Garden District Needlework Shop

I am having trouble reconciling the store I visited with what other folks are describing so I think that they must have moved or decided to share space. When you go to 2011 Magazine street, there are several stores within one space. The knitting store is on the top floor and I didn’t find the offerings to be that extensive. It was better than the two other shops in town I have been too, but not impressive compared to most stores I visit. It is slightly pricey but this is a high rent touristy area so I wasn’t surprised.
There was some sale stuff but not much that caught my eye. I found it very annoying that only about ½ the yarns have prices. You have to ask them to check prices for you for all the other yarns and she didn’t seem happy to do so. Other than that she was pleasant enough (perhaps some snide comments about the other yarn store down the street).
I have not yet found a yarn store in New Orleans that really speaks to me. I travel there every other year or so. If I needed to buy something while in town, I would likely go to this one.

I went yesterday and THEY ARE GONE! I was so looking forward to visiting them and THEY ARE CLOSED. Now what are we going to do?

First time visiting this shop. I could have spent hours here if I had the time. The ladies were very helpful and friendly and their selections of yarn was incredibly large. It was so hard to choose from. There was even had a separate room towards the front of the store where they carried their clearance/​sale items. It was equally great. I loved everything about this store. From now on, when I visit New Orleans this shop will be on my list of what not to miss. Until now I have usually gone to the shop in the French Quarter but I cannot believe I have missed this one. If my suitcase had not already been full, I would have stuffed it with more knitting goodness from this store. Truly a gem.

They have a good selection I think. I give them three stars because I didn’t find the place very inviting. Also, they don’t wind the yarn for you. There is a swift on the table and you can do it yourself but they are not getting up to do it for you. I have my own swift now so it isn’t a big deal, I just think it is nice when a shop offers.
Product is good but service can be lacking or sort of frosty.

I’m a novice knitter — my 11 year old daughter is the more accomplished fiber artist in this family — but the ladies here make me feel very welcome and have encouraged me to branch out from «knit, knit, knit… bind off!». I typically try to buy my wool in town as well as books. When I was looking for a book everyone pitched in to locate the one copy that eventually was determined to have gone missing. The sale room is great. You will often find enough of one wool/​dyelot to actually make more than a scarf. I like the shop.

IF YOU’RE A CROCHETER, GO ELSEWHERE.
As I was checking out (purchasing no less than $ 70 worth of yarn), I was told by the woman that it was too bad I was not a knitter, as I would not be able to make the water bottle holder which she apparently had designed. When I responded that I thought I could likely figure out something similar with my hook she flatly responded «no» all but saying that my craft was clearly an inferior one. I don’t really care if the way I choose to create with the yarn hurt her sensibilities, but I do believe that she should not be alienating customer who would have spent plenty of time and money in her store.
I will NOT go back.

HUGE!
My jaw literally dropped the first time I walked in. The staff is friendly and beyond helpful with all knitting related questions that I had. There is a great atmosphere in this shop, and often there are groups of women enjoying lunch while knitting at the two large tables in the shop.
I love the fact that they have a sofa for people waiting on shoppers. My husband looked quite comfortable there while I filled my arms with yarns.
Be sure to check out their sale room, there are some amazing finds there!

This place is HUGE.
Instead of the crammed-​floor-​to-​ceiling-​yarn-​avalanche floor plan, the Garden District Needlework ladies spread out and gave themselves some elbow room. That’s a good thing because the store has a lot going on. In addition to the usual expectations from a yarn store (knitting area, yarn, sale goods, needles, notions, bags, books), this store has a full-​service needlepoint and cross-​stitch section. I know jack-​if-​all about that bit of the store so I’ll just point out that it looks very expansive with all manner of threads available at multiple price points. If you have a burning need to needlepoint, this is probably the place for you.
But don’t get me wrong; knitters won’t be looked down on for their yarn lust. Garden District Needlework has a good range of yarns, too. Workhorse yarns? Yep. Fancy, frilly things? Yep. Really expensive stuff? Yep. Baby yarns? Yep. Sock yarns? Yep. (The sock knitter in me could use a few more choices, but I understand that New Orleans is not a sock town.) The prices compare to what I paid in Philly, which invokes a little moral outrage. (Cost! Of! Living! Is! Lower! In! Louisiana!)
My objection… the only one… is that service got a little frosty when I dropped the «w» word as I was checking out: wife.
The store has a computer system to keep track of their bonus points (yay!) for future discounts and good things. My lady gave her name and was duly entered (yay!), then I was asked for my name. Since we have the same last name and don’t look a thing alike (true facts), the ladies behind the counter cooed about being sister-​in-​laws and gave my darling one of those dreamy «Awww, you sweet newlywed with a new name, I remember when that was me» looks. I countered that with a shake of my stubborn little head and a soft, «No, wives» as I handed over my credit card. Maybe it’s a generational thing, but I didn’t expect such a chill.
I’m not giving up on this yarn store because I think it’s a good local yarn store and can be a lovely place to shop and learn and build community in future. But it wasn’t quite what I expected the first time, either.
For yarn tourists: There aren’t many local dyers or yarn producers in Southern Louisiana so you won’t find anything special in this shop. You’ll see a lot of good things, but nothing specifically local. Keep that in mind before choosing to leave the Quarter.
Accessibility notes: Main shop is fully accessible for mobility devices. There is a step up into the sale room. Many yarns are stacked six and seven feet into the air. No braille signage.

This is the superstore of needlework crafts. Whether you knit, needlepoint, or crochet, if there is anything you need, you will find it here.
The space is huge, and there are all varieties of yarns, from very affordable to super luxe, hand spun yarns. My favorite part of this store is the big bargain room of discounted yarns. I can get lost in that room for hours and look for interesting yarns to jumpstart my knitting creativity.
The staff is pretty particular, and it’s known in the knitting community that they can be rather snotty, probably due to the fad factor that knitting had a few years ago, but if you are a serious knitter, they are quite plesant.