Where to Buy Yarn in Amsterdam: 5 Cosy Yarn Shops for All Knitters
The Cosy Gateway to Less Screen Time, More Creative Time
Whether you are already a knitter, just beginning your journey of discovering yarn and knitting needles, or simply curious to see how knitting can offer opportunities for a more nourishing mental space to counter your post work screen fatigue - consider this post to be your gateway guide to knitting inspiration in Amsterdam.
I started my knitting adventures as a self taught knitter, getting tangled and frustrated in cheap acrylic yarn (no yarn shaming here). Trying to navigate confusing, fast paced knitting tutorials and guides that assumed I understood more than I actually did. I often felt isolated, overwhelmed and like it just shouldn’t be this hard.
Discovering Yarn Stores aka a Knitter’s Sanctuary
When I discovered my first yarn store (in Walthamstow, London) the world of knitting seemed to open up, reinvigorate me and help me visualise the possibilities if I kept knitting and learning. It quickly became my favourite place to visit for a sense of peace and quiet inspiration.
By the time I moved to Amsterdam from London in 2013, I was an experienced knitter and knitting teacher and eager to explore the yarn stores of this gorgeous city - and it did not disappoint.
Since then, Amsterdam, the beautiful city of canals, heritage and bicycles has gained several yarn stores, 5 of which I am going to share with you here. I encourage you to visit as many as you can, with the full knowledge that each one will tempt you with delicious yarn, begging to come home with you and spark your creativity. Making your must-knit list a little more exciting and that time wasting phone and laptop, a lot less captivating.
Pro Tip: When visiting any yarn store as a tourist, pre-pack or source a vacuum travel bag and hand held air pump in your luggage - it helps you squeeze a lot more yarn into your suitcase!
Stephen & Penelope (Haarlemmerdijk 132 A)
Stephen & Penelope is a literal yarn candy store and one to pace yourself in - take advantage of the seating at the back of the store to give yourself time to take it all in.
The size of this gorgeous yarn store means the walls are packed with vibrant, high quality and often hand dyed delicious yarn begging to be squished and enjoyed.
Run by the famous knitting designers Stephen West and Malia Mae Joseph, their store features their own yarn brand West Wool, a hand-dyed yarn in almost every yarn weight (thickness) with names often inspired by the bike centric city Amsterdam is - Cargo, Bicycle, Tricycle etc.
Yarn Price Range:
This is one of the pricier yarn stores in Amsterdam but yarns range from €5.50 - €42.50.
Popular Yarn Brands you will discover here include:
CaMaRose, Hedgehog Fibres, Qing and Malabrigo alongside smaller, more independent yarn labels.
You will also find;
Knitting Needles - Circulars and DPNS only from my last visit
Knitting Notions such as Stitch Markers, Tape Measures, Blocking Pins
Project Bags, Stickers and Patches
Knitting Patterns and Books
Plenty of samples and swatches to help you envision the possibilities available to you.
The customer service is…
…always helpful, enthusiastic and encouraging. Should you buy any yarn skeins (twisted loops of yarn) they will happily wind it into workable balls for you.
Knitting Teacher Extra:
I have taught beginner knitting classes in this yarn store and find it such a special place to introduce people to the world of knitting thanks to the vivid yarn wall surrounding us all.
2. Hooks & Yarn (Haarlemmerdijk 147)
Yes, Haarlemmerdijk has TWO gorgeous yarn stores to discover and they are mere doors away from each other.
Despite their proximity though, Hooks and Yarn offers a very different experience. With a classic Amsterdam shop front, this yarn store is bright, light with accessible yarn displays and beautiful knitwear samples, making this seemingly small space feel a perfect place to gently explore and discover the knitting yarns that speak to you.
With a rich yarn selection that ranges from Danish to Icelandic and French and Swiss brands, there is always a beautiful, high quality fibre to discover, including the famous Dutch brand Scheepjeswol.
There are some hand-dyed yarns on offer but in my experience they mainly offer solid colours and you will find cost effective acrylic yarns alongside natural fibres such as Mohair, Alpaca and Merino.
