Did I find yarn in Prague? Do fish swim? I found not 1 but 3 yarn shops and I'd managed to buy from 2 of them. I also stumbled upon a bead shop. (purely accidental, since it's located at the end of an easily missed passage.)
Here are a few yarn shopping tips for Prague.
(1) Patterns - none. I didn't see any patterns in the shope, certainly none in English.
(2) Yarn types - tends to be aran or thicker. More novelty types than standards. A lot of synthetics mixed in. The better yarns in shops like Galanterie are kept behind the counter and you need to ask to see them. The only problem is, they don't speak English and can appear a bit off handed... but hey... can any yarn seller not be infected from my enthusuasm, coupled with a determined glint to purchase? I saw a lot of finer yarns plied up to aran weight
(3) MarLen is the 'deluxe' Czech brand. Lots of very interesting textiles, not just yarns, but fabrics and ready-mades. The shop is an Aladdin's cavern.
Textilni Galanterie
Trzište 6, 118 00 PRAHA 1
Open 10-5pm Mon-Fri
This shop is in the center of Prague, in the Mala Strana - or Little Quarter - district. It's not far from the Charles Bridge and is across the street from Aria Hotel. It's the smallest of the 3 shops that I'd visited. I was really disappointed by my first visit, although the yarns are a very good (ok, cheap by western European standards) price, the synthetic content was alarmingly high. It was only on my return visit, that I'd realised that the good stuff was behind the counter and you'd have to ask for it.
Given my non-existant command of Czech and the vendor's non-existant command of English, it took some time to win her over ;-). Of course, she was won over, every fibre fiend can recognize a kindred spirit.
This is a small haberdashery shop, so there were lots of ribbons, buttons and crafty thinks aside from yarn. It's a good place to visit on the way back from Prague Castle. (The Aria Hotel has a detailed map of the area.
MarLen
Karolíny Světlé 12
110 00 Praha 1
tel.: 224 236 728
e-mail: praha@marlen.cz
Open Mon-Sat: 9.00-18.00
Map Shop not far from #17.
All the other shops stocked a bit of the MarLen yarns. At MarLen, you can buy yarn in skeins or off the cone. The girls there were very helpful (I can almost say friendly) and all spoke some English. In addition to yarn, there was a ton of fabric. About 25% of the shop was yarn, 25% of ready made and 50% fabrics. I could had stayed there forever.
The ready-mades were large bulky sweaters, hats, gloves and scarves.
If you only had time to visit one shop in Prague, go to MarLen. Eventhough it only sells the MarLen brand, it is the most interesting. Karolíny Světlé is just south of the Charles Bridge, not far from the National Theatre, in the New Town.
Galanterie
Spálená 35, 110 00 PRAHA1
M-F 9-5
Sat 9-1pm
Map
This shop is slightly off the tourist track, so you probably won't stumble without knowing where to find it.
On our last day in Prague, we walked through the New Town and waled right passed this shop. (I did a double-take... Hello .. is that yarn?) It's a pretty big shop and I noticed that they had some German yarns as well. I really wanted to invesitgate further but it was just a few days before Christmas and the shop was packed. I didn't have much of a look but did notice they had Gedifra and Schachenmayr, along with Marlen and Storex and lots of other brands that I had never heard of... and would take a lifetime to find the right ascii symbols.
StarBeads
Passage Palac
MetroNarodni 25,
110 00 Praha 1
M-F 11-7pm Sat 1-6pm
Tel: +420 271 743 391
Fax: +420 271 743 398
Interactive map found on the site. It's a very good map. The shop is not far from Tescos in the New Town. (The Tescos are more like department stores than supermarkets and yes, they do sell yarn and have a reasonable haberdashery department.)
