Summary: Rude, Not helpful, Inflated Prices (most expensive yarn store in Seattle for same products) I concur wholeheartedly that the people who work in the Tricoter store drive customers away with their negative energy. I too sensed that they did not want my business, and so I left without giving them my money. Clearly it is an inconvenience to have customers in the store. Maybe it is an exclusive secret club? The witches of Broadmoor! I thought it was just me who felt unwelcome in Tricoter. Then I overheard a lady in Madison Park neighborhood saying how repellant the people are at the Tricoter store. I then happened upon the reviews on this website. Inside the store I overheard one of the people sitting at the tables saying rude things about the customers. Maybe this person doesn't work there and just sits there, truthfully I can't tell who works there and who doesn't. None of the people there are helpful. Apparently this store is a magnet for people who lack social grace. Well Hay, it's not the only shop it town and certainly not the best!! I almost forgot to mention, I have compared prices between yarn shops in Seattle, Tricoter charges more for the exact same products that you can find elsewhere. There's a shop in the U district, there is one in Wallingford, there is one in Ballard. There is always the internet also where you can find any kind of yarn you would want and also free patterns. read more

I love to knit---have since I learned in Scandinavia in the late 80's. I must say that for the very first time a yarn store was actually so off putting that it made me want to stop knitting. I live close by and (despite the negative reviews) thought I should check it out---it was EXACTLY like the reviews described.....crowded with knitters, no one seemed to actually work there, and people were visibly annoyed at having to shift around so that I could shop. Perhaps the problem with the store is the customers--the regulars, that is. The tone of the store should be set by the owners----so if the ugly vibe is unintentional, you may want to ask your regulars to cut the crap. Drive up to the Fiber Gallery--they have gorgeous yarn, very helpful staff and friendly customers. read more

I love Tricoter and the ladies and men who work there! My husband was in Iraq and I learned to knit at this awesome store during his deployment. Not only did they teach me to knit, they also gave me lots of hugs/tissues and support during a difficult time. The store is full of great yarn and great people. read more

Tricoter is an amazing yarn store. If you want to really learn how to knit they will help you every step of the way.

I had such a lovely afternoon at this shop! I have been knitting for close to 10 years, and one of the first books I knit from was Tricoter's book "Simply Beautiful Sweaters". I've been wanting to visit the shop for years. I finally got the chance when I flew into Seattle (from Wisconsin) to meet family at the coast. I was warmly greeted and offered help the minute I walked in, and was delighted to find everything on sale! They have loads of beautiful samples, and absolutely gorgeous yarns. I found a jacket that I liked, and Beryl took me under her wing . . . she sat me down and had me knit a swatch to make sure I liked the pattern, checked my gauge, and gave me tips for a good fit. She also helped me pick out the perfect buttons for another project I was working on. They even offered to ship my yarn purchase home for me, since I was traveling. It was the highlight of my day, sitting in this lovely shop, enjoying the ambiance and visiting with other knitters. I'll be sure to go out of my way to come back next time I get to the West Coast! read more

I had to wait in line for 15 minutes to purchase my yarn because the saleswoman and one of the regulars were talking about a pair of slacks she had bought at Neiman Marcus. I tried to cast aside my stereotypes of Madison Park "Ladies who Lunch" before I entered the store but of course they came roaring back after this experience. Just plain snobby. read more

I love this place. The yarn is gorgeous, the staff is great and it's a wonderful place to meet other knitters. Plan on spending time in the store - sit down with a coffee, knit some swatches, look at the incredible stacks of books, introduce yourself to other knitters and take it all in. It really is a destination for anyone who loves knitting. read more

I've been shopping at Tricoter for many, many years. For me the greatest value is the help they give you with all aspects of your project from start to finish, from inspiration to choosing the perfect button. There are two absolutely amazing knitters on their staff who can help with every design issue (but WHY doesn't it fit me?), every mistake, (oops, I don't think I did the decreases right . Could it be the yarn overs?), every new technique (that pesky Kitchener stitch!), and they have an expert finisher (I hate to sew!). Beryl has an extraordinary eye for color and texture. I had a yarn in my stash that almost made the Goodwill box, but Beryl reached for a yarn, said "try this with it " and it became my favorite cardigan. I've read the reviews from knitters who find some staff condescending, but for me any quirky manner is more than made up for by the expertise they each provide. And, I confess to being one of those knitters in the shop who has to scoot her chair in so you can browse the shelves (don't overlook the buttons!). Come join us one afternoon! You definitely won't regret it. read more

I've met some friendly, helpful people at Tricoter lately. They are not exactly warm and eager to help but they will help you if you ask. Twice I've been in and received help with my tangled and knotted mass of yarn! read more

One of my favorite places in the city. If you are a knitter, you will love this place. There is really no other place to go! Lovely people, great community of knitters and someone is always able to help you. read more

I love Tricoter. The yarn collections are gorgeous and beautifully organized. This place really inspires creativity! Some reviewers have criticized the store for having a cold atmosphere, but I disagree. While, it is true that Tricoter's yarns tend to be pricier than at some other shops, I have been a customer for years, and always feel welcomed by the owners and employees. I am an intermediate knitter, and I seem to always have a million questions. Every single time I have requested assistance or guidance at Tricoter, I have gotten excellent help. Every last staff member there is an expert knitter or has some kind of special skill. You cannot get bad advice here! I find the people at Tricoter to be ridiculously generous with their time and knowledge. read more

I love Tricoter. I love the team there. They are helpful and caring. And the products they carry are off the charts. Well worth very penny.