Yarn Price Range:
Yarns are available in a range from €3.75 - €27.50
Popular Yarn Brands you will discover here include:
BC Garn, Fonty, Lopi, Lang, Malabrigo and many more
You will also find:
DMC Threads
Embroidery Canvas, Hoops and Kits
Knitting Needles - straight, circular and DPNS
Knitting Notions, Stitch Markers, Scissors, Tape Measures, Blocking Pins, Bobbins and more
Knitting Patterns and Books inc popular Petite Knit Patterns
Plus Amigurumi eyes and noses
Felting Wool - maybe you’ll be tempted to spin your own yarn!
The customer service is…
…friendly and available when asked for. They will greet you and leave you to discover the store in peace unless you request assistance. I commonly have a little chat at the till, which I personally appreciate as I am often calculating a million things such as yardage, my knitting project wish list and my personal gift knit calendar in my head as I choose yarn.
3. De Afstap (Oude Leliestraat 12)
De Afstap is a cosy and historic treasure trove of knitting yarn nestled amongst the main Amsterdam canals. A quiet library of wool, knitting needles, pattern books and notions. They feature an extensive range of classic European fibers and offer an enticing atmosphere of slow crafting.
I love popping in here for a knitting needle and then just quietly taking in all the yarn on offer. There is often a fun or fascinating little conversation happening at the counter which everyone is welcome to join in on.
This yarn store is perfect for the quiet, more introverted knitters looking for a safe gentle space to discover the fibres and colours they are drawn to without feeling overwhelmed.
Yarn Price Range:
Yarns are available in a range from €4.95 - €30
Popular Yarn Brands you will discover here include:
Heritage yarn brands such as Rowan, Schoppel Wolle and the Japanese brand ITO.
You will also find:
DMC Threads
Embroidery Canvas, Hoops and Kits
Knitting Needles - straight, circular and DPNS
Knitting Notions, Stitch Markers, Scissors, Tape Measures, Blocking Pins, Bobbins and more
Knitting Pattern Books
Lot’s of inspiring knitwear samples to feel and envision.
The customer service is…
…kind, helpful and gentle. Available if you ask for assistance but otherwise they will let you explore and discover on your own steam.
4. Yarnhugs (Kinkerstraat 380)
Amsterdam’s newest yarn store, Yarn Hugs is a cosy shop in Amsterdam West. Run by a really friendly owner who left her previous role with the Amsterdam municipality to pursue her passion for slow living crafts.
With a beautiful range of yarn and knitting needles to discover, this shop also features handmade items to both inspire and purchase - very helpful if you are shopping with a non yarn enthusiast as there is plenty for them to explore while you squidge yarn and make all important yarn purchasing decisions in peace.
A very calm and quiet yarn store with a distinctly non judgemental atmosphere, Yarn Hugs particularly showcases and celebrates crochet in a way that I don’t usually notice from the other yarn stores in Amsterdam
A little off my usual cycle routes around Amsterdam, I don’t visit this store often but always leave delighted when I do.
Yarn Price Range:
Yarn pricing ranges from €1.49 to €40
Popular Yarn Brands Available Here:
Many popular European brands such as; Katia (Spanish), Adriafil (Italian) and YarnArt (Turkish) alongside less well known brands such as Gazzul and the eco brand Reeyarn.
All ranges include acrylic options alongside natural fibres
You will also find:
Knitting Needles - straight, circular and DPNS
Knitting Notions, Stitch Markers, Scissors, Tape Measures, Blocking Pins etc
Crochet Hooks
Embroidery Needles
Wool Detergent
Soft Toy Filling
French Knitting Dolls
Granny Square Crochet Blocker
Plus Amigurumi kits
The customer service is…
….friendly, welcoming and happy to help.
5. Wolboetiek Sylvia (Bos en Lommerweg 226)
A real neighbourhood yarn store, Wolboetiek Sylvia is an authentic yarn store packed with everything knitting and crochet related plus an abundance of embroidery kits. Soon to be taken over by a new owner this store has everything you need, but you may need some assistance finding it!
Should you visit this Amsterdam yarn store in the Bos en Lommer neighbourhood, allow yourself a good chunk of time. There is yarn to discover from floor to ceiling and if you’re anything like me I need to see it all before I can make an informed decision.
