I have mixed feelings about this mid-sized yarn store. On one hand, they have a long history-- they have been here as long as I can remember, way before knitting became trendy. The store reflects that. Until a few years ago, they didn't carry any novelty-type yarns and pretty much catered to the experienced, hard-core knitter/crocheter. (Or at least that's how they came across to me.) Service: I'm sure the staff is helpful if you seem like the 'right' kind of knitter, but I haven't found them to be very friendly or helpful, least of all the owner! I keep going back here because the prices are reasonable (surprising for downtown Los Altos), and I try to shop to support local small businesses. I really do want to give them the benefit of the doubt, but after so many trips here, I'm afraid it's really not just somebody's "off" day. A few years back, I tried to special order a specific colorway of a yarn that they regularly carried to knit a present for a friend. They took all the info and said they'd call me...I went back to check in, they took my request again and again, totally dropped the ball. (Even if they couldn't get it, I'd have liked to have known that they did try, or just flat out told me they couldn't help me with the special order to begin with!) Classes: I haven't taken classes here, but they do offer them. I often see the staff sitting at the table knitting away and chatting with one another. Presumably, some of the folks sitting there are customers, but who knows? A friend took their intro sock knitting class and said the instructor was pretty good. The yarn: The selection is decent, with a good-sized section of sock yarns (heavy on the Lana Grossa-- fun self-striping, plus some Koigu KPPM-- comes and goes depending on when they get shipments). There is a good selection of superwash/dry in a wide variety of colors. Sections of cottons, wools, mohair, cashmere, etc. Some novelty yarns...seems to vary according to the season-- more during the holidays/scarf-giving season. There is a section at the back of yarn for baby projects, near the books and patterns. Good selection of needles and accessories. Again, prices are reasonable, especially if you go to their 20%-off sales, held once or twice a year (one is in January). I do like that they generally have enough of a color and lot to do an adult-sized sweater, if that's what you're looking for. (Of course, that's why all the "hard-core" knitters have always shopped here.) Update (3/07): I went back here a few weekends ago to pick up a skein of yarn to knit a baby present-- the service was great! It was a sunny Saturday and the owner wasn't there. Did that have something to do with it? Who knows? One of the two women working was new; both were helpful and cheery without being pushy. All I can say is if this is a permanent change, I'll soon add a star! read more

I am quite surprised to see poor customer service reviews here. Staff chatted with both my parents and I, helped us find brands and weights, and discussed colors. They have many staples of higher end yarn stores (tosh, malabrigo, cascade, noro) as well as some much smaller dyers (handwerks). Prices were fair given its pricy Los Altos address. read more

They have some very nice stuff here including a good selection of craft books and patterns. Yarns tend toward natural fibers and blends. A little on the pricey side, I thought, but all great stuff to fondle. I did find the staff to be very chatty with other customers who appeared to be regulars, but they basically were standoffish and ignored me the whole time I was there. Was really annoyed when I asked for advice on left-handed knitting and crochet books and was told airily by the woman that I should just learn to knit right-handed and her daughter who is a lefty knits just fine right-handed. Thank you, very helpful. Definitely not the place I would go to get a warm, fuzzy feeling, and I was turned off enough by the prices and attitude that I walked out without buying anything. read more

I had great experience at Uncommon Threads yesterday. The lady there was super helpful and friendly. I can see that the unfriendly staff problem has been solved. Thank you, and I recommend this store to anyone who wants to find lovely yarn and good knitting advice in the Palo Alto/Los Altos area. read more

I visited here with my sister-in-law to show me where she gets her knitting supplies. The sales people are helpful and friendly.

