Knitters Mercantile

Such a comforting hobby knitting is and so many soft, pleasant, beautiful yarns there are! Yet Knitter’s Mercantile is about as welcoming and friendly as a Government Detention Center.
I have been there multiple times and it keeps getting worse: I ask for size 6 or 8 knitting needles – incredibly standard sizes — and they stare at me as if I am demented. «Us? A Knitting store? Carry Knitting Needles? Surely you jest!»
It’s often difficult to get any attention; a group of knitters in the back of the store behaves like a closed sorority being assaulted by a hippie or a bag lady or a brainiac. The owner, often clustered with them, greets a shopper with a prim frown of disapproval as if to say: «Oh, no!, NO! A customer here to ruin my day and send me trudging to the cash register»!.
I have spent thousands of dollars there but no more. I will buy online or go to the Yarn Shop at Kenny Center., The people who work at the Yarn Shop at Kenny Center seem to understand the concept of customer service, and they have an ever improving and burgeoning stock. And they don’t make me feel as if they want to bite me… and they even stock knitting needles.
Seriously: Knitter’s Mercantile needs to have at least one certifiably friendly person to greet customers and serve them. Walking in there is an alienating experience.

Wonderful conversation and selection of yarns. Very comfy atmosphere with lots to look through. Friendly help and even guidance with local food choice!

My experience here has been all over the place. Sometimes I’m greeted as soon as I walk into the store. Other times it seems like I’m bothering someone when I walk up to the register to make my purchase. Sometimes they’ll help point me in a direction for a yarn that will work with a project and sometimes I don’t exist.
The nearest I can tell about the layout is one section is for baby projects, the middle section is worsted weight and the back wall has some chunky yarn.
I’ve not been to any of the classes yet (it just hasn’t worked into my schedule) so I can’t say how they are from personal experience. A relative loved the how to knit a sock class. There is a board behind the cashier area listing the available classes.
Their blog includes a regular Friday feature called «Free Pattern Friday» which showcases a variety of patterns. They are geared towards different skill levels and time allotments. Whenever possible they offer suggestions on yarns to use and show pictures of projects finished by customers.

I stopped in on a quest for laceweight yarn for a mystery knit-​a-​long and they had several nice alternatives; I settled on the Malabrigo silkpaca because Malabrigo is awesome.
They have some beautiful yarns from Artyarns that are well out of my pay grade ($ 50 and up a skein!); nice work if you can get it. They also have beautiful display pieces in the window. I didn’t really get back into the store any further than the front area.
The woman I interacted with was pleasant and friendly; if I’m in the area and need something knit-​related I’ll stop back.

not pleased with the service here. as a beginner knitter, i went to buy a yarn/​pattern/​needles. I can back a week later because i had been given circle needles that were too long for my pattern. the shop assistant and owner Jan would not return the needles, and were rude in the process. i was disappointed because i would rather support a small shop like them than a big chain like michael’s.

I’ve been in this shop on three separate occasions in the last two years and have always felt like I was interrupting the staff. How do they stay in business?

nice ladies, good service, reasonable prices. i’ve brought several projects in for help and they were happy to assist even if i didn’t get the yarn there (which is no longer an issue because i only buy from them now). signed up for a crochet class, and again… reasonable price.

I shop here, but given a decent alternative, I probably wouldn’t.
No matter where I go in the store, I don’t feel as though I can stop and look at things without being in the way of someone else who is looking, or staff trying to walk up and down the aisles.
The staff is always nice, with they exception of one woman who always gives me the evil eye while I’m in there, and makes comments that are nice on the surface, but I can tell she meant differently (and it’s not just me, the people that have been with me each time have agreed that it was bordering on nasty). Perhaps she’s just not a people person.
I don’t go there to window shop, so every time I’m in there I’m buying something. With as much as I hate driving there, and dislike the weird vibe from the staff… I’m still giving them my money! The mind boggles.
I wish the East Side had a shop to give them a run for their money. I’m tired of them being «Queen» of the mountain.
That being said, they have a good solid selection of yarn and needles. They have a small selection of buttons. Their prices are competitive. I have friends that love the place, so it might just be me! :)

I just love this shop. Jan and her staff are EXTREMELY helpful and well informed.
The selection is huge, (not just of yarn and patterns — they ALWAYS have the needle you need!) and there is always someone ready and able to help with yarn and pattern selection, as well as knitting help.
I have also found that the folks who gather there to knit are also more than willing to help with knitting questions. This is a very welcoming store.
Make sure to sign up for email notifications and their frequent buyer club.

Though tucked away in a weird shopping center, this place is so inviting. I’ve always been greeted by very friendly staff everytime I come here. They are enthusiastic about their products and helping the customers with selections or with any knitting problems.
The selection is pretty great. They carry most of the brands I like to knit with. I do wish they would carry more Malabrigo though.
They have a computer station set up for customers to log into Ravelry to look up knitting/​crochet patterns while at the store to see how much yardage they need etc. Very helpful!

This unexpected little yarn shop in the Graceland complex stocks a large selection of yarn (surprise!) for knitting and crocheting as well as plenty of patterns and accessories. There are bigger selections around central Ohio, though not many. And certainly none of those shops are anywhere near Clintonville, so that’s something.
My main complaint would be the groups of folks actually knitting in the store. It was a bit off-​putting to an outsider like myself. I can appreciate their sense of community, though. We need more of that at many establishments. It would be a great place to take a knitting class.

Wow. I have been to yarn stores across the country, and this is perhaps one of the best stocked stores I’ve ever been to. There are a zillion patterns, every knitting publication one could hope for, needles for every occasion, and oh my — the yarn. There is such a wide selection of yarn here. It’s amazing. Oh, and the staff is very friendly and helpful.
I found a pattern there that I’ve been looking for for months, and got all the supplies I needed for that pattern. Prices were pretty reasonable too.
I highly recommend this store — don’t let the big-​box shopping plaza location fool you — this is a one-​of-​a-​kind place.

Full of beautiful yarns and lovely and creative finished samples, this shop is a knitter’s dream! The comfy couch and chairs in the front, the large work table in the back and the open, welcoming staff create an atmosphere like no other. I must go there at least once a week, but when I’ve got time I’m there several times a week just to hang out and knit. They have classes for all kinds of new techniques, as well as basics for those just starting, but anytime you go in you’re likely to see one of the staff (or even one of the customers!) helping someone out with a tricky patch. I learned to turn a heel on my first pair of socks when one of the patient owners read me through each step on a Sunday afternoon. My first visit there included clear instructions to «please fondle all the yarns!» Delightful people and delicious yarns.