Claddagh Yarns

Sad to say this, guys, but Claddagh has closed down permanently. I’ll miss them.

I’m going to start this review by saying it’s mostly because of the selection. This is a small store and I’ve never taken any classes here. The person working was quite friendly and (thank God) left me alone to browse to my hearts content. They had many different projects worked up in the window display (always a good sign).
I can’t recall any yarn that they had that really knocked my socks off. There are amazing hand dyed yarns in the local area… why aren’t you carrying them?! The Sincere Sheep is FANTASTIC yarn, I was so looking forward to finding it down here in CA since they are based in Sonoma.
I was quite disappointed.

Their selection of yarn is really beautiful and laid out by size, which is handy for project planning. I didn’t get a chance to stay and knit, but the table in the center of the room gives the shop a very welcoming vibe. I could overhear the knitters at the table chatting, and everyone sounded so friendly and happy to share their time with each other. It’s little shops like these which add ten-​fold to a community. Can’t wait to visit again!

This is probably one of the smallest LYS I’ve been in but the store is IMPECCABLY decorated and carefully curated. Due to the small size, they can’t carry everything but they do carry some amazing colorways and yarn brands.
The owner was super pleasant and her community knitters reflected that. Everyone was so great to talk to!
Definitely drop in and do some shopping if you’re in the area!

I really enjoyed my knitting class and found the instructor very friendly and an excellent teacher! They have a beautiful selection of yarn & a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere. I look forward to taking more classes soon !

I was happy with a new set of knitter’s block bought at the Claddagh Yarns. Amanda was very helpful and her store has a great selection of yarns and patterns. Definitely will go back for my next project!

Totally into this place! Went to the Beginning Knitting class tonight and am SOLD on knitting. Kira rocks. Amanda is also very cool and I look forward to attending Knit Nights!

Lovely shop owner. Very helpful when I had a little mistake to fix. A real gem. And right in the middle of other great little shops. They also offer classes. A great resource

Ask a Unilocal Whisperer
QOTD (Question of the Day)
June 20, 2014
Dear YW: This is an etiquette related question, and I figured you’d be better than Dear Abby when it comes to this sort of stuff. Sooo … I’m not a knitter, but I am in a loving long-​term relationship with one, and the two of us visited Berkeley while on a recently-​completed West Coast holiday. We were walking around one very bright and beautiful sunny afternoon and there was this lovely little knitting shop on Walnut with a half-​open green door next to the Peets corner coffee shop and we went in and … one thing led to another and slam-​bang thank-​you very much, luv, we left with a Napa Valley hand-​dyed merino wool and silk skein of yarn that one day may become a scarf that I will probably wear and then we went to Cheeseboard for vegetarian pizza, Trumer pils, and jazz and after that to Acme for organic whole wheat bread and on to Kermit Lynch for Bandol rosé wine and it was all a bit of a whirlwind and now that I’m back home in the UK, I’m just a wee bit confused, is all.
Wandering Whisperer, it’s like this. I’m seriously torn. Natalie Imbruglia torn. I don’t want to be cold and shamed, lying naked on the floor. Should I Unilocal it, or not? Be warm and dignified and help me out. Cheers!
Jan M.
Leamington Spa, England
Hello there Jan,
That’s a tall order. Let’s see if we can’t change this illusion into something real before your inspiration has run dry, shall we? I’d say, yes, Unilocal it. You were there, you came, you saw, you transacted. You got a sense of the place and if you found it to be a well-​run business that offers a unique product line in a classy setting at fair prices and fits well into the community scene, add your voice (and star rating) into the mix!
In fact, I know the yarn store you’re talking about, and I think it’s a safe bet even if you can’t tell the difference between yarn gauges if a piece of cochineal-​dyed organic cashmere hit you smack dab (but oh-​so-​softly) in the face. It’s twee and tidy in all the right ways and compares favorably with other ultra-​premium yarn stores I’ve visited in CA and elsewhere. There’s something incredibly tactile about yarn. You know, you were there. Maybe it’s seeing all those vibrant, muted, and pastel colors all lined up in little white compartments, with gobs of natural light and tastefully eclectic local art on the walls and a big table for group knit jam sessions (yarn sessions?), it makes e-​commerce seem a little bloodless and well — not earthy enough. Phone sex rather than real sex in front of a dangerously open ponderosa fire, where the sparks are popping bright and can burn exposed skin (but only a little). That’s kind of my way of saying by tortured and mildly kinky analogy that some yarns are best enjoyed in the flesh, too. Merino, silk, and cashmere being obvious examples, although I’d go vicuña in a pinch …
But we digress. You’re obviously connected to a yarn-​lover by some strong and binding ties, and if you love the knitter, you gotta’ appreciate the threads and bamboo needles too, and so I say: Unilocal away. It sounds like you had a great time in Berkeley, and if Claddagh was part of that equation, then you have a right to say so.
Happy traveling, Jan! Love your hometown, btw. My favorite restaurant in all of England is there. Don’t know about the yarn stores, though.
(Yet …)

Some yarn shops are spread over multiple rooms and have zillions of choices. The reason Claddagh Yarns stands out, for me, is that all the yarns and supplies are visible at one time in one well-​lighted space. IMO Amanda has not only opened a new yarn shop in North Berkeley, she has actually curated an enjoyable fiber space with thoughtfully-​selected colors and textures to stimulate your creative mind. You may not find exactly what you thought you needed before you arrived, but by the time you leave you will have found three other things you need for new projects. My knitting scope and expertise have exploded since Claddagh arrived in the ‘hood.
Amanda has provided many sample garments and happily helps customers use her online Ravelry connection to reason through weights, yardages, and pattern options. You will find a friendly welcome no matter what your level of expertise. The knit nights are a great opportunity to meet and talk with other local knitters — and some from far away who are just visiting here. The array of classes at all levels, taught by supportive, expert instructors, will improve your knitting/​crocheting skills.
North Berkeley is the home of the Gourmet Ghetto and Peet’s Coffee’s original Walnut Square location, and now North Berkeley is also home to Claddagh Yarns. Fantastic addition!

