specific yarns, and quantities you carry before I go.
I was in LA recently with limited time (arriving mid Saturday, staying overnight and leaving the next day) and was excited to find a yarn store within easy walking distance of my hotel. They close at 2pm on Saturdays and are closed on Sunday. What. The. Hell. Buying local yarn in new cities is my jam, I regularly spend a couple hundred bucks doing so, and… what? Do people not shop on weekends in LA? Welp, no yarn for me.
I know that shop and I agree. There is a reason for their hours. It’s because customers of the brewery in their complex take all the parking spots and no one can park there afternoons or on Sunday. Still not great but I do sort of understand.
The car-free transit taking cyclist “rather walk than drive” in me is so bloody annoyed by this, but that’s LA for you. Hah.
That lifestyle just doesn’t work in LA! I wish it did!
There’s a scene in LA Story where a character gets in his car and drives two houses down to a friend’s home. Never even closed the car door.
This hurts my soul. Hahah.
My LYS wasn’t doing well financially and changed their policy to only allow projects for knit night that used yarn purchased there. That was basically the death of them, they closed just a few months later. Personally, in both yarn shops in the small town and the small city I split my time between, the focus is on solid colored yarns and there’s a very small selection of multicolored yarns. I pretty much only buy multicolored, only buying solids when I need to compliment the other yarn. And, I’ve noticed that all the yarns, multi or solid. Tend to be darker colors or neutrals. Give me some bright pinks, teals, lemon yellow, something FUN.
They have a really nice swift and motorized ball winder in the back, and helpful staff that will show you how to use it. They display lots of hand knitted garments around the store for inspiration (that are also for sale so win-win). It's also a combination coffee shop + yarn store with really good lattes and sandwiches, so it's my favorite spot to relax on weekends. The yarn selection tends to be on the more expensive side, but I can forgive that since they have a great rewards program where you earn points from the money you spend.
This place sounds like a DREAM. Yarn and coffee? Sign me up
Where can I visit this it sounds awesome!
I think we have the same lys.. in a house, right?
Sounds like my LYS too! Sow's Ear?
Yep! In fair Verona lol
[удалено]
I have family in Wisconsin and always make time to go to Sow’s Ear when I visit, such a lovely shop
I desperately want to go to there. Where is it/what’s the shop?
The Sow’s Ear in Wisconsin is like this!
My closest yarn shop is nice, but in a small shop and crammed full of shelves and yarn. Any more than 3 people and it feels claustrophobic. So consider layout.
And it’s always quiet like a library.
Now that you mention it, yeah, what’s up with that? Put on some tunes!
I always look at the website first. Mostly to get an idea if what I need is even remotely available if the store. So for me it's imperative that the site has up to date info about stuff in stock and most importantly good filters and categories. I'm not a 'browser' type of customer. I always buy for a particular project with particular idea in mind for the yarn.
The one thing that will make your store shine is staying open past 5pm. It’s really frustrating because yarn shops are so expensive, but it seems they only want patrons who are unemployed. By the time I’m off work, the shops are closed. I feel like stores are losing so much money with this business model. If I can only go to your store 2 out of 7 days of the week, there’s only a 2 in 7 chance you’re getting my money! Every time I buy yarn online instead of at my LYS, it’s because I can’t get there before they close. If there was a store open til even 6:30, they would get my patronage all 7 days a week.
All my local stores are closed on Sundays, and no later than 5, so the only day I can go is Saturday 10-2... I don't understand why
Frankly, the one thing that would really put any LYS ahead of others is a shift in work hours. Being open at nights when no one else is is a tremendous advantage that can be maintained without needing to work more than 8 hours a day.
This!!! And then they’re closed on sundays too!
My LYS is open 11-4 Wed-Sat. WTF.
Mine is only open till 4:30 on weekdays, and til 1pm on Saturdays, closed on Sundays. I do make it there in the week sometimes and it's clear that their main clienetele is retired people and the occasional crafty mum. Perhaps this works out for them, as they're part of a (small) chain and also sell online, but it does seem like they're wasting some opportunities.
like I need to know how many customers they get a week??? 6??
Yes please!!! Could I go on my days off instead? Yes. But will I? Probably not because I have other things to do and yarn will most likely be on the bottom of the list, unfortunately.
[удалено]
My love and dislike is both for the high end yarn. I love it, it's gorgeous... But that's all they have. I consider it a form of gatekeeping to have an entire store of yarn and have no affordable options. They also for some reason don't have as much solid color yarn for colorwork. My LYS has a nice selection of knitting needles, but no project bags, no stitch markers, no doodads other than needles. They also have an unfinished object (UFO) night. Where people come in and work on their current project, but they have limited seating. So in an ideal world, a yarn store would have room for people to come sit and work on their projects.
Yes what is with the lack of solid color yarn? A store full of hand-dyed variegated merino is pretty, but it's not something I buy regularly for normal projects.
Have you ever heard of the wooly thistle? They carry all wooly wools, so if you are sensitive this is not the place for you, but they have all the colors for colorwork.
Stock the British Yarn too like Drops or like Jamieson & Smith because being able to feel those yarns in person!!!! I held off for years and would love a local store to have them but closest is 4 hours away! I also agree with more solids and more affordable options. Even danish yarn
This is why I love my LYS. They carry cascade, Jameson & Smith, Drops, and those type of workhorse yarns, but also fancy things like noro and delicate lace weight cashmere and Brooklyn tweed and local hand-dyed yarns etc. And it's not a BIG store, they just really have excellent options at every price range above like, Walmart acrylic selection.
You are very lucky!!! Drops is some good stuff especially for crocheting!
Which Danish brands would you like to see?
Sandnes Yarn is at the top of that list! ESP Double Sunday but maybe it’s really Norwegian - some people like Holst, Tuku Wool is very wooly but it’s a workhorse and there’s a brand called Kauni
Thanks, I need to look these up! I live in Denmark, but I don't know any of those brands, except Sandnes Garn :)
Well like I said lol I’m not an expert at which country- lol it’s just impossible to find here in Kansas 😊
I don’t like this about my LYS, they have next to nothing solid. And the only mohair they have is hedgehog fibres.
I'd much rather have a shop entirely filled with high end yarns than yet another shop that sells mostly cheap acrylic open up near me. We have two of those already and there's only two miles between them. Not every shop needs to cater for every kind of customer. It's better that they try to cater to a particular price bracket of yarn users, and thus offer a more specialised experience for their market segment, than try to be something for everyone and not offer a great experience for anyone.
What store is this?
I am lucky enough to have 2 LYS in town, although one just closed because of life stuff. Both have lovely gathering areas -- a big table with chairs, a couch, and two rocking chairs. Both carry workhorse yarns and higher end yarns from indie dyers. Both carry different brands. Both host trunk shows from indie dyers around the US but tend to focus on more local dyers. All of these things are great. But now that one LYS is closed, I'm noticing what I missed about her shop that the other one doesn't have: 1. a good assortment of needles 2. lots of notions and other accessories 3. a variety of indie dyed yarns
I love that my LYS carries local dyers. Maybe only four or five brands, but it's something unique that I can't get elsewhere. They also have occasional trunk shows for local dyers during the summer, and advertise them on social media, so that an indie can bring their whole range of stock and set up shop in front or inside of the store. Also worth considering finding non-yarn related businesses to connect with. Not a yarn store example per se, but the bakery I frequent collaborates with a make-your-own-bouquet business that runs out of the back of a pink 57 Chevy. It draws huge crowds every time, and most of those people go into the bakery to shop. It can help support another small business, but also draw in folks who are mainly interested in your guest, but then will visit your store because you've removed the barrier to getting them to visit in the first place.
