We got there about a half hour from closing and everyone was so nice and helpful. There's a beautiful selection of yarns and supplies and you can sit and work on a project as well. read more

Came here on a visit to Chicago. As a knitter, I enjoy visiting yarn shops when I travel. I was delighted to find local yarn here, clearly labeled and in several different weights. The staff was friendly and enthusiastic while still allowing me to have a good browse. I left with about $200 of merchandise and a free store labeled canvas bag to boot. Thank you, Nina, you served my knitting needs well! read more

Since stiching my first stich I have become a loyal customer of this gem of a shop. Rows and rows of gorgeous wool, a nice variety of needles, books, and ideas galore. They always have the perfect shade of my favorite malbringo wool. The only bad thing I can say is that I have become a yarn snob after shopping at Nina I can not buy wool at Micheals or Joanne Fabrics... it's just not natural! I have been here so many times trying to figure something out and Nina and crew are always so helpful. Nina is a great place to take a class and just hang out and knit. She always has cool tunes playing. Nina is my personal hero! read more

my new go-to for fiber crafts! they have an excellent selection of yarn and very knowledgeable, helpful, and incredibly kind staff. very COVID conscious as well. would highly recommend if in the area! read more

A very disappointing experience for this interesting space. The woman whom I spoke with ( i believe to be the owner) was short, cold and argumentative more than helpful. It is a shame that because of people like her, it makes it easier to shop on line. Her profile lists that she worked on Wall Street , well this is Wicker Park and if she wants to stay in business she will need to adjust her attitude. read more

I simply wanted to spread the love the for my FAVORITE knitting store located in Chicago's Wicker Park area. Nina the owner is so very sweet and knows a lot about yarns. Her selection of yarns and publications are amazing... the atmosphere alone is a beauty. Each time that I visit this knitting shop (and I do often) it truly inspires me as a designer. If you knit or crochet...you need to see Nina! read more

Warm and fuzzy! That's how I feel every time I visit Nina. Seems fitting for a yarn shop, no? Each time I come here I have to tell myself that frolicking is just plain inappropriate. I might knock something over or be frowned upon for disturbing other customers. But still... la la la la la!! I'm not deranged. I just really love knitting. My grammie taught me when I was 12 and up until recently I've never pushed myself to make anything other than very wormy scarves. Tsk. Nina offers many lovely classes. I recently enrolled in one and began to make a hat. During the first hour I was convinced that this hat would only be fit to used as a teapot cozy but after some expert guidance and truckload of patience on behalf of the instructor - my hat is turning into something I can really be proud of! The yarn at Nina will make you completely shun all that crap from JoAnn Fabrics and Wal-Mart for life. It actually feels like something you'd enjoy wearing - as opposed to nasty, scratchy mystery yarn...like that smelly afghan draped over the back of Aunt Doris' settee. My skin itches just thinking about it. Granted, this is not your bargain basement knitting emporium but with all the help and compassion you receive with your purchase you'll feel like it's money VERY well spent. And where else can you enjoy complimentary Starburst with a knitting lesson? read more

This store has a wonderful selection of high quality yarn and the layout itself is very beautiful. However, the owner Nina is so rude that I cannot bring myself to return to this store. She has a terrible attitude and treated me with disrespect. The first time she had a bad attitude with me I decided it may have been a fluke but the second time I was the only person in the store and wanted to pay for my items but she was having a conversation on the phone. It was extremely awkward because I had all my purchases to make on the counter and she was looking right at me while she was having a mundane conversation on the phone. After ten minutes I pointed to my purchases and she put her hand up to indicate for me to wait longer. At that point I walked out and will never return. I'm not sure if Nina is racist or just rude but either way I will not return to find out. read more

Thank you Crystal and Erin. Both were completely right, the lady was SUPER snotty. I bought 108 yards for $22, I thought it might get me the pattern I wanted, guess not cause I didn't spend enough. I also bought a cute little sheep measuring tape but that's about it. I don't like rude customer service and that was the biggest turn off at this store. read more

I rarely drop negative yelp reviews unless I have a remarkably bad experience. But this place was awful. I agree with the other one star post. The woman who owns this place is so rude and treats you like you are stupid if you don't know exactly what you want or don't know anything about knitting. I will NEVER go back there unless I want to feel belittled and want to drop too much money on yarn. read more

