I've read the mixed reviews and have to say that my experience going to the store and taking classes has been 100% positive. Everyone has been super helpful, friendly, and had gone out of their way to help me-whether it is with a mega yarn purchase for a project or to undo some mess I've made by following a pattern that wasn't right for me. I started out with bamboo needles, as do most beginners, and when they were driving me nuts, one of the wonderful women in the store lent me her ebony needles before I spent that much money on a set for myself. The lessons are fantastic and fun. I can't praise Jennifer highly enough! She makes knitting fun and pulls the group together. We became friends and are continuing with a knitting workshop with Jennifer. All the women in the store are supportive and instructive. No one appears to have an attitude. We are all beginners once. They seem eager to help. read more

Nooo. Racoon fur? Seriously that's not okay. And the exact same little crochet set (hooks, stitch markers, scissor, stitch counter, needles, measuring tape etc...) that costs $7.99 on Amazon or Tik Tok, she sells for $74+. That's quite the embarrassing markup. And yes, it's the exact same little kit, mustache logo and all. I'll cone back when Dharma is open. 2 stars because their dog is adorable and it's harder to take down a 2 star review. But my Mom just told me that she had overheard the owner being extremely rude to a customer, so this is a one star review. read more

Beautiful shop with large selection of yarns and notions. The staff is very kind and helpful. It is a pleasure to shop here.

I love closer to Atelier Marin now and love this shop! So inspiring and the ladies are so helpful with any questions and recommendations! read more

Atelier Marin - Great variety! - Fabric Stores Near Me - San Rafael, California

Been knitting for a while and shopping here for a while so felt like I could finally give a solid review. I've not only spent hundreds at Atelier on yarn and other notions, but also took a class with Atelier. PROS: - great selection of high quality yarns (albeit expensive ones): If you're looking for affordable yarn this isn't the shop, but if you're looking for something special, fun, or luxurious, I think this is a great place to shop. You'll find high quality fibers and even some local ones. - good selection of classes or workshops offered: if you'd like to learn to knit this is probably your best bet in San Rafael/Marin. There are so many class options you're bound to find one that works within your schedule. - availability to help with small issues: let's say you've hit a challenging part of your pattern and just need some quick advice. The employees working the front desk frequently have pulled out their glasses and worked with me on what needed doing next. If you're going to take more than 10-15 mins of their time you'll need to book a lesson, but for quick fixes the staff has always been very helpful to me. CONS: - the staff are sometimes knowledgeable...and sometimes REALLY not. It's quite a strange phenomenon. Sometimes I've found the staff to be invaluable with advice and other times they've literally cost me hours and hundreds of $ in mistakes. A recent example of this was I came in with a specific pattern in hand (a DK weight sweater). There was a yarn the store labeled as DK that I liked. The staff on site swore up and down it was the perfect yarn for the sweater and that I'd only need 2 hanks (of which were $60 a piece). I had them wind one Hank up. They had to special order the other so I'd have to come back for it. I got home, started a gauge swatch, and was shocked at how thin and transparent the fabric was. I went on ravelry and other websites and learned the yarn isn't DK at all - it's sport weight. Meaning I'm now stuck with a $60 ball of yarn that doesn't work for my project at all. When they called me to come pick up the second hank I told them to please return it (I had pre paid) and kindly suggested they re label the yarn. Instead of any sort of politeness about it...I was weirdly gaslit? Told to try smaller needles. Told to buy more yarn. Told it's a me problem basically - and that "in our store it's a DK yarn". Very strange levels of defensiveness. And, like I said, I now have $60 of yarn that isn't usable for the project I needed it for all because of employee recommendation. - cost overall: if you're looking for a range of costs this isn't the store for you. Most yarn here is expensive (it's higher end so I get it), but it can definitely make it harder to "support local" when there's not a range of price points to shop here. Hit or miss, I'd say. The store is lovely. Most of the time the staff is helpful. But every once in a while, as you can see in other reviews, you'll get a defensive staff member leading you astray and costing you time and money. read more