I don't know what the problem is with the people that work here, but their consistently rude and dismissive attitude has earned this business a new name. Whenever we need yarn or needlework materials, we will ask: "Did you go to the 'Rude Place'?" read more

This store is a great one; it's a nice complement to Full Thread Ahead (which is around the corner). They don't really carry the same things, so I frequented both depending on what I needed. I have never asked for help with knitting, only to pick out things like needles and yarn, and the staff there was nice. They carry great, classic yarns including Koigu PPPM, which is great for whipping up a quick pair of booties. They have a great selection of both Addi Turbos and Inox. I started buying Inox b/c they are a lot cheaper than the Addies, and almost as good. They have a really extensive collection. The needles are the only thing I can think of that Full Thread Ahead also carries, and Uncommon Threads has a more complete inventory. read more

They refused to help me with an ongoing project .They gave me some assistance, but after I went back to have only one simple question answered they said that I would not be getting any help in their store. I began a new sweater with the pattern and yarn that I purchased in their store. I had only cast on and I was reading ahead to see if I needed help . I asked for clarification on some directions and I was told that perhaps this is not the pattern for me. I left the store almost in tears. I will NEVER go back there. In this economy I that they can be a little more friendly and not make their customers feel like they are STUPID. I am now a happy customer at a very friendly knitting store. read more

I visited this store several times a few years ago, and recently went back this week. Maybe my memory is off, but the selection of yarns seems to have improved and they have a lot of beautiful, reasonably priced stuff for such a small shop. They also have a great selection of books. As far as service goes, there was a friendly, younger woman working who was very attentive and helpful, even though the store was so full of shoppers. By contrast, an older woman, who I took to be the owner, was attempting to help her clientele, but she was not able to deal with the crowd of effectively. She was very rude to me telling me in an exasperated manner that she couldn't wind my yarn into balls when there was this kind of crowd, even though I'd already waited between 5 and 10 minutes for this service, which had been offered to me, after already paying for the yarn. I could understand if she didn't feel she had the time, but felt that a polite apology would be appropriate. Anyway, I don't think she meant to be so rude, I think she just doesn't have good manners. I asked if it was ok if I did it myself and she sort of reluctantly agreed. It took maybe 3 minutes. read more

I always try to shop at local businesses. I have been to Uncommon Threads several times over the past two years to purchase yarn. The yarn was expensive but I am happy to buy from a local company if they are pleasant and provide decent customer service. No such help is available at Uncommon Threads. Several times I have asked for help and each time I left the store completely frustrated!! Today was absolutely the last time I will ever go to Uncommon Threads. The woman sitting at the "help" table was disinterested in assisting me. She actually got up from the table and started sorting knitting needles! I am very disappointed in the service offered at Uncommon Threads. It is the closest knitting store near my home but I will not patronize a business that has such terrible customer service. read more

This is a lovely store, and the people who work here are friendly, interesting to talk to, and very knowledgeable about yarns and patterns. It's also a cozy place to just spend time - everyone is welcome to sit and knit at leisure, where you can meet other knitters, talk with the staff, or just relax with a project. There's a great selection of yarns, and there's more availability than it might otherwise appear. The prices are as good as or better than what you might find on the web. I haven't done a class yet, but I plan to one of these days. All in all, visiting Uncommon Threads is a favorite pastime for me as well as a favorite shopping experience. read more

This was the very first yarn shop I had ever been to! This is the place to go for knitting needles and books. The salesladies who work here are very nice and helpful. It's not a trendy store but I guess that's why they've been around so long. It's a classic and I'll keep coming back to it. read more

I've been back a couple of times in the past year. It's true this store will never win the "warm, fuzzy" award, but I needed classic Rowan yarn to complete a pattern & I knew she would have it. She did. Other shops often rotate their stock so if you are short a ball or two you are SOL. Whatsmore, the salesperson spent a lot of time helping me choose colors for a Fairisle pattern. This store was around before knitting was trendy & now that the recession has hit, I predict they will stick it out longer than some of the trendier shops. read more

This is a very long established store. I bought some lovely Lana Grossa yarn here and liked the fact they had a fully finished sample of my project. Very high quality yarns and a fair selection. The table towards the back of the store always has locals knitting away at it, and I always feel like an outsider unless I actually approach someone. I think they could probably answer every knitting question I've ever had - but I don't think I'd want to impose..... read more

Uncommon Threads isn't your run of the mill yarn store, this place is for old school knitters. This shop has a great selection of knitting books and single patterns. The staff can be a bit cold at first, but they give excellent yarn and knitting help. If you want shoot-from-the-hip knitting advice and a variety of patterns, this is the place to go. read more