I took a beginners knitting class at Nina last year and have been hooked ever since! Within just a few weeks I had already made a cowl, hat, and pair of mittens. Everyone in the store is patient and helpful. Great selection and company to work during open knitting hours. read more

Nina is my local yarn store, but even if she was not I would frequent this store. The yarn here is beautifully displayed and the place is spacious enough that even with customers in it I don't feel I have to hug the wall to get to the yarn I want. I have recommended this shop to my knitting friends and have never seen anyone disappointed by what they have to offer. I have been knitting for 3 years and have been to every yarn store during the Yarn Crawls in the Chicagoland and some out of state ones when I travel so I wanted to give you my opinion and what I consider some truths. To start out with, yes, Nina does carry some higher quality yarns, and the prices reflect it, but first do your research regarding the regular retail on those yarn before you say that everything is so expensive. Through my own research of the area knitting shops I know for a fact that some yarns at Nina's may be a dollar more than suburban stores but also cheaper than Loopy, which is located Downtown/Loop. The biggest complaint seems to be customer service, and I will tell you this, from day one when I came in I was greeted and asked if I can be helped with anything, this has not changed in the three years I have been coming here. This is not just for me, I hear this every time someone comes in the store when I am there. I use to work in retail, not yarn shop, so maybe I have more realistic expectations of people who are in the same position. I will say this, Nina is more often than not the only person in the so if there are other customer there and she is already helping them, then wait your turn, you want personal time so do they, I know I do. One of the best things about Nina for me is not that she carries some of my favorite yarn, Madelinetosh, it's that she is not there to just sell me the most expensive yarn she has. She wants each customer to come away with the correct yarn for their projects and she will give you all the suggestions she can. In the end if she does not have the yarn you need then I feel that is not her fault. read more

I have to agree with all the reviews about the icy service. It is not a very welcoming store, and in fact, pretty snobby, which is sad because it's a precious store inside. Normally, I am not even a stickler for service but it's hard to ignore when you are one of only a couple people in the store and never greeted or acknowledged. I would even make attempts at small talk and ask about certain knits, which granted could be elementary questions to them since I am a beginning knitter, but I would get a one word answer and the conversation would stop there. The yarns are nice and would probably be worth the pricey price if good service came along with it, but it doesn't so in the end it's just an overpriced knitting shop with an unwelcoming staff. read more

I think the secret to liking Nina is knowing what to expect. I've found it's most enjoyable when approached as an exploration, not as a goal-oriented shopping trip. By that I mean, if you're going there looking for something specific, you're likely to be disappointed by the smallish and carefully curated selection of yarn. But if you go there to be inspired, you're likely to leave really excited about the new project you have to start the moment you get home :) By the same token, I've decided the owner is maybe just a bit odd. She's been very helpful so many times that there's no way I could accuse her of rudeness or snobbery. She's stayed late, talked me out of buying things, talked me into buying less expensive things, let me try things out to make a decision, looked for patterns, etc etc. But at the same time, I've also experienced some of the things mentioned in negative reviews -- sometimes within the same visit! So I think maybe she's just not the most extroverted, bubbly, social person on the block. Once I decided the occasional brusqueness had nothing to do with me or her opinion of me, it was easy to roll with it and enjoy the beautiful yarn and good music. I think this store serves a delightful knitting niche, and I'm glad it exists. read more

I walked into Nina, having never been there before, EVERYONE who works there couldn't have been nicer! They helped me with no questions asked and were just wonderful... I will definitely make this my go-to knit shop. Hillary, the new owner, was wonderful. They have a great variety of fiber, and its so comfortable to sit and knit! Looking forward to spending more time at this lovely shop! read more

Really great yarn selection here, despite what I've seen other reviewers mention. I come here when I'm in a pinch only though because a) it's much pricier than what I can find online, b) the lighting isn't great so it's hard to tell what color I'm getting, and c) I always feel intimidated by the owner... I've been a knitter for several years, but only recently have gotten into using high quality yarn, so I'm not incredibly knowledgable. Maybe it's me, but I get the feeling she treats me differently because of that. Nonetheless, I still frequent this shop for its great quality yarn, it's close by, and they sell addi turbos. read more

