There aren't too many choices for yarn shops in the DC metro area; I found WoolWinders by accident, after I taken a hiatus of about 40 years from crocheting. I went into the store & Louise could not have been nicer or more helpful. She fixed me up right away with a beautiful yarn & right size needle to make a hat for my granddaughter as my first project, despite her being primarily a knitter. She also told me about a wonderful woman who works there and teaches classes on crochet (which I took and am taking). Since that time I have been to the store numerous times and ALL of the saleswomen are gracious and helpful. They have a great selection of yarns and expertise when you need it! read more

Great shop the "latest" owner Louise has made the shop a warm and inviting atmosphere. This is my favorite shop in the DC area. The knowledgeable staff is helpful, they encourage questions and will help you to find the right patterns. Please give them a try you will not be unhappy with your experience! read more

If you are looking to finally learn to knit or crochet, this is the place for you! They have everything your YARNing heart could desire and they have classes and safaris to boot! I took the "Mistakes" class and it was so super helpful! It was a small group so it was easy to get one on one attention and.m the instructor was just so knowledgeable and patient that it was well worth the money!!! And if you just need a place to hold you accountable to knit regularly (like I do) they have "safaris" these are basically knitting circles where there is an instructor to answer questions and you go at your own pace and work on your own projects. I really like the location of this place too...walking distance to a coffee shop and the County liquor store depending on what you like drink while you knit or crochet! read more

It is worth the drive from DC, Va, and Md. besides the easy parking, the gorgeous selection of yarns, the wonderful classes, and the airy and bright building on street level, the personnel are helpful, polite, and accommodating. I've experienced all the shops and all the impatient and rude people. This is the absolute best read more

This place was amazing. Heads up, the yarn is very expensive, but very high quality. You can get yarn for all different kind of projects, crocheting and knitting tools, and patterns. There was a very nice person working that was social and sweet (forgot her name, but had really long hair). She walked me and my sister through the whole process. The space is very inclusive and accepting of diverse populations which can sadly be a rare find in craft stores in the area. I definitely recommend this place! read more

Bright shop and very well organized. You'd think it was bigger from the outside but it's small and quaint. The yarn is beautiful and well stocked, though very pricey unfortunately, anywhere from $10+ for even small skeins. They also have many handmade pieces for sale which are unique and eye catching. I was looking for a specific brand/needle size that they didn't have but the clerk did say that the Annapolis location had it and offered to have it delivered there so I could pick it up. Ultimately passed because it was for a project that I'm still contemplating on but it's nice that they have that option :) read more

Changing ownership soon. Hope the new owners are just as nice as the previous ones. I love this store and the employees are friendly and very helpful. My teen daughter made a crochet blanket and they custom ordered colors for her and ordered more of the colors she was low on and offered her encouragement and tips on her work. When she finished her blanket she gave me her left over yarn and I've been making an ombré scarf. I went in to buy a roll of dark blue and the sales lady helped me with picking the best color for my project and offered to order a different shade if I needed it. They offer classes for all levels, and times when you can go in and work on your project and employees will help if you get stuck. Prices for these classes are very reasonable. As soon as I finish my blue ombré scarf I will be back for red yarns to make a scarf for a friend. Winters a good time to stay in and get crafty and crocheting brings me back to my childhood sitting next to my grandma watching her and learning from her as she crocheted beautiful blankets. Love this place and some time soon I'm going to sign up for one of their many fun classes. read more

WoolWinders Yarn Shop - Large selection of yarns - Knitting Supplies Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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I had such a wonderful experience ordering online through Woolwinders. They were so kind and friendly! There service was exceptional and I received my order quickly! I am so grateful for great service and for people who genuinely care about their customers. read more

i was so happy at first with the new ownership and frequented the establishment UNTIL.. i found out about an absurd policy of theirs I had purchased 2 sets of needles and realized that one set was the incorrect size so i took it back to be exchanged - UNOPENED, with their TAG on the part where one would open the package still securely in place I took the needles in with recpt and was promptly and very rudely informed that they do not take needles back - I tried to explain that the package had never been opened and that they had been in my car (as they had been purchased exactly one week before hand) and she was like - would you like to purchase used needles? and i tried to explain that they had never been opened and the sales clerk continued to scold me and say we do not take back needles but do take back yarn. First of all - using her logic, why would I want to purchase yarn that had been returned? it coould have been in a house with smokers and I am a non smoker so i wouldn't want yarn that smelled like smoke - would you? would she? Second of all - if she had just looked at the packed, she would have clearly seen that the package had never been open. I understand if the package had been opened and they thought I had used them and wanted to return them but as she would not look at them she wuld have seen that Thirdly - i think most of all, it was the woman's holy than thou, condescending attitude that reminded me of why I never shopped at WoolWinders in the past withe previous owners I did post on faceook and it looked like the shopowner had reached out to me by asking me to email her, which I did and got NO response from her My money is just as good as anyone elses money and it appears that Woolwinders does not want their share of it. I will take my yarn money and go and spend it elsewhere The shopowner has had her chance to fix this issue read more

