A growing compilation of Yarn Shops and my personal review. I love to travel and buy yarn, so whenever I'm away, I do make an effort and try to document it for future prosperity. If you find this useful or would like to add your comments, please let me know.
The Prague link includes a bead shop.
Europe
North America
London
Liberty
This is a Rowan concession so carries the full Rowan, Jaeger, RYC ranges. All the Kaffe Fassett patchworks are available. They also carry a small amount of Regia. Liberty is my favourite shop because it has the best Rowan consultants. Jules, Dodi and Carol are all gifted knitters, super-friendly and helpful. The girls will even let you try on the samples if the shop’s not busy (they have to take them off the mannequins and that’s not easy to do if there are lots of people milling about/
They also have the best Rowan/Jaeger sales (January and July) with most discontinued yarns going at 30%-50% off. The shelves are immaculately stocked. The consultants will call around to help you match dye-lots or find something if they are out of stock. The clientele tends to be well-behaved, except at sales. During the sales, you can also find ready-made samples (helps if you wear the smallest sizes, since most samples are for 32 or 34 bust).
Other crafty things there include fabrics (dress and upholstery). There’s a very good haberdashery area. Fantastic tapestry, cross stitch and embroidery kits can be found on the 3rd floor. They have a good selection of some very unusual and expensive buttons, but if you’ve spent all that time making something, you certainly wouldn’t want to stint on the trimmings. Small selection of lovely ribbons is also available with minimum purchase of 0.5 meters.
The negatives are poor lighting. The yarn department is bathed in spotlights, and it’s hard to see *true* colours. Too many Rowanettes hanging about, so it’s hard if you want to keep your excesses secret. It can get very hot in the summer, since it doesn’t have air conditioning. Not very liberal return policy… cash back with receipt up to 14 days of purchase. Credit is given for yarns if yarn has not been discontinued.
The yarn dept is on the 3rd floor of the Marlborough St Building, next to haberdashery. The Art Bar Café is on the 2nd floor. The Rowanettes meet in the Art Bar Café every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 5pm until closing. Everyone is invited. Just grab a seat, order a drink and take out your knitting. I must warn you though, the café is expensive. Expect to pay £2.50 for tea or coffee. If you have cake as well, it’ll take you to approx £7.00.
Liberty card holders also get privileges like new season pre-view evenings where they can get 10% off of full-priced stock. You also occasionally have drinks parties there where the drinks are free (you just need to should invite and Liberty card).
The shop is posh and unpretentious. The salespeople will not refuse to serve you because you look scruffy. You also get a lovely purple bag, how’s that for incentive?
Reasons to go: twice annual sales, knowledgeable consultants, full line of Rowan and Jaeger, Knitting Circle in Art Bar Café, Liberty Cardholder’s night, Kaffe Fabrics
Address:Regent Street London W1B 5AH
Telephone:+44 020 7734 1234
Tube: Oxford Circus (Victoria or Central Line) – nearest
Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly or Bakerloo Line) – short walk up Regents St.
Open: 7 days a week, but Sunday is only a half day. Thursday is late nights and closes at 8pm. Check their website for more details
Link to: Map
John Lewis
The Oxford Circus shop is the flagship shop of the John Lewis Partnership. A wide range of yarn, that will suit the yarn snob and the budget knitter. In addition to carrying Rowan, Jaeger and RYC, it also carries the full Debbie Bliss and Noro ranges. In the mid-range brands, there are Cygnet, Sirdar and Patons. In the budget ranges, there are Wendy and Peter Pan.
If you go early in the morning, the shelves are neat and tidy. Once the first crowds come through, the place tends to stay a mess until the next morning. The shelves are not fully stocked. If you need garment quantities, you’ll probably need to ask one of the Rowan consultants or John Lewis Partners for help. Let’s just say, the rowan consultants are there to sell Rowan, Jaeger and RYC yarns. They will help you with Patons (since it’s a sister company to Rowan), but god forbid should you want to sub with Sirdar or Debbie Bliss yarns.
The John Lewis consultants can usually get yarn for you from the stock room, but most of them aren’t knitters, so don’t know much about subbing or modifying patterns, let alone telling you to check your dye-lots.
I personally find this shop very off-putting if I get there near closing time. It’s impossible to find anyone to help. I also find it immensely annoying that the Rowan consultants try so hard to push Rowan yarns without really working to help people. Not everyone can afford to buy Rowan and Rowan yarns are not suitable for all projects. Building a generation of knitters will ensure that Rowan has a customer base in the future.