I just moved within reasonable walking distance of Nina. And I needed some baby yarn. So, I went in there. I'll be honest, I went in with a sharper eye toward Nina herself, based on the reviews here. I thought, wow, how oblivious am I? But she was very nice. Nina is just really reserved, and she does have one solid idea of how knitting should be done: to gauge, according to the label. She looked at my pattern, and showed me the yarns that would work. Personally, I swatch and make absurd alterations to patterns and to expectations to fit the yarn I like, but that's just my style. Whatever. I liked what she suggested, and so I got it, but if I hadn't, I would have bought something else and not taken it personally. I think. Nina was polite, and I was polite back. We got along fine. She frankly pointed out which of my options were machine washable, which were cheapest (with no apparent bias away from them), and which were the softest (the cheapest, funny enough). She carefully checked the lot #s and went through a bit of searching to find a set of matchers for me. She made chit-chat, talked about yarn. She liked that I like the layout of the store - so clean, neat, easy to navigate! Etc. Note that if you arrive at night and she's alone, she will have the store door locked. She let me in right away, it wasn't a big deal, and locked the door behind me. Reserved, cautious, but perfectly nice. I had a good customer service experience there - and the yarn I bought is beautiful. Still loses a star for being merely a yarn boutique and not a yarn-based community center, like some of the other LYSs are. I know that isn't her aim, but like the gauge issue, I like it differently. read more

I'm in love. Nina is so nice and helpful. When I brought in my almost finished hat today, she showed me exactly what to do to finish it, and because she didn't have the needle I needed, she let me borrow hers. Plus, she took a bunch of pictures of my hat to show Hillary, and she was almost more excited about it than I was! I will never go anywhere else. read more

I signed up for a one hour private lesson and fell in love with Nina's. Its awesome. The atmosphere was very chill and the lighting was soothing. I left after an hour knowing how to knit and feeling tranquil. I've looked into classes around Chicago and was happy to see the most affordable location was right by me. Nina the owner is awesome and my teacher Bria Rocked!!! read more

Expensive but high quality. If you are looking for some of the best yarn (durable, special material, quality), this is the place to go. The owner & staff are there to help you with your projects. read more

This store has most of what you need to start a pretty expensive knitting habit. I love upscale yarn - it just feels way nicer to work with, and having something that looks semi-professional when you're done is very rewarding. Unless you know exactly what you're looking for when you go in, I strongly recommend you browse elsewhere. The staff might be nice to people who are experts, or signed up for classes, or clearly about to drop some dough, but if you're just trying to remember if you needed the 12-inch 9 needles or the 9-inch 12 needles, they will treat you like you're violating their contract with the public merely for stalling. Seriously, the one time I went in there with my mom, who spins her own yarn, they were the nicest people ever, and then when I returned by myself, intending to resume a fairly in-depth conversation about socks, they were downright rude. read more

I decided to take a class (totally out of the blue, by the way). I chose knitting for no reason what so ever. Googled knitting classes in Chicago and found this store. I gotta tell you, the class was absolutely fabulous. Mary Rose, the instructor, was just so lovely, so helpful, so good at teaching me the basics. Bree, the other teacher was just as amazing. After the class had ended (2 hours later), I was already well into my first scarf. When I got home I was so excited to get working on it, I dove right in....and messed something up. I went back in the next day and Nina sat down with me on the couch and talked me through my mistake. I bought more yarn then and there. Everyone is so wonderful in this boutique. After 3 weeks I have completed 5 scarves ( I have become a knitting goddess....), and have been in there at least 5 times. This store and its women ROCK. read more

great place to pick up yarn for your knitting projects. they have classes and the staff is super duper nice. if you have a question about something, just bring in your knitting and they will help you out! i miss living right around the corner! the yarn is pricey, but it's wonderful quality and just beautiful. take a class and check it out! read more

As a visitor from another state, it was great to stop in the other day and check out a new yarn shop. I thought overall the store was great, and was especially happy with the service I got and the friendliness of the woman who owns the store. I did feel like the look of the store was a little too minimalist and the selection wasn't great. It's such a small space that it's understandable. I like larger yarn shops that have more space for sitting and relaxing; plus they can carry more yarn. But she does carry some great lines: Louisa Harding; Rowan; and plenty more. read more