My favorite yarn shop in the area. They reliably have the best selection of madelinetosh, a favorite of mine. They also carry a wide variety of Cascade in many colors, with enough skeins for large projects. The staff are always kind and remember me when I come in. It's quite a drive out to Rockville from D.C., which gives you an idea of how much I like the place. While their yarn selection is top notch, they have a limited selection of needles. read more

Fran S. I just want to say that I had a wonderful experience at Woolwinders at the Kentlands and would like to share it. I had just finished a knitted throw and was blocking it and my ring caught in the knitting and created a huge hole. I took it to Woolwinders and Susan, at Woolwinders, fixed the hole so you cannot even find it and she didn't even charge me. This is a lovely knit shop and the people in it are delightful and so helpful. My telling the community about it seems to be my only way of thanking them for saving not only my time at fixing my throw, which would have taking me lots of time re-knitting the torn part, but also telling everyone what a nice shop they are if one is looking for a nice knitting shop. It is located on 404 King Farm Blvd, Rockville, MD 20850. They not only sell beautiful yarn, but also give lessons. read more

Out of town and looking for some yarn, I'm glad I made the trek to this place. Especially after buying crap yarn at Michael's. I've never even heard of a yarn store giving free classes, so if you're in the area, you would be crazy not to try them. Also nice enough to write down a link to a scarf pattern online - thanks! read more

I'm new to knitting, so I found myself gasping at the prices of some of the yarns, but I love this place. If I get into more advanced knitting projects, I'm sure I'll find that the pricier, quality yarns are worth the money. In the meantime, I'm excited to take advantage of the free classes and knit-alongs. I just purchased yarn from the store this week and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. I told them that I couldn't read patterns and they directed me to some helpful websites and even told me about a website with free patterns. I also went in for assistance with a dropped stitch on Thursday and the staff were very helpful. I was in and out, but wished I could have stuck around for the wine and hummus! Apparently they have social knitting on Thursday evenings, so I may go back soon. Truly a joy if knitting is your thing! read more

metro: Shady Grove. See their website http://woolwinders.com/ HANDICAPPED accessible, and store is easy to navigate. So many area shops are not accessible, and this one really is; ground level, no steps, space to move around. updated 2016, under newish ownership Beautiful yarn. read more

Love this shop! I have taken classes here for almost 4 years now and have found the staff and owners to be helpful and supportive. The selection is great and they will special order things if you need them. I am disappointed at some of the other reviewers who are unhappy they could not return needles and have blasted the shop because of it. It would be quite simple to buy needles, use them, and then return them for a refund. Woolwinders, like most other knitting shops, has a "no return" policy on needles, which is promptly displayed on a sign by the register. I would encourage any knitter or crocheter to stop in! read more

Very friendly staff that was very helpful. They even balled up my yarn and printed off a free pattern for me!

A good selection of yarn. Nice store. The customer service seems to be lacking. I kind of wanted a tour of all their yarn selection.

Oh, no. Sniffle. I haven't been back to Woolwinders since the shop changed hands to a new owner. Some of the improvements were definitely for the better, so I'm going to make this a three-star for the improvements (table in a better location, for one, and some lovely new yarns) - but there's a new staff person there who's so unpleasant that I probably won't ever go back. We rushed in late on a Sunday, ten minutes til close. Okay - our bad, but I'm a fast shopper and I was going to be outta there in ten minutes no problem, if left to my own devices. Which of course I wasn't, or I wouldn't be writing this update. The first words out of the staffer's mouth were "You know we close in ten minutes, right?" (add a side of snark to this to get the tone right), and from there, she proceeded to insult our perceived income (LOTS of comments along the lines of "so, are you going to give her any money next week too?" and "It's nice of you to let her buy a skein of yarn") and took me on a guided and s-l-o-w tour of the cheapest yarns in the shop. I had to physically turn my back on her to get to the yarns I actually wanted before they closed - I had the sense that if I didn't, she would kick me out. Just...yuck. The level of commentary was completely over the line and very weird/uncomfortable. (And, ahem, very Rockville, if you know what I mean.) I didn't have the balls to say it then, so I'll say it here: lady, I'm a grown ass woman and I earn a good salary. I don't need my husband to "let me" buy anything. And the next time I let myself buy something... it'll be at a different shop. read more

