Compatto Yarn Salon

Nicest people ever that work there and they have a great selection + a couch to sit and knit and meet people. LOVE it!

So helpful! My favorite knit shop in town. Even assisted me with a pattern/​yarn I bought in another state. This will be my go-​to place in the future!

I am such a fan of Compatto, it is one of my favorite yarn shops in LA. The staff is wonderfully helpful, and their selection is fantastic.
The couches are a cozy place to work on your current Compatto yarn project (don’t bring in yarn from other places, that’s just not nice! It’s like bringing in outside food to a restaurant and eating there. I shake my head at people who complain about that.)
Parking is supremely awesome, especially since street parking isn’t always available. Park behind the building and enter through the side (If you go through the back door, the door is unlabeled, so might be confusing at first. You can just walk around to the front.)

Compatto is expensive. Let’s get that out of the way. It is mostly top-​notch yarn for making heirloom creations, but there ARE options for the more budget conscious. I also love ever class I’ve ever taken, and Block Party is SO much fun (like a little family get-​together once a month without any of the drama). I’m getting my doctorate full time at UCLA and definitely don’t have the same budget as many of the customers, but they have NEVER made me feel less welcome even though I can rarely afford a sweater quantity of yarn. In fact, everyone is awesome about recommending great projects for small purchases.
When I moved to LA three years ago, these ladies (staff and customers alike) took me under their wing, taught me how to knit, and really helped me figure out what life is like here. It’s still my go-​to spot when I just want to sit, knit, and relax away from the world of grad school insanity.

Sadly, I’ve been driven to this review by Campatto letting me down one too many times. As much as I want to and try to support my local yarn store, I have to say stay away from this one. Their prices are very high, but so is rent in SaMo, so that wasn’t the death knell. However, over time I’ve 1) been told that despite paying a (not inconsiderable) fee to take one of their classes I couldn’t use yarn from my stash (when using up the yarn was the whole impetus for taking the class), 2) found on several occasions that they don’t carry the tool I was looking for to finish a project, even basic things like a measuring tape, 3) been oversold yarn for a project and then had to fight to return the unused, unwound skeins despite having been told that was my option, and 4) had them refuse to wind a skein for me that, yes, I bought at another store (in another city, not a competitor) even though the store was quiet and I offered to pay. So I give up. Knitting for me is a creative, fun outlet, and I love going to knitting stores because it gives me a chance to interact with wonderful people who feel the same. This place is the exact opposite — expensive, inflexible, and full of people who hate their lives. From now on I’m driving to Manhattan Beach if need be.

Great store, nice yarn, friendly staff. Seems geared toward selling yarn for their classes, but definitely worth putting on your shopping list. Parking can be a nightmare — but I paid the ticket! Be sure to get on the email list to know about new yarns, sales and don’t forget your birthday surprise.

We’re on a personal yarn crawl from SLO to San Diego and made a point to stop at Compatto. Even though the traffic was a challenge, it was well worth the visit! The yarns are lovely and the staff were very friendly.
Compatto has a lot of creative displays (using picture frames to highlight projects) and great samples to show off their yarns. They’re big on Blue Sky Alpaca and Baah, plus I found Sweet Georgia yarns (new to me). The shop is chockful, with a focus on worsted and chunky.
Compatto has a table and chairs up front plus a cushy seating area near the back. Great feel to the store and I’ll definitely visit the next time we’re in the area.
As far as I can tell, there is street parking only. We got lucky and found a spot right outside. :)

Compatto is my favorite yarn store in Los Angeles. Friendly staff. They’ll wind the yarn for you. Huge selection of gorgeous yarns too. Most small shops disappoint me, but not this one. I bought a beautiful orange yarn once, and I don’t even like orange!
Bear in mind, the yarn here is not cheap. However, you will absolutely get your money’s worth. Compatto is a must see for anyone who enjoys yarn crafts.

If you’re looking for snotty sales people and overpriced yarn, this is the shop for you. I won’t be going back. La Knitterie Parisienne in Studio city has ten times the amount of yarn and way better prices.

Compatto people are great! When I make things with their guidance the things actually fit! If I make a mistake someone can always talk me through my problems and help ME to fix it. This is also the friendliest group of knitters I have met… you can sit and knit at the communal table or the back couch area and are welcomed into the conversation. Or if you need to sit quietly and concentrate on a challenging project… you can do that too.
Kudos to Bonnie, Wendy and all the folks at Compatto.

