In my ongoing quest to find yarn in Beijing, I tried another market recommended by the Beijing Guild. Maofangcheng is also known as the Fabric Market. From what I read, you can have wool and cashmere coats tailor made from any fabric shop inside the five-story building.
The first task was getting there. The market is located on the Northeastern side of the city just outside the 5th Ring Road, far from where I am staying.
It was well worth the trip. Among the five floors of wool, cashmere and silk fabrics, were almost two full floors of yarn shops. Two — floors — of — yarn. I only took a couple of photographs. All you have to do is imagine walls of yarn in store after store after store.
These cones are wrapped in fine thin threads of cashmere.
My first purchase was in Store #205 where I picked up this colorful wool and mohair blend. So festive!
I also could not resist these lovely purples.
In Store #315, I picked up five balls of this luscious cerulean blue yarn.
Next I found this jewel-toned mohair in Store #323.
I fell in love with this orange cotton and cashmere blend. It reminds me of creamsicles!
My last purchase was this amazingly soft cotton and cashmere blend that one of the ladies was using to knit a shawl.
I took this partial cake of unknown yardage. It is made up of 11 thinly spun threads.
As I was getting ready to leave, I decided to pick up a couple of crochet hooks.
I spent a total of ¥280 or about $46. Now how am I going to get all this yarn home?
Agujas 
I’m so glad you found the Wool City! Definitely the place to go to get yarn in Beijing in my opinion. You’ll have to let me know how the fashion wool works up – I haven’t used mine yet. 😉
I will! I’m thinking a knit hat.
Worry about getting it home later!! Just stash it and stash it. In case of excess, just post some to a small island off the coast of Ireland! (Only joking. :))
Seriously though, I’m not sure what the exchange rate of euros to dollars is these days but you would probably buy about three balls of yarn for that here so grab it!
I had to force myself not to buy more. Good thing I can get a cheap suitcase at the silk market so I can take all that lovely yarn back with me.
Just remember that yarn bought during trips abroad does not count as stash – it’s a souvenir! 😄
I absolutely agree with that! Whatever I make with that yarn will remind me of Beijing when I wear it.
I’m glad you found Maofangcheng. It’s such a sensory overload. I still treasure some cashmere cardigans I had made there a few years ago!
I’m tempted to have a cardigan made for me. Do you recall how long it took? I imagine they have them made by machine but I could be wrong.
I think I had to come back the week or two after? They are machine made and the quality is great. I’m only sorry I didn’t get more made up.
My only advice is to take something to be copied (and be prepared to leave it behind too while they work) or take very clear photos from a magazine – otherwise you might not get what you wanted. It can be really difficult to communicate style, particularly where there are language and cultural differences and fashion expectations are so different. They charge by the weight of the yarn they use (I actually got a bit of a refund because they over estimated my garments).
Good luck!
Two floors! That’d be yarn heaven.
It was!
Great post! Love the cashmere, so colorful! I was wondering if you’ve visited any mills in China? I’ve read that China is known for cashmere goats and production. I bought some cashmere a few months ago that was processed in NY, and it still had the pointy guard hairs on it. (I’m guessing the spinning mill didn’t have the de-hairing machinery). Just wondering if you’ve seen any yarn processing?
I have not as I’ve been mostly in the city. I’ll have to look into it and see if there is a mill within a reasonable distance. Thanks for the tip!
Wow…two floors, all that yarn for $46!? I would never get out of there alive. Awesome find.
Now I have to buy a suitcase to get it all home.
Beautiful yarns! Just found your blog and it is absolutely beautiful! Can’t wait to see what you create with that fashion wool. Love the colors 🙂
Glad you stopped by. I wish I had time to get my needles on that yarn.
Q – WOW!
: )
I’m so glad that you finally found a market worth going too. Love the orange cotton/cashmere (creamsicles were my childhood favorite along with orange sherbert ;).
Me too. Good thing it’s far away or I would be there all the time.
I drooled as I read this post and saw all the gorgeous yarn, sadly far too far away for me to visit!
Isn’t it lovely!
What beautiful colors you chose! All your purchases look lovely. 🙂
Thanks. There were so many to choose from!!
Your stash is going to be UN-believable 😀
That’s what I’m afraid of.
Wow, this must have been amazing!
Lucky you 🙂
It was great. My problem is that I don’t have time to knit into my stash.
No worry! You (we) have a whole life to knit (y)our stash 😉
almost ❤ TWO ❤ full ❤ FLOORS ❤ of ❤ YARN ❤ shops… !!!
Yep!
Wow! That’s a lot of yarn! You did good!:)
I loved the colors.
I am in agonies of jealousy. My vision of heaven involves cones of cashmere.
It was heavenly!
I would have gone crazy there! Just picked up crochet and I’m enjoying it lots. Really like the colours you’ve shared here!
What are you making? I haven’t crocheted in a while.
DROOLING! Can you surface mail things back home? It’s usually cheaper than airmail or baggage fees. 🙂
Really pleasure to meet you!