I live 3 1/2 hours south but I when I go north (usually for doctor appointments) I always like to visit Uncommon Threads. I receive their updates by email and wish I were closer since our own LYS has closed. I prefer to see the yarn in person, especially since on occasion the color does not meet expectation when ordered online. I love the English ladies. I took my daughter there one day years ago and she picked out a pattern, a sleeveless linen lace tunic, and asked me if I could knit it. They had all the yarn there I needed, I sweated over it for months, finally finished it, and she is still wearing it today! read more

They have a great selection of high quality yarns -- the main reason for me coming here so often! Everything is pretty expensive, but I believe it is worth it. I decided to knit these beautiful (but complex!) leg warmers, and one of the women in the shop was so helpful! She sat me down at the table and went over the pattern with me using practice wool and needles...thank you!! It's well organized and so much fun to look around, they have lots of good pattern books in the back as well. I can't wait to go back! read more

This is my favorite yarn shop in the Bay Area, even if it's around 55 miles round trip from home. There are closer shops, but I love the selection of yarns & the arrangement, and the staff have been helpful many times. Having said that, I don't know why,when I leave, no matter if I've spent a lot of money or none, I feel let down. True, the staff members consistently ask if they can be of help, yet somehow I don't feel welcome there. For some reason I've witnessed quite a few long lost reunions between old friends there, while I'm browsing, and yet, even though I go in every week or so, there is a slightly edgy element in the reception. Don't believe it's my behavior or appearance, so don't know what's up. When it's so efficient to order yarn on line now, bricks & mortar LYS's need to offer the value-added quality of personal contact & service more than ever. read more

I drove to this store because I wanted to purchase a gradient yarn set for a sweater. I was greeted and helped immediately upon walking into the store! I said what I was looking for and was left to look, which I like. When I was struggling with colors another employee helped me find exactly what I was looking for! They wound my yarn and I was able to look around. There is a large variety of yarns that I typically only see at Stitches, and the store was clean and bright. This is a great store and I really appreciated the atmosphere as well! I'll be back! read more

Well, I tried this store again. Once again, I am disappointed. Several years ago I visited this store and was treated horribly. I felt like the girl from the movie "pretty woman" the person in charge, perhaps the owner, followed me around and tried to herd me to the door. I asked if any of the items on display were on sale and she rudely said no, and please don't touch. I inquired about classes and was given short answers and felt it was time to leave. I promised myself I would never go back and I didn't for ten years. There was no greeting, or a simple hi can I help you, but the generic wobbling of the head with a no behind her statement as she asked me can i help you? two associates were there and both looked a bit puzzled as to why I was there asking again about classes. They both looked at each other as though I asked something odd. I walked around and never, not one time did they ask can I help you find something or let me give you more info on classes anything would of been nice. However, they didn't follow me around the store to make me feel like i was a criminal, and as I got closer to the door, they didn't even acknowledge me to say the simplest of good bye have a nice day. I live here in Los Altos and have for many years, I try to shop local before I head to the Malls. I will never recommend, refer or come to that store again. New ownership or not, these ladies need a course in proper etiquette, customer service skills big time. Have a great day ladies.. read more

Lovely shop. Very helpful and knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff and wide variety of yarns and easy parking.

This shop will always be dear to me. They were here to serve the knitting community long before most of the trendier shops out there today. These folks taught me how to go from scarves and baby blankets to socks and sweaters and knitting with more than one colour. They carry a very good selection of Rowan yarns and patterns. They also have lots of baby patterns and yarns. The service is attentive and professional and friendly and knowledgeable. They have a great "mileage" program that I've taken advantage of many times over. This place is a classic. And they're open on Tuesdays. read more

This is a lovely store. The two ladies who helped me both greeted me with a smile and checked up on me from time to time. Very knowledgeable. The store has a fantastic selection of quality fibers. It's a pleasure to peruse their inventory. Everything is well organized, labeled and with swatches. read more

What can I say, I have never been to a store where I was ignored in such a professional way. The staff wouldn't acknowledge my presence. Don't go if you have an alternative. read more