We had bought tickets to a concert in St Martin's on the Wall and had 30 minutes to kill becore the concert started. We wandered into the passage and at the passage, lite up like a beacon, was Star Beads. The owner is a nice Japanese man who thought that I might have some Japanese since I certainly didn't have any Czech. (He speaks fluent English). Anyway, great shop, small but has lots of different beads. I wish I took some photos of my purchases but I wrapped them all up and gave them away as stocking stuffers.
So that was the yarn crawl in Prague. I must point out that my intention was to visit MarLen. I didn't have any of the other shops addresses written down. I know that the husband doesn't believe me when I say so, but we literally walked past a shop and saw yarn. But now if you're in Prague, you don't need to rely on luck, you have the shops and a map to get there ;-)
Other Prague Knitting
I did get to do a spot of knitting while I was there. I finished these socks up to the toes. Mostly knit while on the plane, waiting for the plane, or in the evening. We walked a lot in the city and I was really knackered every night. It was too cold to sit and knit outdoors and we didn't stop much in the cafés.
I thought that another picture was required. The mossy socks and me with the Charles Bridge in the background. Yes, people did think that we were nuts ... but you must remember, I'm a brazen American... and a few moments of embarassment is OK for a good blog photo.
Finally, I saw this and thought of all the Liberty Rowanettes. It's not quite the Art Bar Cafe, but it is close, isn't it?
Art Cafe Bar.
After a visit to Mr Photoshop...
We are factory specializing in the manufacture and export of the fancy yarns more than ten years.We have many different components fancy yarn, our price is very competitive because we are manufactory, we are the source. You are welcome to visit our website www.jindatex.com which includes our company profiles, history and something latest items.Any other problems,pls let us know.
Sprina
Jiangyin Jinda Textile Co.,Ltd.
We are factory specializing in the manufacture and export of the fancy yarns more than ten years.We have many different components fancy yarn, our price is very competitive because we are manufactory, we are the source. You are welcome to visit our website www.jindatex.com which includes our company profiles, history and something latest items.Any other problems,pls let us know.
Sprina
Jiangyin Jinda Textile Co.,Ltd.
Just home from visiting all three shops. Your blog was REALLY helpful. You can see what I bought there (plus in Dublin) on my way home from Praha on my Ravelry page (I'm mjpacker). My fav was some ordinary sock yarn but that was actually spun in the Czech Republic and is the same grey color as the cobblestones (and sky) in Praha - bought from the friendly (but absolutely no English) lady near the Castle.
BTW, a new store that carries yarn (and fabric, notions, etc.), called Filium opened in Nov. 2007 in the new Palladium Mall on the ground floor. Mainly acrylics, but thanks to my son who lives there and can say 100% wool in Czech (and "my mom owns a yarn store in America") I came up with some 100% wool Superwash by Austermann - good selection of colors. The address for the new shop is Filium, OC Palladium, Namesti Republicky 1, Praha 1. Tele: 225 771 575.
Posted by: Mary Jeanne Packer at December 8, 2007 04:24 PMAND, while you are on Karoliny Svetle, stop by #25 (just a hop across the street from #12) to dine at Restaurant R. M. Rilke. It is absolutely charming, the food is fantastic, the host/server happily speaks English and a variety of other languages...and, if you go before 4 pm there is a hefty discount. This is rated in the top 20 restaurants in Prague, a fact unknown to us. All we knew was that when we scoped out MarLen on Sunday (closed!), lots of local people headed into Restaurant R. M. Rilke and came out happy. Afterwards you can waddle over to TESCO to get cheap postcards (ground floor stationery) and snacks for dinner (basement). : ) This 'side trip' was thoroughly enjoyed by two non-knitters and a usually bored husband - for whom we kept our visit to MarLen all too brief. There is a nice article about MarLen here: http://www.prague-tribune.cz/2003/11/17.htm and another about the general area here: http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2006/12/20/street-of-fashion-dreams.php . BTW, when you pack, fill your suitcase with your stash of bubble wrap. You can give it away to fellow travelers and fill up the space with yarn!