I have made three trips to this charming little shop since it has opened and I have to say I have been enchanted with it each and every time. It is a little jewel box of a store and Amanda the owner is just the most charming woman I have ever met. I initially impulse bought some yarn from an indie dyer (Phydeaux Designs) she is carrying that I had only seen online before I had seen it in her store in real life. When I finally figured out what I wanted that yarn to be, I realized I needed more colors of the same yarn to complete the multi hued shawl. Amanda was so gracious with her time & her opinions to help me select additional yarn & where to place each color in the project. Finally on the last visit, I needed to get an additional skein of one of the colors I already had.
I happened to bring all the other yarns so I made sure I got the right shade (since there are no dye lots) and we were the only ones there that day. None of the yarn had been wound yet and Amanda insisted on winding all 5 skeins while we sat there and had a lovely chat. I felt like I was in my best friends living room! I have had similarly very nice encounters with some of the other people she has working with her in the shop. Claddagh Yarns is a great addition to the Bay Area knit scene. Welcome Amanda!

A yarn store IN the neighborhood?! I didn’t quite believe my ears at first. Nestled on Walnut just a little beyond Vine, Claddagh yarns is a welcome addition to the North Berkeley community. Amanda has an eye for wonderful designs and colors. Unlike other snooty yarn places, Amanda encourages people to sit in the shop and knit. She’s also very nice about helping you find where exactly you went wrong in your project! I’ve seen her offer advice and suggestions for people who pop in to work on their projects from Claddagh knitting classes. Her selection of classes is quite well sampled – lace, granny squares, socks, etc. Her bi-​monthly knit nights are super cosy and is a good setting to meet other knitters and share funny stories. Please make sure you stop by this shop if you’re in the neighborhood!

Was surprised by the 5 star rating! I went in and was ignored by the employee sitting down, knitting, and having a personal conversation. When I asked a question she seemed irritated the I was interrupting her and gave me a quick answer and got back to her conversation. Too bad… Lost a new customer.

Yea! A knitting store in Berkeley again. I happened upon the store and loved everything in the window. The samples are fun and many are made from patterns that are free. There is a good selection of wool in interesting colors. This isn’t grandma’s knitting store.
Best of all is Amanda, who is very helpful. She let me try on a sample so that I could verify the size and make sure that I liked it. You’re welcome to sit at her table and knit and although I haven’t taken advantage of it yet, I’m sure she’d answer any questions that come up.

This shop is a welcome addition to the yarn shops in the Bay Area. The shop is uncluttered and well lit, the selection of yarn is good without being overwhelming, and some of the yarns carried I have not seen at other shops. Customer service was great; help if I needed it but I was able to browse on my own. Definitely a shop to visit regularly!

I just love that store!
Amanda, the owner, is so helpful and kind, the yarns are beautiful, and they even have a corner for kids to play while their parents shop!
I only wish I had more time to attend the classes and knit nights. Well, in a couple of years I will totally bring my boy in there for the beginners classes!

This shop is a welcome addition to the a gourmet ghetto! The beautiful yarns and inspiring patterns are nothing compared to the friendly, knowledgable owner. She is an incredible resource for beginning and advanced knitters alike.
For Christmas, I bought a pattern book and gift certificate for my mom. From Claddagh. After Christmas, we spent a few hours selecting yarn, casting on, and chatting with the friendly folks that come to knit. It is a great community.

Lovely store, friendly atmosphere, very pretty set-​up and selection of yarn. The owner was very helpful recommending knitting needle size and other suggestions for the scarf I was making. The yarn I bought was a bit expensive but it’s high-​quality.

You know how some resturants have menus that offer way too many selections.. . but everything sounds kind of the same?
This is my experience with most yarn shops.
Claddagh Yarns is nothing like most yarn shops. Claddagh Yarns is the yarn shop of my dreams! The owner, Amanda, has a great eye for color and style. It shows in the thoughtful and expansive yarns she stocks. She offers a wide variety of textures and colors, without being overwhelming (or redundant.) The shop is awash with natural light that allows you to really see the beauty of the yarn. It is a fresh, uncluttered, and inspiring shop – and I can’t seem to leave without a new project in hand!
PLUS, with Peet’s Coffee & Tea next door and Love at First Bite Bakery mere steps away– Claddagh Yarns has achieved a «knitter’s trifecta.» Right?!
P. S. Claddagh also hosts knitting night on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday of each month and many interesting classes, so you really have no excuse. Pop in and check it out!

Claddagh Yarns is a brand new yarn store that opened in October. It is such a wonderful addition for local knitters. It is a cozy and welcoming environment. The space is bright and well lit which helps when choosing yarns. There is a big table where shoppers can sit and knit, get instruction, leaf through books and magazines, and socialize with other knitters. Amanda Fernandez, the owner, has a great eye for color and has filled the shelves with a beautiful array of choices. She is also open to suggestions, if there is something special you want her to carry. There will be classes and bi monthly knit nights. I am just so happy to have this in my neighborhood and I really want it to be successful. So get over to Claddagh and support a fantastic new local business.