This shop is delightful! I just moved to the area from Seattle, and noticed this cute shop when wandering the downtown area of WBL. I stopped in and was definitely impressed by the selection; they've packed a lot in a small space! They have a cozy couch area in the front near the windows, so I'll have to bring some projects with me some time to hang out :) Ended up getting a few skeins at 40% off (nice!), and chatting with the very friendly & nice salesperson. read more

Sad this was the only place I got to go on my vacation. Got some cool yarn but when I asked the owner if she had any local made yarn she said there is no yarn manufactured in the US... after that I just played stupid and nice and bought my yarn and left. read more

The owner and her cronies were loudly gossiping about how they were "keeping an eye on the woman in the grey hoodie who always comes in and steals yarn." I realized they were talking about my son's partner, who was wearing a grey hoodie, had simply been waiting while I shopped, had never been in the store before, and absolutely did not steal anything. Their racist assumptions and casual accusations were appalling, and they have permanently lost my business. read more

My wife and I have spent a small fortune on products at this shop over the last several years, as we love WB (I grew up there) and wish to support local businesses. Today, my wife was spending something like $170 on random bits she wanted for projects and was subjected to a Red Hat MAGAt tirade of nonsense and vitriol from the owner of all people. Who, incidentally claims to be a "trained economist"? Sorry, but getting a C in one Intro to Econ class at Lakewood does not make you an economist, Ethyl. We will NEVER spend another penny there. Having political views is all very well and good, shoving them onto your CUSTOMERS is reprehensible! read more

They have a large selection of yarns and are very helpful in helping you find what you want/need.

Although there is an ample supply of good yarns in this shop the lack of considerate service by the young woman clerk was appalling. She was not knowledgeable about the type of yarn I was looking for (self striping) and blustered it by shoving tweed yarns at me. She then ignored me at the check out stand (I had about $60 worth of yarn and needles), instead she continued winding a ball of yarn. There was no one else checking out so after waiting for 5 minutes I gave up, returned the products to the proper places and walked out. It was one of the worst customer experiences I've had in a long time. Shop online ( which is what I did later that day), getting the same yarn at less cost. read more

I'm a beginner crocheter and recently found this place after looking for stores that sell malabrigo yarns....this place is so cute and has soooo much to choose from! The lady that owns it (Marj) has been so lovely and helpful to talk to and you can tell she's excited to introduce knitting and crocheting to more people. Stop in, give this place a chance, talk to Marj....this place deserves more than the 3.5star rating it currently it has! read more

I am a beginner knitter, barely able to ascertain which end of the knitting needle to use. Some places treat novices like idiots, but this shop is wonderful! I admitted my knitting ignorance and was happily (and respectfully) shown different yarns and completed projects in the shop. The young knowledgeable pro knitter was teaching me about gauging the knitted product. I appreciate this attitude! I will return to buy more yarn in the future since they are very welcoming! I was amazed at their selection of yarns and finished projects to look at! I did find info on their website about coming in for help on knitting & crocheting-I've included a screenshot so you can check it out! Please check their website, since the days/times may change, but I LOVE a shop that is HELPFUL! read more

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I'm a beginning knitter and have been trying to advance my skills. I'd been intimidated to go to this store as the last time I stopped in I saw an employee (as it turns out it was Marj) helping another customer with a complex knitting issue I waited and watched but left because I wasn't really following the discussion. So this time I came in with problems and questions with learning to knit in the round using dpns. Another customer asked nearly the question I wanted to ask while I was in the store so I watched as Marj gave solutions to the question posed. Which helped me get up my courage to ask my questions. Marj was so helpful and gracious with her time and her expertise! I not only felt like I was welcome to ask questions there anytime but to also bring in a project and sit there and work on it anytime. It's my new home store. read more

I absolutely would recommend Sheepy Yarn Shop to anyone. The owner, is so knowledgeable about yarns and knitting and is willing to help you when she can. She usually is the only person in the store, so you have to be patient and understand that she has to answer the phone and help other customers. Her selection of yarns, especially Rowan yarns, are just beautiful and top of the line. Best button selection in the Twin Cities and the quality cannot be beat. I am so glad that we have this wonderful shop in our suburbs. Nothing but good five-star review from me! read more

I've taken classes there over the years, as have two of my kids. Because you can knit or crochet doesn't make you a good teacher. They don't have great teachers. My daughter took a class and was never taught about what to do if a stitch is missed. They are friendly some times we go in and rude other times. I expect better when paying so much for yarn. read more

