Naked Sheep Yarn

Great selection of yarn and lovely ladies. They even serve complimentary mimosas! Adorable or adorable? I vote adorable!

I am a total novice at knitting — I taught myself how to knit last winter just to see if I could do it, and used YouTube to teach myself how. I generally choose my yarn based on 1) color, and 2) feel. I got tired of the acrylic feel of the yarns I’d get at chain craft stores like Michael’s as well as their limited selection. So when I decided to knit my best friend a scarf this year for Christmas in her favorite color, I remembered my serious knitting friends telling me I need to go to ‘real’ yarn stores. So I did, last week, in Brooklyn… and let me tell you, I got real sticker shock, but I found some nice soft alpaca yarn in the color I needed. Still, I couldn’t help feeling that since the owner of the store I went to was unfriendly and unhelpful and treated all her customers like thieves, it would be worth going to another ‘real’ yarn store to see whether or not I’d been overcharged.
So earlier today, while visiting Staten Island, I did a Google/​Yelp search and found Naked Sheep Yarn and decided to check it out. Let me tell you, it’s a fantastic place. A little tricky to find parking, but totally worth it. Tracy greeted me with a warm smile, there were a couple women in the large work/​communal area in the middle working on projects, and in the small back room, a small felting class was taking place. And of course, shelf upon shelf of beautiful yarn. Not just of all different colors, sizes, and materials, but even of texture. Fortunately, I learned that I didn’t get ripped off in my alpaca yarn purchase, and soon came to accept that you get what you pay for — if you want yarn other than the plasticy stuff sold in big chain craft stores, you pay a premium for premium yarn.
The store is modern, clean, cheery, and surprisingly busy for a Thursday morning (good sign!). Tracy talked with me and helped me in-​between helping ordering special yarn for what seemed like a regular customer (good customer service!). She was cheery and was very patient to a newbie like me, walking me through different yarn types and what might best be helpful. She later also explained how important it is to do the whole thing of making a test swatch and measuring stitches to see if the yarn is appropriate for the pattern — a step I never really understood, and had pretty much been ignoring, just winging the pattern as I saw fit. She encouraged me to bring the pattern with me to the store next time I decide on a project, so someone can help me choose a suitable yarn in a more focused manner.
In the end, I bought 3 rolls of yarn in a color I adore but can rarely find (bright indigo blue) and chunky like I like it, and for $ 5.50 a roll, it was a real steal, and I can’t wait to start making something for myself with it. She was recommending the appropriate gauge and length needles, but they were unfortunately out of stock in the store. I do have to say with some regret that later I wound up going to Michael’s to get those needles as well as what seems like an idiot-​proof measuring tool for stitches, so hopefully now I can knit better and will be able to knit more often.
I really wish I had known about this store last winter, as I would have totally signed up for classes, but unfortunately I moved away to Brooklyn a few months ago. Good news is, I come back to SI often, so now I know where to get great yarn! i will admit, all in all, the store was a little overwhelming in that it made me realize how incredibly little I knew about knitting and yarns. I think for now I will build up my technique on the cheap yarns I inherited from family members, but once I learn how, I will come back here for the good stuff. I was also slightly disappointed in their lack of website, and when I brought it up with Tracy she seemed a little chagrined and said it’s been a work in progress, but there is a Facebook page, and really, the lack of website isn’t a huge deal — you need to come into the store face-​to-​face to see and feel the yarn anyway. Definitely visit this store!

I finally got to this new shop on Staten Island. My 3 year old and I were greated happily by a group of women knitting and chatting. The shop is modern, cheery and organized. Although we didn’t take advantage; they had a childrens table in the back!
Tracy (whom I believe is the owner) couldn’t have been friendlier. I really look forward to returning!