Isle Knit
1188 Bishop St., Suite 1416 (corner of Bishop and Beretania St) [mapquest]   
phone: (808) 533-0853
Email: isleknit@gmail.com
Hours: Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri: 9:30-5:30,  Sat 10-2, closed Sun/Mon
Proprietor: Sue Keola

In a tall building on the corner of Bishop and Beretania, I think of
Isle Knit as the Harry Potter yarn shop – tucked into a small office
space, Sue has racks and baskets of yarn from floor to near ceiling,
and if you let her know what you are looking for, she can put a hand
into a display or a bag and pull out something you probably wouldn’t
have found on your own.

Sue is knowledgeable, helpful, and offers individual knitting
lessons as well as classes and knitalongs (knitalongs have included preemie caps, chemo caps, and lapghans for a chemo center).  Classes are currently on Saturdays from
2-4pm.  She’s a sweet, patient instructor and a pleasure to chat with.

There’s a nice range of yarns here – she’s been told by one company
that she orders more wool than a shop in Alaska!  There are lots of
novelty yarns as well as basics.  I get most of my bamboo needles here;
she’s also got Addi Turbos.  The needles stocked are circulars and
double-pointed. 

I’ve found just about all the notions I need here – coilless safety pins, stitch markers, tapestry needles, row counters, etc. 

There’s a small rack of magazines – Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting
International, and others.  Patterns and books are also available and
on display.  There are a lot of patterns, so if you have something
specific in mind, check with Sue. 

Knitted and crocheted samples are tucked in here and there, including toys and crochet lei. 

Isle Knit is tiny; more than 3 people and it starts to feel quite
crowded, so if you have questions or need assistance, go in before or
after lunch (a lot of the regulars come in on their lunch breaks).
There is a small table where you can sit and knit; it’s usually got
quite a bit of yarn on it and customers will have to maneuver around
you.

Parking: metered street parking or in pay lots.   In the newsletter,
Sue lists the Kukui Plaza municipal lot (entrance on Kukui St at the
back of Pali Longs Drugstore), Alii Place at the corner of Alakea and
Hotel Streets, and the Smith and Beretania lot under the new park.
Because of the downtown location, parking can be tight; several bus
lines stop nearby (TheBus, 848-5555).

Nearby: Fort Street Mall, filled with little places to eat and shop.
Zaffron is a particular Indian food favorite of some of the Honolulu
SNB members. I consider attractions like Chinatown, Aloha Tower, Iolani
Palace, Kawaiahao Church, the statue of Kamehameha the Great and the
Hawai’i State Library to be within walking distance but I know a lot of
people who would disagree with me. 

Random trivia: Sue used to teach at the junior high school I went to (we think I was there after she’d left, though).

All the reviews in one post:November 09, 2005 blog post (updated periodically)

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