I had a fine experience at Nina. I don't usually require much help picking out yarns since patterns have general directions about weight and all that. They carry a really soft bamboo line that I loved working with and it wasn't too pricey. They do have some really expensive yarns though, so I wouldn't recommend those if you're just playing around. read more

Considering the other places I've visited for yarn this place is awesome. I always just went to Jo Anns or Michael's in the burbs which are not that great. I know that now after visiting Nina's. I'm a beginner when it comes to knitting, I learned a long time ago and was never patient enough to finish a project. Now that I'm a bit older I want to give it another try. I went to Nina to find some needles and some yarn. I asked the lady there (Im not sure if that was actually Nina) what I should get considering my lack of experience. She was very helpful and showed me the outcome of different yarns with different needles etc. I ended up buying needles and yarn which is what I needed. Definitely telling my friends and family about this place. read more

Nina's is a great yarn boutique. I think a lot of reviewers here just got their knitting in a twist. I found the staff and owner very warm, welcoming, and helpful (they always check the dye lots for me, which I admit being lazy about...). The selection isn't huge, but going into a Hobby Lobby or Yarn Barn (is that a real place?) is like trying to find something decent to watch on cable, mid-day Sunday. Nina's selection may be tightly curated, but they've got some very high quality, really interesting yarns. Where else in the city will you find yarn made from New Zealand possum down? And it's nice to see a place dedicated to eliminating the lines between hobby, craft, and art. You can be anywhere on that spectrum and this is still a great place to go. read more

Nina is a delightul person, and her store and sales technique inspires creativity, with just the right amount of guidance to make you feel you've discovered something on your own. The store's modern design is refreshing - particularly in a knitter's world that tends to be inundated with knick-knacks, country themes and kitsch. I bring every visiting knitter here! read more

I was visiting Chicago for a few days, and chose the day of torrential downpours to check out yarn shops in the city. I tracked down Nina's first, after a recommendation from Ravelry, saw the door open and headed in. Not so fast! Turns out, the owner was just in to tidy up the place in preparation for an event the next day, and is never open on Tuesdays. Just had the door open to get some air inside. But, would I like to look around anyway? Sure! First off, super bonus points for opening the door to a rain-soaked stranger when the store isn't really open. Extra points when I realized she'd just flown back to town the night before and was getting over a case of food poisoning while having to scrub the shop top to bottom in anticipation of a knitting big-wig's arrival. I can't attest to the service on a busy day, but I got nothing but good vibes off this place. And the merchandise! This is not a bargain-shopper's knit shop. I can see where the "snobby" feeling comes in - the main staples of the selection are luscious and expensive, the yarn comes in small put-ups (too small to finish a project with, ensuring that you'll be back for another skein of that $18 yarn), and when I mentioned to the owner that one of the mainstays of my LYS is Cascade 220 (a value-priced wool workhorse yarn), she cocked her head to the side and said, "oh, that's funny, we barely stock any of that. We start our customers out with Blue Sky right away." There was certainly an attitude of smug superiority in the tone, not only for having beautiful yarn, but also for having a clientèle elite and savvy enough to want the very best. I shrugged my shoulders and went back to oogling the goods. So, if you've got money burning a hole in your pocket, Nina's will be sure to help you out of that jam. And you'll end up with some really fabulous yarn and needles at the end of it, no doubt about that. read more

I signed up for a knitting course via Dabble and was so happy I did! The store itself has a great layout, a lot of vibrant colors and so many great textures. I left the class not feeling overwhelmed and I know with time and practice I'll be able to knit that blanket that I've always wanted. I'll go to Nina for supplies and their great help. Thank you to Nina and Hillary for your help! read more

Nina is a great upscale yarn store. I stopped in during a recent visit to the Windy City & was surprised by their selection. Keep in mind that you will find no deals in this store...everything is expensive and gorgeous. That being said, if you have the money and want to splurge, this is your place. The store is very well organized, I felt comfortable touching the yarn & taking it out of its meticulous display arrangememts for closer inspection, and the staff was right there to answer any questions I might have. If I lived in Chicago, Nina would probably be the store I visit when I felt like celebrating a special occassion with the purchase of luxurious yarn, but it would not be my everyday store for basic supplies. read more

