Putting On the Knitz

This store for me was a very mixed bag. I can understand why some give it five stars and some two. The couple that runs it are the only sales people so they’re going to be the ones you meet at the store. They have a lot of personality and strong opinions. Some people like that. Some people don’t. I started to fall in the not liking it category.
It is fabulous that they help you with knitting problems you need help with and they are clearly incredibly knowledgeable. But the husband, Don, is so rigid and opinionated that I found it almost not worth it even though the advice was free. They actually laughed at my version of the long tail cast on method. They seem to be of the camp that there is a right way to knit and a wrong way to knit and you Never Stray From the Pattern and Do Your Own Thing. As a constant adapter and improviser, I found this to be very abrasive. No one cares if I cast on different. This is for fun it’s not to follow all the rules to the letter. I’ve gotten help and advice from several different yarn store people and never felt so talked down to.
I think this shop is better for beginners because then Don can teach you everything his way. But I’m already at the point where I knit sweaters and have my own style so he has opinions on how I knit and my knitting style.
Also the shop is pretty shabby. Looks like they haven’t done much to update it in a while.
In short: It’s definitely worth a stop in once or twice to meet these guys because they are a unique and interesting pair but this definitely won’t become my regular yarn store.

This store is wonderful. Don, one of the owners, is the kindest, most patient teacher. As a first time knitter, I walked in and said «help!» I was starting totally from scratch, having never knit before. Don sat with me for an hour and a half and taught me all of the basics! He helped me pick out needles, yarn, and watched me with patience and kindness as I knit my first stitches. I had such a great experience. I am practicing what he taught me tonight, and then going back tomorrow for a scarf pattern! I couldn’t recommend this store more highly. Excellent experience!

«Do you have the new Noro?»
«What’s that?» Asked the husband-​owner, looking at me. «Noro is over there.»
«Yes, Noro Tokonatsu, it’s wool-​free and solid color.»
He pointed to Silk Garden Solo, which is solid color but has wool and mohair. I said nothing and thanked him.
Better than my experience at Seed Stitch Yarns (literally 10 mins away from this avid, over the top, brings two projects everywhere knitter) but I felt A BIT awkward here. It’s a very small shop and very cluttered with non-​yarn. Stuff like calculators, etc strewn across the table and that whole thing where there’s a bunch of people knitting at a table in front of a wall of yarn and you feel awkward accessing it. The staff will go up to you and just tell you what everything is. I brought up my purchase of two balls of Noro Taiyo. «You know those are $ 17.99 each, right?» Yes, I can afford it. :\
Go to Black Sheep Knitting IMO. It’s in Needham so it’s like 10 – 15 mins away, but it’s a beautiful store and no one follows you around saying «This is merino, this is mink» as you’re trying to browse. I think they mean well, but I can see why customers are easily put off by it.

I absolutely LOVE ‘Puttin On The Knitz’ and Don and Janet who own it! I had walked by the store in W. Newton for years, so that’s where we went when my daughter announced that, ‘we should take up knitting together’. The shop is inviting, and we had fun seeing all the possible projects we could knit. We picked out patterns and beautiful yarn. It seemed a little pricey but worth it. Little did I realize just how worth it it would be! I was never much of a knitter and hadn’t knit anything for years, but Don and Janet have helped me every step of the way. They tell you that you can come in any time for help. They want people to learn how to knit and to enjoy it. They can fix anything and they have endless patience. I am nearly finished with my reader’s wrap and have improved as a knitter, but I know I’ll want to start a new project right after just so I can learn more and hang out in Janet and Don’s warm, cozy shop where other knitters stop in for help, to knit and talk with others and probably also to listen to the great music they have playing. In this rush-​around world, this shop is an oasis of warmth and fun. My worries just melt away when I knit and with all the snow this winter — knitting has saved my sanity!

I have never knitted anything in my life. I know nothing about knitting. All of a sudden though I’ve had this desire to learn this skill. Maybe I’ve been hanging out in my dads nursing home too much, but this is my new interest. Ha ha! Anyway, I didn’t have much time today, but popped in to ask about classes or lessons. The owners were firm but very pleasant. When I mentioned that I was a complete beginner and thought starting off with a scarf might be the easiest project, Don told me in his opinion why I should start with a hat or a sweater. His explanation made total sense. After talking with them for about 10 minutes, I left with a good feeling. I’m going in tomorrow to pick out my pattern and colors and for a first lesson. I’m very excited about this, and I’m pretty sure that once I learn how to do this, I am going to really like knitting. What a cute and conveniently placed store!

I have only been here twice and found it to be a good place, it is small and either they have what you want or not. the owner helped me a bit with a knitting project. They are elderly, but know knitting and yarn… I felt a little like I had stepped back in time to my grandparents house. I would go again (but bring money because they carry expensive but beautiful yarns)

This is the most wonderful shop. The owners are incredibly helpful and I am beginning to love knitting. After taking a class at another kntting shop, the owners at Putting on the Knitz, showed me the correct way to knit. I love this place!

People need to loosen up. The owners are an elderly couple trying to be helpful. Listening to them bicker with each other is like a comedy show. I learned to knit in my 40 ‘s. First project a cable sweater !

I knit in college (and not very well at that) and never thought I would pick up knitting needles again. I have wanted to learn to knit again for a long time and finally with the encouragement and support of the owners of Putting in the Knitz, I not only finished my first project, I am eager to begin my next one.
Shop owners Don and Janet are enthusiastic and willing teachers. They show their students/​customers how to knit «the right way» to avoid future issues. I went back to them repeatedly for assistance when I got stuck and they never made me feel stupid for asking for help. Just knowing I can return whenever I need to for assistance is so reassuring as a beginner.
I thinks Putting on the Knitz is a neighborhood gem!