I went into the store seeking help in shortening a scarf I had made for a friend who it turns out prefers shorter scarves. As a real novice knitter, I had no idea how to begin the daunting task of cutting into it in order to shorten it. Jean took the time to sit down with me at the table, and successfully used her great expertise to allow me to leave with the task accomplished! Thanks so much, Jean! read more

I understand this yarn store has a very long legacy and has been around before knitting truly became "hip". However, I did find the staff to be very standoff-ish to me, kind of like I wasn't good enough to be a knitter because I wasn't a 70+ year old grandma. Their selection was just okay, but I didn't stick around that long since it didn't feel very welcoming and the kind of store you'd go into to sit, knit, and chat with friends. Maybe if I'm in the area, I'll walk in and browse and maybe get a couple things, but I definitely wouldn't go out of my way to go, since a lot of the fun of knitting is the community of it all, which I just didn't feel I was a part of at Uncommon Threads. read more

Great service, very helpful!!!! I went in to learn how to do a pattern. The saleswoman showed me how to do it then watched me do it to make sure I got it. Yesterday, I went in to have ribbon I bought at Stitches get rolled into a ball. The owner did so happily and free of charge. The new owner, Stephanie, provides friendly personal attention to her customers. I recommended this store to my knitting club :) read more

Uncommon Threads has everything a knitter could ask for: wide selection of yarns and accessories, a staff that is knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly, a variety of classes for every level of knitter, and a professional and prompt finishing service. (e. g. put together a sweater). The email newsletter keeps you informed of new materials and events at the shop! read more

First, this is a knitting store with some minor concessions made for crochet-ers. Don't expect anything for hooking rugs or cross-stitch. Second, this is small knitting store with a nice selection of high end yarns like Rowan. They have good variety of fibers (wool, cotton, linen & blends) but don't carry too much in the way of exotics like silk, alpaca. Since they've chosen to offer variety, you can't really expect to go right in and get enough yarn to knit up a sweater. So have patience, and put in the special order. The selection of knitting needles and crochet hooks was quite nice with good variety of materials from plastics to aluminum to bamboo/wood. Very cool. Makes me wish I didn't already have half their stock : ) The books and magazine selection is terrific. I'm a big fan of classic but stylish garments ranging from country comfortable to urban elegant and they had those designs in spades. They also had even more high-end "original" designs which are better suited for an evening out. Ah, yes, then there is the stuff for babies, babies, babies! Babies have their own special corner for designs and yarns. Aww...so cute! They have a store copy of almost book or booklet, so if they are out, you can special order it. They have a convenient table for you to sit down and spread out a little. It is an awful good way to while away a pleasant afternoon leafing through their collection. The store has very *intense* neighborhood ambiance. Many of the customers who pop in know each other and the owner & employee. The first timer may find this a bit intimidating. The owner and employee are not in the habit of speaking up at all and you can't pick them out by their dress. Since I was hanging out and reading knitting books, I had the opportunity to follow the lead and kinda lined up behind someone to get my questions answered. After that it went pretty well, possibly because I was hunting for enough exotic yarn to knit a sweater. We roamed all over the store looking for silk or silk blend or bamboo to produce said sweater. She was very sensitive to the qualities that distinguished one yarn from another. I would definitely go to this store to get some help picking out an alternate yarn if you cannot find the one you're looking for. Unlike other reviewers, I think the customer service is awesome and totally friendly. The computer inventory turned out to be completely accurate or me so if you know what you want, it's worth it to call ahead and check since they have such short hours. I absolutely cannot figure out how the store is organized. It isn't by brand or type of fiber or weight/yardage. read more

We were in town and I was excited to see the store I heard such great things about! I walked in and I was memorized with how delicately and thoughtfully the shop had been displayed. I strolled around and as a knitter who loves gorgeous yarn, I was in heaven! The part that made shopping there special was the terrific help and welcome I received from the owner, Stephanie! The quality and selection was awesome. It was definitely worth the drive. I have been to almost every yarn store in the area and this place is special. read more