A true gem So happy to have found this place!!! Great selection and the folks in the store were knowledgeable and very friendly. read more

Outstanding service, very knowledgeable personnel, incredible selection of beautiful yarns. I literally have not knitted since my grandmother taught me over 50 years ago, but the patience and sweetness of the Atelier personnel inspired me to start knitting again. My first project is going so well! read more

The following is the letter I wrote to Amanda, the owner. Fortunately, my sweater turned out wonderfully despite my problems with Atelier (YouTube was the most helpful.) Hope you have better luck! ***** I have now spent $760 at Atelier Marin, almost all of which was for private or class lessons. These lessons created more problems than the helpful assistance I had hoped for and expected from paid instruction. I am quite frustrated because in almost every one of those lessons I have been given instructions which turned out to be incorrect, requiring multiple rows of unknitting. Your instructors have been very apologetic and mean well. I believe these mistakes have been because they do not know their own limitations and did not read the pattern I brought in carefully and correctly, or at all. I know I chose a complex sweater pattern that has tricky features, such as German short rows, incorporating newly made stitches into an existing pattern, and making Raglan seams. However, instead of carefully reading what the pattern said and letting me know they didn't quite understand, they forged ahead, giving me bad instructions that then had to be undone by the next instructor, who then also knitted parts incorrectly requiring much unknitting by the next instructor and by me. They have also given me contradictory instructions. I have spent a large amount of time and money undoing their mistakes or having the instructor undo previous instructors mistakes. As you can imagine, I am not happy with spending this much on instruction only to find that I am now able to make the pattern correctly using only YouTube videos. You have a beautiful store and well-meaning instructors, but I believe I have been led astray on several occasions, most recently by R, who was also apologetic when he realized what he had done. However, this was the final straw. read more

Atelier Marin has such a wide variety of beautiful yarn, besides everyone is so friendly and helpful! I highly recommend to visit this cute shop! read more

Atelier Marin - Such a pretty store, and everyone is so helpful and friendly! I highly recommend to visit it!! - Fabric Stores Near Me - San Rafael, California

Such a well-stocjed shop with really friendly staff who will help with all your needs! Definitely recommend a visit!

The workers were very kind and attentive, asking what projects I was planning for my crochet hook and ready to answer any question I may have. Had so much beautiful yarns and colors with a diverse selection of yarn types, colors, crochet and yarn supplies, and handmade things. read more

I was given the name of a woman who could repair a sweater damaged by moths. She quoted a price of $20 for the repair and said I could either mail the sweater to her at my expense or drop it off at Atelier in Marin. She visits Atelier in San Francisco every Friday. I called Atelier and asked if they charge to ship the sweater and was told no. I dropped off the sweater with a check for $20 but was told I'd pay once the sweater was returned. I picked it up today and was told the charge was $50. I paid but am disgusted with Atelier for being so greedy. Yes, I should have asked when I dropped off the sweater whether there was a charge for facilitating the repair. I'd have happily paid ten dollars to make it happen, but 150% surcharge is obscene. I'm not happy... hence this review. read more

Best yarn store in Marin Huge selection of quality yarns always helpful staff INCLUDING AMANDA !!!! A bit on the high end pricey side but you get what you pay for. Love that they are always offering classes and individual help We are so lucky to have this store. Happy Holidays read more

I've never written a review before, but I certainly had to for this experience because it was amazing! I love supporting local businesses, but I've been to several yarn stores before and have had a hurtful experience so I was incredibly hesitant to try again... but I am so glad I did! Chris, Rona, and Susan were there they day I was... and all of them were so kind and helpful. I was immediately greeted by someone and oriented to the layout and organization of the yarn. All were incredibly knowledgeable and were kind enough to help me think through my project (even making a calculation for me if I decided to go with another fiber!) I value learning from those with more experience in the yarn arts and I'm so thankful for everything they shared as I shopped. They treated me like a human, a fellow fiber enthusiast and it was just so refreshing. Thank you all for everything! The 1 hour trip in the rain amidst flash flood warnings was totally worth it! I can't wait to visit again! read more