This knitting store is very nice and helpful. However, if you are a knitter just starting out or not at all experienced, I would recommend going to a different store. Not because this store is not accommodating (because they definitely are), but mainly because they deal in higher end yarns and tend to be a bit on the expensive side. When you hit the point where you want to make an investment in your projects, I would definitely head to Nina, but not for your starter scarf projects. They also have great patterns in back and the staff doesn't care how long you take looking at them! read more

Oh this shop makes my heart go doki doki! I love it! They have the best yarn, yes it's expensive, but all of my favorite items were made from yarn I purchased there. Both in appearance and textures the selection is fantastic. I think in response to the 'icy service', well it's obvious many people think this store is great. Which is lovely, but usually when I go in it's very busy. There is only one, maybe two people staffed at any given time. So they can't give you undivided attention and seem pretty frustrated at times ha. But hey that's great, I'm so glad a specialty yarn store is still making it today! If you go on a weekend morning/afternoon, just be sure to bring your patience with you and you will love this place too! read more

I stopped in yesterday, looking for some yarn and feeling very indecisive about what to get. The lady was incredibly helpful and gave me so much more friendly, useful, knowledgeable advice and attention than i ever could've hoped for. She thought of so many important questions about my project that had never occurred to me, and helped me figure it all out! Really went above and beyond. Thank you!! Also, the space is beautiful and the selection of yarns, books and needles is fantastic - definitely skewed towards the fancier, more costly yarns so I might not recommend it if you're looking to knit a polyester afghan or something, but if you want lovely inspiring fibers then it's amazing! read more

Simply put, Nina is an adorable boutique for the upscale knitter. As a novice myself I have only recently ventured in to explore. I love the beautiful skeins, though more pricey than I prefer, and the artful display of completed projects. The atmosphere was charming though I was a bit disappointed when the gal told me they don't have any knitting groups. read more

Nina is one of the best yarn/knitting stores around! The owner (Nina - go figure!) was just fabulous in helping me select a gift for a family member recently. She was patient in explaining the various options considering I didn't even have a starting point. She offer's classes at her store also, which would be a great idea for a birthday party or just something to do with some girl friends. I will definitely be back! Nina, thank you for your help!! read more

A great selection of books - like a dozen or so on sock knitting. She had the Cat Bordhi book I wanted, and was able to point it out to me when I could only remember "Cat" and that it had something to do with circular needles. She also had a great selection of nifty buttons and other accessories. She even had Eucalan! My old knitting place in Austin had a good selection of buttons, but it was all kind of... hippy? Nina's is not like that. I guess I can see why people might not like the "icy" service. The woman who helped me was not warm and bubbly, and she didn't seem to have a lot of patience for some of my novice questions. But she was super knowledgeable and helpful -- just maybe a tad brusque. Snobby might be the right word, but not in an entirely off-putting way. She certainly wasn't rude or anything. In the end, the store has a big selection of beautiful (and yes, expensive) yarn, great books, tons of needles, and super cool buttons and stuff. I was quite impressed. read more

I just recently moved to Chicago am was looking for my new knitting store. I was so thrilled to find Nina. The store itself is lovely. It has a wonderful selection of yarns, patterns, books, examples, and supplies. Nina was very sweet as well. I think others may have misunderstood her. While she wasn't loud or overly bubbly she was so helpful. I appreciated that she didn't push me to buy things that I didn't need. When I asked how much yarn I would need she suggested me getting one ball in case I didn't need a second. I also appreciated that she wasn't rushed and took time to wind my ball of yearn herself (I'm used to stores having me do it). This is a knitting store for god's sake. If you're in a hurry come another day! I will definitely be coming back to buy more yarn for my current project and to take Nina up on the offer to sit on the couch and look for a nice baby sweater pattern. read more

Yarn selection is great, they always have what i am looking for and Nina is a sweetheart. I would send anyone here!

I had previously posted a two-star review of Nina based on one visit. I've been back a few times and now have nothing but positive things to say. I love being won over, especially when it's by a store as lovely as Nina. I've been helped by the same person each time I've been in (the owner, maybe?) and she's always super friendly and quick to offer helpful suggestions and/or advice. read more