I went in on a Saturday afternoon knowing that I probably wasn't going to find all the yarn I needed for my project, but I did score some of the needles. When I went there was a patient woman working the counter who went above and beyond in helping me figure out how much yarn I needed for my project. I'm grateful, and I'll be going back for smaller project needs. read more

Amazing supportive staff! Popped in while in the city and had been stuck on a 2 color brioche project. The staff was so willing to help out and encourage me! I learned how to tink back and fix some of my new mistakes! Thank you John! read more

I wandered in looking for supplies for a yarn-related craft. When an older lady worker was finished with a customer she asked, "do you need help?" I mentioned what I was looking for and that I found a small section already, and she said "that's all we have bye." What they had was overpriced by about 200%. Do not recommend for service or value (unless you're on a first name basis with workers -- it's like watching them changing personality in front of you). I recommend ImagiKnit, near Dolores Park. read more

Atelier Yarns - Outside - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Horrible, rude customer service. They don't stand behind their products. They sell yarn that hasn't been produced since 2018 - back stock? bought from other stores' closeouts? . They sell yarn that "smells like" bug spray but angrily assert that they don't use bug spray - they don't understand there's a difference between accusing the store of using bug spray and telling them that their yarn smells like it. Much - perhaps all? - of their yarn is priced at 25% or more over the standard retail price charged by other retail stores in the area, nationally and by online sellers. The person who sold me the yarn that hasn't been produced since 2018 and smelled like bug spray was very nice but told me that it was 100 grams - I trusted her, didn't verify the weight and found out only after I'd gotten it home and started knitting with it that it wasn't 100 grams but rather 50 grams. There are other places to buy yarn in San Francisco. I suggest you got there. read more

Loved this yarn shop! They were so helpful and had a huge selection of yarn! There's something for everyone he

Came here as part of the Bay Area yarn crawl. Staff have been very friendly and helpful! They have a plethora of high quality yarn options. I try my best to support locally sourced yarn. This is literal heaven for me. Thank you for being here Atelier Yarn! read more

Atelier Yarns - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

The employees were so friendly and inviting and they have a great selection of yarns!

I bought some beautiful mohair fingerling a few weeks ago. Everyone was helpful and pleasant. I need a little hand-holding for my project and they were very supportive. I will be glad to come back soon read more

I visited all 3 local yarn shops while on vacation in San Francisco. I bought nothing at one, 1 skein at another, and did some damage at this one. Additionally, the staff was by far the most pleasant and engaging at this shop. Highly recommend. read more

This store is filled with temu products marked up 400%. The owner has the most atrocious attitude i have ever seen encountered. I'm seeing now that my experience is not unique. I highly suspect I was treated this way because I am a person of color. In this economy, there is no reason to give this miserable lady your business. Avoid at all cost. read more

The best place to go for inspiration. Good pattern selection and a wide ranging selection of yarns. Staff are so helpful and friendly.

Amazing place in SF to get all your fiber arts needs. Always super helpful when trying to find specific yarn.

I was looking for a Eye Yarn within the Area. Since its expensive to fly to Hawaii to get all the Yarn Lei i needed to do a Lei Po'o or Just Lei..I came in and checked it out..Their very help full with the questions. Im looking for a Yarn Lei to do my Lei...They showed me couple of Yarn lei to my Delight. Choices in Minimal. But the basic colors i need is available...One thing that Made me feel welcomed was when the Gentleman told me " Just let us what color you need and we can order it from our other store". My Heartfelt Aloha " You just added one loyal customer... read more

Atelier Yarns - Eyelash Yarn Lei Po'o - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I have been going to Atelier for years. Staff were especially helpful when I was a beginning knitter attending workshops there. I have also had success buying yarns and the accompanying patterns. However in the last year I've only run into problems with yarn I've purchased there. I found the staff to be unhelpful in resolving those issues. After coming to the shop twice recently regarding my last problematic yarn purchase, I finally emailed the owner,whom I took a sweater workshop with years ago. To my surprise and disappointment, I did not receive a response from her. I suppose I haven't given Atelier enough business to warrant a response. Be that as it may, I've decided not to shop at Atelier Yarns anymore. read more

À knitter's dream come true. Wonderful selection of yarns and the ladies there were so helpful. I look forward to many a great future visits. read more