I am a novice knitter and was a little nervous after I entered the store. The staff didn't greet me and I felt uncomfortable. When I was approached by the woman who appeared to be in charge, she was so rude, talking to me as if i had a low intelligence. I ended up making a purchase I didn't need and found my way to the marvelous Dharma. A path well followed, I'm afraid. read more

I went to the Atelier knitting store on Fourth Street in San Rafael. I have spent a lot of money there and taken knitting lessons. Everyone knows how nasty the owner Amanda is. I buy wool there anyway because it is convenient and always tell the nice women who work there that I hope Amanda doesn't come out from the back because she is so mean. Today, she came out from the back of the store. Started yelling at me. I turned to her and looked her in the eye and asked her why she is always yelling at me when I come in. She freaked out and told me to never come back to her store again. What a loser. I do feel sorry for her that she has to act that way. On my way out I asked if she had ever seen the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld. I told her she was like the Knitting Nazi of Marin. I recommend Dharma down the block. read more

This is a small but well-laid out and easy to navigate. The women who work here are very nice and super helpful. I travel across from the East Bay from time to time just to see what's happening there. They are encouraging and their samples are inspiring. They carry good quality and yarns I don't see elsewhere. I bought one of their own patterns a year ago and started the project and put it down for six months or so. Just found it in my stats with no instructions! I called the store and described it. Amanda, the owner, asked me to send a photo of the project. Within an hour I had the instructions and am now happily going to knit once I finish this review. Do yourself a favor and visit this store when you visit The Bay Area or make a point to go if you live here. You will be glad you did!!! read more

I'm an experienced knitter and worked in a yarn store for two years and I don't understand the negative, hurtful reviews that some people have written about this store. It's small, but has a great selection of yarns, is cozy and welcoming, and the staff are knowledgable and helpful. I've had several interactions with the owner and never once detected any whiff of bad attitude from her. Do you people know how hard it is to run a small specialty store like this? It's not like selling a toaster. If you sell a sweater's worth of yarn, you often have to help that person all the way through the project (if they ever finish it!) before they'll come back and buy more yarn. And it's a store! Not your living room! Go home and knit! We had a woman who regularly came into the store where I worked (not this one) and wanted to knit and eat her lunch there every day. I have a feeling that a lot of the nasty reviews were about people making inappropriate requests and then not getting what they wanted. This is a nice store run by a pleasant lady. End of story. read more

I was planning to take some classes here, until I noticed on their website that they sold rabbit fur. As someone that cares about the humane treatment of animals, I can't support this business. read more

I've given this place so many chances. I took several classes here for over 6 months. I ended up getting about 10 minutes of help each class, if even that as the instructor would go around the table and those of us waiting for guidance to proceed with next steps, just had to sit and wait. I've popped in the store half a dozen times for help on a project and only once was someone available to help me. My experience is that this is a shop where wealthy Marin women with nothing else to do like to fill their time and spend their money. Harsh but that's been my experience. The yarn is beautiful and if you know what you are looking for, like the elitist scene, and are willing to overpay, go here. Dharma in San Rafael is way better in every aspect. read more

The good: beautiful yarn, unique things you won't find elsewhere,not overpriced for the quality, well displayed. The bad: not just the the owner but the staff. I went in today with a project I wanted to start ASAP. Really didn't care how much I spent since it was for me(!). Although there were two staff members and no one else in the store, they couldn't be bothered to even ask if I needed help. I left after looking around for fifteen minutes and bought my yarn at Dharma. I don't think I will ever waste my time again. read more

I took a knitting class here when I was about ten (a little over a decade ago) and that bad experience really stuck with me. The main thing I remember was Amanda yelling at me. I'm glad I had other knitting role models, and other knitting shops to go to. Reading other reviews, it sounds like Altelier Marin is the same hostile, over priced store it was when I made the youthful error of going there. I strongly suggest taking your business elsewhere if you want to be treated with basic decency. read more

Fabulous, eclectic selection of yarns & notions. The owner is super generous with advice, and her knowledge is vast. A+

