Knit This, Purl That!

Visited this store the day after Christmas with my sister who was from San Diego. The good news is that they had a sale, which I’m told is pretty rare in a yarn store, AND they were open the day after Christmas. I am just learning to knit and my sister is an intermediate knitter. I bought about $ 150 worth of stuff and while I was shopping, there was a young girl there that was FAIRLY helpful. My sister had about $ 200 worth of yarn she was getting ready to buy and she asked the older lady who worked there if they would wind the yarn she was buying on their machine to ball it up for her and they said no, that they couldn’t do it while the sale was going on. Well, when we first went into the shop, there were a couple of other customers but when we asked them to wind the yarn there was no one else in the store. My sister told them she was from out of town and her hometown yarn store won’t wind yarn if the yarn isn’t bought there and they still said no. I asked what you can do if the machine isn’t used and the older lady said you «do what everybody else does and wind it yourself.» I told her since I had never knitted before I didn’t know what to do and she RELUCTANTLY told me to wrap it around a chair and then roll it into a ball. She made me feel like I was a complete idiot. At this point, my sister put her armful of yarn down and said let’s go. As we walked out she said she would give the business to her local store where they appreciated it. We then got in the car and we could see the ladies laughing inside the store. I don’t know about you, but my customers mean the world to me. I truly appreciate the business I get from them. I guess this store has all of the business they need. Definitely won’t go back.

I had the BEST experience at this store yesterday. I’m visiting from Portland and had to pick up a new project unexpectedly. Lorraine (sp?) helped me by suggesting appropriate yarns with patience and offered creative ideas that made it so fun. I also felt very welcomed to join their Monday night knitting table. I’d have given them five stars but I only have two Unilocal reviews and I wanted to be believable.

I credit this place as the one that gave me my foundation to knitting so I have very happy feelings towards this store. With the remodel it’s very cute and boutique like inside, plus everything is SO organized. The lady working (I wish I got her name) was so helpful and patient with me while I was asking tons of questions. I love supporting businesses such as this one.

I pulled up to the store today to buy a gift card for a friend. As I walked in I was greeted by a woman who looked at me like «what are you doing here». When she asked that question I told her I wanted to buy a gift card. Her reply? «Well, we’re closed». I could see that there was a group in the back but I was so surprised that a small business would turn down the opportunity to make a sure sale. I replied, «oh, I didn’t know that». She replied, «well there’s a sign on the door». As I left I did notice the 4“x6″ sign on their door that was cluttered with writing.
It’s been said «you’ll forget what people say but you never forget how they make you feel». I was made to feel like an idiot in this store. So, I took my money and went to Town Center books where I was greeted so nicely and they were very happy to take my money.

Cute, small shop with loads of things or accessories to look at for inspiration.
But not to buy and only (1) card of someone who MIGHT do something for you– custom. Meaning sorry Charlie, have fun looking at the beautiful items but ’ no soup for you’ … Unless you take a class, well to be honest maybe three or four more classes until you might be able to do a scarf.
Query– why does the mere mention of asking if the could recommend someone to do a custom piece (really not custom, just in my size and a color I like) seem to raise the hackles of the she-​wolf, so? And I’m not just talking just this cute place, I mean ALL sewing craft stores? Yeah I get it, it’s hard work, I never said ‘for free’. How about selling some of those duds on the wall?
Anyway, the space is cramped because it just is. Probably a great place for classes, but if my instructor was ANYTHING but sweet and benevolent, I’d bolt after the first class. I’ve not taken a class here, but a class was forming just as I was leaving and they do seem to offer many classes. Which I appreciate. It seems every month anew class is beginning. Who knows I may take a class here.
The walls are filled with diamond boxes full of different weight, colors and textures of yarn from the hair and fur from various animals. But really all I saw was lots of really bright colors. Nothing demur or really interesting. A bunch of fuzzy baby yarn, though. I think the word ‘acrylic’ is akin to uttering ‘but I’m a vegan, at a Brazilian Steakhouse’. Nostrils flair and somewhere in the back of the store you can hear an audible ‘sigh’.
I think my mistake was bringing a skein (?) of beautiful acrylic yarn that costs $ 5 at Joanne’s but looked damn close to another very small skein of their animal hair yarn that cost close to $ 12 for their skein, and for my project would require 3 – 5 of their skeins. Estimate $ 80 if you throw in the cheapest chops sticks they sell on the wall.
Okay, I’m running out of steam here, cute place, personally too many skeins of really expensive animal hair in about 25 color choices. Not a great deal of hospitality or choice but a lot of reasonable price classes. Small unimpressive selection of buttons.
So, I might take a class and turned into some amazing artist using animal fur and hair and bones (for buttons). But, I doubt it. But if you want to learn in a months time how to start your scarf… Be my guest. Write and tells us how it goes.
I just don’t think it’s my bag.