Tried this place again and don't know why I did. Very expensive. Not very nice people.

terrible customer service, arrogant owner and overpriced yarn, not worth the trip, better to go to another store

My daughter is a young aspiring knitter who has a two sweaters under her belt. I thought it would be fun to take her to the first yarn shop that I went to over 20 years ago. Our first visit together was pleasant with engaging customer service. My daughter ended up spending a considerable amount of her own money on yarn for a new project. She loved the shop enough to return a second time. This time she went in with hopes of getting yarn she had purchased on a trip caked. I sent her in on her own while I looked for parking. The two ladies (different from the ones from our first visit) very rudely told her no they would not cake her yarn, stating their store policy was they don't do outside yarn because of the possibility of moths. While I understand their reasoning, even though the yarn was bought last week, the two salespeople made her feel embarrassed for even asking. Instead of welcoming a new knitter you have lost a potential lifetime customer with your pretentious customer service. No matter how beautiful your yarn is if the people who are selling it are mean no one is going to buy it- especially the younger crowd. I will never recommend this store or visit again. read more

I used to shop this place about 30 years ago when the owner's aunt, Grace, was in charge. And I remember the current owner, Amanda, when she opened the Marin shop almost 20 years ago. So, I was aware that prices are higher than other local shops and that service was sucky. When I arrived, there was apparently a water leak that affected yarns in the back of the store but the FOUR workers there were quite friendly and helpful. Yea! I did easily notice that on several of my favorite yarns they added a couple bucks (ouch!) to the retail price I was used to. (So, off to ImagiKnit!) I did purchase a Noro magazine. When I got back to my hotel room, as I was going through my receipts, I realized I was charged over twice as much for my magazine--which has its price printed on the cover. I called requesting a refund. The person I spoke with said she would have to call the owner about getting me a credit. I said that I wasn't local, I knew of Amanda's reputation (having lived in the Bay Area previously), that I wanted the overcharge refunded, and that they created the problem. "Do I have to speak with her myself?" Luckily, the worked called me back, saying the owner okayed the refund. Well, of course... The place was bright and well-organized and the tall, young dude was especially helpful, though. My curiosity about this place has been sated. I don't need to return. read more

We got yarn here and found we got it overpriced compared to the online price after purchasing. It is fine as we basically support local small stores, but it was not just a little but more than twice expensive, so I called and asked why this yarn is too expensive compared to the online one(exact same brand and length), then the staff became very aggressive saying this and that and hung up the phone. I didn't call to fight with anyone, I was curious why it is priced that high, and asked to deliver my words to the owner, so they can balance out the price. We were so much looking forward to being the regular at this place, but ended up ruining our supposed to be a wonderful day. read more

The yarns are beautiful and the staff very present. I appreciate seeing finished projects displayed throughout the shop; it helps to see the behaviour of a yarn instead of just looking at a skein/hank. Thank you. read more

I was looking for cables for my knitting needles. They did not have the brand I needed. Customer service was lacking. I ended up leaving without even looking at the yarn. read more

I want to give Atelier Yarns a good review because I came back here over and over again after my first visit last year. The location is good, and they have tons of yarns to choose from, reasonable prices. I also like the little sale area they have by the counter where I found some 100% Noil Silk yarns for $4/skeins. I ended up buying what they had left, a total of 8 skeins, different shades of brown/gray. Why ONLY 2 stars you ask? I had a very bad experience here a few months ago and have not gone back ever since. I came in and greeted one of the staff, she stared at me and walked back behind the counter without saying a word. A few minutes later, the same saleslady who ignored me started yelling at one of the other worker saying she should not have taken her break without her permission. She sounded so mean and her yelling made me feel really uncomfortable along with the other customers in the store. I just wanted to get out of there quick so paid and left. As I was paying, the mean saleslady did not say a thing, not even, "did you find everything okay," or "thank you." Gosh, I thought knitters are suppose to be really nice and helpful. I would change my review to 5-stars if I don't ever have to deal with the mean lady again :-)! read more