A year ago, after a long hiatus of not knitting I walked into Atelier thinking I'd pick up a simple project to work on during a month long meditation retreat. People were friendly enough but the place was very busy. Some staff were seemed more knowledgeable than others but I was not too concerned. I spent more tha I planned on a project I was not that wild about later. Not their fault. A few months later when I learned I was to be a grandmother I went back. I spent a lot of money on beautiful yarn to make a lace blanket and sweater set. I ended up in the store every day for a week needling help. Every staff person patiently and cheerfully answered my questions, sorted out my problems and cheered me on. I returned frequently during that project and others and have been greatful for all the help I've received from casting on the yarn to blocking it. I've taken several workshops with Amanda. She has a straight forward personality that I suppose can put off some people. None of us are perfect. But her policies are the same as most shops--buy here and we are happy to help for no additional charge but purchase supplies elsewhere and you'll need to sign up for classes to get our help. I think that is fair. Amanda is a wizard at knitting and has the patience of Job. She has always been kind and encouraging with everyone in these classes. I have learned so much from the people at Atelier in the last few months that I am now working on complicated projects. Atelier carries the finest yarns. Prices are posted on the bins on small information cards. I might be able to purchase cheaper elsewhere but I think it fair to support my local yarn shop when they support my creative efforts so well. I've spent hours there when I was dealing with difficult problems, although I think I should learn to solve most of them myself at home. Atelier is my knitting home away from home, Thank you to Amanda and all her staff!! read more

What a fantastic group of people, so knowledgeable so willing to take time to help you out and so generous with good advice. You would think that because of the location and fancy name they would be expensive, but they're not. Well worth a little trip to Saint Anselm out to do business with these wonderful folks. read more

I have made two scarfs and purchased my yarn from the San Anselmo store. The different clerks in the store were always helpful and cheerful. I am now taking my first class with Amanda and it has been a real delightful experience. She explains techniques perfectly so that it is very clear. I love her patience and enthusiasm. I am so blessed to have her store so close to where I live. read more

This store continues to disappoint me. Although there is a good selection of nice yarns, they are not individually priced and so you don't know how much you might be spending unless you ask. The woman who owns the store then seems put out when you ask her the price, and is not very warm to begin with. Though this is the closest yarn store to my house I don't ever shop there as it is just not a happy place. I'd rather travel any distance to get help and good yarn. read more

I agree that the owner has some attitude problems. I have been in the store a couple of times. The first time she was cool and disinterested, and the second time downright rude. Needless to say, I won't be shopping here. read more

The store has many great selections of yarns and knitting books. It has a cozy, local feel . . . despite these perks, Atelier Marin has some serious problems that need to be addressed. 1. prices are high. 2. Most importantly, customer service at Atelier Marin is severely lacking. After buying almost fifty dollars worth of yarn/supplies, Amanda demonstrated an absolute lack of care for me as a customer. I had a question regarding the tools I had just bought and how to use them properly. She dismissed my question and told me to take a lesson ($50 per hour). This sort of a response would be more reasonable had I not just purchased almost $50 worth of supplies at her store. Moreover, all of the group lessons were full a month in advance. So there I was, a customer who had just spent a lot of money at Atelier Marin, feeling as though Atelier was solely there to take my money. They demonstrated absolutely no desire to answer a few simple questions or help their customers. They treated me like a walking $50 bill, not a person. There are plenty of other Knitting/yarn stores in Marin that would be more than willing to help their customers. Here, at Atelier, you must waive some cash before they are willing to help you. They lost me, and they will probably loose many more customer as a result of their poor, bar-code service. I would really like to see this place thrive--I would have been a big fan (despite the prices), had I felt respected there. read more

So very thankful for this shop. Amanda and her marvelous team of teachers are a treasure. They have helped me with every project. And the vast selection of yarns is fabulous. The Bay Area is lucky to have this shop and another in San Francisco. read more

