Love the Sow's Ear! It's my home away from home. The atmosphere there is so inviting & comfortable. Great yarn selection, classes are awesome, staff is friendly & helpful, & the coffee is always top notch. I highly recommend their frozen hot chocolate while knitting or crocheting. Their rewards program is not limited to yarn purchases, so even if you just go for the coffee, you can benefit. read more

The Sow's Ear - Frozen Hot Chocolate while knitting. - Arts & Crafts Near Me - Verona, Wisconsin

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Good breakfast food and bakery items. Coffee was great. All the staff was friendly

Very courteous and happy staff, plus the coffee is marvelous. They have wifi both indoors and outdoors. A very cozy, relaxing venue!

Great coffee and a variety of good food options, nice to have this little gem in Verona

Chicken salad sandwich and strawberry -banana smoothie was delicious! Quick, friendly service and a great, laid back atmosphere with knitting supplies and yarn in every color of the rainbow. Only complaint: the soup was not hot enough. Worth coming for a coffee, lunch or knit! read more

The Sow's Ear - A hot spot for knitters, coffee drinkers & lunch! - Arts & Crafts Near Me - Verona, Wisconsin

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The quiche is so good! The seasonal coffee drinks are always good and even though I don't sow I always enjoy the ambiance

Great little place to get your morning coffee! I love their monthly specials! The bakery items can sometimes be disappointing but the good way out does the bad! read more

Every day and every time service with genuine kindness by each member of the staff! Charming atmosphere and delicious coffee and quiche especially. Love that this is in my hometown! read more

My go-to morning place in Verona. Love relaxing on the front deck with my dog and watching small-town Verona pass by. Great morning buns and quiche (I've had the Lorraine and the chorizo poblano). read more

I don't get it. For knitters, this must be a cute and comfy place to work on some projects while sipping a nice, warm drink. I, however, wanted to grab lunch during my break and based my decision to come here solely on the 5 star reviews likely given to the store, and not for the food. My sandwich (Savory Sow) took nearly 40 minutes to get to me, and when it arrived, I was very disappointed in the size and the flavor was just meh. I opted for the greens, which were unbelievably bitter and not helped by the disgustingly sour and equally bitter dressing. Don't order greens ;) I got a peanut butter cookie, which was delicious and I might stop in again just to get one. read more

Fantastic little shop. Had a great cup of coffee, done to perfection. It was bustling when I was there, but never felt overcrowded. It's quite cosy and the staff were warm and helpful. And the yarns - my goodness, what a fantastic selection! A huge range of diverse boutique fibres. I was only in town for a short while and despite not having much room in my luggage, I couldn't help but pick up a couple of skeins. read more

We stopped off at Sow's ear during a road trip and did not regret it! It was much better than fast food or an off the highway diner! The interior is very quaint and welcoming. We ordered the prosciutto melt, chips, chicken salad sandwich, local greens, and a hibiscus ginger tea. The baguette was incredibly fresh and toasted to perfection. The chicken salad and prosciutto melts were both great! The local greens had a bright dressing, and the chips were thick and crunchy. Overall, it was a wonderful lunch spot! read more

My absolute favorite LYS. They have an incredible selection, including lots of Noro (my favorite brand, it's Japanese and not many places carry it). You can shop for a new project and then get started on it right there while you sip on a delicious soy latte. Also, the proprietor and staff are extremely friendly and SO helpful. We only come into town once a year and always make sure to stop by when we do. read more

The Sow's Ear - Arts & Crafts Near Me - Verona, Wisconsin

Interesting place because the coffee shop really is there to support knitters! My wife wanted to stop there to see why a couple of her friends raved about the place. Since I am knot into knitting (and probably might stab myself) I will not rate their raison d'etre. I had a mocha cappuccino. Very good & rich. Reasonably priced. My wife had an Italian soda. Supposedly they carry what is considered to be a very good brand of coffee. My wife had an almond scone. I tasted it. Better than most I have tasted. I had a tuna on warm baguette. I thought it very good. It comes with some nice greens and a delicate dressing. Also very good. About $7.00 if I remember correctly. I number of women were there, knitting away, having fun. A warm and cozy shop. Friendly staff. All this made for a relaxing lunch. As you can tell from the name, porcine figurines and items are a focus. read more

This is my favorite yarn shop in the area! Everyone working there is friendly and knowledgable, and their selection is great. Yes, the yarn is higher end than what you would find at JoAnn Fabrics or Micheals, but I have found some of the coolest yarns there and I believe they are worth spending a little bit more. It also is a local yarn shop so I feel better about spending a little bit more money there. I've also taken a couple of classes there and those were great as well. Helpful teachers and instructors. Also, they have delicious coffee. read more