I visited this shop the other day with my husband who wanted to buy me some yarn for Christmas. I have been knitting for a few years and after recently completing a project with Malabrigo yarn I have sworn off the cheaper stuff (nothing against the cheaper stuff but...). I was a little disappointed that they only had a few skeins of Malabrigo and they weren't really colors I was into BUT there were soo many other beautiful yarns and notions that it was really no big deal. I happily selected a few skeins of a lovely chunky weight baby alpaca yarn. My only beef with this place is the staff, specifically the owner. I mean come on...it's Christmas-time. Your shop is bustling with people and you have the nerve to be rude and rush around the entire time dusting. There was one very sweet, jovial lady working who happily struck up a conversation but I tried to ask the owner a question and she responded by saying that if I didn't know what I was doing then I should come back and take a class. I know my way around a pattern and I can work my needles with the best of them I wouldn't come into your shop looking for a 15+ dollar-a-hank yarn if I didn't know my knits from my purls. SO even though this shop had some nice things I likely wont be back. I am off to find a shop were the staff is friendly and passionate about their craft. read more

This review is based on customer service only... I'm was so excited when I saw that Woolwinders offered private knitting lessons because I'm brand new to the knitting scene. I called and left my name, number, and availability after I was told someone would get back to me regarding a private lesson. After a week with no response I called back to inquire about private lessons. The receptionist apologized and again I left my name, number, and availability. That was two weeks ago... I found this completely unprofessional and it makes me wonder if this type of horrible customer service is excepted with every class and encounter. I will be taking my business to Knit and Stitch in Bethesda, it's further away but they called me back within 24 hours. read more

I shop at Woolwinders a lot. There's plenty of parking in King Farm and the staff have always been friendly and helpful when I've come in. Paige (the owner) has helped me find great yarn for projects and Susan printed a free Ravelry pattern once for some yarn I bought. Woolwinders has a nice mix of mid-price natural fiber yarns with a few high-end ones in case you want something special. I always seem to find something soft and pretty to add to my stash. As far as brands, I've bought Malabrigo, String Theory, Artyarns, Rowan, Crystal Palace, Socka, and Cascade yarns there. Yarns and books are usually at list prices, but there are sales sometimes and a bargain bin. I give four stars rather than five because the store is a little small so sometimes I don't find quite what I'm looking for. For example, once I went there looking for plain blue fingering yarn, which is pretty normal for socks, and there wasn't any. I also wish the pattern books were discounted a little. It's a little frustrating to buy a book at cover price and then realize you could have gotten it at Amazon for 2/3 the price. read more

small store, small inventory, prices seem to be on track but if you need to make a sweater or a blanket in one color i dont think they would have enough yarn. read more

WoolWinders Yarn Shop - Knitting Supplies Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

I don't usually write reviews -- but my visit to WoolWinders yesterday warrants one. I was feeling somewhat desperate. I had made a mistake in my knitting and, in trying to repair it, managed to make it worse. A friend suggested bringing it to WoolWinders. So I did -- and was introduced to Indiri (I hope I spelled her name correctly). She not only was able to repair my mis-knitted cables in very little time, but did so with grace, kindness, and enthusiasm. In general, a positive and uplifting encounter! (Oh, I also enjoyed their selection of yarn.) read more

This store offers a nice broad selection of very good quality yarns in many colors. Be prepared to pay a bit more for your projects, but to me, the prices are worth having a self-created wearable item for many years. The staff is very friendly and helpful. If you need knitting lessons, ask for Jennifer Raymond (Tinking Turtle Designs) who comes in once a month to teach. She is wonderful... very patient, knows her knitting inside and out and will instruct you on whatever level you're most comfortable. I've had two private lessons on Saturdays with her on making a sweater and plan to go back to her for her expertise and guidance on other future projects. She also teaches group lessons if you'd rather be in class. read more

FYI - they've closed for renovations and other changes due to change in ownership. Hopefully when they re-open they'll be better than ever.