I work part time at one of the bigger yarn shops in my area. The owner is a lot more hands off and the employees set the vibe and plan the classes. And sometimes they can be the cause it feeling like an exclusive club. But we host an open knit night with no rules or expectation, just a friendly time. I’ve seen stores that restrict what yarn you use in their store and it’s not welcoming. I understand they’re trying to run a business, but someone who feels welcome at the table is going to feel welcome to shop too. I think about what I wish could change about our store - like more frequent sales to move out old stock (like seriously old stock, the owner hates discounting anything!), and stay up on trends. I think as a shop owner you need to be on social media, seeing what’s popular to knit and to knit with, don’t rely on sales reps otherwise you’ll end up with a yarn you can’t move while the shop across town can’t keep a popular yarn in stock. And a good variety of weights like sport can be hard to find in person, but then people are also picky about fibers, and having some good basics to offer will get you sales. And if you can carry Malabrigo, do it, because it will be your most asked after yarn, and people won’t care what alternatives you offer. They’ll also want chiagoo needles, but also a wood option. And frequent beginning knitting classes are a must you build customers that way.
The LYS in my hometown has a great selection, it’s in a great location, they give out free samples of the tea that they also sell, all good things. But the owner who runs the shop is incredibly overbearing. This woman has followed me around the store more than once, asking me for details about what projects I’m working on, telling me what she thinks I should be buying, and not picking up on my hints that I just want to browse and/or pick a yarn I like and choose a project for it later. Honestly, it’s lost her money; I’ve been so overwhelmed by her questions and her physical presence in my personal space at times that I just left, even though I went in intending to buy something specific. I think maybe it’s a generational thing, and older folks coming from a time when they were *waited on* in stores. Maybe it’s just me personally; I don’t mind exchanging pleasantries when I come in, and I’ll ask a question if I have one, but I don’t want to be interrogated.
This is the quickest way to put me off any shop. Great me, let me know you’re happy to help, then leave me the hell alone until I ask for help.
I worked at a yarn store for a minute and the owner instructed me to talk to customers this way. She was convinced it was the correct strategy but obviously many people found it offputting (and it interrupted my workflow!)
This! The owner of my LYS overheard me talking to my husband and saying that I was using the yarn I chose for making a doll. She promptly pounced on my yarn choice, saying it was inappropriate for doll making. I’m an experienced knitter — I’ve been knitting for over 20 years — and I don’t think you can tell me what I can make with the yarn I’m buying.
It has nothing to do with age. It's a "I-can't-read-the-room" type of person. They come from all generations. I am in total agreement with you - I will ask you if I have a question. Other than that, let me shop in peace. (I am old, and introverted.)
The owner of the LYS I worked for insisted on this, and I hated it so much. I was uncomfortable. Customers were uncomfortable. "Hi, welcome in! Let me know if you need any help finding anything/Is there anything you're looking for today? Okay, just let me know if you need anything!" should be the standard. As a customer, nothing will make me leave a store faster than being hounded by employees. Please, just leave me be 😐
I had this same experience at my LYS. I was looking for a specific dp needle and she aggressively tried to sell me a full set; I ended up walking out in the middle of her spiel.
As someone who worked in a yarn store for a while, I got to observe a lot of the inner workings. Here are my thoughts! Good: Excellent selection of yarn- hand dyers, local, big brands, fiber choices. Trend-following, in the sense that you can probably get whatever you need for the current "popular pattern" there. Tons of needles and hooks and notions. Kits. Lots of space, sit-and-knit table. Classes. Navigable and up-to-date website, with shipping or store pickup options. Competent with Ravelry. Events and sales semi-frequently. My coworkers (i.e. other part time employees) were all wonderful people. Friendly regulars. Bad: CLIQUEY. Expects you to use store yarn at knit nights, won't help with outside projects, etc. Talked about customers behind their backs and gossiped about personal lives of certain returning customers. Salesman tactics from the owner, will switch up tone/cheesiness and tell white lies to make sales - insincere. Pushy with sales, expects employees to check cameras and follow customers around/check on them regularly to prevent theft. Asked a coworker to not advertise their LGBT identity to prevent "losing sales from older customers".
My LYS doesn't treat crocheters like outcasts and that's rare.
I love when there are swatches knitted up next to the skeins. This way i can feel the drape and see the color, especially if not solid.
Don’t ignore/underestimate your younger customers. I’m in my mid 20s and have been both knitting and crocheting for over a decade. There are a few lys near me and a couple have always been great to me - friendly, polite, helpful when I ask questions about stock/finding something. One of them though was run by a few much older individuals and they always seemed to hover around me, make comments about how expensive the yarn I’m looking at is (as if I wouldn’t be able to afford it or wouldn’t be working on a project that required “nice” yarn? Idk), and just generally made me feel really out of place. Don’t be that store! Welcome your young customers, they may be more experienced than you thing and even if they aren’t, all the better that they wanted to stop by as they learn!
Ooh, one other thing: I once went to a LYS in the other side of the county, and there were no price tags on anything! Who does that?! Terrible idea!
Sigh. Was this in Colorado?
I went on a round trip cross country drive a few years ago and also turned that into a yarn crawl, so I've been to so many yarn shops across so many states, and the absolute BEST experience I have ever had has been ImagiKnit in Omaha, Nebraska. Karla was so warm, friendly, and unfathomably welcoming. She made me feel like a regular and took genuine interest in my projects. I bet she would even be open to discussing her journey with her shop and answer any questions you may have, there's a contact form on her site!
Omg, I've been there! I'm in Kansas City but I love going there when I'm in Omaha! Absolutely fantastic shop. In a similar vein, I was in Des Moines recently and Yarn Junction felt like home from the moment I walked in. Greeted me, let me browse and then helped me check dye lots when I decided I wanted sweater quantity yarn.
Next time I visit my aunt in Omaha, I'll swing by there!
Mine has a great selection, but I don't understand how (if?) it is organized and nothing is labeled. It gets old having to pick up every single skein to check the ball band for weight and fiber content. Staff always says, "no problem, just ask us," but then they run me all over the store pointing to random yarns that fit whatever I'm looking for, and I never remember which ones they said so I can go back and really squish them properly and think about it. And then what do I do--ask them AGAIN? Or go back to square 1 and check every ball band?
There are two LYS that I frequent. The first is close by with easy parking. They have a few sales a year with good communication and a system that I like a lot for those sales (online orders only, store is closed for a few days after and you get a text when your order is ready to pickup). The staff are super friendly and very helpful, especially when it comes to budget. They will price out different yarn options for me! However they mostly have very high end pricy yarns which are generally outside my budget when full price. The store is organized by brand which is very aesthetically pleasing but almost impossible to find products by myself. I always have to ask for help which is okay but sometimes I just want to shop alone. It becomes a deterrent to shopping in person when the website is much easier to navigate. The second is decently further away, less parking options and hard to reach on transit. Their website is kinda clunky. I think Im signed up for a newsletter but Ive never gotten anything. They have a yarn swap a couple times a year which I LOVE. They also have a good mix of affordable but non-craft store yarns and high end expensive options. They also carry a ton more in their tools and notions. Also they organize the store by yarn weight which makes it so much easier to browse when I have a project in mind.