This is one of my favorite cafes in the Madison area to come and spend a leisurely day. The store offers up the usual menu of coffee drinks, plus salads, bakery, a few sandwiches, and an extensive selection of quiches from LMNO'Pies--not to mention a store full of kitting supplies. Come any time of day and you will be sure to find someone knitting while sipping their coffee, or maybe a large group of women babbling about their latest kitting projects. (If you're a knitter be sure to check out the occasional class offerings and group meetings.) All in all The Sow's Ear offers a very down-home, comfy feel. The coffee drinks are well-prepared and the drip coffee is from Ancora (Madison-based roaster). The mocha smoothie is well worth three dollars if you're looking for a sweet treat. And the quiches are always excellent. Be prepared to wait more than a few minutes if you order food, especially if you come at a busy time. But always worth the wait, and the prices are hard to beat. The staff is always friendly and helpful. Free wireless is available and there is plenty of sitting space to relax with a book, knit, sip or eavesdrop. Or all of the above! read more

I adore this place! It's colorful, warm and welcoming. The chicken salad sandwich is excellent, too. I'm very fond of the rose syrup they have for Italian sodas, and blended with strawberry is a tiny little icy heaven. They have a great point system, too- rather than punch cards. The system applies to all purchases- which is helpful, since I buy a good amount of roving. A nice feature is that you often start a conversation with the barista, it ends up traveling all across the room, you meet all sorts of people, and have interesting and often enlightening conversations. Their Wifi rarely works properly, though. I'm saddened by the number of times I've taken the laptop there to do homework, then have to leave because the internet's down. read more

Cute little shop that combines great coffee with knitting. They also have an assortment of treats and bakery items. Their coffee is strong and reliable. And the baristas take good care of their customers with friendly, personal service. It doesn't take them long to remember you, and your favorite drink. The only downside is the potential wait during the morning rush, but it is worth it. read more

What could be better than a combination yarn store and coffee shop? It seems the Sow's Ear keeps getting bigger and better every time I stop in. The yarn selection is excellent and the staff is absolutely wonderful. Some yarn shops feel intimidating when you walk in the door... even a bit pretentious. But the Sow's Ear is like a second home, where no one will judge you for asking a beginner's question or knitting with (gasp) Red Heart. The rewards program is really nice - you get a plastic card that is scanned every time you buy. Everything is electronic (no paper punch card to lose). read more

As others have said, this is a really charming and friendly place! It is not fancy, by any means:instead, its charm is that it makes you feel at home. While the furniture is simple and unmatched, the selection of yarns is outstanding and of high quality. (But their prices are reasonable and are less than some competitors.) I have been coming here for years to attend knitting/crochet classes, to browse among the yarns and patterns, and to sip coffee while spending a few hours crocheting. It is a great place to discuss your project with others. There are many patrons who come just to talk over a beverage or a light meal. There are others who just come for a carryout coffee (and are obviously well-known to the barista). While I really like most all of the Ancora coffee drinks, I do not care that much for their tea. The Chai tea was overburdened by vanilla and the Early Gray did not taste like it contained bergamot. I would be willing to pay the same price for a more mundane tea, just to have a place to "knit and sip," Thanks for being such a wonderful space and refuge for those of us who love to knit and crochet! read more

While visiting Madison, my future in-laws took me to Sow's Ear. I'm a new knitter, taught myself about 6 months ago and I still get a little intimidated by stuffy knitting stores and more experienced knitters who scowl at my choice of knitting fabrics (hey! acrylic is great yarn to learn with!). I asked if there were onions in the quiches and they were honest enough to tell me how onion heavy their food was. See, I don't like onions and I've had bad experiences with encountering onions in my food from all types of eateries. I appreciated their honesty. I sat down with my bun and coffee and realized that I forgot my cabling needle, again. This was the second time I forgot my cabling needle while on a trip. I was determined to not buy another one. So I drank my coffee and ate my bun, while I seethed, my mood matching the dark and stormy weather. My mood changed dramatically after my coffee, when I went to explore their yarns and needles. I did not buy a cabling needle but I did buy 3 40'' circular needles for projects I had been waiting to do. I may have forgotten my cabling needle but I did remember to bring my thin binder full of patterns I wanted to try, so I knew which needles to get and which yarn to look at. The people working there were so very helpful, they looked at my patterns, gave me advice and even taught me how to wind my yarn. It was so fun. The yarn was a little pricey, but yarn is always going to be pricey if you want the good stuff. The needles were insanely cheap, I've seen them marked up double were I live in Santa Barbara and the staff here are not nearly as helpful. I'll definitely come back to Sow's Ear the next time I'm in Madison. read more

Good concept -- coffee and knitting! Love that combination. The staff is very friendly, both the baristas and the knitters (are they both?). The coffee is good. The reason the Sow's Ear looses stars is: because the layout of the building is a little wonky -- I felt like I was in people's way the entire time I was browsing the yarn, which was really annoying; and because the yarn selection itself wasn't that inspiring, to be honest. Not that many beautiful fibers -- lots of solid colors, striping yarn, and so forth. They didn't have Madelinetosh, and their Malabrigo selection was pitiful. We actually went back a second day in a row just to double-check that I wasn't missing some magical yarn, a diamond in the rough. I mean, there was one kind of yarn that I really, really liked, but not enough to purchase it. I ended up going to The Knitting Tree and The Cat and Crow and spending almost $200 on yarn at those stores. This isn't to say that I won't go back, but I just wasn't impressed this time. read more

Sow's Ear is a fun place to come for knitting supplies. Their hours are a bit inconvenient for me, since they close at like 6pm for a coffee shop. It's because they regularly run knitting classes in the evenings. Occasionally they have their late night knitting on Fridays where they're open until 11pm, and usually that's when I manage to make it out to Verona from Madison. The place is quite charming. There are plenty of little niches throughout the place to hide away and knit for a while. The walls and shelves of yarn and other knitting supplies are inspirational in their colors and fiber. There are also patterns for sale. The staff is knowledgeable about the many different kinds of yarn as well. This is a great place for a knitter in Madison to check out. read more

I always love having my meetings here. It is welcoming and quiet and the coffee is always delicious!

