Knitting Knook

It is with a heavy heart that I write a negative review of my local yarn shop When I heard the Knitting Knook was located less than 2 miles from my home, I pretty much raced over and immediately spent $ 175 on 4 books and yarn for various project, including one that called for 2 skeins of different weight yarn. Although I’m an experienced knitter, I knew nothing about yarn weights (that’s why I go to yarn shops, to get advice and help, and also why I never shopped for yarn online — I had no confidence in my ability to buy it). The employees there, 2 of them, said they couldn’t imagine why it called for 2 different weight yarns and then picked out 2 of the same weight instead. I asked them apprehensively if they were *sure* this would give me the right gauge, and they said they were. Well, it didn’t. I went back with the skein I hadn’t balled (it was completely untouched), and they refused to refund my money, they said their policy was in-​store credit only. I get the policy (every other LYS has the same one), but I pointed out that *they* told me to buy the wrong product, and the I was clearly going to spend another $ 8 on yarn there very soon given my purchasing activity just that week, and that is was the principle of the thing! They wouldn’t budge.
So either they are running a racket where they sucker people into buying a product they don’t need and then keep their money, or they have employees that are so ignorant about yarn that they don’t know that fingerless gloves knitted with alternating rows of DK and worsted weight, will provide a different gauge than ones knitted with all DK yarn. I have since invested the 30 seconds I needed to learn about yarn weights (it’s not that hard) and now purchase all of my yarn online, with websites that accept returns. I assume I’ll buy the wrong thing sometimes since I have no help picking yarn out, but at least I’ll be able to return the yarn. I’ll clearly end up with the wrong yarn shopping at the Knitting Knook, and they won’t stand behind their product and make it right with their customers. All this, all my future business lost (my husband, stepdaughter and I are all avid knitters, and I’m also teaching my 2 sons), a hit on their reputation online, all over an $ 8 skein of yarn. What a boneheaded business decision. Dawn would never run Ruhama’s the way this place is run.

We’ve lost the Loop and Ruhama’s, but thank God for the Knitting Knook! I do a lot of online shopping for my knitting supplies, but sometimes you just need a set of Addi Turbos and don’t feel like waiting 5 – 10 business days to get them in the post! The ladies there are friendly and they have charity knitting nights! There is a sizable stash for your perusal and their new retail space is just gorge! You must visit! You won’t regret it!