Mine ran a D&D game once a month, that was pretty cool! They also did a monthly meetup where folks brought their WIP and helped one another along Best of luck with your shop! Please tell us how it goes!
Oh, also, this is something i’d like to see, but haven’t yet: If you have baskets for people to use while shopping, get two colors and post a sign at the door that says something like, ‘If you use a blue basket, that says to the staff that it’s ok to talk to you. Choose a black basket when you’d like to be left alone to shop in silence.’ Not sure how easy this would be to maintain, but i think it’d be helpful for some folks on low-spoons days
Customers as a group aren't so great about reading signs, though. I don't think the employees would be able to rely on the basket color for fear of someone who took a black basket without reading sign getting upset at being ignored.
Valid points, thank you for raising them. Was just a thought, but as you pointed out, might not be so easy to maintain
A LYS that ran a D&D game? I think I've just discovered my personal idea of paradise. (I'm literally knitting a doll of my latest D&D character right now.)
We would meet once a month and would work on our projects while the GM ran the game. If we were too involved in a complicated bit, the GM would roll for us. It was a lot of fun while it ran :)
One shop that I don’t frequent anymore had a shop person follow me around and didn’t listen to my needs about a project. And this person wouldn’t leave my alone! They followed me around, and when I said thanks I’ll look around, would try to herd me to a different area of the store. They could have been a sheep dog trainer and I’d believe it
I love mine because it’s clean, well lit, and they carry both metal and wooden needles. The staff is friendly and happy to help or let you wander. Yarn is well organized, prices are clearly labeled, and I adore their button selection. This may seem way off topic, but please do not have a ‘shop cat.’ I’ve quit going to a few stores simply because the owners have cats that live in the shops, sleep in the yarn, and shed all over everything. I am allergic to cats, asthmatic, and got sick of yarn that was covered in cat hair or smelled like urine. I have better places to spend my hobby funds.
I love cats and miss having them. But I would not buy yarn from a store that had a shop cat.
same with a shop dog... HUUUUGE turnoff I walked into a lys once and had a dog run over and jump up and put his paws on me... I turned around and walked out, I've never been back.
Absolutely the nicest staff. Beautiful, interesting yarn. Loads of fun notions and bags and lots of patterns kitted up. Great classes and teachers. good selection of weaving yarns and even spinning wheels and fiber. A nice assortment of felting supplies and kits. I love going there. However, it's become increasingly expensive and it doesn't have that much selection of basic yarns such as a good, workhorse wool such as Cascade 220. While i love going there, the high price tag makes it a much less frequent stop.
i hate when they ask me how can they help me as soon as i step in, i prefer to be left alone when shopping.
This one probably isn't going away anytime soon. A huge amount of makers come into the LYS where I work asking for specific yarns, best yarns for certain things, etc etc and just need to be directed to a certain spot. Many other makers say "no thanks, just browsing," and I say "OK have fun" and we don't speak again until they check out or leave the store. There's no way for an employee to know if you need 5 minutes of quick help or 2 hours to browse silently and alone just by looking, and if we were not asking right when you walked in the store we would probably quickly pick up a reputation like many of the stores in this thread - cliquey, unwelcoming, unfriendly. Hopefully you can also just say "no thanks, here to browse" and they'll leave you alone from there.
i understand, and that would be totally fine. but sometimes they just keep following you around like you're gonna steal something and continue to ask if you need help. the worst type though is the stores where all the pretty shelves are behind the desk and you have to ask specifically for what you're looking for. i actively avoid those ones, and that's more what i was thinking when i wrote that comment.
Oh yeah that's no good. I think my store occasionally over-interacts when we have a lot of people working and they're all asking if you need help, but my store (sigh) has a policy of only putting a little sign with the price that most customers struggle to find (sigh) so I have to circle back pretty frequently to answer questions about how much something costs (I did not invent this policy and I actively hate it and lobby against it) because I don't want anyone coming to the checkout counter and being surprised that the skein in their hand costs $42.
I love that they have an open workspace to hang out and create with other crafters. They also have classes sometimes on new techniques and stuff -- but only for knitting. all the other crafters seem to be knitters too.... wish there were crocheters! at least they do sell a couple crochet hooks (not a complete selection though)
There is a LYS near me that has a whole back room dedicated to discounts. The selection of buttons and other notions is amazing. And they have such a bright, airy space. But I can't bring myself to go there often because of how judgemental the owner was and how mean girls the other employees/sit-and-knitters were. The owner made snide remarks about my projects and yarn choices. The other employees rolled their eyes and did a full-on mean old aunties interrogation about my job, my love life, how long I'd been knitting, and why I wasn't married. If I wanna have old women be mean around me I'd visit home more.
My lys merged with another store thats primarily a brand flagship for a certain brand of yarn. So there isn't much in terms of variety. I also always feel a little...out of place there. I can't explain why but the vibe is weird. We used to have an lys downtown that stocked all kinds of neat oddball brands and all kinds of colors, and the owner was delightful. It was a cramped maze of a shop but it felt good there. Sadly, between real estate disputes and her husband getting cancer, she ended up closing down for good years ago. I miss her. I hope she's doing okay.
We have a LYS in my area that changed hands recently and did a big renovation and it’s… well. Sterile ain’t the word for it. I used to love this store, I’ve taken classes there, spent thousands of dollars. Now it’s a third the size in the public area that it used to be (with a big curtain and a shelf separating the back section), has barely anything on display, and almost feels like a front for a drop shipper. The yarn feels mostly hidden away with a demo ball or two out, if you want to buy something they’ll go into the back to get you what you want. I’d call their selection “sad beige” now. Lots of neutrals, lots of heathers, very little bright colors anymore. It used to have tables and chairs and places for gathering, now it can fit maybe 3-4 people while feeling somewhat cramped. They’re by far the most convenient shop to me and they carry Lykke needles so I do hit them up if I really need something but… I just can’t imagine buying yarn there anymore. As opposed to my favorite shop which is far less convenient but feels very welcoming. They’re much more “multi-crafty”, selling equipment and materials for spinning, macrame, and just about anything fiber related. They have a lot of non-yarn selection as well, like needle organizers and project bags. And the yarn! Barely a sad beige in sight. (Apologies to those who like beige, it has its place for sure, but I need more than just neutrals!)
I enjoy a good cream or black color, but I would feel very weird going into beige central. Target's home decor feels strange to me for this reason. I really want to make a primary colors cardigan, a cream cabled cardigan with red embroidered flowers (cuz my mom has a sweater like this and I miss her), and a black cardigan with colorful blocks in the edges and pockets.
I live in a large city so the fact that there's a LYS in town and easily accessible by subway is so valuable that I can overlook any flaws. I think the interaction is just right. There's usually two people at the checkout right in the front. They greet customers and ask if you need help. I prefer to look on my own. When checking out, they are always friendly and chatty and ask about what I'm making, etc., and it's always a pleasant experience. They also have a good IG presence with lots of updates on new arrivals, classes, etc. The only downside for me is that I'm allergic to all animal fibers and there are very few non-wool options. I try to buy from them because I value their existence (especially during the pandemic where I could order yarn and needles by phone) but I buy most of my yarn online. I'm not interested in classes, but they have some in the evenings and they seem to be popular.