I have been to Tricoter several times in the past year, traveling through I-5 traffic to get there from Tacoma! I do this because the folks there have been unfailingly helpful and welcoming and their yarn selection is gorgeous. They have helped me correct problems with several sweaters that were turning out less than great- and not all were made with yarn purchased from their shop. It's definitely worth a look. read more

I hate to give this place one star because it does have gorgeous yarn--and I love yarn almost as much as I love my husband. (Don't tell him I said that.) I wasn't dressed like a slob, and I wasn't looking for the bargain bin. But I felt very out of place. I had to climb over the table of knitters camped out, which was uncomfortable. Although I did receive assistance, the snooty salesperson kept showing me skeins of fine-gauge cashmere (cha-ching) when I specifically asked to see merino wool in a heavier gauge. As others have pointed out, the yarn is arranged by color, which makes it difficult to find a certain brand or gauge. I left after five minutes and will never go back. Acorn Street and Weaving Works are much better yarn stores, both in service and selection. read more

I visited this shop last summer while on a road trip through the Northwest. This shop was one I had on my list to visit. My initial excitement quickly waned as I asked one of the owners a question and she curtly brushed me aside saying she had to get to the post office. There were many local knitters sitting at the tables and it was quite noisy and hard to maneuver around the shop. The one saving grace was an employee, Denny (I believe) that was very kind and helpful. I did end up buying some high end skeins, something I wouldn't have done without Denny's help. read more

I have been to this store on 3 occasions and not once have they been welcoming. I don't really want someone to help me shop or even necessarily greet me. The last time I was in was with my mother-in-law, a woman from the store came up and asked us if we were with a group of women that were there and we said that we were not she just said "oh" and walked away. We left the store feeling like maybe if we had Prada handbags and were oozing money we would have been treated with something like politeness. As other reviewers said- there are so many people sitting around knitting it's impossible to shop. I personally love the yarn being arranged by color and it's the closest yarn store to my house. Too bad, I won't be going back unless I feel like being alienated and insulted. read more

This very pretty store is very close to my home. I could walk there. I've visited twice, and I'll never return. My reasons are no different than the many negative reviews that have already been posted here...annoying display by color, very limited needles and notions, ghastly prices. The worst of it is how seriously uncomfortable the people there make you feel from the moment you walk in right through purchase and exit. There are usually tables of ladies who stare up at you as you enter. No one says hello. It is impossible to figure out who works there. You feel like you are disturbing everybody. Even physically, the ladies at the tables are so spread out it's hard to move around them. Smug. But then, I don't expect my negative review to make a bit of difference. It's clear that the owner has a clientelle, and this is the way they want it. And they must be willing to pay the prices and that keeps the doors open. I don't see any evidence that the store is there for any other purpose but to serve that little in crowd. It only urks me because it is so close. Otherwise, Seattle is chock full of lovely yarn stores who will benefit. read more

Just a horrible, pretentious experience at this store. Not only are the yarns that they do have marked up to incredible prices (it pays to surf the the internet a lot for yarns), but they do not carry "popular" yarns such as Madeline Tosh, Malabrigo, Dream, Kauni, etc. I was given the heavy sell to buy ultra expensive fibers such as mink, encouraged to buy 50 gram balls of $33.50 balls of cashmere to run along with my hard found shawl $15.00/skein yarn (of which I purchased several much to my shame of supporting this store), and had to listen to an owner or manager berate everyone about how wonderful her $300 mink sweater was while she bragged about how many people she sold it too. The employees were seemed cowed and only approached when the Queen Bee was busy extolling her many virtues in sweater construction (which, no offense, was not beautiful, not the best new thing I had ever seen, ever. Running Mink through toilet paper may make it soft, but not "beautiful"). The average price of a skein of "usable" shawl or sock yarn was about $40.00, and good luck finding it. There are also the Art Yarns marked up from about $56 online to $73.00 in the store. The ladies that had been unfortunate enough to be drawn into this honey trap were working on various items in what really seemed to be a a dazed and unhappy fashion to me while the Queen Bee buzzed around and held court. In addition, I was felt unwelcome, and in the way for the majority of my time in the store. Real, Bored, Housewives of Madison, NO THANKS. I will take my copious amounts of yarn money of which you obviously did not think I had and spend it many places elsewhere. I have never had a worse experience in a LYS *EVER*. read more