Tricoter

I gave up on this yarn shop years ago. I felt like I was being shunned from the time I entered the shop. I don't understand their staff - customer relationship. I spend my yarn dollars at shops where I am treated respectfully, Maybe they need to take a lesson from Nordstrom regarding customer service. Margaret more

I have shopped at several LYSs in Seattle. In not a single one, have I been asked if I want help right off the bat when I enter. Many shops probably want to let their customers feel free to browse unhindered. Which is what I want to do most of the time. This being the norm, I find that if I do ask for help, it is gladly given. I have asked for and received help when I was a new knitter at Tricoter. I purchased my first sock yarn, book and needles there, and they kindly offered that I return when I was ready to turn the heel. I did not return since I figured it out on my own. But they seem to help people out all the time, not just on certain days. I think many LYSs can be a little intimidating for a new knitter, and this store is small and cozy, so it is hard to feel like you can browse anonymously. That is not a big deal. People really need to get over feeling like people are being snobby-- instead, just ask for some help, and you will receive some. It can be a little busy there on the weekend, so patience may be required. more

As an accomplished knitter, I want a yarn shop with a variety of fibers and colors, as well as courteous and knowledgeable employees. As a male knitter, I want a yarn shop that doesn't assume I'm someone's lost husband. I like to walk into a store and have my presence acknowledged, whether I need help or not. Tricoter has been my best experience so far. Someone is always there to say hi and make sure I'm on the right track. They have a knowledgeable staff, TONS of awesome yarns, and a large area to just sit and knit while getting to know some of the many fun personalities that walk through. How can I want to shop anywhere else? :D more

i've only been knitting for about a year but have had the chance to visit many knitting shops, and tricoter was a decent enough experience. i was helped instantly even though there was a class in session *and* a lot of people just sitting and knitting. and when i asked one of the staff for help on how to do a certain stitch, they were very happy to show me. some of the yarns there are incredible! and very expensive ($60/per and up). but these were really special yarns. most of the 'regular' skeins there were nice, they have a great selection, but their prices were higher than what i've seen in other local shops. plus they are a bit out of the way for just about anyone who doesn't live in madison park. so not a bad experience but for me, it's probably not worth it to travel that far for the yarns more

I would never go here if I wanted personal attention or help on a project. They will warm up to the local Wash-Park-ites (maybe wear your tennis outfit?) and store regulars, but not if they don't know you. Otherwise, they do have lovely yarns and super-cute reading glasses. more

Tricoter is getting a bad rap and I feel like I should chime in. I have been seriously knitting for 15 years now and Tricoter is a mainstay in my knitting repetroire and here is why: You need to know that knitting a sweater is going to cost more than buying one. Since you will most likely spend over $100 on yarn, here is what you get for the extra $50 bucks you might spend on Tricoter's yarn... 1. A totally custom pattern! Tricoter's knowledgable staff can take the most random request for a sweater (say "I want a vest with a zipper and I need a size 4 and I want to mix in yellows and browns") and will clearly diagramthe project, from scratch or from a similar pattern and include clear directions. This covers everything from baby blankets to hats and all items inbetween. They have books to help you see what you might want but they will always help you tweak it to get just what you need. 2. If you ever run into a problem, you can stop in for help and yes, you might have to ASK for help from someone because it is a busy place but once you engage someone there they can become your knitting guide, help you improve your skills and they will never let you make a mistake without learning why and how to fix it. In addition, you will have hours of hilarious comedy material gained from sitting around listening to the foibles of Madison park's curious characters! 3. you can sit down and TRY ENDLESS YARNS until you get the right gauge and color combination that you want. THIS IS THE ONLY STORE IN TOWN THAT LETS YOU DO THIS! Again, you will have to want to do this. They will let you buy a pattern, yarn and needles without trying the gauge but they will always encourage you to try if you show any interest in doing so. I have learned from experience that this is the best way to be happy with your final product. Always check the guage! Tricoter also has sales with up t0 75% off at least twice a year. Since I am not rolling in dough, I usually buy most of my yarn at these sales, and fill in with occaisional skeins here and there throughout the rest of the year. As long as you bought the yarn from there, they will always help you with your patterns and ideas. Like anything else worthwile, becoming a part of the Tricoter community takes some effort. If you want to become a better knitter, this is the best place in town. All that said - if you want to make a baby blanket for under $30, and you already have a pattern you love - go to the Yarn Gallery in West Seattle and buy cheap acrylic yarn - babies are messy anyway! If you want to create an heirloom - go to Tricoter! more