Alongside acrylic yarn, there is a range of yarn brands but the majority I end up being drawn to is Lana Grossa in both solid and variegated colours and all sorts of fibre options.
Yarn Price Range:
As they do not have a website I cannot confidently share a price range of yarn
Popular Yarn Brands Available Here:
Phildar, Lana Grossa alongside many more plus plenty of acrylic ranges too
You will also find:
Knitting Needles - straight, circular and DPNS and Interchangeable Sets
Knitting Notions, Stitch Markers, Scissors, Tape Measures, Blocking Pins, Bobbins and more
Crochet Hooks
Embroidery Needles and Kits
Chunky Knitting kits
Buttons galore!
The customer service is…
…it varies, the more I have gone in the friendlier it has become. If you ask for help you will get it.
I suspect the owner has had some previously bad experiences which can make browsing in there feel a little supervised at times. But, there is a lot to discover so if you find yourself in Bos en Lommer, it’s well worth a visit!
Bonus Yarn Store: Pluche Wol en Garen (Kweektuin, Haarlem)
Not in Amsterdam but just a 10-15 min train journey from the city to Haarlem, Pluche Wol en Garen is a beautiful, independent and sustainable yarn store worth a special mention.
Located in the lush Kweektuin park and next to a delicious cafe, with plenty of space to knit up any new purchases over cake and tea, this yarn store is a real treasure to discover.
The smallest store on the list, it packs an inspirational punch with stunning sustainable yarns in a range of fibres. Pluche’s owner hand selects each yarn brand she carries and ensures they meet the sustainability criteria while also being delicious and irresistible.
Please note: this store closes in the summer, from mid July - September.
Yarn Price Range:
Yarn pricing ranges from €1.50 - €29.50
Popular Yarn Brands Available Here:
John Arbon Textiles, Biches en Bûches and Hey Mama along with familiar brands such as BC Garns, Erika Knight and Kremke.
You will also find:
Knitting Needles - straight, circular and DPNS and Interchangeable Sets
Knitting Notions, Stitch Markers, Tape Measures, Blocking Pins, and more
Crochet Hooks
Stickers
Knitting Patterns and Books
Knitting Kits
The customer service is…
Friendly and welcoming. You are encouraged to ask any questions including about your own knitting projects.
So You Buy the Beautiful Yarn but then what?
It’s a very common knitter experience to find yourself buying yarn with either no clear project idea or, particularly as a beginner knitter, with no idea where to start. Especially when you want to use the knitting inspiration driving your curiosity to create something real and tangible in your hands.
Discovering a cosy, inspiring yarn store is one of the first steps in your knitting journey. But to keep that gorgeous wool from turning into a tangled mess of frustration, a little beginner-friendly guidance goes a long way. With the right support, you’ll turn your yarn into a finished, proud-to-wear piece made with pure joy and confidence.
But Searching for Knitting Tutorials is Exhausting…
There is an alternative to patching together YouTube tutorials and navigating sheer panic over how to fix the inevitable mistakes in your knitting. If you want to side step the frustrating knitting how-to google searches and instead opt for a clear, friendly and non judgemental guidance to help transform your exciting yarn purchase into a wearable masterpiece - you may find my best selling beginner knitting courses of interest.
Within just 4 classes you will go from complete beginner to confident knitter with skills that you can apply to a huge range of knitting projects from headbands and cushion covers to sweaters and baby clothes.
My most popular pre-recorded beginner knitting course gives you lifetime access and the freedom to learn how to knit a wide range of skills at a time and pace that suits you best. With my classes, you can start knitting that new yarn up within 45 minutes or less.
The Knit with Confidence course - available as a pre-recorded bundle, live and online classes or in person in Amsterdam.
Already got the Knitting Basics Down but Want to Knit Something Wearable?
Then I encourage you to explore my Knit-A-Long Projects and choose from a complete beginner friendly Chunky Headband, a choose your own colour design Beanie Hat or how to knit your very first Sock - all come with lifetime access, a clear list of materials needed and step by step guidance from cast on to completion.
Ready to Go Yarn Shopping?
If you are in or visiting Amsterdam and stop by any of these cosy yarn stores, do let me know how you found it and what you bought - I am currently trying to only knit with the yarn I have so I can live vicariously through you!
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