Babetta’s Yarn and Gifts

This review is based on a single visit, so, keep that in mind.
The things I liked about Babetta’s? This store has an amazing selection and the prices felt competitive. The woman working there let me shop without harassing me or making me talk about my projects. There was a woman and her baby obviously related to the owner (I think it was the owner?!) in the store that day, which I found quite charming. That’s the experience you don’t get shopping at Michaels, right?
The things I found problematic: Unfortunately, it’s not terribly well organized and the owner (?!) made a comment about how she’d rather I NOT pull the yarn out of a cubby to see if there was enough for my project. I found this ironic given that the store was slightly disorganized and it made me feel weird about pulling yarn out to count or buy after that. I mean, am I going to call her over every time I want to see if there’s enough in a bin to use?
Having said that, I will definitely return to this store. I’ll just look over my shoulder before pulling yarn out of the cubby holes.

Great yarn shop. If you can’t find what you need it’s your own fault. Tons of yarn. Wished it was cleaner in the bathroom and behind the counter.

I love this store, the service and selection are both outstanding.
Is spend every day in there is I could.

Back after a few years… I love this place! Excellent selection of yarn. Very knowledgeable and friendly owner.

Just letting you know my review from 2009 is still true. I’m still a long-​term beginner and Babetta’s still rocks.

The owner was very sweet, and there is a large selection but I was really blown away by the prices. It’s very very expensive. I couldn’t rationalize spending that much money on yarn :(

My review is based on two things:
Store selection/​size: 4 – 5 stars
Professionalism of an instructor: 3 stars at most.
I stopped in at Babetta’s for the first time last Friday morning on my day off. I am new to crocheting/​knitting and wanted to pick up some yarn for a blanket. I was totally impressed by the size of the store and the massive selection. They have tons of different options of all different types of yarn and sizes, with tons of color selections within each line. The prices were pretty competitive with other yarn shops and higher end yarns that I’ve seen online as well as in-​stores. The owner (I assume) showed me around and helped me find the yarn I was looking for.
The reason I took stars off is because of the conversation I heard from an instructor while I was there. Since it was early in the morning, two women were sitting at the front table knitting and chit chatting. I’m unsure if both were instructors, but at least one was. One woman said that she had a student coming in soon and stated that it was a «beginner». The comments after that were «Ooohhhhh.» «I know.» Then, as if to cover it up, they started saying «well we all have to begin somewhere» and «we all started out as beginners», mostly I think, because I was milling about the shelves right next to them and was definitely within earshot.
Now I get that as an instructor it’s probably a pain to teach someone the very beginning stages of a new craft like knitting. HOWEVER, that’s your freaking job. And to act as though it’s somehow an inconvenience or the student’s fault for not knowing how to do things (which of course is the VERY reason they’re coming to see you) is ridiculous and unprofessional. The woman who was her student was actually in the store already, and had been walking around the store for the last 15 minutes or so. I saw her sit down with her instructor and hoped that she hadn’t caught any of their passing conversation.
As someone who is interested in taking classes in the future, I would be VERY reluctant to take any classes here because of the conversation I overheard. I know the name of the instructor who made the comments and this experience alone would make me avoid taking classes from her at all cost because I’d always be thinking she was judging me or that I was inconveniencing her. Maybe she’s an excellent instructor who has been knitting for years. But with that kind of attitude, she’ll never get my business.

What a great experience today. I went in to Babetta’s for the first time and was delighted at the lovely yarn and the great help I got in picking out just the right color for a newborn pod. Crazy good selection!

Babetta’s still can’t be beat! The best yarn shop in the Sacramento area. Great selection and superb customer service.

FABULOUS! Best store within a 75 mile radius. Friendly people, warm reception and a coffee bar. What more can you want. Terrific classes. Phenomenal selection of every yarn and roving you could want.
Don’t waste your time at Got Your Goat or Rumpelstiltskins. This place blows them away on every level.
Con: could use a vacuum, dust job and cleaner bathroom but other than that this place rocks.