Posted by: Rebecca at November 12, 2007 12:30 AMThanks for the info. I am an avid knitter and am heading to Prague Nov 4, 2007!!
I really apprecciate this blog. I will let you know what I find when I return
I was just in Prague and I wanted to say thank you for such great advice.
We asked many people in prague about good yarn shops / wool and no one knew of any.
Mar Len was the best it's important to know that they only accept cash.
Thanks for the great advice,
Anna and Vivian Waldron
Thanx a lot, I´m planing my sixth trip to Prague, and last time 2003 I wasn´t such a knit-o-holic as I am nowadays.
Posted by: Elisabeth at October 27, 2006 09:18 AMJust returned from Prague on Monday. The Mar Len Store was a block away from were we were staying. Was blowen away by the fabric especially the sari (sp) fabric. On our first visit I didn't buy anything becasue they were cash only and I wanted to czech-out (ha ha) the other stores. Nothing at the other stores wowed me so I planned on going back on Sat. Went back on Sat. and that particular Sat. they were CLOSED! Yikes! Fortunatly, they were open on Monday, the day we were leaving so I did some power shopping, What a great way to use up my last remaining crowns. Prices were great! The other stores I was not impressed by and the woman at Textilni Galanterie could care less. If you are short on time Mar Len is the place to go. It's close to the Charles Bridge and not far from Old Town Square with the Astronomical clock. You could do some great sightseeing and yarn shopping in the same day. As for the bead stores we stumble by a few in Wenceslas Square. One was upstairs from a jewelry store. If you start at the bottom of the square walk up the left side. Just keep your eyes open. Unfortunatly I don't remember the names. I found the bead stores to be a little anti-climatic. Nothing I couldn't get home or off the internet. If you like semi-percious stones look for bohemian garents which are mined from Bohemia or a stone called moldavite which is also indictive of the region.
Can't find them as beads, but at a higher end jeweler I bought an inexpensive necklace and plan cutting it and making something with them. Prague is amazing!!
What timing! My friend and I are leaving this Sunday for Prague and we are both knitters and beaders. Can't wait to "czech" out the stores!
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for this info! I'm going to Prague next week and this is all I need to know for yarn shops.
Posted by: Sarah at August 3, 2006 04:09 PMThank you so much! I'm going to Prague this week-end, and now............I know where to go! (I might meet there the author of the previous comment!)
Cheers,
K.
Thank you so much for the wonderful information about the yarn shops!!! Iam from Sweden and I will go to Prague about 2 weeks and guess what I am going to do!!!!!
Love
My
Hello!!!..
I was in Praha last April and trying to find a yarn shop when I saw your helpful e mail...
Thank you so much!!!... I had a few hours left and could go and purchase some at the very last minute!...
Thank you again..
Posted by: Mary Paz at May 1, 2006 11:00 PMTerrific blog! MarlaX
Posted by: MarlaX at April 26, 2006 02:36 PMThank you! I have been trying to find out about yarn in Prague. I will be driving there in August.
bw
colin
I just got back from a week in Prague, and I totally agree with you about Marlen! What a great little shop! If I had only had an extra suitcase to fill with stuff!
Posted by: Rachele at March 20, 2006 05:34 PMHello
I am new in blogging... first topic to blog on is knitting! Leaving in Ottawa/CANADA, I will be in Prague the 3rd week of April and I will use your Prague reference list yarns stores. Your list will be very useful -- Thank you very much. Planning to report on my discoveries. Stay tuned
Valérie
Posted by: Valerie at March 16, 2006 03:10 AMThe yarn shop addresses are so very helpful and your photos lovely(as is your hat)
Thanks
Posted by: Allison at March 14, 2006 10:38 PMOh! Too bad I didn't see this sooner - I'm and American living in Prague and founder of the official Prague Stitch 'n Bitch group. Sorry we missed you - along with the FABULOUS yarn opportunities here, we get together every weekend to knit and compare our latest Marlen purchases. Kotva would have also been a good place to look - it's not a "local yarn shop" but more of a "local department store" but they have some good deals sometimes.
