The Knit Nook is located in Tyler Park Plaza on Bardstown Road.
Photo: Elizabeth Magee
Yarn is one of the ultimate craft supplies. It can be used to tie a pretty bow on a gift, as hair for a rag doll, and be knit or crocheted into any number of things. There are several places to buy yarn, knitting needles, and crochet hooks around Louisville. Some stores have lower prices but other stores have higher quality products and hometown flavor. This list is a rundown of where to go when deciding where to buy yarn and tools for knitting and crochet.
Best: The Knit Nook
The central location of this hometown shop is one of the reasons that it is my pick for the best place to buy yarn. The other reasons are the quality of the products that they sell and the tables and chairs inside the store where people sit to knit and crochet. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable and you can tell that they love crafting just as much as the customers do.
The store address is 1140 Bardstown Road. It is located in the Tyler Park Plaza between Blockbuster Videos and Highland Coffee.
Phone: (502) 452-1919
Website: www.knitnook.com
Store hours: Monday-Saturday 11am-6pm, Thursday 11am-9pm, Sunday 12am-5pm.
The Knit Nook offers knit and crochet classes. More information can be found on their website.
The Knit Nook has a wide selection of quality yarns.
Photo: Elizabeth Magee
Runner-up: Sophie’s Fine Yarn Shoppe
Like The Knit Nook, Sophie’s Fine Yarn Shoppe is locally owned and operated. They also have comfy sofas inviting customers to sit and chat or work on a project. The only reason that it doesn’t tie with The Knit Nook as the best is that the store’s location is not as convenient. Sophie’s has a wonderful website, complete with an online store.
Sophie's Fine Yarn Shoppe is located at 131 S. English Station Road.
Phone: (502) 244-4927
Website: www.sophiesfineyarn.com
Store hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 10am-5pm, Thursday 10am-8pm, Friday and Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm.
Sophie's Fine Yarn Shoppe also offers knit and crochet classes. More information can be found on their website.
Honorable Mention: Michaels
Michaels stores have a good selection of yarn and tools as well as pretty decent prices.
For store locations, see their website at www.michaels.com.
Cheapest: Walmart
The acrylic yarn sold at Walmart stores is good in a pinch, but if you plan on making a wearable project like a scarf, you might find this yarn to be itchy and uncomfortable.
For store locations, visit walmart.com.
The Knit Nook and Sophie's Fine Yarn Shoppe offer more hometown flavor than other
craft supply shops.
Photo: Elizabeth Magee
Most Convenient: Hobby Lobby
They sell supplies for every craft imaginable, including paints for model cars. Plus, they have the softest cotton yarn for $1.99 that I’m smitten with. Hobby Lobby also has a wide selection of home decorating products. The new store at Breckinridge Lane means that the store is conveniently located just off of the Watterson Expressway.
For more store locations, see hobbylobby.com.
Hit or Miss: Unique Thrift Store
This second hand shop is actually one of my personal favorites for craft supplies. The prices are cheap and the store always has new items in stock. The only problem is that the supplies are bagged up and you may end up buying three skeins of yarn that you did not want just for the one skein that you did want.
Unique has two Louisville store locations.
Portland Neighborhood Location
617 Carter Street
Louisville, KY 40212
(502) 772-9304
Preston Hwy. Location
6201 Preston Highway
Louisville, KY 40219
(502) 962-7212
Worst: Target
Target doesn’t often sell yarn, but when they do it is not a good idea to buy it. They usually only put yarn in the dollar section, but even $1 is a waste for the low quality product and little amount that you get.
For store locations see target.com.
Comments
Elizabeth, Sweetheart, there are several points in your article that are begging for clarification. You omitted in your opinion the relative size of the two stores. While I have not taken my measuring tape to the Knit Nook, I would hazard a guess that it is less that 600 square feet, add to that a table, chairs and you have a very cramped space without adding shelving for yarn, books, patterns, and various tools. Comparatively, Sophie’s has ample space for her three sofas, one large table, and a multitude of chairs. On any given Wednesday evening you would find 3 to 4 card tables , one 4 X 8 table added and a enough chairs to accommodate everyone.
As for yarn and I shudder at the word; let me tell you a secret, yarn is bought at Mega stores, dime stores and they tell me dollar stores. But to your point, each shoppe carries quality fibers; however, you will have to admit that in this case size matters. Sophie’s has the Knit Nook beat in this area, no question.
And speaking of area, when is Bardstown Road convenient for anyone who lives outside of a three mile radius? Speaking metaphorically, I would have to drive through Hell and half of Georgia to get to the Knit Nook, finding a parking spot on the street would cause a saint to curse. No thank you, the time I would spend driving, finding a place to park, I can spend knitting at Sophie’s. Hop on any one of several major thoroughfares surrounding Louisville and you’re there. Parking is never an issue.
As for being convenient, with Interstates, 64, 264, 65 and 71 getting to Sophie’s take no more than 20 – 30 minutes for even the slowest driver. I have made friends on the sofas at Sophie’s who travel from, Lexington, Frankfort, Hopkinsville, Nicholasville, Versailles, Cincinnati, and every suburb of Louisville, yes even Bardstown Road.
Elizabeth, due us a favor, come out of the Highlands, explore the wonderful city we live in. We are alive and well outside of Tyler Park.
Come on, come out and smell the alpaca.
Thank you for taking the time to express yourself Christy. As you said, this was my opinion. I actually don't live in the Highlands, but the area is a much shorter distance for me to drive which saves me money to buy more crafts. Thank you and have a nice day.
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