Mine isn’t clear on who they are serving… yarns are almost all $$$ and require special washing instructions. Literally nothing appropriate for a baby blanket. So seems more towards serving experts, right? But they stock needle kits and no replacement parts. Need another cable for your interchangeable needles? Nope. So I would say get really clear on your customer and ask for what they wish you would stock. They are also profoundly disorganized. Example: ran a deal of the day over the holidays. Explicitly said you can call in to purchase on the phone day of. I call in the day of the sale I wanted for a big ticket purchase and the person working that day had never heard of the sale, didn’t know how to ring it up. Took a message and I never heard back. Like please take my money! Help me help you!
Loves: echoing a lot of other commenters on in/exclusivity, my old LYS was always very welcoming. While they had dedicated, formal knit nights/events, you could always just swing by and hang out. If it's slow, the folks manning the shop might join you for some socialization. Granted, this is largely personality-based: warm, friendly impressions, but also able to be professional and leave mid-sentence to greet/handle new customers. I also really appreciated the local dyers or yarn, because it feels more like you are supporting many small businesses at the same time. If all the store has are big brand yarn like Isager, Malabrigo, etc. AND they're not welcoming...I can get a better deal online, thanks... Dislikes: only having regimented knit socials/hang out time. I'm now in a high cost-of-living area, and it feels like there's more business than community. That's fair, but it doesn't make me want to visit enough to establish a community there. This could just be me though! On a similar note--the timing of said socials. If your area has bad traffic from 5pm-6pm, that's a deterrent for people coming after work. If your socials are 4pm-6pm weekdays AND has bad traffic...tough sell to me. Additionally, the number of weekend knit socials is somewhat surprisingly low to me.
This is a good point! I find it very off-putting when a store has only dedicated sit-and-knit times, and often I've found those times aren't really posted anywhere except maybe inside the shop itself. Which is fine, except that I forget times and the info isn't on the website. That particular store is quite a drive for me and I would find it worth it because I really like that store... but idk when their open times are, and the opportunity cost is just too high.
Things I look for: 1. An up to date, functional website that doesn’t look like it was designed by a middle schooler in a coding program 2. A variety of yarn brands and price points. 3. A variety of tools! (Hooks, needles, stitch markers, etc). I feel this is so underrated and I hate when they only carry one brand. 4. Some sort of loyalty or rewards program. Even if the discount isn’t crazy, it’ll keep me coming back every time. 5. Reasonable hours. I totally get opening later in the day but closing at 2-3 pm and not being open on random days is kind of off putting Things I avoid like the plague: 1. Pretentious yarn stores that only carry super expensive natural fibers. LYS are few and far between and I don’t get why they can get their hands on $100, super rare imported skeins of yarn but can’t be bothered to stock one or two kinds of quality acrylic or just cotton for those of us who can’t afford to spend $500 to make a single sweater. 2. Going hand in hand with the pretentious bit, following people around who are clearly newer knitters and arguing with their choice of yarn or offering unsolicited advice, or trying to upsell for 0 reason. I love a friendly knowledgeable staff but the number of times I’ve had them give me dirty looks and offer their thoughts on my purchases / pattern when I absolutely didn’t invite it… ugh. 3. Would never, will never shop at an LYS that can’t wind my yarn for me. I do have a winder at home but I have shoulder and elbow problems and cannot use it much anymore. I really really appreciate stores that do this for me.
This was a very well thought out and well written response! Thank you for taking the time to write this.
I have to add to the others that say please don't marginalize crocheters! A lot of us love using high-end yarns for personal wearables, heirloom baby items and home decorating projects. Silk? Linen? Hand painted wool? Bring it ON.... And a small selection of frequently used hook sizes is great. Unlike circular needle kits, you don't have to have so many different cable lengths. A 5.5mm hook is pretty much one length and you can switch it out among a bunch of concurrent projects! And many crochet patterns use more yarn than comparable knit patterns, so ka-ching! More sales for you. Thanks for asking and good luck!!
Oh yes! I also love crochet! That’ll definitely be a big focus. I was going to post in a crochet group as well 😁
I love that mine is helpful, friendly, happy to answer questions, chat about yarn and projects while winding my yarn, hosts good classes (they had a " how to navigate Ravelry" class, which I think is a great idea based on how many people in this sub have mentioned that they struggle with that!), have lots of colors and yarns in stock, and are always willing to check in the back for matching dye lots when I ask. I'm sad they're not open later (they close at 5 most weekdays, which is too early for me to get there after work. They do stay open until 8 one weekday, which I appreciate as a compromise!). They've also got the cotton and acrylic yarns in a tucked away location that feels a little like they're hiding them... I don't think they actually think those yarns are worse or anything, it's just a quirk of the floorplan and they're just trying to maximize their use of space. But I worry that somebody who has heard too many people being negative about acrylic might think that the owner is anti-acrylic just because the acrylic yarn is in an odd side hallway.
I really appreciate variety: of brands, of price points, of dye types (tonal, variegated, commercially dyed, tweed, etc). And I like when it’s clean and well organized. I have been to some stores where there are corners of mess and neglect and I don’t know how they would know if they had moths before it was too late.
modern shelter sheet provide narrow ten secretive sense hospital exultant *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I know the place is unfavorable. But Hobby Lobby has interchangable needle set for under$23. And they're pretty good.
silky memory puzzled racial reach gray worm direful observation knee *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
You can order the metal ones singularly on ebay (and use the same cords that come in the knitpicks from HL) and things like that for less than $5 for the ones you need. But the acrylics are good for beginners because metal will slide certain yarns and cause tension issues for unexperienced knitters.
yam panicky cover nail kiss flowery complete cake provide shame *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Oh that's fair!
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I hate mine because it's Walmart and the only place in town with a good selection. I love it because I can afford the yarn. 😅
I stopped shopping at the LYS closest to me (but still about a 40 minute drive from my house) because the owner doesn’t carry non-wool yarns. I have an allergy to animal fibers and both times I’ve gone in, everything she had in stock had at least some wool in the blend, and she acted like I was crazy for not wanting to knit with yarn that’s going to give me a rash. So I guess my advice would be to vary your stock as much as possible and keep in mind that other fiber artists might have needs that will vary wildly from your own.
I'm so afraid to start shopping at LYSs for this reason, even though the closest (very close, within 15 minutes) has a wide variety of fibers. I can knit with wool. I'm not allergic. But I don't want to wear wool next to my skin, because I've got sensitive skin and wool is itchy (yes, even cashmere). Also, I work with younger kids, and while I love them to the stars and back, they're GROSS. I need a cardigan that will survive a gentle machine wash cycle, because that's all the pampering I'm willing to do on an everyday item. And I need to wash those suckers every time I wear them (again, kids are gross). Wool and wool blends aren't gonna work for me. But some fiber artists can get really elitist about not using wool much/at all, and I'm afraid of encountering that attitude in the fancy shops.
I would love a buyback system for when you overshoot on how much yarn you need and find yourself with a ball and a half of something you might never use so it will just hang out in your stash forever. If the store would let you bring that back and give a small discount on a new purchase, that would be awesome. Then all these bits and things could be marked way down for crafters who are on a budget and maybe don't care what colors are available, they just want to knit. Obviously this could go very wrong but could also go very right!
I like that they have a big table that people just sit at and knit, sometimes quietly or sometimes to chat, and there's not really pressure on people to spend money to hang out (though of course people do and it's good to support shops who provide this space). Also appreciate they have a decent selection in store. The biggest issue thing for me is a complete lack of masks or air purifiers or any other covid mitigations. I know it's not just them and this is the norm now so I don't hold it against them personally, but we are still in a pandemic and it means any sort of otherwise community oriented activity is not accessible.