The way I see it, there are two kinds of yarn stores in the world. The first is where you walk in the door and are immediately greeted like a long lost friend, regardless of whether the employee(s) have seen you before or not and they automatically begin pumping you for questions about what you're making, offering friendly advice and suggestions and inviting you to join them for their next event. The other kind of yarn store has a more reserved tone. The employees aren't unhelpful, per se, but neither are they jumping down your throat, trying to force friendship/sales/advice on you. When you walk in the door, they smile, say hello, and then turn back to whatever it was they were doing. They let you browse in peace with the assumption that you will ask for their help if you need it. Depending on my mood, I like both these types of stores and will choose which yarn store to visit on any given day based on the mood I'm in. I would probably rate this store somewhere closer to the more reserved side of things. When I lived closer to White Bear Lake, I went to this store frequently because it was convenient, the yarns available for purchase are scrumptious and when you're mid-fantasy about how such-and-such a yarn would look knitted up, it's nice to know that an over-exuberant employee won't be popping up out of nowhere to break your reverie. However, it's been awhile since I visited this particular shop and I'm reluctant to return because my last experience there was dreadful. All the previously good experiences were completely ruined for me after that one trip. For starters, when I walked in the door, the individual behind the counter looked up from her book to glare at me. Um, OK? Another customer walked into the shop a few minutes after I did and she received the same glare. I wanted to leave when I saw that but I'd gone there for a reason: they were the only store in the area that was carrying what I wanted. Even though I'd picked up what I needed within minutes of walking into the store, I decided to browse for another 20 minutes because I was afraid to approach the wench by the register. So once I'd finally psyched myself up for the encounter, I walked up to her, put my purchase on the counter and said, "hi." She stabbed her finger at a spot in the book, looked at me, sighed loudly and said, "can you wait? I need to finish my paragraph." I couldn't believe she'd just said that to me, but I said I would wait. So I stood there for a few moments and true to form, as soon as she finished her paragraph, she made a HUGE show of marking her place in the book, setting it aside and beginning the inconvenient ordeal of ringing me up. In the middle of checking me out, the phone rang. She was the only person in the store so it made sense that she answer the phone. The part that did not make sense? It was a personal call. And instead of asking her friend to wait a minute so she could finish checking out a customer, she yapped on the phone for at least a minute before she finally turned her attention back to me and finished the check-out process, the whole time rolling her eyes and making it readily apparent that my presence there was a major inconvenience in her life. I was like, um, what flew up your butt and died? Even still, I'll give the place 2 stars because they do have nice yarn. read more

Snobby ladies, and not in the good way. Also, really weird hours. But I guess that's most of downtown White Bear Lake for you. And really, not a great selection of yarn. read more

I am a yarn tourist. Whenever traveling, I like to check out the local yarn stores. This place is right near my aunts' house and yet it was my first visit. I really liked it. I did not have any negative experiences. There were 3 of us shopping for yarn. My Mom: She likes to buy books and patterns. She has a big stash at home and is just looking for fun things to make. The staff recommended some pattern books and even ordered one for her. And because she doesn't live nearby, they are shipping it to her home. My SigO: He found some great yarn on sale and wanted to figure out what to make with it. There wasn't enough for a sweater so he wanted to do a vest. One woman working there tried to convince him that 10 skeins wouldn't be enough for a vest or little shawl. But she valiantly (albeit unsuccessfully) tried to find him some patterns. He bought the yarn anyway. I think it's gonna be awesome. I also really like the fact that they did not make a big deal about the fact that he is a guy who knits. Me: I have a huge stash and no need to buy more patterns, but I can't resist a sale. They were having a huge sale while we were there. I could've easily bought a suitcaseful of yarn, but I restrained myself. I was really impressed by the extent of the sale and I think they also have some shelves in back where things are always on sale. Overall: this was a big roomy store with a great selection. I really like the fact that you can stop by for help Monday and Friday afternoons. You just bring your project and they will help you. Not required that you buy anything from them. That's class. They also have a really nice website and there classes are way cheaper than other places. http://www.sheepyyarnmn.com/ read more

Love their small town hospitality yet timeless grasp of knitting and crochet technique, as well as fiber knowledge. Not going to find anything but the best fibers here, with everything you really need to complete any project, and no pushy salespeople---just friendly knitters/crocheters who have been addicted to fibers for their entire lives! Yes some of their prices are "up there" BUT if you stop and think of how many hours it takes to make a sweater (80-100 hours) and divide that by cost of yarn, you have about the least costly way to spend your free time. And really, what other activity has something totally scrumptious to show for all those hours? read more

I had a really good experience here. It was just after the yarn festival in Lake Elmo, 2009. They let me wind my hank there (so nice). Also, even though I wasn't seriously looking at buying more yarn that day, they tried to find everything I was commenting on. (I told them that seeing some of the yarn I'd only seen in magazines/books was like meeting a rock star and they didn't kick me out of the store for being bizarre. LOL) I bought a book of beautiful holiday clothing patterns for 99 cents & I also found the size 19/36" circs I couldn't find anywhere else. Both women were very kind and I wished they were part of my family. P.S.--I toted my husband and 9 year old son along, and the women were very kind to them and tried to entertain them while I looked. read more

