Let me begin with the good: I like Wildfiber and wish I were a woman who made six figures (or was married to someone who made that much) so I could come and blow a ton of money here. The staff are generally nice, if a bit standoffish perhaps; the last time I went in, though, I had called ahead and the woman who helped me was really, really nice and attentive since I was actually looking for some guidance. She even suggested a Shibui yarn-a brand I'm not familiar with-as a more cost effective alternative to something else I was looking at. That said, like other yarn shops on the West Side, I've noticed that their prices tend to be a little higher than other retailers (both online and brick and mortar). As a young(er) person on a budget, unfortunately, that is a huge dealbreaker for me. If I need to buy, say, 6 skeins of something for a project and their prices are $4-$6 higher than MSRP/retail price most other places, I'm probably not going to buy from Wildfiber. The progressive in me wants to support local yarn stores, but my frugal lizard brain (and my bank account) is screaming "NoooOOOoooo! You need that $24 for food and stuff!!" Some of their prices seem to be right on the money for average retail, but not all of them. They do have a pretty nice selection, split between conservative/regular solid colors and some more funky stuff. That said, I would still put their selection a little on the conservative side compared to The Little Knittery (definitely on the funky-fresh side) or La Knitterie Parisienne (which has literally some of motherfucking everything). I chalk up the slightly more conservative selection to the fact that this is a Westside/Santa Monica store that, based on the clientele I've seen in there, mostly caters to older white ladies. Between here and Compatto, though, this place is much better. The big windows at the front give the shop a super airy feeling; they have a nice selection of needles and some project bags, and even a little corner of sale yarn. My only gripe is that, like many small boutiques, they really don't carry some of the cheap(er) lines, but I think that's a complaint I have about most brick and mortar stores; on the other hand, with big online yarn retailers dominating that part of the market, I can't really blame them for staying away, and for the fact that cheaper lines probably don't play as well to their client base. Overall, I like Wildfiber and will be back again, I'm sure! read more

If you have any inkling to knit, or tackle that half finished project, or get intimidated by a pattern, --don't walk, but run and sign up for a class at Wildfiber. It doesn't matter your level or your comfort with needles, the group classes will help! Terry is so incredibly helpful with her teaching technique - her tips really improved my knitting and made my project not just doable, but enjoyable as well. And all of us are working at different levels and on different projects and Terry walks around and helps whomever has a question or needs guidance. It's a win-win because you get a group price but it feels like a private lesson. Before I joined the class, I could knit but somehow always inadvertently I'd drop a stitch or end up with an extra one after doing 16 rows in a pattern and get so frustrated. When I started in class, she watched me knit and gave really impactful suggestions on what I could do to to improve and made it easier and my mistakes are much less frequent. And she has also helped me understand how to read a pattern which has always been a puzzling experience for me. And who doesn't love a three hour commitment each week to knit? It's relaxing and a great way to slow down my day. read more

Terry was so helpful today winding my yarn and give by me pointers. Thank you. Such fabulous yarns in a calm and warm setting. read more

I talked to you about obtaining more yarn to match some I had bought when I was in town last November. I had hoped for perhaps two skeins of Egg Hunt; you had one left. Your suggestion of buying Capri to go with the Egg Hunt sounded good and I went to your website to place an order. How many times have I learned that colors online are often not true? Onscreen the match seemed improbable but you seemed to know what you were talking about, so I crossed my fingers and pressed Enter. Universal yarn is so lovely to work with compared to what I can get locally, I figured I would enjoy using it for something. Imagine my delight when the package arrived and the Capri is perfect to use with Egg Hunt and glorious on its own! Thank you so much for the time you took to counsel me when you had local safety concerns on your mind and for adapting both to my needs and to the complexities of the times we live in. I shall enjoy the journey of this current knitting project and shall prevail on my local friend to be my "personal shopper" when next I am in need of some elegant yarns. I wish you good luck in navigating the most complicated world of Small Business owners. read more

What a delightful shop and such helpful owners! I am in town to visit my daughter and family and ran into trouble...again...with my brioche cowl. I received expert help and such kindness. This should become your go-to yarn shop! read more

Okay, I think I spoke too soon. This time around was their winter sale, MASSIVE discounts off of some of the most gorgeous yarn I've ever seen. Anyway, I had a few questions about things and the ladies were just plain awesome this time around. Plus the store was busy with lots of people. Wildfiber is definitely a fun place to be when it's busy. :) read more

