Knitche

I love Knitche! Their light and comfortable location is well stocked with yarns of all kinds. Their staff is perfectly helpful. They have great sales, a yummy coffee bar, and really good classes.

Nice selection of yarn, nice space. Sales staff hit an excellent balance of being helpful but also leaving me free to browse without pressure. Good selection of sample garments. I would have liked to see a broader selection of variegated and shaded-​solid colors, but there is certainly plenty of that at other stores. I really liked that they had some fiber and spinning supplies — hard for me to find spinning stuff anywhere other than online — but the selection was very limited. No wheels; just some spindles and accessories (niddy noddy, etc.).

I’m a pretty new customer, but I’m absolutely smitten with Knitche. I have been eying their class schedule and webpage for the last year or so, but this year’s Yarn Crawl was finally the excuse I needed to get in the front door. I have been back numerous times since, have taken two classes already and counting. Oh there will definitely be more. Sometimes classes are taught by people that may be excellent knitters and lovely people, just maybe not the best at trying to explain it to someone else — but the three teachers I’ve seen in action here were very capable.
The staff has always been excellent. They greet you promptly and are very eager to help you. I notice some older reviews have mentioned some issues, but cannot say I’ve come close to anyone ever being remotely unfriendly or unhelpful, and I’ve encountered numerous folks now. I had a question about a price from a purchase once, and owner Kathy was very prompt to reply, pleasant and responsive. I really try not to bother anyone for help unless I get really stuck, but they’ve been incredibly sweet about lending a hand if I finally break down and ask.
The yarn selection is great, lots of variety of prices, and the layout is quite cozy and comfortable. Whoever lays out the products and samples really has a good eye for that.
I’m not a coffee drinker, but the people I’ve been in the store with are and absolutely love their drinks. (I was a big fan of the hot cocoa though!) It’s nice that they carry gluten free options sweet treats too — I have a family member that can’t eat gluten and sometimes it’s so challenging for her, so really appreciate when I see places that offer that.

This review is for their coffee.
Now, I know Intelligentsia coffee is pricey but this store takes it to a whole different level! I used to come here often a year ago because I am not a huge Starbucks-​kinda-​gal so I opted for Knitche’s coffee because they make decent lattes using Intelligentsia espresso beans. Anyway, the last time I went a couple months back, I ordered a soy hazelnut latte and it was over $ 6! Even in Chicago or New York, I have never had a latte that expensive before. You used to get a reward card but regardless of whether you bought coffee or espresso beverages, you would only get a free coffee (or the price of a coffee discounted toward your espresso beverage), so the card isn’t really worth it for the espresso.
As others have commented, most employees are really sweet and friendly but there are instances where I did not have the friendliest employee assisting me.
Overall, if you want Intelligentsia coffee on the-​go, then stop by here, but it is not worth the price… I’ve opted for buying excellent coffee beans and brewing my own afternoon coffee with a travel press, which allows for me to keep my $ 6 and some change… thank you very much! :)

This charming store makes yarn shopping an experience instead of an errand. There is an excellent selection of all types of yarns, from many different companies. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly and never make you feel rushed. The little café/​coffee shop within the store is a nice feature and adds to the cozy, friendly atmosphere. I love shopping here and look forward to any chance I get to purchase yarn for a new project, because it means I get to pay a visit to Knitche again!

Why I gave Knitche 5 stars:
1. The delightful owner and her friendly staff are the best! They are kind, caring, and knowledgable.
2. The shop is cozy, homey and filled with the most lovely yarns.
3. Their coffee is my favorite. I can’t resist the Salted Caramel Cupcake!
4. I miss Knitche more than any place in the whole Mid-​West.

This shop has a great selection of yarn. Very expensive, but I am a bit of a fiber snob. I give this shop one star because the horrible attitudes of some of their staff out weighs the good yarn selection.
I have been to this shop numerous times, as I work in the area, and I can get a quick fix there. Also, everyone close to me knows I knit, so they always purchase gift certificates for me from this shop, unfortunately.
I have taken three classes in this shop, again gift certificates. The classes are too big, so there is not enough one on one attention when you need help. I have not taken a class in their new location, but the old location had terrible lighting and it was very difficult to see what I was doing. For all t three of the classes I have taken, they have been too short. You don’t have enough time in the class to get a good grasp on what you are doing before they send you on your way to finish your project. Very rushed.
On another note, there are a couple of women who work in the shop who are knowledgeable and friendly. Let me stress, a couple are nice and helpful. I have had several experiences with the owner of this shop, who is not nice or helpful. Her attitude is completely awful. Mean mean person. Her attitude rubs off on some of the staff. Every time I go in this shop I seem to over hear staff conversations, and they speak badly about customers, the owner, and coworkers.
Overall, I really wish I could love this shop, but I cannot. My knitting friends and I have all had the same experience with the owner and staff. Several people I knit with have refused to go back into this shop. They now drive 20 miles away to go to a different shop with employees and owners who have a better attitude towards their customers. Classes are smaller, and the teachers do not rush you. They also let you know when they are going to be in if you need to pop by for some extra help with your project after the class is over.
Boo Knitche.

