Wool & Company & Simple Gifts

Great selection of yarn and even better selection of knitting books. While I was there, the employees were very attentive without being pushy. Very glad to find this LYS!

I’ve purchased yarn from this store about three or four times. My experiences are just okay. I accomplished what I needed to at a location not far from home. But I would much rather shop at a knit store I have purchased from in Chicago. The differences … From this store I get just what I ask for but in Chicago they carry on a conversation and offer suggestions. From this store when I asked if they could wind my yarn the response was, «You can do it, I’ll get you started». In Chicago they offer to wind my yarn for me. When I leave this store I feel like I was just a shopper. In Chicago when I leave I feel like a valued customer and I want to return for more. From positive reviews a Glen Ellyn store sounds a little more like my Chicago store. I will drive a little further and try the Glen Ellyn store. But when in the City will always visit my favorite.

This is such a cute, cozy store in the heart of downtown St. Charles. It’s kitschy and I always enjoy myself wandering around browsing all the different choices of yarn. I’ve never really asked for help so I can’t comment on that, but as far as the store itself goes, it’s awesome. It can be pricey, but they carry outstanding yarn so that is totally understandable! Parking is usually easy in the parking garage nearby.

I’ve been to many good yarn stores, and this one does have a great selection of luxe yarns. *however* I am hesitant to recommend it to anyone, because the staff acted like they were out out by my asking where certain yarns were (it was my first trip into the store). Actually, I was one of two customers in the store, the other was a browser, and I was the only one asking questions (three. And they were «do you carry XYZ yarn and where is it?» kind of questions.). They didn’t know their stock, they couldn’t direct me to it. And although it was nice not to be hovered over, when I’m at the counter prepared to check out, it’s unprofessional to continue your chit chat. :/​
I’m kind of mad at myself for supporting their business, actually.

Ah my first local yarn store, wonderful. Geneva is my hometown and whenever I was home visiting during college I’d stop in and browse and buy some yarn if I wasn’t on a super strict budget. There is a wide variety and I was always able to find anything I needed with little to no trouble. The staff was always helpful in answering questions or helping me find something.
The only reason I am giving this store 4 stars instead of 5 is because they moved locations and the Geneva location was vastly superior to the St. Charles location.

I have been buying all my yarn at this store for years. I have never asked for any help.
Yesterday, I came in with finished parts of a sweater I worked on for the last year.
I was treated like an idiot, and the woman was less than helpful. As we spoke, she began a conversation with a coworker. I told her I didnt think she wanted to help me.
She told me that I needed to «make an appointment» if I wanted one on one help.
There werent any customers in the store. Two woman were sitting at a small table knitting. It wasnt like people were lined up to come in !
I will not be going back. I felt I was treated in a rude manner.

I first went to their Geneva location a couple of years ago, and it’s been my trusty-​dusty LYS ever since. I had a little bit of sticker-​shock the first time I went in there, but that’s mostly because I had only ever bought yarn from JoAnn’s before — which primarily carries cheaper materials, bigger commercialized brands, and far fewer natural/“luxury” fibers.
The patterns are a bit ridiculous in price. I was encouraged by one of the employees to pick up a baby hat pattern which cost $ 4, to be told to knit in the round for about 5−6″ before you decrease and bind off. As much as the hat turned out nicely, you can find equivalent, if not better, patterns for free online. The complexity needs to be better balanced with the cost.
Of course, if you’re a knitter/​crocheter with money to burn, the quality here really is excellent. There are some amazing merino superwash yarns in here, as well as some glorious hand-​dyed yarns. They even have some great clearance sales every so often. I tend to be a one-​skein worker, and the variety of sizes, textures, and materials is fantastic. I still go back to JoAnn’s for larger projects when I need a lot of yarn, but for the little projects, Wool & Company is my favorite place to go. Additionally, the needles they carry are of excellent quality.
Bottom line — if you’re okay with the price tags, it’s a great place.

I’m giving it 4 stars only because I have only gone there once and I’m hesitant to say it’s amazing until I go there again. That being said, this place is amazing. haha. I went there on a Monday afternoon and a woman in her 20s helped me out, which was refreshing since I’m a 20-​something as well. I usually feel very out of place in nice yarn shops because of my age, but not here! Like another reviewer said, she was helpful without being overbearing. I will walk out of a store if someone is trying to sell to me too hard, but she just asked once and left me alone until I approached her for help. I grabbed an alpaca yarn I liked and asked her if she could find me something similar that wouldn’t shed, and she immediately showed me several good choices (many of which were significantly cheaper than the alpaca one I picked out, so I could tell she was only interested in helping me and not the bottom line). Ultimately I got what I wanted for a reasonable price, and felt good leaving the store. Not only that, but they have a yarn baller for customers to use! So cool! What a brilliant but simple idea. Props to this St. Charles gem. I will be back again!

