Purl Knit Cafe

By aineholair on Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 09:57AM PDT

This is the first yarn shop that I have been into in a long time where I felt a real sense of community and home. Great to see some of the new yarns!

By KnittingKnina on Saturday, June 07, 2008 at 02:15PM PDT

A Yarn Shop?? That's a joke!!

First Impression: NOT GOOD.

Purl Knit Cafe is an ice cream/beverage shop with yarn in the back corner. If you happen to see the internet photo with bins of yarn, the photo is terribly misleading; however it does show about 90% of their yarn selection.

Yes, there is seating - but room for knitting classes?? Not really.

The day that I visited, no one in the shop knew how to knit or how to offer any help or assistance with yarn. I was in the shop for over 20 minutes -- looking at the yarn, the knitting notions, then looking at the same yarn all over again, and listening to the ice cream/beverage clerk chitter-chatter with ice cream & coffee customers. She mentioned to one coffe customer that she didn't know how to knit and that she was surprised that "the really expensive yarns were selling". Even when the stop was empty, she never spoke to or greeted me -- she certainly didn't offer to help me with any yarn or knitting questions.

The knitting pattern selection is very limited.
The knitting book selection is very limited.
There is a decent little selction of knitting needles - yes the expensive brands: Crystal Palace and Addi Turbos.

A quote from a recent internet news article states: "Lots and lots of high-end yarn...Stuff you will not find anywhere else in Boulder (a conscious effort on the part of the founder to avoid stealing business from Shuttles Spindles & Skeins". High-end?? Yes, the shelves contain high-priced yarns. Stealing business from SS&S?? Not likely. SS&Skeins is still THE ONLY YARN SHOP in Boulder.

If you like to fill little baskets with yarn to decorate your home -- or maybe knit little scarves, this might be a place to buy your yarn. I didn't see enough yarn, of the same type and color, to make a vest. If you are not a well-skilled knitter, you might want to consider other yarn shop options. There is a good chance that you won't find anyone in the shop that can provide any assistance with yarn selection or help with your knitting projects.

Nice idea, I suppose, but Purl Knit Cafe IS NOT A YARN SHOP. They need to reconsider renaming the business to something like...."Bliss Ice Cream & Beverages ... and a little bit of Yarn" .....

By KnittingKnina on Saturday, June 07, 2008 at 02:15PM PDT

A Yarn Shop?? That's a joke!!

First Impression: NOT GOOD.

Purl Knit Cafe is an ice cream/beverage shop with yarn in the back corner. If you happen to see the internet photo with bins of yarn, the photo is terribly misleading; however it does show about 90% of their yarn selection.

Yes, there is seating - but room for knitting classes?? Not really.

The day that I visited, no one in the shop knew how to knit or how to offer any help or assistance with yarn. I was in the shop for over 20 minutes -- looking at the yarn, the knitting notions, then looking at the same yarn all over again, and listening to the ice cream/beverage clerk chitter-chatter with ice cream & coffee customers. She mentioned to one coffe customer that she didn't know how to knit and that she was surprised that "the really expensive yarns were selling". Even when the stop was empty, she never spoke to or greeted me -- she certainly didn't offer to help me with any yarn or knitting questions.

The knitting pattern selection is very limited.
The knitting book selection is very limited.
There is a decent little selction of knitting needles - yes the expensive brands: Crystal Palace and Addi Turbos.

A quote from a recent internet news article states: "Lots and lots of high-end yarn...Stuff you will not find anywhere else in Boulder (a conscious effort on the part of the founder to avoid stealing business from Shuttles Spindles & Skeins". High-end?? Yes, the shelves contain high-priced yarns. Stealing business from SS&S?? Not likely. SS&Skeins is still THE ONLY YARN SHOP in Boulder.

If you like to fill little baskets with yarn to decorate your home -- or maybe knit little scarves, this might be a place to buy your yarn. I didn't see enough yarn, of the same type and color, to make a vest. If you are not a well-skilled knitter, you might want to consider other yarn shop options. There is a good chance that you won't find anyone in the shop that can provide any assistance with yarn selection or help with your knitting projects.