My home away from home! :) I adore this shop!!! Everyone here is so incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. It’s a joy to visit this place and I look forward to it. So worth the drive from Fremont. The selection of yarns is fantastic. There are lots of very good classes to take each month. I also love that no matter when I stop in and have a problem with my knitting someone is always willing to help. Just a gem of a shop!

This store has a great selection of quality yarns, needles, etc. If I wanted cheap stuff I’d go to Joan’s. I always get excited when I come in because everything is so neatly organized and there are so many color options.
I’ve found the staff to be very knowledgable and helpful. Now that I’ve rediscovered the joy of knitting after 10 years, through the help of Knit This, Purl That!, I’m looking forward to picking up crochet since they have introduced their new crochet room and classes for beginners in crochet.

Great store. Has wonderful selection of yarns and more. Pricey though

A great shop with friendly staff. They certainly make the most of a small and challenging space, but they have a great selection of yarns to fit most budgets, notions, books, samples (LOTS of samples) etc. The staff is friendly and cheerful and have always been very helpful.
They have an online newsletter and let customers know about sales through email.
Great parking — and the Pleasanton library is just one parking lot over so you can go over and look for knitting books then go buy the yarn!
UPDATE 10÷04÷13: With both the A’s and my beloved Detroit Tigers going into post-​season, I am heading to the playoff game tonight and tomorrow night. On Wednesday I decided to make a hat for the friend that invited me to join them. .. KTPT was my first stop at a LYS to find the appropriate yarn. The staff was very gracious in helping me find A’s colors (Plymouth Select DK Merino Superwash). I had the hat finished by Thursday morning, then needed to head back to get a little more yarn to make mittens to match (both are on my Ravelry page).
Still love having this LYS close by and grateful for a very friendly staff!

This is a great yarn store in Pleasanton… let alone the bay area! The owner, Sandy, is an angel. I grew up with her son, and her passion is beaming in this store! She has a great selection of yarns, books, tools, buttons, examples, etc. She also does a good job of creating events for people to come in and work together. They are always helpful in the store, and their selection is beautiful. This is worth the time to come find!

I finally made a trip down here and I am so glad I did! I am tired of buying cheap yarns from Joanns and Michaels… This place was a breath of fresh air. So many yarns I have never seen before!
Very friendly staff. Large selection of yarn. I ended up leaving with two balls of Chunky Mochi. I can’t wait to go back and buy more yarn!
I think this could be my new favorite yarn store to treat myself to quality, luxury yarn… :)

I am a newbie knitter & a 40+ yrs. crochet re-​learner and I would highly recommend this shop for yarn and supplies and friendly instruction. I’d been in the shop 2x just poking around, the 3^rd time, I came in with a pattern from
(their recommendation) because I was stuck. Sandy and Yen are wonderful and helped me and even might teach that particular project as a class. It’s a warm place to chill out and work on your project. I walked out of there with another project! Thank you, Sandy… LOVE the scarf.

**NEXT TO NOLAN’S CAKES**
Came in here around 5:30pm last night and was greeted by the sole employee right away. I told her i was looking for a specific yarn and she took me to the section right away. She was super knowledgable and informative, so glad someone could help me! The yarn of course was $ 13/​skien, but oh well it’s good yarn.
She was the only employee and since it was close to closing time she was unable to help me take the yarn and ball it for me on the machine, so oh well… she asked if i wanted to wait around or could come back and i declined, but it would’ve been nice to have that done there. I would totally come back here, what a great selection of yarn and knitting supplies! :)

Knit This, Purl That! has a lovely selection of yarns, and they have a great location in Pleasanton. (Which is why I’ve given them 3 stars and not 2). However after shopping here for about a year, I quit. The staff is not terribly friendly or helpful, and the prices are easily 20−25% higher than other yarn shops, that coupled with Pleasanton’s 10%+ sales tax makes them by far the most expensive yarn store around – not just in the Tri-​Valley, but the most expensive yarn store I’ve been to in the whole Bay Area, (and I’ve been to at least 10 yarn boutiques all around the Bay). But if you’re in the Tri-​Valley and you’re not up for driving to Oakland and you get a hankering for some Malabrigo Worsted (cause we’ve all been there!), KTPT! is definitely your best bet!

