Interior of Sevy Haus, a yarn store in Seoul's trendy district of Seongsu / Courtesy of Sevy Haus
When planning my stay in Seoul, the thing I was most looking forward to wasn’t the food or the K-pop concerts — it was finally being able to visit a brick-and-mortar yarn store.
Back in China, crocheting and knitting have gained traction in recent years. From famous actresses to lifestyle influencers, people are reclaiming the craft that was once considered something only our grandmothers did. However, this booming community exists almost entirely online.
Like many young Chinese makers, I learned to crochet through a screen. I watched tutorials on Xiaohongshu, China’s equivalent of Instagram, bought the exact yarns the influencers recommended via e-commerce links, and finished my first handbag without ever stepping foot in a craft store. It was highly efficient.
However, the moment I wanted to stop blindly following online patterns and start exploring the tactile possibilities of different yarns, I hit a wall. In Shenzhen, the bustling tech powerhouse I call home, there is only one dedicated yarn store. It mostly sells imported skeins so expensive — around $20 to $70 for a mere 50 grams — that making even a simple hat feels like a luxury. The vibrant craft I saw on my screen was entirely missing from my city’s streets.
It’s not only Shenzhen. In other metropolitans in China — except for Shanghai — physical yarn stores are still rare, and the yarns are mostly not cheap. Most yarn sellers are heavily reliant on e-commerce and influencer marketing. And since online shops can offer yarn for less than a dollar per 100 grams, with delivery in one to three days in most regions, consumers are naturally more inclined to shop online as well.
But in Seoul, physical yarn stores are woven into the very fabric of the city. From trendy areas like Hongdae, Seongsu and Gangnam to quieter neighborhoods like Jungnang District, you can find beautifully decorated boutiques. They cater to everyone, offering basic materials for just a few dollars alongside highly delicate, premium yarns.
Apart from yarn and related supplies, most stores display sample pieces made from their own products, providing customers with inspiration. Many also stock tutorial books that visitors are free to browse, creating a welcoming creative environment.
At Ancalls, a yarn store in Gangnam, southern Seoul, customers can find yarn, knitted samples and a range of supplementary tools. Korea Times photo by Alice Li
Beyond these modern shops, there is also the Dongdaemun Shopping Complex, a sprawling, old-school wholesale market. It is a labyrinth of stalls selling an overwhelming variety of yarns, buttons, bag chains and every other piece of hardware a maker could ever dream of.
Source: Korea Times News