Wow. Extremely impressive. This is probably my favorite yarn store now. (Sorry KnitCulture). They have a HUGE selection of yarn. If you want it, they probably have it there. They also have a nice wall of different needles in wood, bamboo, and metal and in all types of sizes. They also have an impressive selection of knitting magazines including Vogue Knitting. Additionally they have a little lounge area for knitters to hang out and work. Staff is also knowledgeable. I needed help selecting needles for a new project and they gave some great insight. The only parking I was able to find was metered so bring your quarters! read more

I really like this store. So why three stars and not four or five? Well as other reviewers have noticed, the customer service is a bit lacking. Maybe they treat regulars better, I wouldn't know, I live too far to be a regular. I go here 3-4 times a year when I'm in the area and they have never offered to wind your yarn. The first time I had to ask if they ball up your 100 or so bucks worth of yarn and all I got was "Oh I can show you how to use the winder if you like." huh? there were at least two other people working there at the time and they were definitely not busy. I understand when they don't wind yarn during their AWESOME after thanksgiving sale. I get it I really do. But I can never even get comfy and knit there, I just feel like an intruder. HOWEVER, their malabrigo, blue sky, koigu, cashmere and sock yarns are absolutely gorgeous and splendidly wondrous in selection. Their clearance is SUPER cheap. And their day after thanksgiving sale ROCKS. They don't have much in the way of affordable yarn, or washable baby yarn. But I have a favorite store for my regular stock. This is a store for special projects. All in All... Lovely but lacking... read more

The good:This shop has the best selection of yarn of anywhere I know on the Westside. It is a beautiful shop and I enjoy looking around. The bad: It is expensive. I've spent a lot of $$$ here over the years and while on occasion I find the service alright, they usually aren't very helpful. I understand that they offer classes and I think they expect you to pay for a session to answer questions. But, honestly, I'm not interested (nor do I have the time) to take the class and would just like to find a shop that will spend 5 minutes with me to answer a question when I get stuck on a pattern, especially when I've bought the yarn there. Don't expect that here. read more

This is by far my favorite knit shop in LA !! The employees are amazing and they have became such great friends too me. They have so many great yarns and an amazing selection of books and patterns. Their classes are excellent and you learn so much in such a little time. BEST YARN SHOP EVER !! read more

A lot of previous reviewers have mentioned that Wildfiber is pricey. Well, it isn't, not when you consider what they carry - and that's top-notch, mostly natural fibers and many of the top "designer" yarns, like Debbie Bliss, Rowan, Noro, etc. For knitters on a tight budget, there's always Michael's. For those of us who trim our budgets to get rid of anything extraneous so we can afford to buy top-quality yarn, there's Wildfiber. If you're going to spend 60 to 100 hours knitting a sweater, do you REALLY want to use el cheapo acrylic? Seriously! This shop is for the knitter who values his/her time and wants to create a lasting work of art. (Plus it's wayyyyyyyy cheaper than therapy. Think about it.) They have an excellent selection of yarn weights and colors and the staff is very friendly. No snobby attitudes here, like you find at some other stores. They also have a good selection of notions, books and patterns for very reasonable prices. They get new things in all the time, and rotate the stock which gives you a better chance to find something you missed the last time around. read more

Stopped in here to pick up some yarn for some commissioned projects (yes! I'm lucky enough to get Paid to knit!! Whoop whoop!!) I loved this shop! It was organized, clean and well-stocked with quality yarn. I didn't have the "rude" problem with the staff that several others are mentioning. I'm docking a star due to parking and not offering to wind my hanks up for me. While my own swift and ball winder, two of the 20.00 dollar hanks I purchased ended up in a huge tangled mess. tThe hanks were not in great shape leaving the store and had I known they were such a mess, I wouldn't have gotten them. The staff tried to help me find something similar to the now discontinued yarn I was looking for and a lady knitting on the couch was more than willing to assist me as well. read more

Stellar. Loved this place. Tons of great yarns, roving, books, needles. Offered fresh brewed coffee on one of the holiday Sundays they were open. Gave me a tutorial on how to knit with DPN's. So nice, very helpful. I wish they were open every Sunday - more relaxing to just chill there on an un-rushed Sunday. Great day to be creative! I'll be back as often as I'm in Santa Monica. Its a must-go. read more

