Uncommon Threads

I’ve visited the store twice in the last month. Once to search for a pattern for some unusual yarn I already own. The store wasn’t too busy and the clerk walked the pattern area of the store with me looking for a pattern that would suit the yarn. She eventually settled me down with several books to browse. At most the store would have sold only a pattern, book or magazine. I couldn’t have asked for better attention. I didn’t find what I wanted and left after looking for over an hour.
While I was in the shop a woman sat next to me; she was in the store for the same reason as I – to find a pattern. But this this lady expected the clerk to draft a pattern for her! She said loudly that her favorite store in LA would do that for her for free and perhaps she should go to LA for her pattern. Was I supposed to be impressed? She asked loudly «Is this the best yarn shop around?» I matched her volume and answered «It definitely is.» Through this exchange the clerk kept her cool (didn’t even roll her eyes) and tried to satisfy this demanding customer opening book after book and pulling patterns. Wish I had noted the clerk’s name so I could commend her to the owner.
The following week I returned to the shop with the front, back and sleeves of an Aran sweater I had knit — hate to assemble the pieces. Stephanie, the owner was gracious, helpful and told me the finisher will call me if she had questions. I will be back, both to collect my sweater and to buy supplies for a future project. This store does its best to provide great customer service. Even to customers who don’t deserve it. ‘
And to those who balk at the prices: Look at the location. Look at the products they carry. This is not a discount store. Walmart is waiting for you if you want rock-​bottom prices and service to go with it. This is a specialty knitting shop.

I love Uncommon Threads. Have been coming here for over 10 years. The store changed ownership a few years ago, and is much more pleasant than it used to be. Many of the staff have remained and not all of them are super-​friendly, but I’ve never been treated badly by anyone since the previous owner left. They know knitting and are helpful.
They only carry very nice yarns, great books and patterns, and quality supplies. It’s nice having this gem in our community.

I recently moved to the area and was looking for a yarn shop.
Uncommon Threads is wonderful in every way! From the selection of yarns, to their friendly and knowledgable staff. Stephanie, the owner, is great. I am always inspired to challenge my skills and create beautiful pieces.
I’ve attended several classes, the Tuesday night knit group and private sessions with Clementine; which are all a pure pleasure.
I live about 15 – 20 mins away but it worth the trip! I am happy to call this yarn shop my new home.

We are incredibly fortunate to have this LYS. Great selection of lovely yarns, as well as a large selection of more cost effective choices. The staff is terrific — patient, knowledgeable, and very helpful. I was struggling to find the perfect combination of colors for my son’s sweater. The customer service was excellent. I left knowing my color choice would work out perfectly. And it did!

How did this place sneak by me without a review?!
This is one of the LYS that’s really close to where I live. I’m surprised that the old reviews are still around considering that there was an ownership change a several years ago.
This is a LYS that has a really good stock of yarn. Malabrigo, MadTosh, Phydeaux, Jade Sapphire, Swans Island, Koigu, Shibui, Rowan, etc.
Yarn is organized by weight around the store and they have a healthy and hefty selection of knitting tools and notions.
Tuesdays are the knit nights and the store closes later at 8! One of the two stores around here on the Peninsula that’s open 7 days a week to get your yarn fixation on!
Owner is super friendly and the staff is pretty well trained!

This is a lovely store, and the people who work here are friendly, interesting to talk to, and very knowledgeable about yarns and patterns. It’s also a cozy place to just spend time — everyone is welcome to sit and knit at leisure, where you can meet other knitters, talk with the staff, or just relax with a project. There’s a great selection of yarns, and there’s more availability than it might otherwise appear. The prices are as good as or better than what you might find on the web. I haven’t done a class yet, but I plan to one of these days. All in all, visiting Uncommon Threads is a favorite pastime for me as well as a favorite shopping experience.

I visited here with my sister-​in-​law to show me where she gets her knitting supplies. The sales people are helpful and friendly.

They have a great selection of high quality yarns — the main reason for me coming here so often! Everything is pretty expensive, but I believe it is worth it.
I decided to knit these beautiful (but complex!) leg warmers, and one of the women in the shop was so helpful! She sat me down at the table and went over the pattern with me using practice wool and needles… thank you!
It’s well organized and so much fun to look around, they have lots of good pattern books in the back as well. I can’t wait to go back!

We were in town and I was excited to see the store I heard such great things about! I walked in and I was memorized with how delicately and thoughtfully the shop had been displayed. I strolled around and as a knitter who loves gorgeous yarn, I was in heaven! The part that made shopping there special was the terrific help and welcome I received from the owner, Stephanie! The quality and selection was awesome. It was definitely worth the drive. I have been to almost every yarn store in the area and this place is special.