This store is very cute and has a nice selection of yarns.
I took a sock class here from Jan and it seemed like she was more interested in getting her own projects done than to help us with our socks.
I would definitely go back to this knitting store for yarns but I would not go back to take a class from Jan.

Awesome sale bins!
This LYS isn’t too big, but they’ve managed to cram quite a bit of yummy yarn into the place. It’s very well organized and they have a ton of books, needles, and notions as well. The staff is very friendly and helpful, but not overbearing at all.
The yarn selection is decent, but not great. There are a lot of novelty yarns, and a whole wall dedicated to baby yarns, both of which are not my personal preferences. Also, they don’t carry lace-​weight yarns and don’t have many colors to choose from within each brand.
As other Unilocalers have mentioned, they are slightly overpriced – everything is about $ 1 to $ 2 more than most other LYS in the Bay Area. BUT, they have some truly wonderful sale bins throughout the entire store. Most sale yarns were 40% to 50% off! I don’t know if I’d ever buy anything full-​priced here, but I will definitely come back for the sale bins!

I had a very pleasant experience visiting this yarn store. The woman who was working there was very friendly and helped me brainstorm about a project while also helping another customer.
The selection is average. Only one or two unusual yarns and the rest of the stock is what you find at any decent LYS. Gotta subtract a star because they don’t carry lace weight yarns. That’s just weird to me. The prices are also pretty high. $ 8 for Cascade 220 — a yarn that should is below $ 7 at a well-​priced store. Malabrigo worsted weight was $ 12.50, about $ 2 more than I have seen it for at other bay area stores. BUT there really aren’t other places that close and if I lived in Pleasanton, I would definitely frequent this place.
The real draw of this place was the sale bins though. I got some really great deals. Cheap yarn and cheap magazines. I’ll stop by and check out their sale bins anytime I am in the area. Some of the yarns were more than 50% off.

After experiencing some other local yarn shops, my jaw dropped when I walked in to Knit This, Purl That. It was heaven for fiber lovers! The first things I noticed were the expansive arrays of color everywhere, from floor to ceiling, and tons of fun knitting accessories (purse handles, needles, needle bags, books, etc.). They also have lots of completed projects on display, which gets the creative juices flowing.
What I learned while there was that all of their yarn is bought locally or fair trade. All the yarns are hand dyed.
Pros: aesthetically beautiful inside, fair trade, hand dyed, lots of fun accessories, a place to sit down and knit and be around all the loveliness
Cons: was not welcomed when I came in — it felt awkward because it’s such a small space. It is definitely more expensive than most places, but then again, most places aren’t selling hand dyed, fair trade, and locally bought.
I will definitely be back! I have to say it’s my favorite yarn store I’ve ever been to in terms of quality and beauty of the yarn.

The first thing you notice when you walk in the door is that the place is not very big. The size of the store becomes a non-​issue when you walk into a «menagerie of colors.» That’s the best way for me to describe it, a menagerie of color. The place is filled from floor to near-​ceiling with different types, sizes and colors of yarn. They also have a wide assortment of knitting needles and accessories. Today, I bought a 16″ pair of number 8’s in rosewood… very pretty. I can’t wait to begin my next project.
The staff is very helpful. I explained that this was my first visit upon the recommendation of a friend. The staff was very knowledgeable, and many of the projects in the showroom were made by them, a very good selling point!
It is so great to find a place that is dedicated to the craft of knitting. I will be coming here for all my knitting needs from now on.

Quite a nice selection of yarn. However, I was a little surprised I was not greeted nor offered service for a good 10 mins when I first walked in. But I did eventually get acknowledged, and I made some purchases of yarn (typical yarn that I could have bought anywhere else).
Their prices were about $ 1 more skein. I bought it bc I was already there.
I will not be back anytime soon. But overall, a nice shop.