Let's Knit Magazine - Your knitting, your style

im a bit miffed at the minute- just been down to my local knitting shop to get a pattern ( for a dolls dress) BUT she now has a policy where she wont sell the patterns without the wool as well . I think thats a really bad policy, i mean she cant really be making so much money that she turn away business from people who only want a pattern........ i really am shocked!

That is madness in this day where a lot of shops are struggling. Surely its better to sell you the pattern with good friendly customer service in the hope you remember that and return at a later date than put your back up and so you never return. She must have more money than sense.

thanks Nicky- i thought i was being a bit mean but turning away business is truly mad!

I agree, that’s really mean not to sell the pattern without the yarn, afterall, you might be buying the pattern and then want to think about it before buying yarn.  Personally I buy my yarn online now, there’s such a fantastic selection, and I’ve had brilliant service from online stores.

One particularly good one is Paviyarns, I rang to ask what a yarn that I was thinking of buying felt like, in case it was ‘itchy’ (daughter won’t wear ‘itchy’!!) and the lady there was fantastically helpful and friendly, we ended up having a lovely knitty chat.

You can often get yarns free online too, bonus!!

Suggest you take your custom elsewhere!!

Kind regards
Janet

I have heard of this before. Perhaps it’s easier to look online for free patterns

How ridiculous!!

I often buy/get patterns because I already have the perfect yarn to go with it!

More fool this shop owner!

Yes I agree, I somtimes buy patterns when I see them, and then get wool later or as said use some I already have, I think her attitude won’t go down well at all, it would certainly put me off going back !!! x Janet

I’ve come across this before.  Doesn’t seem fair to me.  Cust is custom isn’t it?

Nell

I too have come across this before and the best thing to do is vote with your feet and make sure the owner knows WHY you won’t go back to her. In this day and age of the internet she must be crazy and at this rate she will go out of business quicker than she ever thought possible. Perhaps it has never occured to her that her customers have got wool left over from previous visits to her shop!.

I feel more upset for shop owners like Paula who do try their best. The internet can be a terrible thing sometimes.

I can’t get over just how crazy a policy it is! I wonder...if you can’t buy a pattern without the wool...can you buy wool without a pattern???!!

She will not do much trade then.you dont always want wool if you have it at home do you?why she cant sell a pattern on its own its silly.

thanks for all the comments- im glad im not the only one astounded!
I do tend to use the internet but saw the dolls pattern that would have been a perfect knit for my nieces doll, as a pressie..... really wont be using her again!

Maybe she doesn’t like owning a woolshop and figured this would be the quickest way to shut down

opurple - 28 June 2008 10:57 PM

Maybe she doesn’t like owning a woolshop and figured this would be the quickest way to shut down

HI Gayle,
How are you these days?
I had not thought of the owner doing that, she certainly seems to be committing professional suicide.

Nowt so queer as folk, as we say up here

i spoke to my mother in law about it and she said the other other yarn shop in our area now has the same policy and she will also not sell wool without a pattern!!!

ebay for me then!

Just make sure you are at the front of the queue when they have their closing down sales!!!!!!!