The people are really nice and the food is great. My niece likes coming with me so she can play with the kids toys. It has great atmosphere.

A very cute little coffee shop with a lovely atmosphere that makes me want to spend the whole afternoon here

Such a cute place! Always love a coffee shop in an old house. If you knit you really won't want to miss this, as their shop is also a knitting store. I don't knit, but looked like quite a selection. We only did coffee drinks and smoothies, but everyone was pleased with the order. Service was quick. Coffee is strong. read more

Wonderful selection of high quality yarns. The staff is patient and helpful- they never make me feel hurried or rushed. Prices are not cheap but the quality is high and you get what you pay for! read more

Cute little coffee shop I enjoyed a cup of the day's medium roast "Black Purl". The staff was very friendly and fast. I have a thing for little coffee shops in old houses. There's a shopping area of some sort in the back, looked like it had fun gifts. Tip: They are open later than the other coffee shop across the street! read more

I stopped by the Sow's Ear for the first time today and it was *the best* yarn store experience I have had in a long time!! The atmosphere was festive and the yarn selection was enormous and of beautiful quality. Everyone was super patient, especially since I stopped by at the end of the day, and very friendly. Cannot recommend enough, and COVID precautions (double masking, distancing) were excellent. Thank you so much!! read more

I love the Sow's Ear! Half coffee shop, half yarn shop and they excel at both. You can take knitting lessons or come in for breakfast or lunch. They have parking behind the building that you can't see from the road. read more

If you're visiting from out of town, make sure you stop by here. They have a varied selection of yarns that are at least dyed in the area. I bought a lovely locally dyed yarn to make my daughter a cardi, and another locally dyed yarn to make myself a cowl. The staff were knowledgeable and friendly. The coffee was good. They have a good variety of non-coffee beverages, which made my husband very happy. read more

I have been to a large number of coffee shops across the entire US and find this one to be a gem amount them. This shop exhibits a unique atmosphere with the knitting wool shop integrated into the seeming residential building. If i was in the area with reading or work todo this would be an ideal setting. The service was great taking enough time to provide quality to your order. I was not incredibly impressed with the flavor. But would return for more. read more

Nice, friendly staff. Love their sandwiches, the Prosciutto caprese melt was fantastic. Cozy welcoming atmosphere, overall great place for brunch. read more

Great yarn selection and really good coffeehouse food, too.

Since there is no 6 star, I will give them a 5. My absolute favorite place for coffee and fresh pastries. Though I am not a knitter, I can appreciate the knit and sip theme! Excellent friendly service. Plenty of parking either on the street, or in the lot behind the property. read more

I really like the people here. I seem to see the same customers knitting here every time I come. The Sow's Ear must have a very loyal customer base. The yarn selection is good, especially in sock weight yarns. Their coffee is excellent as well, and I totally recommend the cheese platter called the Demi Sow. You get to choose 2 types of cheese (availability is dependent on the season) and they are served with fresh greens, a baguette, and homemade applesauce. It's a very good deal, and a delicious lunch. I've only had one bad experience here, and that was when they refused to special order a book for me. Apparently they have a lot of customers who special order, and then never pick up their order. I can understand their reasoning, but they were a little rude about it. They told me to order online, etc. Although, I'd have really liked to give them the business, since they are a small, local business. Typically, I have a always have an excellent time here. They offer late night knitting a couple times a month, which I frequent. read more

First time ever here, younger girls at the front were nice but a middle aged woman was short with me and seemed annoyed at my presence. They asked me what kind of bread I wanted for my sandwich but then gave me something else and got it wrong. It was okay. read more

Sow's Ear is a great place to come and knit in a relaxing, friendly environment. Their hours are extensive - 6:30 am to 8:30 pm weekdays unless it is Late Night which is the first and third Friday of the month when closing time is 11:00 pm. Weekend hours are 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. The food and beverages are quite tasty and available until closing time. I am glad this wonderful oasis was recommended when I wanted to learn to knit. read more

Lovely coffee house with a small menu. Food options are stronger than many coffee houses which only offer muffins and donuts. The quiche is delicious and satisfying; salads are also good. Lots of drink options other than coffee, are available. You can sit outside on the small front porch or inside. The seating area is small with approximately 14 to 16 seats inside. Often, since there is also a knitting shop inside, you will find knitters and knitting clubs drinking coffee while they work. It's a very interesting and stimulating place to enjoy a beverage. There is ample parking on both side streets. read more