by Anonymous on Sunday, Nov 16 2008 at 07:00AM UTC

I lived in the Montlake neighborhood of Seattle for 15 years, and this is, by far, THE BEST LYS in the city. The selection is outstanding, the samples provide inspiration, and the ladies around the table are fabulous. I've shopped for yarn in NYC, San Francisco, and Atlanta / Charlotte where I now live, and nothing beats this shop. If you have an opportunity, head over to the Madison Park neighborhood, have lunch down by the lake, and set aside s few hours to visit this fabulous place!

by Anonymous on Tuesday, Jan 13 2009 at 03:45PM UTC

I have been in this store twice, several years apart. Both times, I was treated rudely. I was basically ignored, even though I was standing there, obviously needing assistance. I felt that the people there thought that maybe I looked like I didn't have enough money to be shopping there. Maybe it was because I am a minority. They probably didn't realize that I was a lawyer, with some money to spend. I will never go back there. They are snobs.

by Anonymous on Sunday, Mar 01 2009 at 09:25AM UTC

I have never had an issue at Tricoter. I would point out that the previous anonymous poster could have said something or asked for help. Just standing there doesn't usually get one service in an customer service environment. Please. If you need help, ask for it. It's just yarn. And as far as snobbery goes: I have never experienced anything of the sort, and I am a minority as well. Walk in an be friendly, and they will return the favor!

by beemergirl on Thursday, May 14 2009 at 10:01PM UTC

Beautiful store and the staff were spectacular. They were very helpful and encouraging to a new knitter that had just walked in after I did. Fabulous buttons too.

by WireWoman on Wednesday, May 27 2009 at 10:03PM UTC

Well, when I get good enough to get the cashmere for the little neck scarf, I'll try here or at Churchmoust on Bainbridge Island. Nearly all of the yarn here was priced out of my range, but I enjoyed looking at the gorgeous colors and palpating the beautiful fibers. The examples are just stunning.
I had little money to spend (and unfortunately looked it - too close to laundry day!) but I didn't detect more than a momentary hesitation from staff when I asked questions and took my very modest purchases to the counter. They also have very tiny wooden 10 inch needles, and I really needed those. The needle selection could be better, but maybe I caught them on a re-stock weekend.
Small but well-chosen selection of knitting books. Many attractive patterns in the binders.
I too am a minority, and I confess that after a few weird experiences at LYS I have gotten a sour taste about this - but I think the sidelong looks I was getting were more about my attire than my color. I wasn't wearing anything stunningly handknit (I'd been knitting only a couple of months when I visited) and I was carrying three bags. I probably didn't look like I had much of anything. Well, I didn't - but I did find what I was looking for and had a marvelous time viewing the fibers and admiring the outstanding samples. Many very accomplished knitters (dare I say, affluent?) visit this store. It's worth a visit just to overhear their conversation and watch them generating complex stuff a million miles a minute!

LL&P,
WireWoman

by monochromaticgirl on Thursday, Jun 25 2009 at 02:21PM UTC

I visited Tricoter on a business trip a few years back. They have a wonderful selection, and the fact that they carry Socks That Rock was what drew me in. I had never tried it, so I bought the few colors that they had, and as soon as the woman helping me knew that that was what I wanted, she started pushing very expensive yarns on me. She didn't know my taste beyond the interest in STR, so everything was CASHMERE! and NOVELTY!, and it left a very sour taste in my mouth. I spent a good deal of money here and got some wonderful stuff that I really love, but the incredibly pushy salesperson and a less than stellar email exchange with them about a sale they were having for members of their e-newsletter, and I would hesitate to go back in the future.

by garngamen on Wednesday, Jul 08 2009 at 08:43PM UTC

I had hoped this yarnshop would fulfill my dream (reading the reviews and based on recommendation) but I found it extremly hard to locate interesting yarn, since they were based on colour (and I could not select by type, brand or quality). When I visited, the people was constantly packing up yarn, but all yarn I was interested in was out. Im sure it has a great selection when filled, but I got a bit unwilling with the over the top prices. Nice area though, and husband thanks especially for the bench outside. But a bit "over-crowded". People, packages, and no space to move or make a decision. I just felt overwhelmed and I NEVER do that. So a bit overrated is my conclusion.

by anonymous on Friday, Feb 12 2010 at 03:45AM UTC

The staff here is notoriously rude. I went in once and was treated so poorly I never returned (this is the only time I have EVER blacklisted a store). I'm sure some of them are very sweet, but it's a gamble. Also, separating the yarn by color looks nice but is totally impractical. I would not recommend Tricoter.

by bdrager on Monday, Oct 24 2011 at 11:04PM UTC

It takes quite a bit for me to post a negative review of a yarn shop, but unfortunately my experience at Tricoter was a very negative one. I was treated very rudely by a sales clerk there. I brought my very well behaved 9 year old niece with me. She held up a skein of alpaca to me and said, "Feel how soft!"

At this point a saleswoman very loudly yelled, "That's VERY expensive yarn and I DON'T think that is what YOU'RE looking for, little girl."

Stunned, I quietly said, "Why don't you just put it back where you found it," when the woman interrupted me and yelled,

"I can put it back FOR her."

My niece, cool as ever, just looked at the woman and said, "I've got it," and calmly set it back down.

We left right away, and unfortunately, they've lost a customer for life. Not to mention that I tell this story to all of my local knitting buddies. People have no idea how rudeness spreads.

In addition to that craziness, all of the salespeople there were quite cold, and I have to agree with other posters that even though it looks pretty cool when you walk in to have things arranged by color, when it comes to practicality this is actually a big problem. Just seems like snobbery to me.