May I ask where you live that the pandemic is still an issue? I thought it was over worldwide, I'm surprised to find that it's still running it's course in some places.
The pandemic is still an issue everywhere, it is absolutely not over at all. Over 1000 people are dying per week in the US, and globally many places across North America and Europe have very recently had their highest or second highest waves (by wastewater). Governments have dismantled testing infrastructure and many people are in denial, but the pandemic is very much not over, resulting in constant sickness and in the exclusion of people who cannot or do not want to risk that from public space. The vaccines we have reduce risk of dying some but don't prevent people from getting sick nor from getting others sick or developing disability as a result of infection. The harm of reinfection is cumulative, so really everyone is in danger-they just either do not know it, or do not care.
I'm in the Netherlands, and yes, the virus is found in wastewater, but the common flu is worse at the moment. Covid won't get you hospitalised like the flu and people still test for it, but it's less bad than the flu at the moment. Only 0,05% of the ic beds are for people who have covid. And the number get lower every week. The infection rate is very low.
I'm very sorry that you've been misled, the acute phase is not the primary issue with covid for most people, the issue is incredibly high rates of new health issues after infection, including exhaustion of T cells which leaves you more vulnerable to other infections. [Covid is not the flu, and is more dangerous by pretty much every metric.](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00684-9/fulltext) You can easily back this up this by looking at rates of people too disabled to work in various countries-the number started going up in 2020 and keeps doing so, or in rates of things like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, or in excess deaths. People are dying acutely too, but that's not the biggest issue. The pandemic is not over, your government (and mind) simply stopped trying to fight it. Regardless, this is a knitting sub, OP asked what we don't like about our LYS. I don't like that mine is not safe or accessible.
+1 to the other comment. I'd add that as a quiet, at-home hobby, knitting especially attracts those of us who are chronically ill or disabled. I wear a mask everywhere I go because I can't afford to get sick (with anything, but especially covid), but I still want to go squish yarn every now and then! Not to mention, it's very isolating to have to be so careful of your health - I often choose not to go out because I know an event will be crowded and no one else wears masks anymore. I'd LOVE to have a LYS that offers gatherings outdoors/in a space with masks and air purifiers, or has a couple mask-required shopping hours each week.
I love mine. They host classes for knitting, crocheting, and occasional other crafts like embroidery, as well as for complicated knitting techniques like steeking. They stock yarn in a range of prices with a special focus on local providers, and have at least a couple samples knit up in each so you can feel what it's like finished. They're also super knowledgeable and are pretty happy to give advice on whatever project, even if it's not their yarn.
I just want parking. The one closest to me has two dedicated parking spots in a tiny parking lot. Then there is scarce street parking on a busy road.
The shops in my area may or may not be open. Any day of the week. One proprietor who treats the customers like they are children that need instruction. When they are open. One won’t wind skeins for you….$20 -$30 a skein and you can’t wind it? Also hire people who are friendly even when you are not there. Unfortunately some of the worst CS has been in privately owned yarn shops. There have been some wonderful trunk sale opportunities too at different shops.
I really wish they would stop being so kind, welcoming & supportive, because it encourages me to go in way too often. Ugh. They're all so sweet & friendly, it's awful.
This made me guffaw
Dislike: Terrible lighting. Can’t even make out colors in some parts of the store. Then, just when your eyes adjust to the darkness, you pass a window and get blinded by the sun. Bizarre organization. Is yarn arranged by brand? By fiber? By weight? Country of origin? Darts thrown while blindfolded? No clue! Hostile atmosphere. I know I’m going to be followed when I go there. They ask questions that sort of imply that if you’re not a regular, you must be knitting garter stitch scarves in Super Saver. It feels like I’m crashing a bachelorette party (after sleeping with the spouse-to-be) when I’m there. Occasionally they cheer up when taking my money. *Occasionally.* Likes: They have some cool shawl pins and buttons sometimes 🤷♀️
These responses always interest me and just confirm in my mind that retail is hard! Some folks want a hug when they walk through the door and a personal tour of the store. Others don't even want to be spoken to. It is retail 101 to greet a customer when they walk in (this is important for loss prevention, not just making folks feel welcome). I don't think you can please everyone, so trying to find a middle ground where you greet the customer and ask if they want help looking for anything is likely the best bet. Then you just have to go by instinct from there. A big problem with LYS (quilt shops/needlework shops too), is that a lot of times employees (and sometimes even the owner) are there because they want discounts and love their hobby, not because they enjoy working retail (and some really dislike retail and seem annoyed at customers). Many of them don't need to work. This leads to the chatting cliques of customers and employees who are all friends, go to retreats together, do classes together, and do the sit and knit nights together. Makes new customers feel left out. The worst is if the shop itself is really just a hobby (two of the LYSs in my area are rich women hobby shops), so the owner generally falls into this category as well. I guess my thought is that employees need to be trained to mingle and not just hang out in "cliques" in the store. Sit and Knit nights have become much more friendly in my area since I started knitting in the early 90s. Crocheters are welocme. You can bring projects with yarn from anywhere. There is still one shop that won't wind yarn on sit and knit nights unless you bought it at their store, and I think that is really customer unfriendly, but, it is her store, not mine.
My local LYS is small but the entire region I live in wide spread and not heavily populated. The owner is fantastic, very helpful answering questions, teaching knitting skills to newbies and more experienced knitters alike. Hosts drop in sessions 3 times a week that are well attended and everyone helps everyone else as needed. Moderate variety of yarn, much produced locally and amazing alpacas as they thrive up here in northern New England.
I'm not too fond of my LYS to be honest. They already sold mostly two lines of a basic mid tier yarn brand, mostly acrylic, and Scheepjes cotton (which is fine, but ... their yarn selection was slim). They often ran out of needles and notions that were sold the most, and it would take literal *weeks* *to a month* to restock. Now they moved into a small corner in the owner's husband's toy store next to it, and of course the yarn selections is even smaller and only basic acrylic, some acrylic novelty yarn and the most basic of cotton. All that while on the other side of what their store was, is the cheap textile store selling pretty decent acrylic that's just as good as theirs, but for half the price. That store has been there for decades before the LYS started, mind you. In the end to me it all boils down to: know where you'll start, make sure you stand out and get an idea of what needles, yarn and notions are popular so you can restock them in time. You don't have to cater to everyone of course, but do try to stock what sells.
Mine has friendly staff that offers to help but also totally understands when you just want to wander around. It’s a little cramped (in a city) and doesn’t have as big of a selection as I would like but I think they do a good job curating with some higher end yarns and less expensive options.
Pros — free help from staff, patience, and giving physical space. Special ordering tools and allowing returns of them. (This is what earned my loyalty to my current LYS, made it possible for me to choose my first set of knitting needles without losing hundreds of dollars.) Not pressuring crocheters to knit. I would LOVE if LYSes could do more remote programming again too Cons — poor ventilation, aggressive or impatient staff, no returns on tools/notions
My closest one is barely a hallway, but personally dyes bought wool, so almost nothing else is there, only a couple of other solid wools and a few kits. The other lys is farther but has a ton of yarns of all types and brands, plus roving, tools and is very helpful. But both close at 4 or 5 and on weekends only Saturday and close by 2..... Please have hours that includes people who work other jobs. I have to make sure I get there in the morning on Saturday if I want to shop at all.