Debbie Bliss and Noro yarns are very poorly stocked. They have it in the storeroom but not on the shelves. The patterns are no where near the yarns. John Lewis is 5 minutes walk from Liberty and benefits from wide aisles, so lots of people take children there, so yarn in the lower shelves are always a mess. Lots of strollers about, and the noise level tends to be high.
Sales are good, but tend to not be as good as at Liberty. Excellent haberdashery department, you will swoon with choice for mid-lower end buttons, threads, and lots of fabrics (dress and upholstery). Very liberal return policy… cash back with receipt up to 90 days of purchase. There are occasional markdowns with returns… very good if you’re looking for an odd ball to try, although on some days the only thing in the bin is snowflake. There are lots of ribbons in a multitude of shades. It’s not all exciting but sometimes you just need the standard stuff. They also carry darning yarn, if you want to patch up those socks.
One of the few shops, that carry toy stuffing and very affordable metal needles. Samples are available, but tend to be locked up in display cases. I have never asked to try them on, but I don’t see the consultants opening cases so that people can try them on.
The yarn department is on the ground floor near the Cavendish entrance.
If you are interested in workshops, you need to book in advance.
Reasons to go: wide range of yarns, Noro, Debbie Bliss, Sirdar, Patons, Cygnet, organised workshops, haberdashery and the rummage through the sale bin, good return policy
Address:Oxford Circus W1A 1EX
Telephone:+44 020 7629 7711
Tube: Oxford Circus (Victoria or Central Line) – nearest
Green Park (Piccadilly) – short walk down Bond St.
Bond Street (Jubilee) – short walk down Oxford St
Open: 7 days a week, but Sunday is only a half day. Thursday is late nights and closes at 8pm. Check their website for more details
Link to: Map
Peter Jones
The posher sister shop to the John Lewis shop at Oxford Circus. The haberdashery and yarn departments are much smaller, in terms of floor space and range. They carry most but not all of the Rowan, RYC, Jaeger, Debbie Bliss and Noro ranges. They do no stock any of the cheaper ranges that John Lewis has.
With a smaller space, the shelves are generally neat and tidy. The shelves are not always fully stocked, so if you need garment quantities, you might need to ask one of the Rowan consultants or shop assistants for help. The Rowan consultants here tend to be more helpful and to not push Rowan yarns. Their ability to provide a more balanced view is refreshing and actually encourages me to always try and spend some money here.
There is a table where you can sit and try new yarns, or ask for help. You can make an appointment and get one on one lessons for free. If you stop by with questions, they will not turn you away because you’re not using Rowan. The people at the registers on the other hand are appalling. I have had problems several times with over-charges and people getting snippy with me because I wanted to collect my yarn at customer collection (to avoid carrying it around with me the whole day) or heaven forbid question why I’ve been overcharged,
Rowan yarns are much better stocked than Debbie Bliss and Noro yarns. They have it in the storeroom but not on the shelves. No Kaffe fabrics sold here. I think more a question of space. This is a very stroller/baby populated shop. There are baby facilities in all the loos and elevators for pushchairs.
Decent haberdashery department, good choice for buttons, threads, and some fabrics (dress and upholstery). Very liberal return policy… cash back with receipt up to 90 days of purchase. There are occasional markdowns with returns… very good if you’re looking for an odd ball to try.
Samples are available, but I have never asked to try them on.
The yarn department is on the 3rd floor.
Altogether a much more civilised shop than John Lewis. The café on the top floor is particularly nice (good view, wide open space and lots of natural lighting). I particularly recommend the Dorset Apple Pie. The café is expensive expect to pay about £6 for a cappuccino and a slice of apple pie with cream.
They also run an occasional workshop or preview here. Book ahead if you’re interested, just keep in mind that the person taking the booking might not have any clue what you’re booking for, so ask to be transferred to the wool department.
Reasons to go: Rowan, Jaeger, Debbie Bliss, Noro, rummage through the sale bin, workshops, Dorset apple pie, good return policy, free lessons
Address:Sloane Square London SW1W 8EL
Telephone: 020 7730 3434
Tube: Sloane Square (District, Circle Lines)
Open: 6 days a week, closed Sunday.
