Knit-a-Bit

Rude, unprofessional, unhelpful, and nasty. They just gossip and avoid helping the customers. You’d think they would want to help in order to make a sale. Or at least be helpful being that they should be providing a service I’d never give them my business. I was highly disappointed. Wouldn’t waste my time nor money there. I’m looking to go the a newer location in Westfield for my yarns. If I could give this –negative stars, I would.

LOVE this shop — and the proprietors, Susan and Harriet! Friendliest, most helpful and accommodating team of yarn mavens! Whatever your skill level — beginner to expert knitter/​crochet-​er, this shop has it all for you! Wonderful, quality yarn selection, patterns and books galore! Classes for all levels and the willingness to help with a dropped stitch or a complex chart. Its an oasis!
Now located in Fanwood, NJ (42 S Martine Ave) — free parking is a bonus (and plenty of it)!

So happy that Knit-​A-​Bit has moved to Fanwood so close. Susan is amazing and so very knowledge. The store is adorable and one of my favorite places to go to for patterns, tools and all varieties of yarn. Would definitely recommend. Beginner classes offered and so fun.

I’ve read some of the other reviews about the owners being nasty, and I just do not get it. I’ve only met Susan but she’s literally the
. She was EXTREMELY nice and I feel as if I’ve known her forever. Just a peach. In my few visits I’ve never felt disrespected or ignored.
The store itself is very quaint and cute, stocked with squishy yarn and notions. Prices are decent as well. You can easily spend 20 bucks and be satisfied. There’s a ton of needles of different brands and lengths. I do wish there were a few more size 7 straights but perhaps I need to get with the times and conquer the circular.
Books are all 20% off! And there’s a bookcase completely filled with them. Skeins are wound into balls for no charge.
In the back (or the side?) of the store there’s a classroom for the lessons they have there.
Please don’t let a few negative experiences written here sway you. Knit a Bit is definitely worth checking out.

Nasty to all the customers. The owners talk about you when u leave the store.

This is one of my favorite places for yarn ever. Nicest owners/​staff. Great selection of yarns, tools and patterns. As a male knitter I don’t often feel at place in a yarn store but I love this store. Best sale selection too!

Pros — too few to warrant walking up a steep staircase
Cons — nasty owners who really shouldn’t have a retail business.
knit a bit is a bit too full of themselves to have a retail establishment. They used to be the only game in town but with a new store in Clark and Cranford and now Westfield they better change their tune or maybe knitting needles. They act as if they are doing you a favor to even answer a question.

Small space, but terrific variety of yarn. I have been there a few times and they were extremely friendly and helpful. They even welcomed my 3 year old son.

What a wonderfulshop! We are in the area of westfield and it took me forever to find this hidden gem, but so glad I did. The walls are stacked with so many different types of yarn and colorways… its almost overwhelming! Luckily the staff is really friendly and helpful at helping find you exactly what you need. They even wind the hanks into balls for you.
When I went, I had a question about my work in progress and they were able to talk it out and help me. Super nice!
Another thing I love is the weekly newsletter with updates on sales and classes, info, yarn and book of the week

Thanks to knit-​a-​bit I feel confident to start a new project, and I know that I have a place to go when I inevitably hit a rough spot. The staff is attentive, and are extremely helpful when looking for a new project, or trying to decide what yarn to pick up for a new project. I will sometimes just go and hang out during the day and knit.
For the size of the store, the selection is great, stocking more pricey, beautiful yarns as well as more affordable yarns. I also take classes at the shop and I have found a place to challenge myself in a welcoming environment. Hours are a a bit limited during the week, but they are open later on Wednesdays, and they are open on the weekends. They will also extend their hours during the holidays. The shop also sends out a weekly newsletter, highlighting pattern and yarn ideas, as well as celebrating finished projects by local knitters. I highly recommend this shop for any knitters in the area.

Pros: Excellent selection, experienced staff.
Cons: Deafening yenta central, inconsistant service.
Four clients in the shop, 3 women together discussing one gals project and myself having just meandered in from the street. I was greeted at the door and otherwise summarily ignored for the 30 minutes I moved from one to the next of the four rooms filled floor to ceiling with yarn, notions and books.
Now, it’s always nice to hear how involved the staff can be in assisting knitters with their projects, as the two women working there offered advice and yarn subsitutions to the one woman as her two friends looked on and agreed. Unfortunately, neither of the two women has an inside voide. I actually had to place my ipod buds into my ears and turn on the tunes at the tail end of my visit in an attempt to counteract the aural assault.
I’m no shy flower and had originally considered taking a seat to have myself a knit as I routinely do when visiting a yarn shop but did not feel at all welcomed in an ambiance of limited hospitality.
Perhaps the clients being addressed were extra special patrons.
Perhaps it was on an off day and I should give this LYS another shot.
Perhaps the Yarn Gods were smiling on me, knowing that I have enough yarn to last through the apocalypse and should scoot my arse elsewhere to while away the afternoon.

Knit-​a-​Bit has a great selection, especially considering their small space. There’s basics as well as unusual hand-​dyed wools and luxe wools like baby alpaca. They also have a good selection of needles including bamboo and turbos and lots of fun patterns. You can take lessons there too. Everyone who works there can knit, so they will help you with your projects, even if you’re not enrolled in lessons. They are very good with beginners, but not as good with advanced knitters working on tricky projects or with felting projects.

The hours of Knit-​a-​Bit are clearly listed on their door and website: they’re your standard operating hours of a business… but wait– they close at four from Tues-​Friday? And Wednesdays at seven? Four may seem a bit early and it is, since I can never seem to make it to the blasted place before they close! This has led to me standing (not just a couple of times) outside the store clutching a half-​completed knitting project, sad look upon my face after realizing, «Damn! It’s 4:30!» Curses to you ladies for leaving early!
This diatribe aside, it’s a wonderful yarn shop and the problem lies with my inability to leave work on time and not the lovely ladies of the Westfield knittery. They carry a lovely stock of the usual LYS stock, and have a fantastic variety of Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride. On a particular Wednesday, I was flummoxed with a pattern and the owner was patient and kind enough to straighten me out, which is what you need after messing up the same tricky part of a pattern for what seems like hours.
The prices are slightly higher than average– I blame the locale– but Knit-​a-​Bit is one of my favorite yarn shops, tied with Pins and Needles in Princeton. I highly recommend you check it out, but for the love of Pete, GET THERE EARLY!
**UPDATE**
I stopped by yesterday to take some pictures around town and noticed they’re also not open on Saturday, Sunday, OR Monday during July & August. Don’t know how practical that is, though I’m sure that’s not prime knitting time.