Best air conditioning EVER. As a giant fat man, this phrase does not come easy and Wool & Company should take this feather in their cap with pride.
My wife likes the yarn so that is probably good too :-).

Beautiful yarns and a cute shop. Lots of great giftables. Very knowledgeable crafters on staff and Neil the owner is quite the charmer. Definitely the place to go if you want a quality yarn for a special project

Heidi– I agree with you that this is an amazing shop– this is my LYS and I often think of it as MY shop. I am a local Geneva lady (46) no white hair sorry–
I am so confused by your comment — Wool & Co has employees who are mainly under 30 and many of the «regular knitters» are «young» as well.
So, I think the feeling you had was imagined or somehow misconstrued.

This is yarn heaven. They have a great selection. The staff is super nice and does not give you a hard time if you just come to pet the alpaca. I love this place. It is the best yarn store in the area!

Beautiful store, located in a wonderful shopping area — take an afternoon on a nice weather day and enjoy the area. (Watch out — many stores are closed on Sundays.)
Great selection of yarns, accessories and patterns — truly something for everyone.
Owners are very knowledgeable though I’d also say harried — they are in constant demand.

This place is fantastic!!! I can spend hours in this store, there are so many choices of yarn and needles!!!
Don’t get me started on how great the staff is! They are so helpful without being overbearing, if you have a question they will certainly try to help you find an answer. :)
On the specific day I went in I was looking at this yarn and there was one skien in the colour I wanted (the yarn was hand dyed) and the others were off by a little… one of the women working in the store went in the back brought out yarn and help me look through all the yarn so I could find another skien that would match… she was great (I felt bad because she had to organize all the yarn again).
I would highly reccomend!!! If you enjoy knitting even if it is just for a scarf-​you will enjoy yourself immensely.

If you would have told me a year ago I was going to walk through the door of this store and think, «I have died and gone to yarn heaven!» I would have told you that you were crazy. However, that was my first thought when I made my first visit the other day.
I would agree with Gail L. that Wool and Company is pretty much the perfect yarn store. Their staff was helpful and friendly, but not overbearing. The space is open and inviting, yet filled with the fiber goodies every knitter/​crocheter who walks through the door would expect. I liked that their yarns aren’t only «high-​end» yarns and you can find some of the more affordable brands you might see at Jo Ann’s or Michael’s as well. I loved that they had a whole section for sock yarns and associated books. It helped that It was all condensed into one area instead of having to seek it out. I also feel that it’s a nice touch to have a ball winder and swift available for customers to use at their leisure in the event they wanted to cake their most recent purchase before leaving the store.
Time literally slipped through my hands during my visit.
All in all, I highly recommend Wool and Company!

Wool & Co. has an enormous selection of yarn. If the yarn stores closer to me don’t carry a certain line I know Wool & Co. will end up having it. They have a good amount of books and patterns as well as lots of little gifts and trinkets.
I regularly attend their Sunday afternoon/​evening knitting group. It’s generally between 3 & 6pm. You can find great help, advice, and support there.

Wool & Co. has a great selection of yarns, and a fantastic staff.
I first visited Wool & Company to take a Knitting 101 class. The class was well-​structured and better than any other I could find in the suburbs (even though W&C is about 1.5 miles from my house, I would drive somewhere else to take a better class).
There were times while working on a project for the class that I needed help, and any time I went into the store they were eager to help or fix a problem I had. Every time I go in, the owner’s husband, Neil, stops to chat with me and ask how my projects are going. They have a «Knitting Doctor» available almost every day from 12 – 1:30, and I believe they even have a free knitting circle on Friday mornings.
I would highly suggest a visit to this great yarn shop!

The first time my current boyfriend walked into Wool & Co, he said:
«You know, if I was into yarn, I would totally love this place».
Wool and Company is pretty much the perfect yarn shop. It is bright. It is full of all kinds of yarn. There are many books and kits. There are cute sheep figurines. The sales staff are beyond helpful, but leave you plenty of room and time to browse and drool.
Oh, and they have koigu. Yes, Koigu. Every time I walk in their store, I immediately go and stand in front of the Koigu shelf and drool. Then I go and stand by the cashmere and drool. Then I, well, you get the idea. This is not a yarn shop you dash in and out of. This is a yarn shop where you think you are ready to leave, turn a corner, and find a whole other section to stare at longingly.