I have shopped here quite a bit despite their slightly high prices because I like to support neighborhood businesses. Today was the last time I will enter the shop. The OWNER refused to exchange wool because the label was ripped! When I purchased the wool I clearly asked if it could be exchanged and was never told about this condition. Now that I read some of the other reviews it seems this is a pattern. Foolish business woman--they lost a good customer and added to a bad reputation. All for an even exchange. read more

Great classes, great (high quality) selection of fiber/yearn. Jackie (the owner) is always friendly and available for advice and/or help.

I love this store. The selection of products is great, the staff is very friendly and approachable, and there's a ton of classes offered. I recommend taking classes with Kathy C. Her group class on socks is fantastic and I just did a private lesson with her on fixing mistakes and learned a ton. She's an excellent teacher. read more

A beautiful selection of yarn and notions and some of the nicest folks ever.

I NEVER feel welcome here, and as the shop is close by, I've tried many times over several years. I always feel like a "wannabe" in a world of "queen bees." Ownership has changed a couple of times in the last few years and I keep hoping the staff, too, will change, but alas ... read more

I went to the shop yesterday on my lunch hour to find a project to make as a present. A lovely crochet tote bag was on display, which I selected. I mentioned to the owner that i didn't have much experience with crochet, but thought I could figure out how to make the bag. When I asked her if I could come in for assistance, she told me that I could only ask a five minute question. Otherwise, I would have to take a class. I was really taken aback because most shops will give a little assistance if yarn/pattern are puchased. It is true that I was in a rush and the owner was giving a lot of assistance to another person who was working on a project. I won't return to the store for either my 5 minuts of assistance or to purchase anything! The only plus is that the store has some nice yarn. read more

I was extremely disappointed by this store. I have gone twice. The selection is mediocre and the good are overprice. All of which I could deal with as it is close to my house. However, the customer service is really abysmal. The people working there are cold and unenthusiastic and not helpful. It is a shame read more

It is establishments like this that make me love the Rockville area. Friendly, helpful, welcoming and fun. Enjoy stopping in just to look around as much as I do stopping in to find yarn for next project. Great people! read more

Please note that the reviews before 2014 was from the previous owner who I thought was very unpleasant. Amy is the new, young, vibrant, enthusiastic new owner and she is a delight. The staff is wonderful. I have taken many of their classes and all are top notch. The participants in my class have bonded and we now are very close friends, along with many of the instructors. One of the highlights of our week is getting together in knitting class, laughing, sharing and learning new knitting techniques. Do come and see how friendly and warm the people, as well as the yarns, are. read more

I have recently returned to crochet prompted by the birth of my first grandson. Because I was a bit "rusty" I searched for a knitting/crochet store where I might recieve assistance picking a baby blanket pattern and yarn. My first visit to WoolWinders was fruitful and I came away with a book of instructions and with what I thought was enough yarn to complete the project. After three months of crochet I ran out of one of the colors and returned to WoolWinders. My next three visits, to purchase one skein of yarn, were met with rude and inept service. On my final visit I was verbally chastised and rudely told to shop for my yarn on line. I do not believe I deserved such treatment since I was trying to fill an order that was improperly supplied on my first visit. I would suggest to any potential visitor to WoolWinders that you go without any expectation of good service. read more

This store has been a puzzle to so many of us over the years. It had the potential to be a nice resource for knitters, but it disappoints every time. To understand why, think back to the unwelcoming days of the middle school lunchroom. Some kids are "in," and some are "out." That is the atmosphere in this shop. At first it seems friendly, and you begin to shop with enthusiasm and excitement planning your next project, but then you realize that some people are welcome with their questions as they plan their purchase, and some very much are not. This store is about a mile from a Home Depot, and on one recent visit, as i looked back on my experiences at both stores that day, I realized that each and every clerk that had just helped me at Home Depot - of all places - had genuinely wanted to help me, without regard to how I was dressed or what question I was asking, but in contrast, at Woolwinders, it was palpably unfriendly and the clerks were annoyed at being bothered, even to the extent of whispering behind a customer's back at the register. If you enjoyed that atmosphere of cliquishness and "exclusivity" of middle school, this is the place! But if you prefer a more honest, genuine and welcoming place to buy your wool or take classes, I would recommend many of the other shops in the area. There are many places where you can get yarn AND helpful, honest service. Sadly, this isn't one of them. read more