Link to: Map
Creations (Chiswick)
This is an old fashion haberdashery/knitting shop, a sister shop to the one in Barnes. In fact, it looks like it’s been there for over 30 years, which indeed it has. It also looks like it hasn’t been refurbished in 30 years, which it probably hasn’t. They accept cash and cheque only. Absolutely no cards, either debit or credit are accepted.
For the premium yarns, they carry Rowan, Jaeger, Debbie Bliss and Noro ranges. They also carry mid-price ranges like Paton, Twilley’s and Sirdar. Their best sellers are those giant 1 kg balls of acrylic in bargain prices, guaranteed to help your hair stand up on dry winter days. I asked the owner why she stocked these monstrosities and she looked affronted and explained that, that’s what people want. They come in just to buy these yarns.
I always try to support my LYS, but it’s hard. The shop is dark and poorly laid out. The shelves are not well stocked, if you need any quantity of anything, you’ll need to order it. There are no sales bins to entice me for a rummage. What I do come here for is a rummage for odd balls of discontinued yarns that people need to finish a project. The yarn is sold at the full retail price so you don’t get a bargain in that sense, but if you’ve finally decided to finish that Kaffe Fassett sweater started 10 years ago and you’re short a few meters of something, this is the place to go. The number if times, that I’ve found something for someone who got left short makes me realise how important it is to support shops like this.
They also still have some of those loose Jaegar patterns. Some very pretty designs too, if you don’t want to fork out for a book. Actually, they have a fair bit of loose patterns, although many are far too horrid to contemplate knitting after 1992.
It’s a neighbourhood shop so it’s worth stopping in, if you’re in the neighbourhood.
Reasons to go: If you’re looking for discontinued yarns to finish Rowan projects, Twilley’s, or acrylic in bulk quantities
Tube: Turnham Green (District Lines – Richmond or Ealing Broadway Branch)
Open: 5 days a week, closed Thursday, Sunday.
Link to:Map
Creations (Barnes)
This is another old fashion haberdashery/knitting shop, a sister shop to the one in Chiswick. It’s a better shop than the one in Chiswick. Like Chiswick, it could do with a refurbishment, but it does benefit from better lighting and more innovative stock. The shop is inviting and there is where I first met Nic, when she was running the shop. Whenever I walk in here, I feel that the shop is much better than the Chiswick shop, just because Nic was there and her stamp is still there, even though she isn’t working there any longer. They accept cash and cheque only. Absolutely no cards, either debit or credit are accepted.
For the premium yarns, they carry Rowan, Jaeger, Debbie Bliss, Noro, Touch, Colinette and Regia ranges. They also carry mid-price ranges like Katia, Paton, Twilley’s and Sirdar. They also carry those giant 1 kg balls of acrylic in bargain prices, but as I understand it, it’s not a best seller here.
Again, the shelves are not well stocked, if you need any quantity of anything, you’ll need to order it. Like its sister shop, I do come here for is a rummage for odd balls of discontinued yarns that people need to finish a project. The yarn is sold at the full retail price so you don’t get a bargain in that sense, but if you’ve finally decided to finish that Kaffe Fassett sweater started 10 years ago and you’re short a few meters of something, this is the place to go. Yes, they still have things like Jaeger Katmandu, Rowan Botany, Rowan Designer DK, etc but in odd balls.
This is one of the only shops that stocks Colinette. Single skeins are displayed and you need to ask if you want to purchase. There are quantities of Touch yarns (variegated, soft mohair, wool blends from NZ, very nice stuff but a tad expensive). My main gripe is a very poorly knitted sample sock in Regia. Honestly, it’s so dreadful that it puts me off of buying regia.
They also still have some of those loose Jaegar patterns. Some very pretty designs too, if you don’t want to fork out for a book. Actually, they have a fair bit of loose patterns, although many are far too horrid to contemplate knitting after 1992.
It’s worth stopping in, if you’re in the neighbourhood, but if there’s something specific that you’re looking for, call ahead to avoid disappointment. It’s a small shop and doesn’t have much storage space, so most of what they have is on the shelves. They will call their Chiswick shop for you if you want something that they don’t have.
It’s a bit of a hike to get to and you need to take a train and a bus from central London.
Reasons to go: Colinette, discontinued rowan/jaeger, Katia, Touch Yarns, Barnes is a pretty area
Tube: 209 Bus from Hammersmith
Open: 5 days a week, closed Monday, Sunday.
