Yarn Store Focus – The Nifty Knitter.

June 13, 2024

Keeley Richardson

Founder and Chief Fiber Officer

Nestled amongst the quaint buildings of Gilman Village in Issaquah, you will find the colorful, charming and welcoming Nifty Knitter Shop. Loved by the local community and yarn enthusiasts from further afield, you can be assured of a warm greeting and lots of beautiful yarn to enjoy. Owner Ben Bentler joined The Woolpack for a Q&A about what you can expect to find at The Nifty Knitter right now, and about exciting times ahead.

Please introduce yourself and let us know who we can expect to meet when we visit your store.

My name is Ben Bentler, and I’m the proud founder and owner of The Nifty Knitter. Our family of 11 skilled employees, who specialize in everything from knitting and crochet to weaving and spinning, is always excited to welcome you when you visit. We’re passionate about fiber arts and cherish our community deeply.

Where do we find you?

You can find us in the charming town of Issaquah, WA! Just head over to 317 NW Gilman Blvd, Suite 1, nestled in the delightful Gilman Village. Its quaint collection of shops, restaurants, and businesses promising a day full of fun and exploration.

How long have you been there?

We started our adventure in 2016 with a cozy little shop, but two years later, we upgraded to our fabulous, spacious current location. Now, we’ve got room for our wonderful retail space and an upstairs teaching area where we host a variety of exciting classes.

What will we find when we visit your store?

We have an array of stunning yarns to tempt your needles! From budget-friendly choices like Cascade and Knitting for Olive to luxurious sweater quantities from Brooklyn Tweed, Feederbrook Farms, and Fibre Co., there’s something for everyone. And don’t miss our in-store gem, Meeker Street yarn, available in a rainbow of shades and sizes dyed by myself—it’s incredibly soft and a joy to knit with.

What are your favorite yarns/fibers?

Right now I’m knitting a ton with our new yarns by Kinua. It’s a natural dyed yarn from a small family in Perú. It’s really a lot of fun to knit with. Also I’ve been enjoying knitting with Re-Ply. We are the only shop in the world who’s been allowed to carry it from Brooklyn Tweed. It’s such a squishy yarn and shows off stitch definition well. We’ve got quite a bit left even though they are now sold out on their website.

What’s on your needles right now?

I just finished a beautiful sweater called Clotilde Sweater by Pernille Larsen of Knitting for Olive. You hold two of Knitting for Olive Heavy Merino with one or two of the Soft Silk Mohair and create a beautiful sweater that looks fantastic over any top. I actually mixed my colors up and did a nice Mauve mixed with a cream and dusty blue.

What notions can’t you live without?

My bag from That Crafty Fox. It’s simply a perfect project bag and I love that’s its made by the nice woman in Puyallup. Plus I love my Flox Floop which I use so often when I’m knitting sweaters and things that need anything from an extra cable or stitch marker, even a quick place to thread through to remember where I made a mistake. I love that thing!

What’s your advice for a new yarn enthusiast?

For anyone just getting started, my best advice is to embrace the art of the screw-up! Everyone makes mistakes, and that’s totally okay. You can always go back and fix them, or if you’re like me, sometimes those “mistakes” turn into unique features in your sweater or piece. It’s crucial to learn how to read your stitches so you can understand what’s happening with your project. Once you’ve got the basics down, start focusing on what the stitches should look like on your needles or hook.

What is coming up in the future at your store?

Our big news is that La Bien Aimee has just arrived in store! We’ve got five fabulous lines with loads of color options. First up, Merino Sport and Merino Singles, both superwash and ready to brighten up your projects. We’ve even put together several fades with the Sport for some gradient magic. Then there’s Allure, an ultra-luxurious and ultra-soft yarn perfect for knitting your ultimate “sad day” sweater or scarf.

We’re also thrilled to introduce Mondim, an amazing yarn made from Portuguese wool, named after a town famous for its sock cottage industry. And last but not least, we’ve got Twist Nouveau, a soft and bouncy non-superwash merino. We’ve snagged some traditional Aimée colors, but the real treat? We’ve convinced her to include some colors from the Studio Ghibli collection! As a massive fan of Spirited Away, I can’t wait to create something special with those enchanting hues.

Any recommendations for additional places to visit in your area?

Gilman Village is full of fantastic spots to explore! Crumble & Flake offers fabulous pastries and sandwiches, while Lucky You has some seriously cool home decor. My personal favorite is Studio Den—I absolutely love their minimalist style. No visit is complete without a stop at Issaquah Coffee Company for my favorite kombucha. If you’re craving Mexican, Masa is delicious, and for an evening out, I highly recommend The Well and Table. Honestly, the whole village is a shopping paradise with a little bit of everything.

Just across the parking lot, quilters will find a haven at Gossypium. And don’t miss Threadneedle Street on Front Street, just a few blocks away which has everything you need for embroidery or cross stitch. For a nature break Confluence Park offers lovely knitting benches, or you can wander a bit further to check out the Salmon Hatchery. It’s a magical spot, and watching the fish is always fun!

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