I used to knit with my grandmother and recently got back into it. I was excited to find a small, local knitting shop in my neighborhood with the cutest couple that owns the shop. When you walk in the shop, it’s like a little knitting club. They are even willing to help you with problems/​lessons/​etc for free! I was worried I might be paying way more to be using my close, convenient shop but I after searching the web I am essentially getting the same price in this shop as I would online. They are always friendly and willing to order more colors or go look in the back for what I need.
Don’t be intimidated by inexperience, just be willing to ask for a little help and listen to their expert advice.

I am not a professional knitter and don’t play one on TV. I’ve never shoplifted in my life. I don’t know why I am regarded with disdain and suspicion when I go into this shop. The owner once told me I «had» to use a pattern to knit otherwise I wasn’t knitting and then showed me a cable knit sweater he told me an 8 year old had made. I just wanted some yarn to relax with (and mindlessly knit — you guessed it — a scarf. So if you’re a pro and started knitting sweaters before the age of 10 this is a shop for you, go for it!

Don taught me the farrow stitch several years ago when I popped in on a whim when I was having an otherwise bad day. I have had a soft place in my heart for Putting on the Knitz ever since.

I went in there today and have to say it was a great experience! I was actually going in to buy a crochet hook and told the guy who owns the place, Don, that I wanted to learn knitting but just thought it would be to hard to learn. Don sat me down, showed me how to start knitting and explained to me that knitting was actually very relaxing and more enjoyable.
I was happy to start learning how to knit and spent over an hour with Don teaching me! (for free by the way!)
I will be back in a few days for a follow up lesson!

I’ve only been to this place once and there’s a very good reason. It’s not because it’s small (it is) and I have no complaints about the variety of yarn. My problem is the purveyor.
I went there to browse and perhaps buy (who am I kidding, I always buy something at yarn shops). I walked in and said hello. I was asked if I needed help by a man sitting at the far end of the store (he didn’t get up, just shouted at me across the room from his dark corner). I told him I was fine, thank you.
I started to browse and I picked up a skein. The man shouted the name and fiber of the skein in my hand. I put it down and smiled. The same thing happened twice more. Then I turned around and said to my friend «Oh, here’s the Noro». I picked it up and of course «THAT’S NORO!!» came shouting at me from the corner. I immediately set it down and walked out.
I’ve never been back since and I don’t plan on it. I don’t like being shouted at and made to feel like an idiot just for daring to be jeez, I don’t know, A CUSTOMER.

I like the fact that it is a little family store that has been in business for 25 years but their selection is, unfortunately, paltry. They have some nice baby alpaca yarns as well as a colourful assortment from Japan but I was hoping to find some other interesting eco-​friendly yarns such as camel wool. I actually find it hard to go in there with a project in mind and find a yarn for it because the selection just isn’t extensive enough. However, I often find a yarn I like and end up finding a project to fit it.
I’ve never thought them to be rude. Yes, they’re opinionated and yes, they dish out unsolicited advice often but I’m not the kind of person to take offense to that. They know their knitting and yarns. Maybe it’s because I’m a moderately experienced knitter and can hold my own.
The other thing I appreciate is that for an independent store, I think their prices are entirely reasonable. However, if you don’t use «animal based materials,» then Michael’s is probably the store for you. You’re not going to find shelves of synthetics here.

As Bevin put it, a small, independently owned shop. The owners are very friendly and knowledgeable and were very helpful in answering my mom’s questions about the pattern I picked out.

For what this store is (small, independently owned knitting shop with a small selection run by very opinionated knitters), this store gets five stars. My experience here was very positive — Don was enormously helpful showing me how to use a cable needle and getting me set up with this year’s project. Sure, he took a very firm stand about the superiority of circular needles over traditional knitting needles, but he had a point. I appreciated his conviction, but I suppose someone else could take such things personally and get offended and write a one star review.

I have read all of the reviews here and while I can see everyone’s point of view (That being «the customer is always right»), I do not agree.
I have been going to this shop for over 15 years for assistance. Don has helped work on several projects and encouraged me to move beyond the very adorable Ann Norling Berry Caps to a sweater. When I thought I had finished the sweater parts and brought it to him to find out why the sleeves did not fit — he explained that I did not follow the increases and understood my sadness at having to take apart both sleeves. He helped me to get re-​started on the sleeves and encouraged me to come and sit at his knitting table at the shop whenever I needed encouragement to finish.
I would encourage everyone to move beyond «the customer is always right» mentality in a shop like this and instead go in with the mind of STUDENT because an open mind always learns something new.

When I lived in Newton I signed up for a knitting class through the adult continuing education. It was going to be taught by someone from the shop and you were instructed to go there to buy your supplies.
I headed to the store, and knowing nothing about buying supplies explained what I was there for. They started to show me my options and I explained to them that I didn’t use animal based materials and did not want to use wool for my project. Don then started to lecture me about wool, and where it comes from and started telling me I didn’t know what I was talking about. I was so thrown by this whole incident that I didn’t even have it in my to even really respond back. I was so shocked by the way I, the paying customer, had just been treated.
Needless to say, I have never gone back, nor will I ever. I am actually surprised that they’re even in business after reading all the other reviews on here. There are so many other options out there, this is one place I highly suggest you stay away from.

I am not surprised to see the negative reviews here, however my experience was perfectly pleasant. I just popped in to get a cable needle. Easy as pie and Don was chatty, offered any help if I needed it, and complimented my blanket panel. They’re a small store and I bet they are pretty persuasive if you seem hesitant, but no one was rude.