Nice idea, I suppose, but Purl Knit Cafe IS NOT A YARN SHOP. They need to reconsider renaming the business to something like...."Bliss Ice Cream & Beverages ... and a little bit of Yarn" .....

By anonymous on Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 09:12AM PDT

To Knittingknina, I'm sorry you had a bad experience at Purl. I am the owner, Kim Troy, and I take your comments very seriously. We are new, as you know. Besides myself, I do have a staff member who is an exceptional knitter. Unfortunately, the day you visited Purl, she was on vacation and I had to attend a wedding. Usually, one of us is at the shop.

As for the yarn, my goal is to carry yarn not available in the Boulder area. We carry Blue Sky Alpaca, Debbie Bliss, Noro, Louet, Tahki, Berroco, Classic Elite, Araucania and many more.

Purl is a place for the community to gather, knit, chat, and enjoy a cup of coffee. We offer classes taught by well-known, published authors and friendly, free, help.

I hope you will come back and give us another try. You may also write to me at kim.troy@blissorganic.com.

Thank you for your feedback. We'll take your comments to heart and do our best to improve.

Kim Troy

As to your comments

By anonymous on Sunday, June 15, 2008 at 09:39AM PDT

Something for everyone in Boulder -- I love the selection at Shuttles, but I also love the atmosphere at Purl Knit Cafe. I just completed my first project with one of the Araucania cotton yarns which I purchased at Purl, and it was always greeted by ooohs and ahs by all who encountered me mid-project--not to mention the pleasure of working with this special fiber.

By anonymous on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 03:12PM PDT

Yes, Purl Knit is not an "arena" yarn shop like SS&S but I don't believe it wants to be. The atmosphere and friendly staff (knitters and non-knitters alike) are what draw me to Purl Knit. Remeber the name of the shop is Purl Knit Cafe not Knitters 'r Us.

By anonymous on Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 06:13PM PDT

I just moved from Boston a week ago to the Boulder area. I grew up here, and was excited to see a new yarn shop in town! The yarn selection is small, but I thought the store had beautiful yarns and a wonderful atmosphere. I have worked at two different yarn stores in Boston and was so excited to see some of my favorite brands on the shelves. She even has some of my favorite needles. For me, this shop is just what Boulder needed - I'm excited to see the store continue to grow.

By mlw1459 on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 04:24PM PDT

I visit Boulder regularly and am so very pleased to find this shop! Kim, the owner, is super, super nice and she has created a very welcoming, friendly place. I stopped in to knit for a while a couple times on my last trip and had the best time. Each time there were other knitters there as well, all having a nice time. There are several tables and individual, cushy seating as well. I felt the yarn selection was of very high quality. I particularly enjoyed sipping on a cup of tea whilst I knit away. I'm going to be a regular there whenever I am in the area! There is a great fabric shop a couple doors down too if you have a bag you want to line or a tote to sew.

By mlw1459 on Tuesday, September 09, 2008 at 08:19PM PDT

Went by again during the Labor Day holiday and really enjoyed myself! This shop is a nice addition to Boulder and I cannot say enough about how nice Kim and her patrons are. I snagged several quality yarns, a delish salad and some lovely oolong tea. I'll be back again and again!

By anonymous on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 01:05PM PDT

The large political poster in the window seemed innapropriate and unwelcoming even though it's my candidate. The music was so loud that it was unpleasant to be in the shop.

By anonymous on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 10:34AM PDT

I stopped by on a Saturday around noon to check out Purl Knit Cafe. I think some of the reviews are unnecessarily harsh. The staff were very friendly and the atmosphere was comfortable and welcoming. There isn't a huge selection, but the yarns they have are very nice, and not just "little scarf" yarns - I picked up some great sock yarn. I'm looking forward to checking out their Wednesday knit night. I was slightly put off by the political posters, but that's the owner's right to expression, and after all, it is Boulder. I think it's a cool idea to combine a coffee/ice cream shop with yarn, and I hope they stay in business.