I Knit London, Waterloo, London

What a fantastic place to grab everything you need to knit.

I first encountered this Aladin’s Cave of wool as part of a Qype group and I have to say - it was fantastic! With wool seemingly from floor to ceiling, these folks are helpful, knowledgable and really friendly. If you’re looking for a particular wool for a pattern and they don’t have it, they can get it.

They also have excellent video’s on how to knit, knitting tips and techniques and interesting styles to boot!

Thisis no ordinary knitting shop with classes, a comfy sitting area and the constantly friendly voice of the women who invented seamless knitting. I may yet finish that sweater I started 10 years ago thanks to these folks!

Learning to knit among friends at this hidden “knitting lair” was an incredibly fun experience. I-Knit gives classes suited to complete novices (like myself) as well as more established knitters who can follow a pattern and everything.

A night of knitting may not be the first choice for an evening out with friends, but this turned out to be a lot of fun - they have a bar, and you can bring snacks as well.

I even came away with my very own trapezium of knitted material - The reason it was a trapezium is that I started with 15 stitches and ended with 28, but nothing could detract from the pleasing fact that I managed to learn to knit and purl in under 2 hours, as well as eat enough pink and yellow party rings to not need dinner.

Proof that knitting is not just for grannies is evident in the fact these folks have kitted out their knitting emporium with a well-stocked bar. I wouldn’t recommend tackling hardcore fair isle after a few bevvies, but a beginners class with a few beers is surprisingly enjoyable, I think even the boys would agree. Staff are friendly, knowledgable and patient, and after a little refresher course, I was ready to take up knitting again…even after that disaster with the skull and crossbones mittens (don’t ask).

On the more geeky 'yes, I actually knit’ side of things, the yarn here (like in most London yarn shops) is at the pricier end of the scale, but it’s gorgeous and worth it for a special project. There’s everything from hand-dyed hanks of varigated wool to plastic yarn to knit (or crochet) handbags. They also stock all the hard-to-find magazines, including the US faves like interweave and Knit 1, and have a shop full of inspiration. Definitely worth a trip South!

What fantastic place for the new trendy knitting community.

We went there the other night for a two hour masterclass and although I suck at anything involving yarn and needles I found myself getting properly into the whole knit one purl one thing, and the staff were just great, really helpful and friendly!

Plus they have a fridge stocked with beer, wine and Brothers Pear Cider, what’s not to love!

They open the place up most evenings for people to come in and have a drink, do a bit of knitting and put the world to rights, and the nights the shop’s not open then you can probably find them in a nearby pub!

Even though i will most likely never knit again, I still had a cracking time at “I Knit London” last night. The staff are brilliant and we felt very well looked after all night. They even joined us in the pub for drinks afterwards! My kind of people….

Highly recommended if you are an avid knitter looking to pick up equipment or get some tips, but equally as good for complete beginners like me. The 2 hour tutorial will get you off to a flying start and you’ll be “purling” in no time (unless you are all thumbs like me!). The saving grace for me was the well stocked bar. After 4 coronas i couldn’t care less if i was good at knitting or not. I was just happy i had a nice purple eye patch :)

Knitting store, classroom, bookshop and counseling! All together in one location. The folks at I Knit have really got something here. They offer classes for beginners to more advanced. Staff members are really friendly and encouraging. And they even have a little bar stocked with beer, cider and red and white wine. Brilliant!

The shop boasts a large stock of yarns of all varieties, colours, textures and all the accoutrements you need to get going. There’s also quite an eclectic library section with all types of books on knitting and you can tell that the accomplished knitters that own the place take pride in keeping up-to-speed on all that’s new and interesting in the newly-trendy-again world of knitting.

A fab time was had by all in our group class, with most of us being beginners and a few stars and fast-learners impressing us all into sticking with it, for the greater good. I can see why knitting can become such an addictive hobby!