I am from Austin, TX and I visit the area twicwe a year. This shop is always on my stops and I always purchase something. I agree with Sa Y. ,these people are smart and have always been very nice and helpful. Yes, the yarn may be expensive if you are used to buying yarn at Wal mart. read more

It would be a stretch to say I'm a knitter ( I have a young cat...need I say more?), but whenever I do go in search of yarn it is at Uncommon Threads on State St., in downtown Los Altos. The inventory is a dazzler, a real tactile treat to be sure. And I like the fact that I'm free to roam the store, poke and prod, have my questions answered as needed but not be shadowed by an over-anxious sales person. There's nothing more off-putting than going into an independently owned store and feeling as though you've got to buy something; worse yet, having the sales staff hovering, telling you how wonderful everything is. The staff at Uncommon Threads are all expert knitters , willing to share their knowledge. They have an incredible selection of knitting books as well, magazines too. And for those looking to knit just a little something for a new baby or a young child, there's a wonderful selection of yarns and patterns for the very young. read more

good selection of yarns, but they typically stock the basics. no debbie bliss yarns :( but always stop by the "orphan basket" for discounts on end-of-dye-lots. reallyreally good selection of books as well. the staff hear is sometimes a little stiff, but very knowledgeable. read more

Walked in tonight with my husband and daughter. It's 4:54 p.m. and we are greeted from behind the counter with "We are closing". Basically "please leave now!" So we left and will not go back. read more

Ok, I wrote this a month ago and it got filtered out, so hopefully it will stay this time... I completely agree with the people who said that, unless you are the "right" kind of knitter, the staff tends to be ungracious and sometimes downright rude. Impressed with the great yarn selection (albeit high prices and the reserved, suspicious attitude of the women running the place), I was ready to become a regular. After spending a good amount of money on my first few visits, I was disappointed to discover on my fourth visit that the staff is in fact inconsiderate and inflexible, refusing to let me exchange an expensive and unopened pair of needles for an equal monetary value in yarn a mere two days after I had bought the needles (they have a 24 hour needle return policy written in the small print of the receipt, which the salesperson couldn't be bothered to point out to me). I now regret my decision to frequent a small, privately owned store rather than buying my yarn more cheaply at a large craft store. I will not be going back as I'm not rich enough to pay extra for rude attention and mean-spiritedness. read more

Wonderful store, and excellent yarn selection. As mentioned by other reviewers, be sure to revisit if you were displeased in the past. Its a different business with different staff. The yarn sold has also expanded to many of the newer popular brands. They even have a group on Ravelry so you know they are up to date with the current knitting trends. read more

i wish uncommon threads had more of the yarn i usually knit with, because it's so close to where i work. unfortunately, they only have a few colors of cascade, no lamb's pride, no blue sky alpaca. i got a gift certificate but was hard pressed to find anything useful for me. if i were the type of knitter who just knit random stuff for fun, this place might work out well, but since i mostly knit for my etsy store and tend to use the same brands and colors over and over, it's just impractical for me to shop here very often. that said, i've never had any problems with customer service like some of the reviewers, i was treated quite well even though i'm well under 60! read more

I shop at several yarn stores in the South Bay, and Uncommon Threads has a great selection. It helps if I go looking for something specific, since the store is usually a bit crowded and the staff vary a lot in their friendliness. Usually I can get in and out easily if I have a goal. I try to chat up the person who rings me up, since I've had some less than friendly help in the past, and this usually results in a pleasant exchange. I would not take classes here, though, as I've already had experience learning from "old school" types who were impatient and a little cranky. I do better in a warmer environment. read more

Store DOES have a decent selection of yarns, but staff was snooty and snarky (maybe because I am a college student?). I would agree with the other reviewers that this place needs to "hip up" it's image...it definitely felt like my grandmother's yarn store in there. Too bad...this small town could use a good yarn shop, too...seems like a royal opportunity "missed", in my book. read more

This store has a great selection of books and yarns by Berroco and Rowan. I have some mixed experiences here with customer service but I will say that they are trending up --- I believe that there is a new owner. Overall, the shop still seems like it is catering to an "older" knitter crowd. read more