by Ting on Friday, Dec 07 2007 at 08:52AM UTC

Lovely shop run by Gerald & Craig - it's a shame I don't live closer otherwise I'd probably be in there every day.

by Anonymous on Monday, Jun 09 2008 at 07:19AM UTC

When I visited London in 2007, I made a specific trip to find them. And it was worth it. Craig and Gerald were very nice and helpful.

There's a nice selection of yarns and books that are hard to find in the US.

by toast on Tuesday, Jan 13 2009 at 10:45PM UTC

A great shop with a good variety of interesting yarns, from smaller producers. Well worth a visit, one of the best yarn shops in London.

by FlyPrinces on Thursday, Mar 05 2009 at 07:23AM UTC

i have seen this shop on several blogs and sites so i wanted to make sure i stopped in while in london. it was a very small shop, with way more furniture then it could hold. people were bumping in to each other, knocking racks over, and a lady sitting on a couch was letting her kids run all around. but, the there were a lot of very nice yarns and books in the shop. i was hopefull that i would find some really great local british yarns, being that there are a ton of sheep farms over here, but i was disappointed. there were yarns from all over the world. i ended up with a really some really soft alpaca by Lang yarns, which i am unsure if it is sold in the US. i am glad i stopped in!

by Floderten on Saturday, Jun 20 2009 at 12:47PM UTC

I was very, very excited to go see this shop - maybe that's why I came away a bit disappointed. The staff was very friendly, but I found the shop a bit dark, crowded and not very inspiring.

I did like that they had some yarns otherwise hard to get for me, but their stock wasn't very impressive. The yarns I wanted to look at were hidden behind racks and mannequins, and what was in the cubbies didn't seem all that exciting. (Some of it also seemed a bit overpriced, but I'm not sure.)

Perhaps it was the fact that I came in around noon, and maybe their stock was low that day, but some of the things I'd been told to look for weren't there, and it just generally didn't seem deserving of all the hype it's getting. If I'm ever in London again, I'll probably pop by a second time, but it won't be the first stop on my list.

by Alison on Thursday, Jul 02 2009 at 07:32PM UTC

Went along to the knitting group in anticipation of buying a knitting pattern and learning how to use it. The staff weren't interested in helping me find what I was looking for, no-one else spoke to me, or even smiled, one person did manage to make eye contact but only after some persistence on my behalf. The only seats available were behind a table piled high with stuff so I felt barricaded away and had didn't feel it was approved of to move chairs to a more socialable position, admittedly that would have been in the nearest pub. To be fare, no-one else spoke to each other unless their own particular friend went along as well. If you are going to go, forget the smile and take a freind to talk to instead.
I got the knitting pattern for free off the Internet when I got home, discovered I needed knitting needles and got those from a very helpful shop in the OXO Tower just along the river, along with a book on what to do with it all.

by Ann on Friday, Jul 03 2009 at 11:23AM UTC

Love it! Love it! Love it!
This shop is a knitter's paradise!
I love the shop - its cosy, got places to knit, plenty of nice yarn, yes some is expensive so I just look at it!!.....plenty for all budgets...and you can get a drink - Perfect in this weather.

The staff are friendly and chatty and I've always felt welcome and chatted to other people and not just about knitting...

Recommended!

by Johanne on Monday, Aug 10 2009 at 05:55PM UTC

I was in London last week, I went out of my way to visit the shop...
It happenred to be one of those night where every one gatters to knit there and socialise...I was impressed with the Idea... great concept... I felt like an outsider but did manage to get some help ... I thought I would be helped more... I go to London every week from Quebec, Canada ...I will probably give it another shot ... being the passionate knitter I am... Hope to attend the show in september...
I recommend the place for a visit , You can decide how you feel when you go... Loved the place...
Johanne from Air Canada

by Marion Jeffrey on Wednesday, Oct 28 2009 at 08:53AM UTC

I would like to purchase Blocking wires to shape my knitted garment ready for pressing.
You displayed a set called " Blockit " @ £20 but then stated them to be out of stock! Can you help please?

by PassionKNITly on Thursday, Nov 19 2009 at 08:38PM UTC

I had an evening free so I went last week to knit with IKL's knitting group on Thursday. Everyone in the knitting group was so friendly! There were soooo many people knitting there it was great! The staff in the store were nice as well and i thoroughly enjoyed myself. I almost wished I lived in London so I could go to this store much more often! If you're visiting London, and you only have time for one shop, let it be THIS shop!

by Coral on Monday, Jan 25 2010 at 11:53AM UTC

Best knitting shop in the world. Amazing yarns and amazing people. Great knit nights and the spectacular I Knit Weekender in September.

by Nicki on Saturday, Feb 13 2010 at 02:50PM UTC

Having really enjoyed the I Knit London event they organised in September, I made a special trip to London on a Thursday evening recently to visit the store and join in the knitting group. I could not have been made more unwelcome if they tried (perhaps they did). I arrived before the official start of the knitting group, but most chairs were already taken. I was stared at coldly by all the knitters already there. The shop was tiny, with far too much furniture and an uninspiring selection of yarn randomly arranged. I finally identified the member of staff on duty (I believe several of the scowling knitters were also off-duty staff), and asked for a particular book. She told me they did not have it. I looked at the shelves and found that they did. She seemed rather uninterested in this fact. Since there were no chairs free for knitting I tried to find some yarn to buy. I asked for advice several times, and was directed to areas of the shop with vague waves. There seemed to be no logic to the arrangement of yarns, and no more than one or two yarns in each colourway. I had gone with the intention of purchasing enough yarn for three large projects (several hundred pounds' worth), but left with one ball and one book. In the time I was there a number of regulars came in, were greeted warmly and were found seats from some mysterious place. No attempt was made to seat me or the other few lost souls squeezing around the knitters. A new knitter came in while I was there saying she had been specially advised to go there, and asking for some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino. She was told flatly 'we don't stock that, but we do have other yarn', with no attempt made to help her further. All in all, I was shocked by my experience, having hoped to become a regular both at the knitting circle and as a customer. I won't be going back.

by I Knit London on Monday, Feb 15 2010 at 12:14PM UTC

Hi Nicki
I'm so sorry for your bad experience of our shop. I am wondering if it was definately our shop, though, as it sounds like the opposite of what I know to be true.
For example, I know for a fact that our staff are helpful and curteous and that no arm waving goes on at all. Also, we do stock debbie bliss cashmerino but If you were in our shop I am glad the staff offered you an alternative but sorry this was not sufficient.
We have learned from experience that it is impossible to please everyone and we make sure to publise the shop activities as much as possible so serious shoppers like yourself will be able to make the decision to visit when the shop is not as packed as it is on the knitting nights - we are open 7 days a week for serious shoppers, most of the time the shop is not full to bursting with keen knitters making it easier for the staff to provide an excellent service.
I'm shocked the most by your description of the cold stares you received from the knitters. I'm amazed, I've never had anything but a positive experience at any knitting group, at our shop or somewhere else.
I appreciate your feedback, I only wish it had come to me directly and I wish you didn't feel the need to be annonymous. I will make sure I am present at upcoming knitting groups to make sure everyone in the shop, new or regular, receives the same warm welcome and hospitality.
I do hope you change your mind and give IKL one more try, I know we can make it up to you.

best wishes
Gerard Allt
IKL