I thought it was me and I could not understand why the owner was so rude. But I see that others have had similar experiences. I visit Sf several times a year and waiting for #24 bus I have been drawn into the store several times. I have been knitting for 45 years and despite snide remarks from the owner, I am a very capable, even talented knitter. But somehow I have yet to grasp the store rules. You can't buy yarn without buying a pattern, you can't buy a pattern without buying the yarn, you can't buy the pattern without taking classes (difficult for me since I live in Ohio) and you can't buy the yarn, pattern and needles because despite 45 years of knitting, I seemingly have not met the owner's standard. Go figure. I guess they would rather hurl insults to a quiet, well mannered, pleasant potential customer than make a sale. On the other hand, what is wrong with me. I must be a masochist to silently put up with such behavior. I had hoped during my April trip to be able to purchase a pattern and yarn but alas the employee had to get her boss's permission. I am still waiting on the call back (too late - I am back in Ohio) . I just don't get it. Yarn shops in Ohio are friendly places. The yarn shop in the Castro is as well, but Atelier Yarns is HOSTILE!!!!! On the bright side they apparently hate all or at least most of us, so take your business elsewhere unless you like abuse! read more

I came here hoping for specialty yarns like merino and alpaca. I was in luck, they only stock natural yarns and only a few blends. The staff were more than helpful, they helped me with weight, color, and even offered me a pattern to go off of. People in the store (even customers) were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. Considering the price for fine goods made from these materials, the yarns are reasonably priced. I was able to make a men's beanie from alpaca for $23! Don't complain that this is not Amazon.com, this is a craft store where you purchase consumables they are not always returnable. Support this small business, they are awesome! This is now the place I'll go for my supplies, love to support you folks! Thanks again! read more

Why come here when there's the Disneyland of Yarn Stores in the same city? Store was really small and the stock was limited to a huge supply of Karabella in every single weight and color. Great if you're a Karabella fan... if not, you're out of luck. Extremely limited and small quantities of other lines. I think there was 4 skeins of MadelineTosh. Customer service was lacking and practically non existent. I had to climb on their step stool to pull a hank of yarn to look at. The one lady working at the time was more interested in knitting and chatting with a regular customer that was sitting on a stepstool. Pricing is also on the higher side of the suggested retail prices set by the manufacturers. One visit was enough for me to scratch it off of the lists. read more

What's with the return policy?? It was not clearly communicated to me when I purchased two sets of double pointed needles. Now, I want to return one (unopened and still brand new) set and they won't let me, even for store credit or an exchange. Too bad -- I would have probably spent quite a bit on some new yarn if they'd let me exchange the needles. Guess I'll just keep shopping at Inagiknit, where they are so friendly about returns. Thanks anyway! read more

I'm truly shocked by some of the lower reviews I see here. I have been to this store (the SF location specifically) at least a dozen times. Sometimes I knew exactly what I wanted, and other times I wanted suggestions. Every time I have been I was greeted with kindness, patiently shown my options and allowed time alone to feel the yarns, meander and contemplate the possibilities. For those complaining about the return policy, it's always been clearly communicated at the counter, printed on the receipts and when it's an independent shop that you haven't been to, it's your responsibility as a potential customer to ask before purchasing your items. The yarn is more pricey than you'll find at say JoAnns, but the quality is also better. I never compare yarn prices in store to online prices, because I'm happy to pay a bit more to be able to see and feel the product in person and get the helpful advice to go along with it. I did take off one star for the lack of selection. They do their best to have some of everything, but it's a small location, so they may not have every single variation that may be needed. Feel free to call in advance if you're looking for something specific! I haven't been back much since I moved out of town, but when I lived in SF, this was my go-to shop! read more

Super helpful staff and insanely luxurious but fairly priced selection. I've never seen so much silk and silk blend yarn in one place. read more

Atelier Yarns - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm not sure what people are complaining about. I just want to debunk some rumors I've seen from other Atalier Yarns reviews. First of all, all yarns are clearly priced. You have to look on the shelf tag. Maybe this wasn't the case when those other reviews were written, but I assure you that there's no price guessing now. The only things that are unmarked are the needles, but you can always just ask. Second, the lady who runs the store seems very nice. I went into the store for the first time last week and while I was browsing, I overheard the shop owner ringing up some customers. The customer was saying sadly how she had accidentally just left her knitting project on the airplane. The shop owner empathized by giving the lady a free pair of needles. That's the kind of personalized customer service that you can't get at a big retail chain. When it was my turn to be helped, I showed the shop owner and her assistant a knitting pattern I wanted to work on. They both went out of their way to show me their selection of yarn that would work for my project. Definitely stop in and check this place out! read more