Paris
Please note that many shops may be closed through July and August for the annual holidays. Yes, some shops are closed
for the entire month! Call ahead to avoid disappointment.
Small shops are usually run by a single person, and as such, many close during the lunch hours.
France is a chip and pin country. What this means is, if your credit card has a chip, you'd better better know the pin because it is not
possible to over-ride the reading system. This warning is for the UK traveller, where chip and pin has been introduced but
a large proportion of the residents, resist this and do not know the pins for their credit cards.
Pelote
It’s an Anny Blatt/ Bouton d’Or shop. It’s super, eye-candy for the discerning knitter. Now, those of you that know me, will know that I love Anny Blatt and Bouron d’Or yarns, but think that the sweaters are not just awful, but probably time-warped from the 1980’s. Personally, most of the designs would end up in my naff collection. Why must the designer insist upon putting tufts of angora or sparkly bits everywhere?
So, shopping here really requires you to be able to appreciate the yarns and to be imaginative about how you use it. You can easily substitute using these yarns for other designs and its important to go there armed with yarn quantity requirements since looking at the brochures there will likely put you off from buying anything at all.
There is a rummaging bin as well and when I was there late June/early July , the sales were on and there were good bargains to be had. The lady that runs the shop is very nice and very helpful. I’m sure if she speaks English though. She pulled out all sorts of older magazines to help me wok out quantities and I tried hard to be polite and not gag when I saw some of the designs.
If you are using the designs to work out approximately how much yarn you might need, do look at finished measurements. French designs tend to be much more fitted and have less than 2 inches of ease. (often negative ease in knitwear) which is fine if you like your clothes fitted but not so fine if you like roomier tops of if you usually wear your sweaters over something. (One other thing to be wary, sleeve lengths, French women are usually shorted than American or Northern European and sleeve lengths tend to be proportional).
The environs are wonderful here. The Marais is in central Paris. There are lots of fun shops to visit in this area and lots of places for good food. I used to walk down here on Sunday when I was living in Paris.
The shop is not enormous, but it’s not small either, good size shop, big enough to have lots to see and not get overwhelmed.
In case you’re wondering, they only carry French books.
Reasons to go: Anny Blatt, Bouton d’Or, summer soldes, visit the Marais
Address: 40 rue des Francs-Bourgeois 75003 Paris (FRANCE)
Telephone:(+33) 1-4278-6565
Metro: St Paul Ligne 1
Open: 5 days a week, closed Wednesday, Sunday.
Link to: Map
Phildar (Place Monge 5ieme arrondissement)
Probably one of the better stocked Phildar . They seem to have a lot of everything. Now, I must admit to not liking all of Phildar ’s yarns, ok, I don’t like most of their yarns. Why? There is the issue of high acrylic content… and then there are the neon citrus shades, and there’s the perfectly good yarn with all the sparkly bits… hello? Do I look like I’m going to be dancing in the Sands?
I do like most of the designs that they put out. It’s stylish and easy to wear, especially if you don’t make them so form fitting and maybe a bit longer, since my work environment isn’t into bare midriffs or off the shoulder styles.
One thing to note, Phildar Yarns are not that expensive and most of the yarns contain some acrylic. There are several lines that I really do like, because the yarns are affordable and easy to care for. It’s OK if there is acrylic in it, just don’t want it to look cheap and nasty. The yarns that I like include Phil’laine, Plaisance (sadly discontinued), Coton Microfibre, Licorne, and Aviso. I think that I might like Phil’ L’Eponge, Phil Lin, Phil soie and the very yummy cashmere wool blend that I’ve seen,
As there are lots of lines and good designs, it’s not hard to find something that you’ll like. Do keep in mind though that these small boutiques don’t tend to have a lot of yarns in stock, so if you need more than 10 balls of something, there is a possibility that they will need to order it for you
The sales are very good. Lots of half price stuff. They usually put the batches into soldes bags to make it easier for you to find the same colouts/dyelots. You might need to ask if they have more since the shop isn’t that big and they might have more in the back.
In case you’re wondering, they only carry French books. The proprietress is very nice and very helpful, but you need to be able to speak French. There are also ready-made and Phildar sells clothing as well as yarn.
The best thing about this shop is the proximity to Mouffetarde. Great way to spend the day, visit the Pantheon, La Mouffe and then Phildar .