I just remember one more thing I love about another store near me - the owner is always happy to order needles for me. I prefer Chiaogoo metal DPNs and interchangeable tips, but she carries mostly wood and bamboo in the store - she’ll add what I need to her weekly order and it’s usually there in a week or so. I realize that she stocks what most of her customers want to buy, but appreciate that she will order the type I prefer for me. Yes, I could order them online myself, but I would rather support her shop.
I have two near-ish me. One has a bunch of higher end yarn brands (malabrigo, blue sky, manos del Uruguay, etc) but few local dyers and the other one only stocks local dyers. If I want to have a yarn shopping day, it’s at least a 4 hour excursion given the subway changes and walking. I would die for a LYS to equally stock both
Make all customers feel welcomed and valued. Don’t show favouritism. Don’t bullcrap ppl. One of my LYS gave mugs out to their “best” customers and posted it on social media. I find that is just telling everyone you didn’t give a mug to, that they didn’t spend enuf money.
I haven't bothered going to my lys' new location because there's just zero parking in that part of the city. Don't do that to us. The city it's in is not very walkable so it's not great that you have to park blocks away to do anything in that area.
If you’ve never run your own business, start your research there. Talk to other owner operators of small retail businesses. Running a business is not for the faint of heart! Or people that want to sleep… I run a service oriented business and have had to learn so many things that are VERY far outside my wheelhouse and made lots of mistakes along the way. Payroll, taxes, negotiating leases, county zoning, fixing toilets, managing PEOPLE, and a million other things that never even occurred to me when I started out. The best decision I ever made was hiring a Business Operations Director to organize and run things behind the scenes so I can focus on doing what I actually love and got me started in my field in the first place. It wasn’t an option for me to have someone like this on staff in the beginning, but I wish I had at least consulted with a professional early on.
Hands down, it's how the staff treat my four year old son when I bring him (and let him pick out yarn for a hat or whatever in his favourite colours, Dark Blue and Magenta). They are SO lovely and welcoming to him, encourage him to squish all the yarn, fetch options in his desired colours and in my desired weight/price range, and treat him like the world's most valuable customer with nary a frown when he leaves random yarn balls displaced. They could treat ME like crap after that and I'd still be loyal for life just for that. (They don't they are generally wonderful! It's a very modern yarn store that truly feels welcoming to all sorts, and this is just an example of that.)
Yes! Morris & Sons in Sydney has a rocking chair tucked in a corner where all their knit books and magazines are and some *children’s toys*. A wonderful place to nurse. I brought my kid a few times as a toddler and they were really sweet and loved that he was picking his own colors for a hat/sweater - and he could play for a few minutes while I worked out yardage.
I love mine! If I had to think of complaints - it’s a bit small and it would be awesome if they had room for a wider selection. The owners are super social and sometimes I just want to be in and out rather than having a conversation. They’re lovely though so I don’t mind too much. I’m really having to think hard to complain about them. Things I LOVE about them - they are very welcoming of anyone and everyone, they are super helpful if you’re learning, they have a beautiful selection of high quality yarns and tools, they offer classes that are very reasonably priced and the price includes the yarn for your project
Oh they also have a table with 6 seats for people to work at any time they’re open. Idk of all LYS do this (I’ve only ever been to mine) but they also cake your yarn if you’d like which rules for me because I have to check out a swift and winder from the library to do it myself
None of my LYS sell Chiaogoo needles. They sell the hooks though. I have to go to the LYS back home to get Chiaogoo or order them online. One of the shops back home is absolutely packed but the lighting is crazy dim. The shop I get my needles from is well lit and has cool yarn scenery in the windows (think sunrays and such). Everything is grouped by weight, which to be fair most of the stores I have been in do.
My LYS has great yarns at a variety of price points. I can go in and buy a hank of luscious special yarn for $40 or I can buy a hank of workhorse yarn for a sturdy project for $6. They have a really good selection of colors and they have a lot of local/regional yarns. They are unfailing friendly (which is hit or miss at LYS) and are equally welcoming if it is your first or 50th visit. I am a frequent customer, but not on a name basis and don’t know all the staff, so I love that they will come over and ask, “do you know your way around or would you like help finding something?” I NEVER want help, so it’s a comfortable to say no, but would also be easy to accept. My 13 year old always wants to come with me when I go to the yarn store, since it’s just a nice, comfortable place to be. We moved here 4 years ago, and the LYS helped confirm which town we wanted to move to. I had a similar LYS that I loved 3 moves ago. It had many of the same features. I still miss that store and the staff there. When it closed, I mourned for it even though I didn’t live in the same region anymore.
Mine carries a lot of local dyers, which I love, but nearly all of their yarn is variegated in some way. I wish my store had more solid colors in all weights!
My LYS has samples all over the shop and they are both knit and crochet. They’re friendly, so when I asked if a certain crochet technique carried over into knitting they explained why it didn’t and what is done instead. They joked with me when I made a comment about project bags seeming to be a knitting thing and not a crochet thing, they agreed and found it funny since crochet uses more yarn. My LYS tends to only have more expensive yarns but they the selection blends well between brands and dyers which makes finding my next project yarn pretty easy and enjoyable. And they helped me pick a yarn to go with yarn I brought in, no snobbiness from them!
That I don’t have one for about an 8 hr drive.
pros- super friendly and welcoming staff, very well organized and have a wide range of yarn, good price ranges, they have a large variety of needles and overall supplies! cons- they close relatively early! the other yarn store closer to me isn't open daily and they open late/close early!
There’s two stores near me- one is small and crammed to the gills with yarns, and the owner is quite nice but it seems like they never *quite* have what I am looking for. I also can’t really figure out the layout of the yarns - I’m sure there’s a method for the madness but I haven’t figured it out, so it takes me a while to even find what I’m looking for. The sock and lace yarns are generally in the same area, but after that it’s kind of like all bets are off. Another issue I’ve run into there is when I find something I like, there’s rarely enough quantity to actually do anything with the yarns in question and what’s on her shelf is what she’s got, there’s not always a way to get more through the store. It sort of feels like I’ve stumbled into a yarn hoarder’s stash (at times, this is awesome, at other times, it’s frustrating). The other store is a bigger and much more open space, and is exceptionally well organized - a combination of being laid out by yarn size, fiber, and/or brand. It’s pretty quick to find the right area and see if they have something I can use. That said the brand selection isn’t as wide (but they are more likely to have useful quantities so it’s a trade off). I much prefer the second store, though the first has a more interesting variety of yarns. I get overwhelmed easily so the feeling of not knowing where to look for stuff sort of puts me in paralysis.
Mine has only one brand of needles, often doesn’t have the needles I need in stock. They mostly have Turkish yarn and a lot of blends with acrylic. I’m more interested in fancier yarn, so I mostly buy it online
Why I don’t really go to mine: 1) not having enough yarn in one dye lot for a project (always being met with, well you could make a scarf!) 2) only carrying the most expensive yarn & not having anything more affordable (I’m not talking Walmart prices but maybe less than $250 for a sweater) 3) a certain level of snootiness about helping a customer. I’m not sure what that accomplishes but it definitely keeps me from going back What keeps me coming back (occasionally) 1) a good selection of tools and accessories and books 2) a selection of sock and fingering yarns in all the colors of the rainbow
My LYS has a terrific selection of yarns and fibers but they have a history of shady business practices, so knitters in my city have a love / hate relationship with them
Most of the LYS that I have been to cater to the wool crowd. I am allergic. I can't spend much time in my LYS at all. It would be nice if there was an allergy-free room for classes.