If you're looking for high-end, expensive yarn, this is the place. It's hard not to want lots of it, but you'll have to open your wallet wide to go home with all that you'll end up with on your wish list. But specialty yarns are expensive no matter where you go. If you want Lion Brand or Patons for a quick-knit baby sweater, this is not the place to go. In fact, a customer who appeared to be a relative newcomer to knitting was browsing the store in search of yarns to embark on a first project and was stymied by the price of everything that was pointed out to her. I finally took her aside and explained that there were lots of other yarns available in the big wide world of chain stores and advised that she start with the perfectly acceptable selection at AC Moore, Michael's, or even WalMart for her first try. She was clearly in the wrong place and no one there was going to tell her -- they just doggedly continued to point out yarns that would have yielded her a $300 sweater. The staff was pleasant enough to me but I definitely sensed the snob factor, even without benefit of the comments here. But I can out-snob the best of them if necessary and wasn't overly bothered. However, I visited two other yarn stores while I was in Seattle and they were much warmer and more inviting than the staff at Tricoter. This is not a "community of knitters" kind of place. It's a chi-chi, upscale boutique for the nouveau knitter where people plop down hundreds of dollars on their refined hobby de jour. So don't go thinking you can chat and commune with like-minded knitters, it's just not that kind of place. But if you are searching for some special yarn for a special project, this is a great place to shop. more

I had heard the rumors before I visited Tricoter -- that the staff were snooty and if you didn't dress/look a certain way, you wouldn't get any attention. But a coworker told me she had been taken good care of, so I decided to see for myself. On my first visit, I walked through the shop. There was a class being held at the big table. I saw a couple of staffers, but they walked right past me as if I were invisible, even though I was obviously trying to find something! I noticed that yarns are arranged by color (pretty effect, but how the heck are you supposed to find anything?). I didn't stay long. On my second visit, I was ignored again, so I bought a back issue of a magazine I'd been looking for and left. On my third visit (only because I'd exhausted the other local shops for back issues of Rebecca), I was treated in a fairly friendly manner once I found what I needed (by myself). I don't see any need to go back. more

Tricoter is full of luxurious yarns at luxurious prices. Known at least as much for its customization as its product, Tricoter enables a knitter to purchase a sweater’s worth of yarn, receive a complimentary custom-made sweater pattern, and end up with a one-of-a-kind sweater. The only yarn shop in the area actively publishing books, Tricoter has a loyal following. more

Tricoter is located just past the south entrance to the Arboretum on Madison street. It's right on the dividing line between low-rent and Madison Park, but has it's character in the high-rent part of town. You walk in and see a bunch of women together with their expensive yarns knitting as a leisure pursuit, and you just don't fit in. Plus they sit blocking the pattern bookshelves, which makes it impossible to peruse the selection. No "peace fleece" here. Mind you, they do have quality yarns arranged by color to fabulous effect. And I can't say if their prices are truly high or if it just gives off an aura, but I always spend too much, and I don't feel welcome like some of the other yarn stores in town. more

I don’t care how lovely the yarns are if the staff within the yarn shop is only selectively helpful to people. My wife went into Tricoter for some yarn, and was hard-pressed to find anyone to help her. When she finally found someone to answer a question, the reply was short and aloof. My wife was not wearing a suit, but she was not shabbily dressed either. She compared notes with friends, and found that they had similar experiences with the staff. I’ve gone into quite a few yarn shops with my wife, and have found that almost all of the other ones had friendly, helpful staff. Acorn Street Yarn Shop in the University District, and Hilltop Yarn and Needlepoint Shop in Queen Anne are two yarn stores worth visiting. more

At first I really liked Tricoter, but now I have changed my mind. I took a class and during that time I was treated very well and loved the helpful staff. Now, I just feel as though every time I walk in there the staff is curt and not very helpful. Also, I have realized that they are way over priced compared to other knitting shops in the city. I am taking my business somewhere else. more