Great store. This is a big store with a large variety of yarns and notions. The button selection is especially impressive. The prices are slightly (just slightly) higher than elsewhere but they have a really impressive sales section where everything is 50% off. I bought a lot of stuff from that section. They also have two nice places to knit -- a comfy couch and a big table. There were a people knitting at both spots when I was there and they were all very welcoming and friendly. I am not sure who was staff and who were customers but they all offered to help and were helping each other. I thought they were plenty friendly. They have a ball winder for customers to use (and you can wind sale yarn) but they didn't offer to wind it for me. It looked like they expect people to wind their own yarn. I'd be here a lot if I were a local. read more

So many selections! Free classes. Super-educated employees who take their time to walk through details with customers. I will definitely be back. read more

I have been coming to Wildfiber for a couple years now. I was truly sucked in by the variety of yarns they have. You really will find something for everyone here, and some very nice artisan spun yarns. I like to come and sit on their cozy couches with some girlfriends and work on my latest project. The ladies there will sometimes seem a bit aloof, or busy...or just not wanting to help you, but I like to butt my nose in and demand some attention if I need it, and that seems to work. They have always been very helpful - to the point of overkill - when I have made it clear that I need it. They will even make you tea! They do have all the latest pattern books and magazines. The ladies are very knowledgeable on all sorts of fiber issues. They have gorgeous roving fibers. All in all - excellent lil' yarn store, but only 4 stars because I have found the parking is a little difficult (I just found out that you can park in the back and walk around - no signs or anything! - but I have never done that). Also, their prices are a little high and I have found some of the same yarns for a good deal cheaper at my other LYS. I guess that's what you pay for location and a real variety. read more

Wildfiber is a beautiful yarn shop. The moment you walk in, your eyes feast on shelves and shelves of every type of yarn you can imagine. Owner, Mel Clark, has turned this shop into a true paradise for knitters, crocheters and fiber artists. It's a friendly, open shop and I've always gotten great advice and service, whenever I come in. read more

I'm a complete beginner and I was feeling intimidated, but the staff was very helpful and directed me, but didn't crowd me. I was amazed at the colors, the selection, the blends. Even the names of yarn endeared me.... Sincere Sheep, Zen. They have a cleverly displayed unique, button section. The whole store was very well organized and charming. While I was there, people were working on projects and talking to each other. A class was happening in the back with a young male student. The teacher was being so encouraging, but genuine with him. As someone new to the "Knitting world," I felt welcome in the store. I was a little overwhelmed with the selection, so I took a class schedule after a looking at some books and getting some words of wisdom from Guenevere who gave me her "self proclaimed bias opinion about the superiority of continental knitting." She said it was more efficient. I love talking to a human being who has an opinion about something she's passionate about. The people and the place gave me something you don't often get in business today.... someone who cares about your experience! Thank you. read more

LOVED this store. Lots of sample-all really inspiring. Well organized. They had koigu, wollmeise, madtosh, noro, and more. great selection of unusual buttons. Friendly staff too! read more

Wildfiber! A fantastic, charming shop! So much good selection to be had! The quality, variety and overall colorful array gets the creative mind churning with splendid projects! There are home-like gathering areas for the free workshops or just cozying in and clicking away. No shortage of yarn knowledge to be gleaned here, from the class teachers, employees, or even the charming clientele. Very local, very homespun, very much a place to visit. Five stars! I hope this shop may have the staying power which all local gems deserve. read more

This is by far my favorite yarn store I've ever been in, and I've been in a lot of yarn stores. I could have easily blown my entire yarn budget here. I got 10 skeins of an awesome tweed teal yarn for a sweater and some cashmere fiber and some yak fiber to spin. Amazing selection, awesome samples with a few locally designed patterns. read more

I know this review it is going to sound a bit odd as most of the reviews have 4-5 stars. The store has a good selection of yarns but overly priced and not on the unique side. What really did it for me was the terrible customer service from one of the owners, Terry. From the moment I walked in i felt very unwelcome. She was very standoffish, not attentive and had a bit of an attitude. I got the sense she did not want me in her store. Not sure if it was because of my ethnicity, but i felt a bit of racism towards me. Hard to believe that the owner can deliver that type of service to her customers. Anyways, i have taken my business to Jennifer Knits where their customers service is excellent. Much nicer energy. read more

I love Wildfiber - they have so many yarns that can't be found anywhere else, like Sock Hop (handspun sock yarn.) Last time I was there they had a good sale on, so I can't comment on the average price, but they seemed to have a pretty good selection of price ranges. Lots of merino, silk, cotton, hemp, etc. Note: No Socks That Rock were in stock last time I was there, so I'm not sure if they're just sold out, or if they're no longer carrying it. Some of the brands in stock were Alchemy, Rowan, Tilli Tomas, Pagewood Farms, Noro. read more