I have never been on yelp until today for this very purpose. I am a 5th Generation White Bear lake person. I love my town. I am a multimedia artist. I have wanted to stop into this shop for about 5 years. The timing was never right between running here and there with the kids. I finally, after years of waiting to take a peek...(maybe I was shy because my fiber skills are very new?)...got the courage and timing right to finally check it out! I was so excited to chat with a small town yarn shop person about ideas I had and mostly to see what they had! I was greeted (as I have read in the other reviews) with an annoyed glance by the woman behind the counter. She kept her mask on her neck as well while asking, as if she was annoyed and interrupted, "can I help you find something?" It was more the tone of.."ugh what do you want". I mentioned that I had always wanted to check out this great looking store to which she replied.... (silence). My daughter was with me who also has an interest in beginning knitting/crocheting. She completely ignored my comments about her learning or wanting to take a class. I don't care if she was having an awful day(I do but don't treat customers this way), but I expected at least some sort of friendly customer service. I have been a manager in retail for 16 years. If one of my employees acted like this woman did I would be embarrassed. Needless to say I hurried out of this extremely awkward situation without purchasing anything and I will not be back again. I have recommended this shop before just because I thought it would be cute and fun. I didn't know it would be sad looking and super rude. read more

My wife and I have been to the yarn shop a few times and have had good and bad experiences they do have a good selection of yarn but the help can be helpful and other times not and quite bitchy with a horrible attitude as in talking down to you trying to belittle us. In our last experience it seemed as though it was a bother and overwhelming to help us even though we were the only ones in the store. read more

I have gone to this store twice and won't go again. The first time, I stopped in quick to take a look around and to grab a class schedule. You'd think I had just walked in with dog poo on my shoes and a fire extinguisher full of brown dye! The look the clerk gave me was very cold and rude. The second time I went in, one person was slightly helpful but she didn't listen to what I really wanted (no acrylic please, but I ended up with several skeins of 75% acrylic because my daughter fell in love with it). The other clerk kept giving me horrid, wilting looks and I wondered what I'd done. One of the customers in the store was very nice and gave my daughter a felted purse but the look on the clerks' faces spoke volumes at this kindness. This store will not get my business again. read more

I like the store very much. When I go in I am left to wander for a while before being asked if I need help with anything. The staff is extremely knowledgeable about the yarns they sell and at least two of the ladies are knowledgeable about luxury fibers that they don't necessarily have in the store. Their needle selection is excellent, they have sample WIPs should one wish to try out a new needle and they don't push one to buy their favorite needle (an experience I've had in more than one yarn store when looking for a needle I can't get at a big box store... very frustrating). There is one person who works in the store who tends to act like one is a shoplifter and is rude to everyone, including customers who are obviously in all the time and apparently her "friends". But for her, I would give the store five stars for being just my kind of place. read more

I visited this yarn shop yesterday and had a great experience. The owner Marge was there, and she was very friendly and helpful, not to mention patient when I couldn't make up my mind. They have a great selection of yarn, very diverse and large. They have the largest selection of sample garments I have seen at a yarn shop. It helps when selecting a yarn to see how it will look when knitted. I also noticed they offer crochet classes which are hard to find in the Twin City Metro Area. I recently moved to the Northern metro and this will be my new yarn shop. I would not hesitate to give this yarn shop a try. read more

We are lucky to have one of the few great yarn shops left. They offer a full range of services from classes to lots of patterns to great advice on all aspects of a knitting project including on how to fix a mess. The yarns and knitting equipment can be on the pricey side since they are quality products. I recently had to buy knitting needles for a project while traveling at a very nice yarn shop in CT but their needles, which were less than the German made knitting needles bought at Sheepy Yarn Shop, tended to catch the yarn. I have always found the staff friendly and extremely helpful when asked for help. read more

Very reserved staff, nice selection of yarn but the classes leave alot to be desired. There are so many yarn stores in the twin cities to visit-this one would not be on the top of my list. read more

I do not understand the bad reviews for this store. I was there yesterday and found the owner very helpful and extremely knowledgable. All of the yarn I found was high quality and beautiful. I will be going back with my knitting friends. read more

I stopped in this yarn shop while killing time waiting for one of my kids. It had been a LONG time since I had knitted anything and just wanted to make a scarf for something to keep my hands busy. My experience here was fine, JUST fine though and as I read some of the other reviews, I wanted to add my 2 cents worth. I agree with the other reviewers--you are not going to get warm fuzzies here (unless that is the kind of yarn you are purchasing). The salesperson who helped me acted like it was kindof a pain to help me even though I was the only one in the store. I did get a project, but have to go back today to get a little more yarn--we'll see how it goes!! read more