Seattle Style File: Cozy up to the best knitting stores and classes

One of my favorite fall purchases this year is a super soft wool and mohair poncho from Olivine. It's a luscious chocolate brown and the fringe hangs jauntily off the sides, not in the front or back. I get compliments whenever I wear it — except from my husband, who suffers from a serious lack of fashion sensibilities and thinks ponchos are a trendy debacle. At any rate, I like to pretend I knit it myself, but when asked, I confess that I did not; it's the beautiful handiwork of Evelyn Cohen, the boutique owner's mother.

And this brings me to the subject of this week's column. With all the new knitting shops popping up, the fabulous fibers available, the prevalence of knit scarves and hats and accessibility of classes, I no longer have an excuse to be in that ever-shrinking category of non-knitters. It's hip to knit (all the celebs do it!), and since I desperately want to be hip, I went in search of shops that will teach me how to knit.

Victoria Chase, Deborah Barnes and Nancy Small opened Village Yarn & Tea Shop on Oct. 9, 2004, much to the delight of Shoreline knitters. Half of the newly constructed space is dedicated to fibers and knitting paraphernalia, the other half a light-filled tea shop. It's an inspired combination — non-knitters can have a spot of tea (try the orange- and cream-flavored Dreamsicle or apple butter Chai tea) and knitters can sip a cup while working away on a sweater. Tea and pastries are available daily, but on Sundays, in addition to choosing yarn for your next project, you can also enjoy a full afternoon tea. For $18.95, you'll get finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, cheese, fruit and more. There are three seatings (11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.; reservations required).

Chase has made an effort to include affordable fibers along with the gorgeous, spendy designer yarn lines that I inevitably make a beeline for. The shop also offers a variety of classes including beginning knitting, classes for kids and knitting sweaters for your "pampered pooch."

Owner Jennifer Hill has made Hilltop Yarn and Needlepoint Shop on top of Queen Anne hill one of the coziest, most charming shops around. She restored a dilapidated 1905 craftsman house and filled every room, cupboard and cranny — even the kitchen sink — with beautiful fibers. The house is so homey, the burnished woods so rich and warm, the staff so helpful, I can just picture myself knitting a fabulous scarf in the overstuffed chintz-covered chair in the cozy library.

Hill offers a wide variety of classes for children, beginners and accomplished knitters. She recently introduced a line of fashion-forward custom patterns called Decidedly Hilltop for knitters of all skill levels. For example, one pattern is a sumptuous soft knit jacket with fur-like trim. The pattern is $7, the cost to make the jacket with a wool mohair blend yarn is about $150, the satisfaction of having created your own jacket — priceless!

I never thought of uttering "knitting" and "Belltown" in the same sentence, but since Lauren Lindeman opened So Much Yarn this past June, it's come up in conversation several times. Though knitters come from all over, Lindeman has filled a niche by providing a spot for the neighborhood's urban condo dwellers and workers — including a bevy of new male and female knitters in their 20s — to congregate. She opens her classroom every Friday from noon to 2 p.m. to lunchtime knitters who want to work on their projects and meet other "fiber fanatics."

Clients liken the knit shop's atmosphere to a spa. The walls are painted soothing, warm tones and the staff is friendly. Store patron Darin Fisher of Sammamish says, "It always smells nice in here, there's soft music and the atmosphere is comfortable and welcoming." Along with helpful service, Lindeman offers classes in knitting and crocheting that run from basic beginning courses to project classes for fingerless gloves, traveling vine scarves (these are exceptionally cute) and drawstring bags.

Tricoter owners Lindy Phelps and Beryl Hiatt have knit hundreds of sweaters and helped hundreds of women and men do the same. The prolific knitters are also prolific authors, having written three books on the subject with a fourth in the works. The Madison Valley store carries a huge array of luxury, designer and novelty fibers and an amazing selection of buttons. Novices and pros can choose from a variety of classes. Can't finish (or start) your own project? Tricoter offers a range of services including finishing services, custom-designed sweater patterns that are not only beautiful but actually fit, and the owners will even hand-knit custom sweaters for you starting at $350.

Stitches on Capitol Hill attracts young, creative types. Owner Amy Ellsworth offers quick, easy, inexpensive classes in a casual atmosphere and teaches you to knit and purl in just one day. Classes are only $20 for two two-hour sessions. Pick your project — either a sassy backpack, hat or scarf. The next classes are Nov. 8 and 15, 6:30-9 p.m. If you're looking for company while working on a project, stop by on Stitchin' Sundays, 3-6 p.m. when the community workspace is open to crafters.

KNITTING GEAR

The Organized Knitter is no misnomer — owner Megan Reordan has designed knitting-needle cases down to the last detail, whether you're trying to accommodate circular or chunky needles, crochet hooks or square tools. The cotton cases feature pretty prints and vinyl pockets that fold as neatly as an origami project, and she finishes them off with a cute ribbon and button fastener. The cases sell for $50-$80 and are available on the Web site.

Seattleite Amy Wyland designed her handy knitting totes to organize her own craft projects. Made of durable colored vinyl and fully lined in polyester, the multi-pocketed, multi-functional bags hold needles, yarn, tools and patterns and retail for $65. The bags are available at www.sugabeats.com and Hilltop Yarn and Needlepoint Shop.

Even though I can't yet knit, I was tempted to buy one of the cool Zelda bags ($120-$160) by Offhand Designs at Village Yarn & Tea Shop. San Francisco Bay area designer Larisa Flint Snydal makes chic elongated bags out of vintage textiles. The linings are as charming as the exterior and embellishments such as buttons are individually placed, making each bag one-of-a-kind. They easily accommodate long knitting needles and your latest project. Actually, they're so stylish and roomy they're perfect for anyone — knitters or not. To see more designs, visit Offhand Designs' Web site.

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