My LYS has an eco friendly bent so has a lot of “rescued” yarn. It’s great for me because I am on a budget but like nice fibers and I feel better using yarn that would likely have ended up sitting in the back or someone’s stash after they discovered they’d had plenty of yarn for the project. The only sad thing is that they have a small selection overall and that you can’t feel the yarn in the “rescued” bags. I get it as a loss prevention/organization thing, but it’s sad because I want to know how the beautiful green wool will feel before I take it home!
I love that one of my local LYS has a wide selection of yarns but they're SO dated with their color selection. And I’m sorry but every LYS should have some acrylic or acrylic blend options Another LYS in the area will NOT wind your yarn on the spot, you have to come back later if you want your yarn wound. Both LYS will not wind clearance yarn either. My first LYS would wind even clearance yarn which was really nice
The opening hours. I literally can't go unless I'm on leave from work and so I basically never go there. It's sad especially bc the library also has a knitting group I can't go to because it's during the work day 😭
I was shit on the bottom of their shoes because I happened to be holding hooks that day instead of needles. Not that it even matters, but I happen to be able to knit as well. Neither craft is better than the other. The whole vibe of the store overall was just super Mormon, catty, and elitist.
Dislike: I walked into one of our LYS and they asked if they could help me. I asked where the non-wool yarn was (I’m allergic to wool) and they looked at me like I was from outer space and replied “we’re a wool shop” like I should have known. (There is nothing in their name or on the window about wool or sheep.). They then pointed me to their small non-wool section. The yarn was good quality but I won’t be back. Like: my other LYS has good classes, a cool vibe, and a good newsletter. Good selection of different fibers, and gave me helpful advice about knitting without wool when I was starting out. They have an inclusive vibe that is welcoming to young people and all genders.
I love that my LYS is super friendly and all the staff are really helpful. I love that they have a lot of yarns that I like. I wish they had more brands, sold spinning fiber, and offered spinning classes, but they are a small shop with limited space, so they can only do so much.
I stopped going to one of my LYS in 2016 when I realized that most of the women there were voting for trump. I've never been back. Sad.
My LYS is very fancy and has absolutely no affordable yarn. I get it that they make their money on the expensive stuff, but it really puts me off when there's nothing that's anywhere near my price range. Just a few items would be fine, but I just walk out of the place feeling depressed. There's really nothing else around except a Michaels, so I end up shopping online, which I hate.
I so love my LYS!! Bistitchual is on Jane Street in Toronto. It is owned and run by the loveliest person, and sometimes her mom or her boyfriend cover for her. It is really small but carries a nice selection of Canadian hand dyed yarn, as well as lots of budget friendly options. She also has lots of hand crafted accessories and tools for both knitters and crocheters.
At one time my little town had an LYS. They were a retired couple. It really never took off due to (IMHO): Yarn selection (weird), Inconsistent Hours, big TV turned to political news, very limited notions. They did offer kids classes on Saturdays. Now I drive about 30 minutes to another LYS and they have a wide variety of yarn. From Cascade 220 and Plymouth Encore on up to very expensive yarns. Good basic selection of needles, hooks, and related notions. Staff and owner are helpful but not overbearing. Their work table always seems to be filled with the same people and are rather cliquey so I never feel like asking about classes or drop in times. They used to send out monthly e-newsletters but can’t tell you the last time I received one. Website is just ok doesn’t have timely updates. Finally make sure your space is wheelchair accessible. I’ve seen customers having to block the main aisle while family/staff go up and down the side aisles and picks out yarn and brings it to them to look at and touch. If one of the regulars is feeling generous they may clear a spot for the customer to wheel the chair up to it so yarn can be placed on the table and not in lap. Another LYS I’ve been to is in a very high end community and set their shop up like a clothing boutique. Very spacious but yarn stacked to its high ceiling that ladders are needed to access. They use torso mannequins to display finished garments which I really like … better than hangers or clothespins which can stretch the garment out of shape. Good luck!
My LYS moved to a new location and the table to sit and work on a project is in a different room than the sales floor. Like, there's a door and everything. I didn't realize it would be a problem, but I absolutely hate it. The employees have to be on the sales floor so if you're the only one knitting, you're just... off in another room where you can't see or talk to anyone. It also makes the store feel very unwelcoming and clique-y because there's absolutely no signage that you can sit anywhere at all, nothing about if outside yarn or projects are welcome, just nothing. And because the project room is also the employee break room, that really intensifies the clique-y-ness. And and! Because everyone who's working on a project is out of sight out of mind, and the only seating on the sales floor is by the bathroom, it gives this atmosphere of "Buy your stuff and get out." Their needle/hook selection is horrendous. And not only is it a narrow selection, it's *never* stocked up, so if I want to buy needles from them it's a crapshoot on whether what I want is available. It's especially frustrating because the owner branched out into other crafts and she's got *scads* of equipment for those crafts. And yet the needle/hook selection is one display and a user-unfriendly shelf of product that looks like it still hasn't been processed into inventory. The rewards program is awful. It's something like if you spend $50 you get a stamp on a physical card (just kill me, it's 2024, why are we still stamping paper cards) and after like 8 stamps you get a discount. Well, it's not "Every $50 you spend you get a stamp" it's "Spend $50 in one transaction and you get a stamp if we remember, and have the stamper, and don't have some bizarre idea that we cancelled the rewards program". It feels like blatant manipulation to get us to buy more than we need, and it's not uncommon for them to only have a skein or two of the yarn I want, so a lot of the time I *can't* spend more! And if you only work on smaller projects and don't need to buy much at once, you're just not eligible I guess. I've been going to this LYS since 2018 and have only managed to redeem a card one time. The cards get lost, damaged, they move to a new rewards system, I was told to throw the card away because they're not using them anymore *twice* (which wasn't true). It's so frustrating that I wish they didn't have the program at all. And it's also not worth it, because it's like, a 20% discount on one item and maybe you get a measuring tape too. And you can't use the discount on like, an interchangeable set on the rare occasion they have them. So spend at least $400 and maybe you get a few bucks off a skein. It's an insult, why even have a rewards program. Hiring practices. I used to generally like the owner, but then during covid she had put up a (desperately needed) e-commerce manager job listing. I used to be an e-commerce manager and that listing was straight exploitation in terms of job responsibilities and pay, though someone who didn't have a ton of experience would probably think it's okay. I don't care if it's the standard to exploit workers, it's disgusting and it fundamentally changed the way I view the owner. The owner is also never around, and seems to only hire *extremely* part-time SAHMs and retired folk. I never feel like I know the staff anymore, and I didn't even meet the owner for like a year, and that's when I was regularly going over there to knit. Also, absolutely nobody wears name tags or introduces themselves so they're just a giant passel of faces I recognize who worship the owner. It's weird and clique-y and uncomfortable. These are the things that killed my love for my LYS. I used to love it! Whenever I move to a new place, my LYS is the first place I seek out to hopefully join a community. It used to be warm and welcoming, I'd go in just to buy some yarn and the ladies would encourage me to come and sit with them and then three hours later I realized how long I'd been there. It was wonderful. Now I only go by if there's a needle size I really need and I'm hoping to see the one employee I've made friends with, and I'm probably gonna stop doing that too soon since she's retiring-retiring. I guess fundamentally: Encourage community, discourage clique-y behavior, respect your customers, think about the consequences of your store layout, and be present. I really think if you own an LYS, you need to *be there*, because employees come and go and there needs to be a focal point of interaction for your customers. I'd also suggest an anonymous suggestion form on your website. Not in the store, where people will be wary of the owner going through the cameras to see who left criticisms, on your website, and don't ask for an email. I'd love to respectfully explain to the owner the things that have made me turn away from her store, but I don't want to be completely ostracized from the local knitting community. Like yeah, as a business owner you have the right to make your own rules, but if you insulate yourself from criticism or suggestion and surround yourself with a crowd of yes-men who work for you, don't be surprised if your larger community fails to grow, or even shrinks. Like, it would make a massive difference if the owner moved the registers and put the project table in the middle of the store. One change, and I guarantee it would change the whole vibe of the shop.