Small stuffy store in a cute shopping district. Truly beautiful specimens of completed knitting projects. Inspiring displays. I am a weaver. I walked in with a fellow male friend, and we could hear the collective gasp. We might as well have been Klingons in full military gear. I looked around at the ten women there (perhaps two were staff) embarrassed that I had intruded. After the cursory staff contact -- that familiar pointed/annoyed/unpleasant "can I help you?" tone -- I was ignored for about 30 minutes. I was made to feel that I was in the wrong store. And even though I made several pricey purchases, I left feeling like I was a Hell's Angel crashing a garden society tea party. Come on, ladies, this is the Bay Area in the 21st century. Over-priced but excellent selection of yarns. I won't be back. Too bad. I like the product lines and displays. read more

Despite all the negative comments I've heard about this place, I popped in one day just to ask if they could recommend a knitting repair place. The lady was very short with me... acted put off that I even had the nerve to ask and that my question was absurd. What a snot. read more

SO I have been living near Atelier for a few years and have gone in a few times...scared off because of attitude of owner Amanda (who scared me when I lived in SF, frankly) but I guess I am one of those folks who always hopes that people will change. Anyhoo, I went in as though I've been knitting on and off since childhood, I goofed and was short one skein of yarn in my dye lot for a project. I went online for the yarn, saw they had it and bit the bullet and went in. This is why it's hard to support the shop though it is 2 minutes from my home--she literally told me off, in front of another customer when I told her what I had done. Sheesh; who needs that? Not me! Life's too short! Gorgeous yarns, tons of stock, lots of books but NOT the cozy feel good vibe you get in pretty much every other yarn store around! read more

I came into Atelier Marin the other day and was very impressed by the selection of yarn as well as the quality of service I received. The two ladies working were exceptionally helpful trying to help me find yarn for my proposed project and were conscientious about the cost of the yarn my project would require. They voluntarily took down other garments made from the yarn I was considering so I could get a sense of the weight of the finished project. Ultimately I actually fell in love with one of the sample garments and switched to an entirely different project and purchased the yarn for it instead. The selection and friendliness of this shop were exceptional, they reassured me they were there if I needed any assistance on my project and I would return again to do business. read more

This is my favorite yarn shop. Amanda, the owner, is always helpful, considerate and very knowledgeable. I love coming to the store and seeing all the new and beautiful yarns. The yarns are a little pricey but they are so worth the cost. If you are taking the time to hand knit a project you want the best yarn you can find and this is the place to come. Amanda is always there to give suggestions. Her other staff members are also kind and helpful, always there with a smile asking if you need any help. The classes are so much fun! read more

Absolutely yummy yarn! Yes, on the pricey side but this isn't your run of the mill selection of materials. I expect to pay about what I did for what I bought. The gals who were there were delightful, helpful and knowledgeable, and the selection was pretty amazing considering the size of the shop. I will definitely be back! read more

Love, love this store! A wonderful discovery for the knitter inside me. During a visit with my cousin (who is an avid knitter), I wanted to show her around - i found Atelier online, and decided to check it out. Well, 3 simple knitted cowls later, not only am i a fan, i am an addict!! The yarns are beautiful, Amanda and her team are wonderful, and the store is a true find. Go check it out! read more

First and foremost, they have gorgeous yarn. It is a selection of luxury yarn and is priced accordingly. If you want cheap yarn, go to Joanns! There are some wonderful ladies working here, so patient and helpful. I took a class and it was very useful. If you are looking for something really special, this is the store. read more

I've only ever had positive experiences in this store. I drive up from San Francisco to shop there. I had never knit before my first class at Atelier Marin, and now I'm making throws, hats, scarves, baby booties...you name it. I guess perhaps knitting can be daunting for some. But don't be shy - ask Amanda! She's happy to help. Happy to tell you how much something might cost all together, what else to keep in mind (gauge, double points, etc.). I'm really surprised to read that others may have found Amanda to be anything other than a sweetheart. Maybe because she's a tall, pretty blonde woman others hold that against her...? I'm just sayin'... read more

love love LOVE this store! The yarn selection is amazing, the classes are both fun and you learn a ton, and the inspiration for new projects is everywhere! Amanda, the owner, has so much to offer. I love the customer service I get there and the fun, creative environment. I'm hooked! read more