i just visited the new knitche a week ago and i must say that i loved it. the selection of yarns is broad enough to find what you’re looking for, but not overwhelming, and very well selected. i think the upstairs section is cozy and adorable, and i took full advantage of the table up there to lay out different colorways and make my decision. i did not find the space cramped at all, which is probably due to the excellent organization and use of space. the staff was also delightful! my folks live out in the area, so anytime i am back in town i will definitely be hitting up knitche again!

Sigh, I’m a crocheter so understand we are the misunderstood and underestimated ones in the yarn world.
The positives:
The employees that crochet-​they seem starved to interact with other crocheters.
The environment.
The 2 major sales a year.
The smell (yarn and coffee).
It’s not cheap yarn!
They know my name :)
The negatives:
The employees that knit seem afraid to give crocheters yarn advice. (Yarn is Yarn!)
During the sales they don’t wind the yarn-​understandable but annoying.
Crocheters need more yarn than knitters and they often don’t have the amount I need for a bigger project in stock. They will order it if I ask-​But I can go online and get a discount when I buy in bulk. So I go here for smaller projects.
It’ s not a cheap yarn!

I wanted to like Knitsche. Really, I did, but I found it to be one of the most unfriendly yarn stores I’ve ever been in to.
Some have told me that it’s really the owner who is unfriendly and the rest of the staff is nice, so I must have just gotten her each time I went in. Even when we were spending $ 150+ on knitting supplies, she acted like it was a burden to wait on us. I’m willing to spend more to get high quality yarn and supplies, but not to also be treated like a nuisance while I’m doing so.
Sadly, the Chicago area doesn’t have a lot to choose from when it comes to yarn stores unless you are willing to make a long journey.
I’ve since moved to Colorado and learned how great a yarn store can be — friendly, welcoming, helpful and with a great selection. It makes Knitsche look even worse by comparison. (And just to confirm it’s not me, I asked quite a few of my Chicago area knitting friends and they mostly had similar unpleasant experiences and therefore drive long distances to shop elsewhere).
I’m glad to hear that some people had good experiences here, but that was certainly not the case for me or about 15 others who live nearby.

I’m just not a huge fan of the store. They have some great yarns and if you know exactly what you need, you’ll probably be fine, but the service is awful. I’ve been in about 4 times. The first time was great, very helpful, but after that… not so good. Once I was completely ignored, not so much as a «Hello, can we help you?» My visit today was very frustrating. I can knit, but sometimes need a little assistance making sure I have the right yarn. While I was there, the women who worked there were sitting around the snack area complaining about the owner. How unprofessional! Then I approached the counter to be sure I had the right yarn, and pay and they asked (from at least 10 feet away) if I needed anything. When I said I had a question she said «OK, go for it.» How about you get your lazy butt up and come help me? There were two counters, a work area and a table between us. What do you suppose you can see or do from there? So rude. I also don’t entirely understand how the yarn is arranged, but I guess I’m used to my old store (now, sadly, closed) who grouped the yarn by weight/​type. If I’m in the area I might stop in, but I prefer the Idea Studio in LaGrange.

Cute store and a big selection. But…
The lady who helped me was nice, but she seemed almost afraid to help with my question since I wasn’t asking about knitting (the big «it» craft with yarn) and ultimately suggested I go to Joann Fabrics (!!), which ended up being a BIG bust.
I should have just browsed more than I did and gone with my instinct, rather than being scared off by the uncertain staff member.
So if you know what you want, want a wide selection (and don’t mind a $$er price), check this place out in downtown Downers Grove.

