🤑 Where to Buy Yarn in Seoul: Bring a fat wallet
1. Banul Story (Yeonhui Branch) 바늘이야기 | @banul.official
- TL;DR: A mecca for knitters! If you only have time to visit one place, make it this one.
- The Inside Story: The moment you open the door, a massive, breathtaking wall of cone yarn will leave you speechless. This is the definitive holy grail and a must-visit photo zone for Seoul’s knitting community! Established in 1998, this iconic brand is now famous for beginner-friendly kits and video patterns curated by Korea’s top knitting influencer, ‘Kim Dae-ri (@daerikimb)’. Even beginners don’t need to feel intimidated! 🌈 The shop is packed with every needle imaginable, notions, and gorgeous knit samples, so you can easily lose track of time and spend two hours just browsing.
📌 Real Tip: On the 4th floor, there’s a beautiful Seoul knitting cafe. Heading straight upstairs to cast on right after your shopping haul is pure bliss. (If you’re renting a car for a road trip outside the city, I also highly recommend their even larger Paju flagship store!)
2. Somsom Knit 솜솜뜨개 | @somsom.knit
- TL;DR: A pastel-toned, aesthetic heaven exclusively for cone yarn.
- The Lowdown: This is one of my personal favorites. The space features a picture-perfect Instagrammable photo zone! Unlike regular shops, they don’t carry skeins or balls—they only deal in cone yarn, and their self-produced lines are to die for. The lovely, cotton-candy-like colorways are just insane. 🧸 They have specific, famous seasonal yarns that literally trigger “open runs” (people lining up before opening) among local knitters, so keep your eyes peeled!
3. Cowaco Iroiro 코와코이로이로 | @cowaco_iroiro
- TL;DR: Cozy, minimalist Japanese-style imported yarns in the heart of Seoul.
- The Aesthetic: This is a select shop and workshop specializing mainly in Japanese knitting yarns. 🇯🇵 Here, you can get your hands on yarns from the legendary Japanese brand ‘Daruma’, along with chic pattern books and kits. If you love that clean, delicate, and beautifully curated Japanese vibe, this is your destination.
4. Linea 리네아 | @linea__official
- TL;DR: From knitting to sewing—the ultimate wonderland for all things handmade.🧵
- What Locals Know: This place is like the corporate giant of the Korean crafting world, always occupying the largest booth at the massive handmade fairs held in Korea every year. Needless to say, the variety of yarn is mind-blowing, but they also stock everything from sewing notions to sewing machines. You can even try out the equipment yourself, so any DIY-loving friend will absolutely lose their mind here!
5. Ancalls Yarn 앵콜스 | @ancalls
- TL;DR: The king of budget-friendly, highly versatile self-produced yarns.
- Why We Love It: While it shares a similar vibe to Somsom Knit, Ancalls has a charm completely its own! They offer an incredible range of trendy, in-house produced yarns. With endless options for everything from small accessories to garments, this shop is a permanent fixture in the online shopping carts of Korean knitters. 🛒
6. Place Nakyang 플레이스낙양 | @place.nakyang
- TL;DR: The living history of Korean knitting since 1960.
- The Heritage: This offline space is run by ‘Nakyang Yarn (@nakyangyarn)’, a brand that has anchored the history of Korean yarn since 1960. As expected from a brand with such deep roots, the yarn quality is incredibly solid. What makes this place extra special is that you can see actual, finished samples from various trendy Korean indie knitwear designers all in one place. 🐑 It’s the perfect spot to get hit with a wave of inspiration!
7. Sevyhaus Seongsu 쎼비하우스 성수 | @sevyhaus_seongsu
- TL;DR: Yarn shopping in Seoul’s trendiest neighborhood, Seongsu-dong.
- The Tea ☕: Located in the ultra-hip district of Seongsu, this is a pretty large-scale shop. They recently opened a dedicated space where you can sit down and immediately start knitting with the yarn you just bought! The shop is filled with beautiful finished pieces on display, making it incredibly fun to browse.
⚠️ Heads Up: Let’s be real for a second. Because it’s located in a prime Seongsu hotspot, the prices can be a bit… eba (overpriced) 😅. Rather than a budget haul, I recommend sliding this into your Seongsu date itinerary to check out the trendy designs!
8. Nutten 누뗀 | @__nutten
- TL;DR: A lush, green yarn-healing cafe away from the city hustle.🌲
- Behind the Scenes: This Seoul knitting cafe is operated by the famous yarn brand ‘Knit Seasons (@knit.seasons)’. While it’s a bit of a trek from central Seoul, the gorgeous interior and nature-filled photo spots make the trip 100% worth it. If you want to spend a weekend healing and knitting with a beautiful scenic view, there is no better oasis than this.
🧵 Loved These Korean Yarn Shops? Bring Them Home!
Visiting these local yarn spots in Korea is amazing, but you can also order premium Korean yarns straight to your doorstep.
- Want to order online?
Check out our [K-Yarn Direct-Buy Guide] for step-by-step instructions on navigating Korean store checkouts and international shipping. - Looking for Korean designers who don’t do YouTube?
[K-Pattern] Forget Ravelry: 5 Korean Knitwear Designers