I've always enjoyed coming to this little shop for my yarn. I spent 2022 working on a temperature blanket, and the staff were always so friendly, asking for updates on my project and offering assistance, helping me out if one of my colors wasn't available yet. Today however, I come in towards the end of the day, it was 4:53, and they close at 5pm. As someone who has worked retail, I get it, this can be quite annoying. But all I needed was to be pointed to the right section, quickly pick a color, and get out of there as quickly as possible so that I wasn't keeping the staff past time. The door was already locked when I got there, and the woman with curly grey hair waved her hand "no." I checked the clock again and waved to her. She came to the door and said they were closed. I asked, "I thought you closed at 5pm?" She said, yes it is 5pm. I said no, it isn't and showed her the clock on my phone. This woman rolls her eyes and irritatedly huffs, "Fine, do you know what you want?" I couldn't believe how rude she was. I love supporting small businesses, even if they are a little overpriced, but this is a shop that I will never be coming to again after this interaction. I was completely floored and I left. No way was I going to spend my money in a shop where the clerk was making me uncomfortable. I'm sorry Atelier, but if this is the staff that you're hiring, or worse if she was an owner or a manager, you've lost my business for good. Super disappointing. I'm only thankful that I don't have any ongoing projects with material from this place that I would have to seek out elsewhere. read more

When we go on a big vacation, I like to treat myself to some nice yarn and make myself a scarf or wrap as a memento. This shop was bursting with beautiful skeins in all weights, colors, and textures. I found so many lovely choices, but finally settled on a subtle blue green yarn with the help of their knowledgeable staff. I could have spent all day there. read more

Atelier Yarns - Such a cute shop! - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

The ANTI- San Francisco Experience, Just Awful. I don't like blowing people up, writing bad reviews, I don't even know about the product in this case, but here's my story. I have a sweater my Grandmother made in 1974. I Stand outside at the bus stop of this shop a few days a week- the sweater is my favorite all time piece of clothing, and I wear it so much, it's starting to come apart. There was a knitting class going on inside, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to ask about getting it fixed. When I approached this class, hoping to get a referral, or at least some participants interested in a really cool vintage hand-made heirloom, I couldn't have gotten a colder reception. The teacher/owner of the shop looked at me through the locked door like I was a thief, waving me off saying, "we don't do repairs here!, take it to a dry cleaner." I'm thinking, a yarn shop with 7 ladies knitting in it , and this uppity PAc Hts Barbi doll want's to send me to a dry cleaner? Lame. I too am a teacher, and I don't like having my class interrupted, but I work in a community center, and try to do my best to help people out, no matter how clueless or rude they are. It gives me the opportunity to teach the children manners and how to be a good citizen. I understand she was giving a class, and I was interrupting, but it's not like I was asking for change or directions. It seems to me like it would be a great opportunity for knitters to share some information about their craft. I was so put off by this woman, I asked around, and found out more than a few folks I know felt the same way about this spot for different reasons. One young lady I teach with (she occasionally teaches knitting where I work) told me the yarn is way overpriced, and she received the same snobbish Pacific Heights attitude I did, and it left a bad taste in her mouth. She said something funny like, with that type of customer service, I'll take my chances on line. Can a lil' yarn shop in our fair city afford losing customers like that? The only reason I wrote this review is because yesterday, I was wearing the sweater, and this older woman who comes to the center where I work was wearing a beautiful sweater that she made. She admired my sweater, and we started talking about it, she told me NEVER to take a sweater like this to a dry cleaner for a repair, she recommended a shop that has a person who does repairs regularly- EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR When I brought up my experience at Atelier, she said- "That place is AWFUL" So if I think it's weak, a 20's something club kid thinks it's weak, and a Grandma in her 70's thinks it's weak, guess what? So I guess what it comes down to is these people want to pick their customers. Good for them. I have a feeling if I was tall, dark and handsome, driving a nice car instead of waiting for the bus, I would have been invited in for tea and stitch and bitch. All i got was the bitch. read more

I would really like to say good things about this shop, but I can't help but feel like the unwanted customer in this shop. Maybe it's because I'm hood, or maybe because I have a little too urban of a vibe therefore I am an undesirable element, but I got NO love from the staff at the store. I felt like I was being watched because I was going to thug something from the store. Come on now. You can do so much better. Until then, I'm off to friendlier stores where they don't have to keep an eye on the hoodrat. Nice yarn though. Hope you have better luck than I. read more