It was 5:30, the store's closing hour, but the sign on the door still said "Open". So I walked in and asked the two ladies in there if I could make just a quick buy. One of them came to my help, and ignoring the time, patiently helped me select the exact yarns I needed for my projects. She was not only helpful, but also considerate of my budget, and looked for yarns that would cost reasonably, and do a great job. I can't recommend the service and the ample and great quality merchandise enough. Erika F. Venice, Ca read more

I travel to Santa Monica and this is a great place to wait out traffic productively if you're a fiber art fan! They have EVERYTHING & then some! read more

Wildfiber has a great selection of yarns, needles, accessories, and classes but the best part of the Wildfiber experience is interacting with the staff. I have been to other shops in the area but I like this one best because Teri, Claudia, Jess, and Jennifer are so nice and patient. It's also a fun place to just hang out. read more

Santa Monica is quite a drive for me, but I needed a single skein of a specific brand and weight of yarn in a specific color, and Wildfiber's website said they had it. I ordered it online at 11 pm and was able to pick it up the next morning--very convenient (except for the parking, but then this IS Santa Monica). As one of the women wound my yarn, I had a chance to browse and discovered a couple of irresistible items that weren't in the budget, but whattaya gonna do? The store personnel were friendly and professional without overwhelming me with attention, which I appreciate. There are several excellent yarn shops in the LA area that are more convenient for me, but this is a lovely store that will merit future visits. read more

i had 50 dollars worth of yarn in my hand ready to pay. i hadnt bothered anyone. i stood there for many minutes at the cash register. the girl was on her computer. i waited and waited as i didnt want to be a bother. i dropped the yarn and left. i guess they dont need a sale read more

Wildfiber has everything I love in a yarn store - knowledgeable staff, wide selection of books, swatches knitted up of many of the yarns in the store, as well as several projects on display, not to mention many fabulous types of yarn including Koigu, and great knitting needles including those made by Blue Moon. read more

Always great selection and staff! I love this place. What a nice setting. I am not great at knitting, but I love doing it. The yarns here are wonderful. You are doing a great job, keep it up. Thank you! read more

Very good yarn selection and good discounts sometimes. Really like this place and would rate it a 5 if it weren't so expensive. also, the pictures on yelp is larger than the real size. definitely worth a trip! read more

I live in Berkeley but always made an effort to stop here when traveling to Santa Monica. I loved the previous incarnation of the shop and was so upset when I heard they were closing. This is my first visit to the new ( and improved ) version. It still has the wonderful big open, well lit displays and helpful staff. But their inventory is the amazing part. They now have more yarn from small producers. This is the yarn I love. Such great quality with special colors and uniqueness. This kind of yarn makes you crazy to buy and get started right away on a project. So please support this local treasure. You will not be disappointed. I will probably have to go back tomorrow. Dreaming of my next project.... read more

Wildfiber Studio - Arts & Crafts Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Unbelievable little shop - I only wish it was closer to my house; I'd never leave. Friendly owner/staff who will help you select yarn and patterns; teach you stitches and help you when you get stuck. Late night on Thursday evening; classes during the day (wish they were at night.) read more

So, I'm not a yelp reviewer - I've thought many many times about giving a review b/c of horrid experience but never done it so imagine how amazing my experience must have been for me to sign up and review this store because it was SOOOOOO fantastic. Seriously! I went on a wed. night after work, walked in the door and they asked what I was looking for. I told them that I hadn't knitted in years and that I wanted to knit a baby blanket. Immediately they asked all the right questions ... what types of kniting stitches did I know etc. I told them that I was good with the pasics, had done some cable knitting but had never sewn two peices together and wasn't sure how good I would be at that. They sat me down on thier comfy couches and brought me books of patterns that I would be able to do. When I decided on a log cabin style blanket they immediately started to point out yarn - stating that I probably would want to use a heavier weight than the pattern suggested with a larger needle as I would knit more quickly. They even recomended a yarn that would be easy to wash and very soft and comfortable for the baby, but showed me an alternative yarn that was organic just in case. It was the perfect blend of helpful but not pushy. Finally I had some basic colors selected and they helped me lay them out and plan the blanket. they even explained how to modify the pattern and when I was a little nervous they showed me ravelry.com where I could get more information on gauges and how to modify if necessary the pattern. when I still wasn't sure of my ability and plan they explained their slaes policy, that anything could be returned for store credit only and that I could also put things on hold for two weeks. They even said that if I needed a bit longer I could just call and they would extend the hold. In the end, I purchased two of the 8 skeins I was looking at and the pattern book. I went home that night and started on my baby blanket - as I was knitting all the comments and instructions started to make sense and now, all I can think about is getting back to my knitting project! Thank you Wildfiber! The yarn is a joy to use, the knitting is as fast and easy as you promised, and I'm sure the blanket will be beautiful!!!! You've turned me back onto knitting with your amazing customer service and friendly advice/help! read more

