A 20-Year Upper West Side Yarn Store: Knitty City

Typing "yarn store near me" anywhere on the Upper West Side tends to lead to one small shop with a big following. Knitty City, at 208 West 79th Street, sits on the block between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway and has been selling knitting and crochet supplies since January 2006. It marked its 20th anniversary in 2026 still run by the founding family, with a yarn wall stocked from well-known mills and evening groups that fill the room after closing.

Knitty City opened in January 2006 as the realized dream of Pearl Chin, who designed it as a "Yarn Studio" rather than a simple supply counter. The shop describes its purpose as being devoted to beautiful materials for knitting and crochet, instructional classes and community connection. Those three ideas still shape how the store runs two decades later.

Pearl Chin died in 2020, and the shop stayed in the family. Her husband and partner, Arvin Chin, told West Side Rag in January 2026 that the store has grown into a worldwide "destination." He points to maps of the United States and the world mounted on a wall, filled with hundreds of pins marking the places customers have traveled from. Pearl and Arvin's son Zac now runs Knitty City day to day.

The store also lists a short set of values on its own story page. They include respecting people, practicing kindness, sharing knowledge, building community, inspiring creativity and having fun. Time Out once called the place a blond-wood craft store that doubles as a community center, and that description still fits a visit today.

Knitty City is a small shop, so a little courtesy goes a long way. Look for the pin maps near the yarn wall if you are visiting from out of town, since that display of far-flung customers is part of the store's identity and a favorite conversation starter. Ask before squeezing or unwinding skeins on display, and return yarn to the cubby you took it from so the colorways stay together for the next shopper.

Retail hours run Monday through Saturday from 12 pm to 6 pm, and the store is closed on Sunday. That six-hour window means the afternoon can get busy, especially on Saturdays when weekend visitors and locals overlap. Arriving close to 12 pm gives you the calmest browsing and the best chance at a long conversation with staff about pattern substitutions.

Weekday evenings follow a different rhythm. Several groups meet after hours, so the room fills with regulars who bring their own projects. If you want to shop rather than socialize, aim for a weekday afternoon. If you want to meet other makers, plan around one of the evening sessions described below.

The shop says its selection reflects some of the best brands in the business, with new and interesting yarns appearing regularly. On its current site, Knitty City lists Berroco, Blue Sky, Cascade, KraeO, KPC, Lang, Lopi, Malabrigo, Manos del Uruguay, Murky Depths, Plymouth, Rowan and Woolfolk among the brands it carries.

That list covers a lot of ground. Cascade and Plymouth are dependable workhorse choices for sweaters and blankets, while Malabrigo and Manos del Uruguay bring the saturated, hand-dyed color that many knitters travel for. Lopi is the classic Icelandic wool for traditional colorwork yokes. Rowan and Lang lean toward polished fashion yarns, and Woolfolk and Blue Sky round out the softer, premium end of the wall.

Look out for yarns dyed locally in New York as well, which West Side Rag highlighted as one of the store's draws. A skein from a New York dyer makes a better souvenir than most things sold in Midtown.

Do not overlook the bookshelves. Knitty City says it carries one of the most comprehensive and up-to-date collections of knitting, crochet and needle art books, magazines and patterns in New York. Buying the pattern and the yarn in the same visit lets staff help you match gauge and yardage on the spot.

The evening calendar is where Knitty City earns its reputation as a community hub. WiPs Wednesdays meet from 6 pm to 8 pm at the shop after hours, a relaxed session for anyone carrying a work in progress. Men's Night runs on Thursdays from 6 pm to 8 pm, every week except the first Thursday of the month.

That first Thursday belongs to the Knitty City Book Club, which meets from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. The club is not taking new members at the moment, but its reading list gives a sense of the group's taste. The November 5, 2026 selection is The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, and December 3 brings Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.

On Fridays, a Mending Circle gathers from 5 pm to 6 pm in front of the store. It is a good fit for anyone who wants to darn socks, patch a sweater or learn visible mending alongside others.

For structured learning, the shop offers group classes for people who want to learn to knit or crochet from the beginning or freshen up existing skills. Reservations go through the RSVP calendar on the Knitty City website. The store has also hosted book signings, designer events and a monthly Young Designer series that spotlights emerging talent.

Knitty City's block makes it easy to fold a yarn stop into a longer afternoon. Head east on West 79th Street toward Central Park West and you reach the American Museum of Natural History, a natural pairing for families or anyone who wants a break between shopping stops. The walk passes rows of prewar apartment buildings and brownstones that give the neighborhood its character.

Going the other way, a short stroll west to Broadway brings you to Zabar's, the gourmet grocery that has anchored the Upper West Side food scene since the 1930s. It is a good place to pick up a snack before settling in for an evening knit night. The 1 train stop at 79th Street sits on the same stretch of Broadway, so the loop ends right where many visitors start. If you would rather sit down with a coffee and your new skeins, ask Karpo in the Karpo APP for a nearby cafe that suits your route.

Knitty City is at 208 West 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway. Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 12 pm to 6 pm, with evening groups meeting after closing on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The nearest subway is the 79th Street station on the 1 train, about a block away at Broadway.