I’ve only been here once, after I purchased an Amazon Local voucher of $ 30 for $ 15. I can see why people say the staff are stuffy or snobby. Those comments are definitely not unfounded. At the same time, if you ask for help, they are more than friendly enough to help with suggesting different yarns, color matching different skeins, and helping with choosing patterns for a specific yarn type.
I was most impressed by seeing some yarns in stock at Uncommon Threads that have been featured on
, that I’ve only otherwise seen when I was at Purl Soho in NYC. :)

This is an update from my review in March. I have to say that the owner Stephanie, once she heard about my situation, really went out of her way to make sure I was a happy with my final purchase.
My daughter returned the incorrect item and Stephanie immediately called me and offered me a selection of needle cases to choose from her website. She even double checked with me to make sure it was the color and design I wanted. I received it within a few days and I also received a note from Stephanie and a check for the difference in the price.
Stephanie said she wasn’t aware of the problem I was having and as soon as she found out, set out to make it right. And that she did. Uncommon Threads offers such beautiful yarns and is such a nice store and I can happily say that the customer service is just as great. Thank you, Stephanie for all you did to make everything right.

I went into the store seeking help in shortening a scarf I had made for a friend who it turns out prefers shorter scarves. As a real novice knitter, I had no idea how to begin the daunting task of cutting into it in order to shorten it. Jean took the time to sit down with me at the table, and successfully used her great expertise to allow me to leave with the task accomplished! Thanks so much, Jean!

Downtown Los Altos is chaotic, with little kids running across the street and pedestrians wandering everywhere, but we managed to snag a parking space because someone was leaving and walked over to Uncommon Threads.
Uncommon Threads has been around for a while, but it had been a few years since my prior visit, and I understand there is a new owner now. What a difference! Instead of a clubby «you’re not one of us» vibe, the people who work there are helpful and smiling. They even apologized for making us wait in line a minute or two to pay.
There is a wide selection of yarns packed into a relatively small space, with most of the yarns in the $ 10 – 15 price range. I also spotted a few shelves of less expensive acrylic yarns, so if that’s how you roll, no need to stock up at Michaels.
I was on the lookout for a few different yarns and they didn’t carry any of them. Their Malabrigo selection, for example, was woefully small. And I saw little that was unique or hand-​dyed. I bought a few skeins and ordered the yarn I needed online. Still, Uncommon Threads is your best LYS option in the mid-​peninsula and beyond. And if you can go during the week, you may not have too much trouble finding a parking space.

Nice local yarn shop. The staff don’t pester you but are available to help as needed. Great selection of yarn books and tools

I am quite surprised to see poor customer service reviews here. Staff chatted with both my parents and I, helped us find brands and weights, and discussed colors. They have many staples of higher end yarn stores (tosh, malabrigo, cascade, noro) as well as some much smaller dyers (handwerks). Prices were fair given its pricy Los Altos address.

One of the nicest yarn shops around. I’ve been in during the middle of the day and at the end of the day and was never given the bum’s rush; perhaps the earlier commenter just caught someone who really needed to be somewhere else that night. The prices are on par with other LYS prices, but the staff is nicer than at many other stores. Their inventory is great, with many familiar names, and some surprising and new ones, too. And you can ignore comments older than 2 or 3 years. The new owner, Stephanie, is absolutely nothing at all like the previous owner. Stephanie is kind, friendly, open, welcoming, and all the staff I’ve met have been cut in her mold.

My first time visiting this yarn shop, when I arrived it was 15mins before closing and they were very irritated to have me there as they just wanted to close up shop. I had a very specific type of yarn I wanted and was quick about my purchase, but they refused to wind the hank into a ball for me since it was too close to closing. They said I could return tomorrow, but I was in a rush as I’m heading out of town first thing in the morning. I left with out purchasing as it would do me no good, guess I’ll have to dip into some stash yarn for a trip knitting project.
I was very disappointed in the acerbic service that I received and I will not be returning. Nine Rubies in San Mateo has much better customer service and from what I saw when I was in there Nine Rubies also has much better selection in yarns.

I can’t believe some of these reviews… it breaks my heart. I don’t find the prices to be all that different from any other Local Yarn Store that carries finer quality yarns than the big box stores. They have a great selection of books, tools, and even a small display of needle felting roving.
The staff has been so nice to me. Sometimes when I have been in there I am not greeted right away, that doesn’t bother me… I just want help or friendliness when I have a question or am at the counter buying something.
Well, last week… When I asked for a certain yarn that I didn’t know the name of. The woman there looked it up on the store computer, even though they do not carry that brand. She then told me where I could get it locally from other stores in the area. I love that she did this because small businesses need to band together to survive in this economy. I didn’t really need to buy anything. I did, because this is exactly the type of store I want to patronize.

Good lighting, edited collection. Clearly people like me don’t belong in Los Altos, the land of Mercedes and Porsche. Me and my little Toyota Yaris stood out; me with the natural ‘do and handcrocheted sweater, and my sweet little car that faithfully gets me to and fro. I expected the stares (which were legion), but was pleased with the friendliness. Picked up some pretty incredible yarn, and had time, while getting my yarn wound, to peruse a sea of Berroco, Rowan, and Koigu. It’s not a very big place, but it’s definitely a friendly place. You should probably call ahead if you have a yarn in mind… they don’t have everything.

I don’t know why this place gets such a bum rap.
They will help you if you ask but in general they just let you browse. This suites me since I really hate obsequious staffs.
I would say ignore all the negative comments and go check it out for yourselves, you will not be disappointed!