The Textilni Galanterie actually sells Marlen yarn on sale (there's a little basket in the corner, it's a steal sometimes). And as for patterns... well.... no. My students and co-workers still find it odd that a bunch of 20 and 30-somethings are so into this knitting thing. In the Czech Republic, it's still something your grandmother does. I take some pride in the fact that I have the biggest knitting library in the country - but all my patterns have been brought and sent from the States.
Posted by: Nikki at February 27, 2006 10:53 AMWas in Prague during Thanksgiving. Was looking for yarn shops. Only one I went in and purchased some cheap acrylic yarn was near Goff Hotel. They sold various items besides the 100% acrylic yarn.
Thanks for the information. Will look it up when I go to Prague next year.
Internet is a wonderfull thing. I was looking for some knit pattern in the world and I found yarn shop in Prague, our capital. It is very difficult to find any when I am there, because shops often changes theirs place. I go to Prague this Friday a I will tray to find them with your map.
By the way, in "Bohemia" /Czech Republic/ there are a lot of nice yarn, for example "Elian", but usually shops haven´t all kinds and for me is better internet shop. As I saw, in US there are yarns with silk or from alpaka, that is unknown here. Ahoj, Johana
Posted by: Johana at January 22, 2006 04:00 PMOh, those skeins of MarLen are gorgeous! Sadly, Prague is a bit of a hike from the States, so I doubt I'll ever get over there.
Posted by: Colleen at January 18, 2006 04:30 PMGreat post, Polly. Roland believes knitting shops give off a magnetic force, like lay lines, and that I can home in on them, like a homing pigeon. Great hat, too......
Posted by: Jill at January 18, 2006 09:16 AMThe day you visit anywhere and not manage to hone in on yarn shops will never come. Why do they hide the good stuff though? That would have knitters like us in droves, but thank goodness you know how to seek it out.
James modelled the socks in his usual charming manner and the backdrop scenery is stunning.
As for the hat, that is a winner, absolutely gorgeous. If there is a pattern for it please spill the beans as Lyssie would love one.
Posted by: Louise at January 18, 2006 08:56 AMYou look so cute in your hat showing the socks a good time! Brazen Yank indeed!!
Posted by: Debi at January 18, 2006 08:56 AMPlease, please -- more about the hat! If you made it, what pattern -- I love it.
Posted by: Elizabeth D at January 17, 2006 08:01 PMI can't believe you just happened to walk past yarn shops. Love the hat!
Dawn:)
Posted by: dawn at January 17, 2006 05:36 PMLooks like you had a great trip. I was in Prague last year (before I became fiber obsessed, so didn't hit any yarn stores...) It is one of my favorite places. I am going to Tokyo soon, so if your yarn-scouting powers have prevailed there and you have some shops you'd recommend, I'd love to hear. Great shot of the bridge and the socks!
Posted by: Tandi at January 17, 2006 04:19 PMI love the pictures of the yarn shops in Prague. The socks look great. What method do you use to knit your socks while touring the World? Two socks on two circular needles or are you using the Magic Loop?
Posted by: Diane at January 17, 2006 03:07 PMI really like those two skeins of Marlen! What a fun trip - it's good your socks got to see a bit of the world.
Posted by: Chris at January 17, 2006 01:32 PMWow. You can find yarn anywhere, like a powerful yarnsniffing bloodhound. Thanks for another yarncentric travelogue. You look great in the earflap hat. xoxo Kay
Posted by: Kay at January 17, 2006 01:29 PMyou are an evil evil woman. this is all i needed to know when prague is one of the first stops on my trip! hopefully there will be a big box waiting for me at the norwegians house so that i can ship stuff home!
Posted by: jacqueline at January 17, 2006 09:17 AM