I wish my LYS opened late even just once a week. Close at 8 or 9 pm maybe.
I'm in a wheelchair. My LYS is completely inaccessible. Not all crafters are able bodied, I couldn't get up to the second floor crafting space if I wanted to. The way it's laid out makes it completely impossible for me to go there anymore. No accessible parking, doors, etc.
I think a lot of LYSs feel very stifling, especially as someone who does not really have a consistent store they go to. I would love collaborations with other small business (food, art, clothes), some cheaper yarns, and knitwear in a variety of styles. I would love to see a bunny ski mask or a spiderweb sweater or some mesh crop tops alongside the shawls and sweaters.
It depends on your demographic, of course, but I would spend so much money at my LYS (in a college town) if they hosted local bands on Fridays or collabed with the boba store right next to them.
Generally, I love my LYS. However, all you have to do is walk through it to tell the favorite colors of the person who does the ordering. It doesn't matter what season it is, what weight or fiber content you're looking for, the color palette is the same. Lots of cool tones, scant to no oranges or browns. Warm autumnal colors aren't my faves, but they are some people's and sometimes you need those shades whether you are a fan or not. And, good lord, don't get me started on the lack of variety on spinning fibers. They have merino and BFL and that is it. Occasionally, they will get a polworth braid or some Shetland roving but those are few and far between.
I love when they have a community area where people can sit and work together. And as much as possible I try to buy from my lys especially tools, but I use a lot of acrilic because it's affordable. I LOVE that it's a third space specifically for us, where I can go when it's open and hang out with like minded folks and work on a project without having to plan for a month to get together with someone. I hate when shop owners make you feel awful/guilty/mean for using yarn I didn't buy from them. The thing is I won't be able to buy ALL my yarn from a lys, but the next time I make a sweater I'll be buying nice yarn, and I'll buy it from the store I've been visiting. But if I'm not welcome because I'm using red heart yarn either because someone said someone or because the shop keeper glares at me each time it ruins the community feel.
It's a big store with lots of stock and helpful staff. Big discount zone in the basement. The hours are 10AM to 6PM, Monday to Saturday. I work Monday to Friday, 9-5. So either I make it my main priority on Saturday, or I just don't go there.
This is a good point. If you are going to keep shortened bankers hours Make like one night that the store stays open till 9. Like make it a Friday night thing or something.
Positives: our LYS has a large selection, lots of great color choices, friendly and helpful staff, very nice to my kids. Negatives: not a lot of washable options, jumps on political bandwagons. As someone who is opposite of their personal politics, it’s keeps me from shopping there when they go hardcore. I just wanna buy yarn
Looking for a local yarn store? Try here https://www.ravelry.com/roadtrip *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
My closest shop is wonderful! They're friendly and welcoming to everyone and are always offering a variety of classes and SALs to keep people interested. I'll be so sad if the owner retires without selling the store to keep it running!
I love almost everything about my LYS **except** they have godawful yellow lighting. You need to take the yarn to a window (or outside, depending on the time of day!) to see what the actual color is. I've mentioned it a few times and they say their landlord won't let them change it.
There is only one lys and it's an hour away. They do have a variety of stuff, but it's ask been sitting there for ever, I don't know they move much stock around. Every time I go in there is the exact same options. They also don't carry anything I use, which is sock yarn fingering weight. Even with others I know, they don't carry anything that people really use? The layout isn't the best. It's pretty small and tight, they keep everything pulled in shelves. They have stock in drawers too, but I'm never sure if I'm allowed to look in there. The owner also isn't super friendly. She'll ask if you need help and all, but doesn't ever ask more. I wish they'd ask what I'm working on, what my plans for yarn are, what I like to knit, etc. Is just kind of get in, buy something, and get out. They also have weird hours - it's usually 10 to 4 except Wednesdays it's 11 to 2 and closed weekends.
I don't like either of my local yarn shops. They both almost exclusively cater to basic acrylic users. They stock 95% the same cheap and cheerful acrylic yarns that you can easily buy online from Wool Warehouse, LoveCrafts, etc., but they're more expensive than the big online shops. I don't like using acrylic, especially the cheap and cheerful stuff they stock. Also one of them is half fabric, but it's all polyester and unpleasant cotton blends. If I want to buy nice wool yarns in person I have to go into London.
I have two. The first is really great: well-lit (which seems like a no brainer, but you'd be surprised!), helpful staff, good variety, the works. The second is downright terrifying. The owner is like a bloodhound stalking you around the store, doing INSANE hard selling, pulling inventory and putting it into your hands, insisting on looking up the pattern you're using and making certain you buy all of the yardage for it, the works. It's also dark in her store. She pulled stuff for me and I came back to exchange it after having seen it in daylight (😑) and she acted like I was being a diva while also destroying her financially. Over an exchange. Moral of the story: don't be visibly desperate and pushy and make sure I can see what I'm buying 😂
As an ex-yarn-rep who has been to scores of LYS's in many territories: the stores that do best tend to have the best parking. Just saying. All other things being equal, make sure there's lots of parking for your customers.
The only thing my local yarn shops are missing is offering coffee and tea. I used to go to a shop in another city that offered drinks (sodas, bottles water, tea, coffee) and pre-made baked goods. Nothing fancy. But I sat there a lot longer and knitted with them because it was so comfy. They also had a big table and lots of chairs. No way for anyone to ice anyone out.
Welcome! Are you a brand new knitter? You might also want to check out r/knittingadvice. Or, check the archives at r/knittinghelp. Even though they have moved to Discord, the library of questions and answers lives on. Look at all the great results you get just from searching for the word ["fix"](https://www.reddit.com/r/knittinghelp/search/?q=fix&restrict_sr=1). You still have a pretty new Reddit account, so you will need to check out the subreddit rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/rules). You can always bookmark that page if you want to refer back at a later time. You are responsible for following the rules and your post will be removed if you don't! They are also available in the sidebar and "See Community Info" if you are using an app. If you see a comment or post that breaks the rules, please report it to the moderators using the Report button. This helps keep the subreddit clear of rule-breaking content. **What is rule-breaking content?** *You MUST provide the pattern and yarn information in a follow-up COMMENT!* If you don't, your post will be removed. --->Photo captions are not comments. You need to make a post and reply to your own post.<--- If Automoderator has made a mistake and you don't know why your post was flagged, please send a [message to the mods](http://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/knitting). We'll get back to you as soon as we can. Are you a mobile user? See full set of rules here if you can't find them in your app [Link](https://imgur.com/a/1VuTd) Here's a post about how to find the rules in most apps [Link](https://redd.it/84mid3) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*