Purl SoHo

Purl
137 Sullivan Street Between W. Houston and Prince Sts.
212-420-8796

Small, staffed with happy shiny Stepford people. Okay, they're universally cheerful. This is New York! It's creepy. On a recent excursion, the chick with the long hair was speaking so fast, in such a happy tone, in such a chirpy voice, I wanted to smack her.

The place is popular, so you can end up waiting a while for the staff's attention, and may have to chase them a bit for their attention.

The store is always brightly lit, making it easier for color matching. A little on the expensive side compared to Knitty City, but then, it's SoHo. Not a lot of needles/ other tools available. Haven't yet tried their sister store up Sullivan, the one with all the fabric notions.

Hours:
Mon - Friday 12-7 PM
Sat - Sunday 12-6 PM

Yarntopia

Yarntopia
974 Amsterdam Ave SW Corner of W. 108th St
(212) 316-9276

This is what I always imagined a yarn shop would look like: small, not brilliantly lit, packed with lovely hued yarn, a little messy but the good, lived-in, kind of messy. It reminds me of some of my favorite cafes, the kind with the chunky, mismatches sofas, whose cups never matched the saucers (when there were saucers).

The needle and book area is small-ish and directly back from the door, perfect for the shopper who needs just that one more thing to finish a project, though they're actually open late enough for me to get there after work and do a little browsing!

There are random sales and always something on discount, usually to be found around the counter. There's a big, comfy sofa just inside the door, opposite the counter, and the owner is happy to have people come and sit and knit and chat. She's a lot of fun to talk to, too.

Not cheap, about on a par with Knitty City and then say +10%, but the discounted bits can make up for it. I've found I'll only do better than Knitty City on the internet, or if I catch a particular sale.

Hours:
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: 12-9 PM
Wednesday: 12-7 PM
Thursday: 12-9 PM
Fri - Sunday: 12-7 PM

Downtown Yarns

Downtown Yarns
45 Avenue A between E. 3rd and 4th Sts
(212) 995-5991

Deceptively tiny little shop with a good range of choices in non-acrylic yarn.

Hours:
Mon - Saturday: 12-7 PM
Sunday: 12-6 PM

Knitty City

Knitty City
208 West 79th Street Between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave
212-724-9596

The mother ship. You can always find help there, though it's hard to tell the staffers from the equally helpful and knowledgeable regulars. Can be a little spacey about calling you when orders arrive, or so I've been told. Too far out of my usual travel zone to be anything other than a destination. Fortunately on a couple of nights during the week they stay open late enough for me to actually get there. Though they will say things like the store is closing, please make your final selections and bring them to the counter they don't really shoo you out, which is nice. And the announcements come verbally (too small a store for a PA system), in advance of the actual closing time, and regularly spaced. Once the owner forgot the like 10 minute warning and just stayed open a few more minutes, basically saying "Well this is the 10 minute warning" even though it was already 8. Cheerful and helpful without the sell-sell-sell that can be anything but. The staff is never dismissive. However the place is usually full of regulars, or has been every time I've been there, and it can get a bit intimidating. On the plus side, I feel perfectly comfortable throwing down my stuff in a corner as I roam around the store, feeling the yarn. The only thing to be leary of is someone trying to make off with (read: purchase) my yarn (read: what I've already hunted and gathered and laid beside my bag with the intention of purchasing... in a minute, after I look at this next bit of yarn of there).

Hours:
Monday: 11-6 PM
Tuesday: CLOSED
Wed - Thursday: 11-8 PM
Fri - Saturday: 11-6 PM
Sunday: 12-5 PM

School Products

School Products
1201 Broadway Between 28th & 29th
212-679-3516

Also known as the Karabella store.

Ridiculous hours -
Mon - Friday: 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday: 10:00 – 3:30
Sunday: Closed

Lion Brand Yarn Studio

Lion Brand Yarn Studio
34 W. 15th Street Between 5th and 6th Aves
212-243-9070

Hours:
Mon - Wednesday: 11:30 AM - 7 PM
Thursday: 11:30 AM- 8 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM - 3 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 12 - 5 PM

Pretty, well organized and well lit store, with helpful people, willing to order anything they don't have on hand.  And what they have on hand is all at least partially acrylic, which doesn't work for me.  I was okay hanging out at the table in the middle of the store, far from the shelves that line either wall.  The far part of the store, closest to the counter, has their higher end, acrylic-free yarns.  Pretty stuff but nothing that moved me make a purchase.  And I haven't been back.

The Point of everything

The Point NYC (now closed)
37a Bedford Street
Bedford St at Carmine St

The point at The Point on Bedford is enjoyment. They're a bakery and yarn store, with lots of tables and not much space. I am rather picky when it comes to retail staff. They should be attentive without being intrusive, as well as helpful and knowledgeable without being pedantic or condescending. With a full room of knitters (not shoppers), The Point's staff nailed my requirements.

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