Check out the Phildar site they often have 20% off flyers that you can print off and get savings on presentation.
Reasons to go: Phildar yarns and books, les soldes, Mouffetarde
Address: 68 rue Monge 75005 PARIS
Telephone: 01.45.35.32.69
Metro: Place Monge Ligne 7
Open: 5 days a week 10:30 am until 7:30pm, closed Monday morning, Sunday.
Link to: Map
Phildar (Place Ledru-Rollins 11ieme arrondissement)
This is a smaller shop than the one in Place Monge. (Have a look at that review for the Phildar comments)
They only carry French books. The proprietress is also very nice and very helpful, but you need to be able to speak French. There are also ready-made and Phildar sells clothing as well as yarn.
This shop is near the Bastille area and Ledrou-Rollin has a very nice North African market. It is a not so central but this is an interesting area of Paris. Here you’re away from the more touristic areas and you have the ‘real’ Pars. Shelves are neat and orderly.
Well worth a visit if you’re in the neighbourhood or holed up nearby in Bercy Village where there are lots of big hotels. Otherwise, there are much easier to get to Phildar .
Check out the Phildar site they often have 20% off flyers that you can print off and get savings on presentation.
Reasons to go: Phildar yarns and books, les soldes, The North African market
Address: 26 rue d'Aligre 75012 PARIS
Telephone: 01.40.01.02.26
Metro: Ledru-Rollins Ligne 1
Open: 5 days a week 10:00 am until 7:00pm, closed afternoons from 1:30pm - 3pm, Monday, Sunday.
Link to: Map
Phildar (Rue Daguerre 14ieme arrondissement)
This is a smaller shop than the one in Place Monge. (Have a look at that review for the Phildar comments)
They only carry French books. The proprietress is also very nice and very helpful, but you need to be able to speak French. There are also ready-made and Phildar sells clothing as well as yarn.
This shop is near the Denfort-Rochier area and nearby is the Catacombes of Paris. It’s amazing how far and deep the tunnels are under Paris. There is some text written about the Catacombes, but I personally found it a bit gruesome to just see miles and miles of bones. They check you at the exit to make sure that you didn’t steal any of the bones. Ahem… do I look like someone’s that going to make off with a thigh bone or skull? Honestly! I personally would not recommend a visit to the catacombs, but that’s because wandering around under Paris in potentially rat infested tunnels with piles of bones, isn’t my idea of a good time. I can’t understand why anyone would want to take pictures... but I digress.
The 14iem is a lovely arrondissement, considered very Parisienne. This Phildar is nice too. If you have teenagers to entertain, send them to the catacombs and come here and relax and enjoy the yarns. Shelves are neat and orderly. Shoppers are nice and civilised.
Check out the Phildar site they often have 20% off flyers that you can print off and get savings on presentation.
Reasons to go: Phildar yarns and books, les soldes, Catacombes
Address: 51 rue Daguerre 75014 PARIS
Telephone: 01.43.22.31.59
Metro: Denfert Rochereau
Open: 5 days a week until 7:00pm, closed Monday, Sunday.
Link to: Map
Printemps (Caumartin 9ieme arrondissement)
Well, twist my arm…. Make me go yarn shopping in this lovely multi-building department store. There are many tempting things in this shop. Make sure that you pick-up your 10% cards from your hotel foyer because every little bit helps. They stock Phildar and only Phildar . Yarn department isn’t that big but the sales assistances tend to speak English. Books are all in French though.
Send the man to the restaurant or to look for ties and spend a bit of quality time here. The best bit is late night shopping, when the store is opened until 10pm. Now, that;s a real late night opening.
There are lots of bargains to be had during the sales. Bring pointy elbows and patience. French shop assistants are notorious for the nonchalant attidude and don’t seem to care at all of you buy it or not (they still get paid). Any attempts to rush them will only give you a gaellic stug.
The other best bit is it’s not far from Gare du Nord. So if you have a bit of time before your train, you can actually come here shop and go to the station. There is a direct train and taxi stand near by. What more could a girl ask for?
Reasons to go: Phildar yarns and books, late night shopping (until 10om), 10% off cards for visiotor, near the Gare du Nord, near the Opera, Place Vendome, Rue St Honore and Place de la Madelaine.
Metro: Denfert Rochereau
Open: 6 days a week closed Sunday. Late night is Thursday until 10pm.
Link to: Map
