A few dollars, several train rides and some research was all it took to find nice yarns in Singapore. I was there for about a week to visit my sister. While I was there I decided to check out the local yarn sources. To my delight, I found tons of yarns I have never touched and seen before in my life.
There were a lot of Japanese yarns in this place called Golden Dragon Store. It has been recommended by several forums and blogs online so I made sure I visited the place. I bought the 3.90-dollar (SGD 3.90) Japanese cotton yarns and two sizes of circular knitting needles. The ladies in the store were all busy doing their craft but they were kind enough to help me out with my questions. They not only have crochet and knitting materials but they also have quilting and other craft materials you can think of. The store was located in People's Park Center in Chinatown. One of the exits from the Chinatown MRT station directly leads to it. Here's information printed on their plastic bag:
Golden Dragon Store
Retail Outlet: 101 Upper Cross Street #02-51 People's Park Centre S(058 357)
Tel: 6535 8454, 6535 8234 Fax: 6534 2465
Head Office & Wholesale Division: Blk Henderson Rd #07-02 (Henderson Industrial Park) Singapore 159546
Tel: 6275 3517 Fax: 6276 7112
I also went to Bugis where there is this place called Golden Landmark which was right across Raffles Hospital. In the complex was a tiny yarn store called Knitting Shop. I think I found their exact location on the mall directory. The mall was a bit lonely but nonetheless it were the yarns that matter. Inside the store was a table where two women were seated, knitting. I asked for the cheapest yarn and they gave me 4-dollar cotton yarn (SGD4.00). I chose the purple shade though the lady was kind enough to dig through the pile to find me a lighter purple shade.
Actually, the first store I visited was this huge shop called Spotlight in Plaza Singapura in Dhoby Ghaut. From the Dhoby Ghaut MRT station was an exit directly leading to the mall. It wasn't hard to find because they have this huge sign which tells you which floor they are in . Too bad I couldn't decide which yarn to buy and I thought I had enough time to visit the place again. There was another store I searched for in the Handicraft Center in Chinatown but failed to find it. I should try my luck next time. This is my first yarn hunt post though I have desperately tried many times before in my own city, online and other places I have visited.
As for Japanese craft books, Golden Landmark sells a few but I found heaven in Kinokuya bookstore particularly in their outlet in Ngee Ann City Tower in Orchard. I was looking for an art shop, got lost and found this huge collection of Japanese books instead. I know no Japanese but I was persistent enough to browse through the sections until I found myself in the craft section. The books were covered with photos of knitting and crochet so it wasn't so hard to guess. I think I spent an hour just browsing through the books.
To guide you in your Singapore yarn hunt, use these useful sites and blog posts:
http://www.streetdirectory.com - Singapore's street guide
http://www.knitmap.com/ - yarn source database
http://mimiknit.blogspot.com/2007/10/memories-of-singapore.html
http://www.knittersreview.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=75115
Happy yarn hunting! ;)
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