This review is long overdue! After learning how to knit about 2 years, I was on a quest for a local yarn store that could help me progress as a beginner. I knew I wanted to knit, but which projects were right for me, and which yarn/​needles should I use? A few LYSs I had visited did not seem interested in helping me. Heck, they didn’t even seem interested in selling me yarn! But Compatto was different! Compatto seemed more interested in me and where I was at as a knitter than anything else! Not only did I build wonderful relationships with the lovely ladies that make this store tick, but the other knitters/​crocheters as well. Compatto has become my Cheers! I had to kiss a few frogs, but happy I found my yarn prince! Oh and they sell beautiful yarn, too =)

Great selection of high quality yarns!
Fun classes with cool people!
Skilled teachers!
Parking behind the building!
Discounts when you buy in bulk!
5 STARS

Great vibes, great selection of better quality yarn. Let us use computer to find Ravelry patterns and print them out. Super nice people. Visited from out of town and just loved it.

I started knitting in the last year and visited a number of knitting stores in LA before finding Compatto, which is my absolute favorite. It is a warm environment where you can shop (great yarns, needles & supplies), take classes, sit and knit, and visit with the other knitters. The owner, Bonnie, and everyone who works at Compatto, are all lovely, helpful and genuinely seem to enjoy being there. I often go on the weekend for a couple of hours to knit, and I can always count on someone helping me out if I have questions.
Compatto has a large selection of lovely, high end yarns, and they have lots of samples of projects around the shop for inspiration. They are also incredibly helpful in finding patterns for projects.
I have recommended this store to a number of friends.
There is great street parking as well as a lot in the back

This is probably one of the best yarn/​knitting stores in Los Angeles at a great location.
Very warm and fuzzy to sit and knit… A very friendly, knowledgeable and professional staff and always, always makes time to help the customers. And, oh, beautiful yarns!

These are the nicest people ever. I came in with no idea of what I wanted to make, and the staff showed me around the store and encouraged me to touch and smell all the yarns. The woman told me that they are happy to help me with whatever I’m working on and can just hang out an knit. When I settled on a project idea, she helped me get started and gave me tips for casting on differently than I had in the past.
Best parts: all natural fiber yarns; amazing, attentive, knowledgeable staff; welcoming social environment that feels like a home; knitting classes and help; free parking in the back.
Didn’t even know this store was there and passed it by when looking for it. Don’t miss Compatto!

I visited the store when I found out another store closer to me had gone out of business. I was looking for yarn to knit a scarf for my mother in law and started browsing. There was a table in front where people were knitting & crocheting and looked like they were having a lot of fun. So I start browsing & immediately am helped by the owner who helped me find the perfect yarn! She answered all my questions & was so helpful.
Can’t wait to go back for my next project :)

I can’t believe how ridiculously comprehensive Compatto is in their yarn selection. Walls and walls of yarn, and yarn-​people, and yarn-people’s children. It’s expensive as heck ($ 40 a ball for some?) but they sell the best yarn and you pay for being able to see them all in a quaint little shop. There are also frequent buyer discounts for the knitting hardcore (I think $ 10 discount every $ 50?). Would’ve been 5-​stars if the high prices didn’t weed out everyone but the snootiest yarn connoisseurs. If i could give 4.5 stars I would.

I went there today and dragged along my husband. The two women who were working there were incredibly informative and helpful. Although I was an out-​of-​towner (Long Beach native), they treated me with respect and even invited me back to sit and knit.
Their selection of Madeline Tosh in much lusted after colors made my heart skip a beat. I walked away with Mad Tosh merino (the delicious single ply yarn that is like malabrigo) in Tart and Glazed Pecan. Two very hard to come by colors.
I am clicking moderately priced because they have a plethora of yarn that ranges from inexpensive to moderately priced luxury yarn. Great yarn, great prices!

After finding Twist, Yarns of Intrigue in Manhattan Beach, every yarn store seems to pale in comparison.
There’s nothing wrong with Compatto – for the West LA /​Santa Monica area, it’s still your best bet – the people here are much nicer and more welcoming than at Wildfiber. But there’s nothing that jumps out at me as amazing.
Also, I’m kinda squicked out by the people eating full-​on lunches in the shop. First, the smell isn’t always pleasant for bystanders, and second, it is too small, and often too crowded for seat-​neighbors of diners to be comfortable – I was flat out terrified I (and my project) were going to get a lap full of soup one day.
I would come here if I didn’t want to drive to MB or for a sit ‘n knit. But for major yarn purchases, I’ll buy my luxury yarns either at a discount or somewhere with /​amazing/​customer service and selection.
Good stock of Blue Sky Alpacas. Good selection of patterns. Small selection of anything else. Minimal discount section.