I was out on my walk this morning, feeling inspired by a project I'm planning. Thought I'd walk to Wild Fiber to look at their wool. I was walking so didn't have my purse. When I got there at 10 sharp, the woman behind the counter looked up and told me you need a mask to come in. I told her I was on my walk and didn't have a mask and asked if she had any masks. She said "Sure, you can buy one for $1.00." I explained I didn't have my purse but was planning a project and asked if I could come in. She said again I could buy a mask for a dollar. As a side, I just recently moved to Santa Monica and am in search of local fiber supplies. I had previously purchased about $200 of yarn from them so thought I'd go back. I completely respect the masking request and as an older person am glad to do my part in making it safe for all individuals by wearing a mask. I am buying $500 of wool from another place for my project. I know that's probably nothing to Wild Fiber. But you've lost my business today and in the future...over a $1.00. Maybe you should order a box of the free masks from the government so you won't feel bad about giving a mask out once in a while. It would have been better to tell me you didn't have any masks at all. BTW this is the second time I've had a less than pleasant experience with this person...so I disagree with other reviews that the employees are always courteous and helpful. read more

The yarn selection is fantastic. They have excellent sales after thanksgiving. But I won't be going there again because of the lousy customer service. I took an intro to knitting series there last year and was blown away at how unfriendly the staff were. The young staff I suppose are there to give the place a hip vibe? But they just give off a snotty vibe. I showed up once a week for a month for my classes and they ignored me every time I came in. Once they even asked me to wait for my instructor to arrive if I had yarn questions. Really? The girls (my age BTW) were too busy to point out where to find the dk weight yarn because they were chatting? Whatever. Once while i was browsing yarn before class i observed that the staff's less than warm attitude wasn't just reserved for me, it seemed to be directed at anyone who is considered a non- regular. I've been crocheting since childhood and now have been knitting up a storm for the last year. I spend a lot of $$ at my LYS. But no, I won't ever become a regular here. Teri the instructor was great. But she cant make up for the rest of the staff. There are plenty of other shops in SM with warm helpful staff that love yarn, love knitting& crocheting AND have enough pride in their shop to be kind to customers. read more

If you care to whom you give your money, this is probably not the place for you, which is a shame because they have beautiful yarns. As a consumer, I'm not a big fan of giving my money to businesses that don't appreciate their customers. They don't let you use their yarn winder unless you bought the yarn you want to wind from them. I've never encountered this anywhere else...usually yarn stores strive to encourage a sense of community. I WAS a repeat customer of theirs (I bought my very first needles and yarn there) but I'm not so certain I will be patronizing their store again. read more

This shop is truly lovely and oh so expensive. Gorgeous knitting bags and needle cases, the most amazing yarns EVER, lovely 'designer' needles - LOVE IT. I just wish I had more money to blow through here. ((drools)) read more

I had to pick up something here and as I'd never been to the store before I tried to park in the back. As there was a sign that said "wildfiber only" I pulled in. A woman in a Prius pulls up behind me and in a condescending voice --immediately recognizable as native to a particular type of bitchy west side woman -- says That's parking for wildfiber. Yes, I know, I'm going there I say calmly. It's for employees only, she says, like she's going to get aggressive in a moment. What? did I sense some triumph on her part at having won the Parking War? Well it would have been helpful if the sign stated employees only, but it didn't (as far as I could see in the rain). I politely pulled out, parked on the street, but thought to myself, wow, what a sh*tty way to talk to a customer. And how awkward for her when she was the one that had to help me in the store. When I returned to make an exchange the customer service from another cashier was, as stated in other reviews here, not really on par with the quality you'd expect from a store that is selling expensive yarns. But what can you complain about? for people to have some revelation about life and how petty they are day to day and seek a personality makeover? Eek! methinks not. read more

I love this place. I can't get enough. It's far from me but it's an amazing yarn store. I love their selection. I'm always soooo happy when I walk in. It feels like a yarn spa. Haahaahaaa!!!!! read more