I am not a fan of Atelier. I know that they can't help some things like how small it is, but there are a couple of things that they can take care of. It seems that every time that I have gone in there the cashier talks to me as if I have never knitted in my life. The last time I went there I specifically asked for stitch markers with slits. I had a specific reason for wanting these so when I asked I was surprised when the cashier told me "You don't want those they'll fall off, You want the closed ones." I don't like it when people assume that they know what I want. So I tried to nicely tell her that I in fact was looking for the slitted ones. She proceeded to say "Well, you are going to have a hard time with those. You really should be the closed markers." My goodness! Luckily by this time I had found what I was looking for. As bad as my review is I can't really give them one star. Atelier does carry a good selection of knitting bags and accessory holders. They also offer a good variety of classes. So if you can stand the attitude then this might be your kind of place. But I have a feeling that a lot of people are going to want to shop around. read more

Just not sure why this place has such good reviews. I only end up here because I find myself waiting for the bus at this corner now and then. There is a decent selection I guess... but somehow never what I am looking for. And the place is expensive and I have never seen a sale. I have never bought anything here and for someone with over 500 skeins of yarn in her stash that is an amazing statement. The folks that work here have never been very nice. Seem likely just to site behind the register and get annoyed when you are not buying anything. read more

*Upon reading the last few of my own reviews, I've decided to take it down a notch. Leggy Laura had a good point- what happens when my Grandma finds my Yelp profile? I don't want any more 'splaining to do than already necessary. So I'm writing this totally unsexy review to remind you all how pure and virtuous I am. No references to unadulterated lust, no sexual innuendos, and certainly no mention of engorged body parts- blue, waxed, or otherwise.* Knitting. The word itself conjurs up images of Amish lasses, sitting by the fireplace, knitting big bulky, unattractive and very unsexy sweaters. How wholesome. Just like me. Atelier has big and bulky yarn, however it is quite attractive and may not be the best choice for an unsexy sweater. Plus it's super soft and you know what that leads to- that's right!! groping. The wide variety of colors and textures is sure to create a visually stunning piece of art which- you got it again! Leads to promiscuity of the mind thus leading to promiscuity of the body. There you have it. Atelier Yarns is not to be trusted with your virtuosity. Should you choose to seduce or skank, then by all means, Atelier Yarns should be your sin of choosing. read more

This shop is relatively close to where I live so I stopped by here recently to pick up yarn for a last minute gift. I think the women here snapped at me about 10 times in the half hour I was in the store. It was so bad that one of the girls actually half apologized when I left and said something about having a bad day. I'd go back because of the proximity to my work/house and the selection of yarn (well selected but pricey), but I really prefer the staff at Imagiknit. read more

I am the type that tries, in print anyway, to keep negative opinions to myself. But in my wrap up of my yarn store reviews in the Bay Area, I have to include Atelier, and I don't have much good to say about them. How hard is it to have prices on things? From food to cars to greeting cards, if you want to buy just about anything, there is a price on it. Is buying a pricing gun too expensive? Is the staff too lazy? Do they do it to change the prices at will? I just don't get it. I have never gotten an answer about it from them, and I am stumped - it's hard to plan a large project without knowing the price per ball. And the staff...wow, super snobby. Not the type of place for a creative type to hang out. I felt like I was being watched constantly. And when I asked how much point protectors were, and opted not to buy them for the whopping price of $7 (they are usually $2 or so!) the girl actually smirked at me. Atelier, I spend more money on yarn than I care to think of or that you might expect by looking at me, Be nice to your fellow knitters! read more

Grace, bless you. One of the nicest ladies on earth. My grandma taught me to knit when I was eight. Grace taught me all the hard stuff (cables, socks, circular knitting, continental style, fair isle, short rows, etc.) in her knitting workshops many years later. It's been my favorite shop for nearly a decade. It's a teeny shop with not the largest selection but lots of quality stuff. Sure, lots of other shops have opened in SF since the knitting craze began. But Atelier has won my heart. The samples in the store inspire. They are knit so tidy and perfect you just want to make them all. I highly recommend the workshops. Once my carpal tunnel calms down I may just have to sign up for one. I miss knitting! read more