Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Store Spotlight: ImagiKnit

 ImagiKnit

One of my favorite streets in San Francisco is 18th Street in the Mission District.  The stretch of 18th Street between Guerrero and Sanchez is home to San Francisco's famed Tartine Bakery and Cafe, Bi-Rite Market and the most wonderful yarn store in the city,

This past weekend my husband, nephew and I enjoyed a San Francisco getaway.  The guys went to the Giants games and I went yarn shopping!

 Great Walls of Yarn

ImagiKnit is located on the ground floor of an old San Francisco style Victorian building at the corner of 18th  St. and Sanchez St.  (I read somewhere that its location is in the former garage of the building.)  The roomy store has two large rooms which are filled to the ceiling with the tallest yarn shelves I have ever seen! 

 Great Customer Service!

 Keeping with it's Victorian architecture, owner Allison Issacs has decorated ImagiKnit with antique furnishings and flea market finds.  Her vintage styling and decor give the store a comfortable vibe and make you just want to sit down and knit.

Even though ImagiKnit is in a big city, it has a very welcoming and a real "neighborhood feel" to it.  The staff are always friendly and helpful every time I've ever shopped there.

 Allison Isaacs

On this visit, owner Allison Issacs was behind the counter so I had a chance to chat with her.  I found out that she recently celebrated the 10 Year Anniversary of ImagiKnit last September.  

 Allison loves that her store is a destination stop for many tourists visiting San Francisco.  While I was there, I recognized another customer's Scottish accent who happened to be visiting from Scotland.  I love to visit yarn stores when I travel, too, and ImagiKnit is certainly one of the best yarn stores I've ever visited.  Luckily for me...it's only a 2 hour drive from where I live!

My So Called Scarf

Before Allison officially opened ImagiKnit she was "knitting up a storm" making samples for the shop.  Alison told me:  "After I opened ImagiKnit, one scarf and pattern really put me on the map!"  That scarf is her

According to Ravelry, nearly 6,000 "My So Called Scarves" have been knit to date.  Thanks to Allison, it's now a free pattern.  And, you can see in the photo above that the original scarf is still hanging around the shop...just like an old friend should!

 Got Yarn?

 ImagiKnit's yarn stock is impressive!  I can always find my favorite brands there like:
Louisa Harding, Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Noro, Habu, Malabrigo, Be Sweet, Koigu, just to name a few.

So if you find yourself in the city by the Bay,
be sure to get over to 18th Street and ImagiKnit.  Make sure to allow enough time for a coffee break or lunch just down the street at Tartine Bakery and Cafe!

ImagiKnit

3897 18th Street 
(corner at Sanchez St.)
San Francisco, CA  94114
(415) 621-6642


Idiazabal & Membrillo Pressed Sandwich
(Lightly smoked sheep cheese with quince jam.)

Tartine Bakery & Cafe
600 Guerrero Street
(corner at 18th St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 487-2600

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Lisette,
I visited ImagiKnits today - they are now a partnering shop of Alice's Embrace. You are so, so right. This shop is really cool. Often when I'm in shops I need to force myself to not look around otherwise I'd end up with way too much yarn, but this place was too irresistible! I had to look around. So many varieties and the floor to ceiling shelving was really cool. Thank you for posting this wonderful review!
Diane

Unknown said...

Diane, So glad you made it to ImagiKnit. I love that they are a partnering yarn shop for Alice's Embrace.
Lisette xx