I LOVE this place. It’s really more then a store. It’s a home away from home.
Babetta is so sweet and absolutely amazing. She can help you find exactly what you are looking for. She once helped me with a cast on for a project. (I bought the pattern at a different shop). She wasn’t exactly sure how it went. She called the designer and asked her. Then showed me!
Everyone has been incredibly helpful and nice every time. Not only the staff but also the customers. There is a couch and chairs so you can stay and knit with like minded ladies. They also have toys for the kids. So nice to have the little ones entertained so you can browse in peace. My kids love coming and hate leaving. My oldest daughter now knits and loves showing Babetta what she made.
Very fun way to spend as much or as little time with your fiber friends.

Great selection. Helpful owner. Non-​intimidating. All good.

Huge selection, coffee served on premises, comfy seating, toys for kids, patterns and samples to spur your creativity, so much to give me incentive to go back! It felt to me like the yarn needed to be better organized, and the owner? Clerk? Was very busy with computer work the whole time I was there, but to her credit was friendly when I was checking out. I will go back.

This is a great place! I get great help with problems that crop up, wonderful supplies, and friendly folks working there and hanging out.

I absolutely love this store! Staff is always wonderful, helpful, and friendly! I’ve heard of other people going in there and being ignored or received chilly service. I’ve been at least ten times and have never had any bad experiences. The owner knows where every piece of yarn is in that store and can direct you to anything you may need! She also has some great sales, especially toward the end of the year. I absolutely love that she takes the time to wind yarn, for free! Can’t beat that! It’s worth the drive out to Fair Oaks. There is no comparable yarn store in the greater Sacramento area.

Babetta’s Yarn & Gifts continues to delight. The end of year sales were a great chance to find high-​quality products at discounted prices. I love to check out the discount basket right at the cash register… I rarely leave without finding something wonderful! The latest great find were balls of wool at half off. That’s typical. Plenty of room to sit & knit, have a cuppa joe, peruse the aisles and aisles of furry wonderfulness. Staff are helpful, always wind your wool skeins with a smile. I drive from downtown Sac to get here. Have a friend who drives from Woodland! Is that a recommendation or what?! Thanks Babetta & staff!

Update to my prior review:
Since my original review, I have continued going to Babetta’s because no one else in the area has as good of a selection. That said, the more I go, the less friendly she seems to be. One day she was about to close and gave me quite a bit of attitude for winding the rest of my yarn. While I certainly understand this (who doesn’t want to leave on time?) she could have approached it in a different way. Also, every time I go in I spend well over $ 200 and bring friends in with me who spend the same?!? I was really upset the last time I went in there. I felt like as a regular customer who has invested well over $ 2000 in her store, she could treat me with more respect
Bottom line is this — if you know what you want and can buy online, it might be a better choice given the chilly reception I have gotten lately at Babetta’s. If you don’t, and need to review a lot of choices, than check out the store.

They have a very wide selection of yarn and a play area my son loved. The only downfall is that it is not very organized, it seems a bit cluttered. I had a hard time finding some yarns I wanted to check prices on. If it were better laid out I would have left with a lot more yarn!

Wow! What an interesting find! I accidently found it while looking for another store. Their slogan is «Knit, coffee, and talk», and boy is that true! Knitting classes available for those just getting into it. A nice knitting area in the back to hang out and chat with whoever happens to be there. Along with toys for little ones. And a café in front that serves drinks! What a clever idea! The store is mainly known for its yarn selection which is plentiful, but it’s so much more than that!

If yarn is your thing, you would love it here! I’m not even a knitter and even I was blown away at the variety of yarn you could get. You are completely surrounded by shelves and shelves of yarn. You can also get wool for felting — needle & wet. Pretty reasonable too! Ziplock bags worth were only $ 3.50 or so.
Located in a strip mall, it is in the ‘burbs. They also have a café! You can get Italian sodas, espresso drinks, tea, etc. They have the full on espresso machine and everything! There is also a kids area with a sofa, toys, games, etc.
I don’t knit, but in the 50% clearance baskets there were some light up knitting needles. I could totally see using this as a magic wand for some Harry Potter Halloween costume and declaring «LUMOS!».
I wanted to sit inside and have our coffee there as it was hot outside, but my husband refused to go in. He said it would give him a panic attack — I guess he couldn’t relate to the joy of knitting. Then again, I haven’t met any men who can knit.