I visited this yarn shop for the first time today and I love it! A yarn shop with a built in espresso bar (and goodies!) is genius. Even better, they’re very crochet friendly.
The selection is wonderful. Prices are a little higher than I’ve paid elsewhere, but not so much that I wouldn’t shop there. There’s a good mix of fibers and prices, but the yarns do tend towards higher end. However, I found several brands that I can’t find anywhere else locally, including Spud and Chloe, as well as brands that are harder to find, like Dream in Color.
As with most yarn shops, there is a wide selection of knitting needles and knitting books. However, this yarn shop has the best crochet book selection I’ve seen at any yarn shop, and among the best crochet hook selection. They had every recent crochet book that I know of published in the last couple years (that’s not a huge number, relatively speaking), as well as several good reference books. And they had every size regular crochet hook – in multiple brands, and in wood, metal, and plastic. They also had steel hooks.
The crochet-​friendliness doesn’t stop there, though. Along with knitted swatches and projects, there are many crocheted swatches and projects around the shop. Finally, they have both Interweave Crochet and Crochet Today, as well as special crochet pattern books put out by yarn companies.
Finally, they do have a frequent shopper program. Every dollar you spend on regular-​priced yarn counts towards a $ 20 reward.
I am super impressed with this yarn shop, and am looking forward to giving them most of my yarn dollars… and quite a few coffee dollars, too.

Knitty heaven. Diverse selection of yarn, helpful staff, great courses, and I am always inspired when I go there. Sign up for courses with Theresa. She makes Martha Stewart look like a drooling idiot.

Let me clairify why I’m giving Knitche three stars, they have the best yarn selection around and the nook where you can snack and knit is just fantastic– but the service is terrible. I’ve been in twice, the first time looking for an interesting yarn for mittens and their selection was incredible, but as a new knitter I need some advice. I waited 15 minutes for someone to even acknowledge I exist and was about to walk out when the sales girl said «sorry for wait, let me ring this up and I’ll be right over.» I did leave buying two skeins of the coolest colored yarn I’d ever seen, and wanted to give them one more chance. I stopped in the next week to pick up a pair of needles as well as a tea and this time the service was even worse– no one made one look in my direction and the lady making the tea seemed to have a chip on her sholder.
Yes it’s a great place to go looking for yarn and you can sit and work while enjoying a snack but don’t go expecting to learn anything. I would like to attend one of their classes to see if it’s any better, i sure hope so.

Nice and gives my «yarn heaven» a run for its money.
I met a few of my fellow knitting peeps at Knitche to knit and admire all the great yarns. What I didn’t expect was that I would also be admiring the fact that they had an area where one could purchase coffee and treats to snack on while they sat and knitted. That’s what impressed me the most about the shop.
I really like the environment of this shop. It has a nice comfy sofa for those that want to sit out in the open or a closed off classroom area for a bit more privacy. The overall atmosphere is warm and inviting. The selection of yarns at Knitche overall was really good. Though some brands had a better selection of colorways than others,
All in all, I will definitely make a return trip to Knitche in the future.

Knitche is one of the best Yarn shops I have been to. The store has a lot of natural light and a HUGE selection of yarns and colors. (i think they may have even had 90% of all the colors Cascade 220 comes in, impressive)
The staff is also helpful in selection the right yarn for your project and they also helped me select patterns.
The other thing I love about this store is that they offer coffee and barista beverages. So it would be a fun place to go with your yarn using buddies to hang out and craft.
Just get ready to buy more yarn than you intended :)

With yarn stores closing everywhere, I found myself in this small storefront looking for some yarn for a knitting project. I was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness and willingness to help shown by the two women working there today.
This is a really nice shop with good coffee and nice yarn. The prices were comparable to what you would get online, but the customer service was fantastic.
I will definitely return and highly recommend Knitche.

I always said that all downtown Downers Grove needed to be perfect was a yarn store. And then, one day, Knitche arrived! And better yet, they came with intelligensia coffee.
Knitche is one of the prettiest yarn stores I’ve been in. Their displays are interesting, and I’ve found myself seduced into buy yarn I never would have considered. The shop is very bright, and the yarn organized by usage. They often have higher end yarns, but they carry the basics, like encore and cascade 220.
They also make an excellent mocha, and they carry Inko’s bottled ice tea, which I love.

This cute little knitting shop in downtown Downers Grove deserves its generous rating. Where else can one drink a nice Intelligentsia espresso and snack on Red Hen Bread goodies during SEX («Stash Enrichment eXpedition» as we yarn junkies say). It’s all good, baby.
Knitche offer a variety of learning activities, including free lunch break workshops (if you’re close), group classes and private lessons if you don’t know what you’re doing or just need a brush up. Their website tells it all.
No, the yarn isn’t cheap and yes, they still try to sell standard Clover needles you can get at Hobby Lobby or JoAnn’s for ½ the price. But you’re not going for those anyway. The atmosphere here is splendid and tempts you stay longer and spend just a little more time, and probably a little more money. They got it right. It worked.