Yarn

[TMLAalum]

We'll be in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru & Ecuador on our upcoming B2B cruises.  As a knitter, I love to purchase yarn made in at least one of the oountries per trip that we visit. Making a scarf or shawl when we return home is a great souvenir. Has anyone done this? If you have, do you recall the store where you shopped?  Thanks!

 

[Crewbie]

Hi, TMLAalum - No personal experience to relay, but did want to pass along this Live From where scrapnana has been posting about her South America HAL sailing. She did pick up supplies in Peru and Chile as far as I can tell (Lima and Punta Arenas for sure, maybe Arequipa and San Antonio/Santiago) - perhaps she might be able to provide some advice over there in addition to any other Cruise Critic posters here. I've linked her thread (no pun intended) below. Good luck and happy cruising!

 

 

Edited February 10, 2019 by Crewbie

[Lunenburg]

There are a number of Manos de Uruguay shops here that carry yarn and finished goods. 

https://www.manosyarns.com/             Look under Hilados

 

There is video with English subtitles on how the Co-op was formed.

 

The closest to the port would be the Outlet on  1111  San Jose.

[TMLAalum]

Thanks both Crewbie & Lunenburg. Now I just have to find an Outlander Shawl pattern to bring along. It really helps to have a project in mind when buying yarn!

[Lunenburg]

Not sure if you would get a reply, many businesses here don't respond to emails - but it might be worth contacting Manos de Uruguay ahead of time to see if they actually have what you might be interested in when you are in port. 

[TravelDreamer75]

I just bought a ton of yarn in Chile, mostly very rough local wool.  

If you stop in Puerto Montt, go to the Angelmo Market, and on the streets on the way to the fish market.  They also had some alpaca, which is not local, but was cheap.

In general, in my 2 months in Peru, Chile, and Argentina I find the tourist markets have the rough wool, the local yarn shops sell acrylic from China because the locals want cheap and durable for their knitting.  Chile has tons of wool, but for blending they ship it to Argentina and the price goes up for blends.  I learned to search for patterns using handspun materials and also ask and look to see what the locals are making with it.  Usually they are sitting there knitting so you can ask questions, though I doubt they speak English.  Chatting with them and telling them I knitting, they were very helpful in advising needle size, weight, etc.  

 

[TravelDreamer75]

I just bought a ton of yarn in Chile, mostly very rough local wool.  

If you stop in Puerto Montt, go to the Angelmo Market, and on the streets on the way to the fish market.  They also had some alpaca, which is not local, but was cheap.

In general, in my 2 months in Peru, Chile, and Argentina I find the tourist markets have the rough wool, the local yarn shops sell acrylic from China because the locals want cheap and durable for their knitting.  Chile has tons of wool, but for blending they ship it to Argentina and the price goes up for blends.  I learned to search for patterns using handspun materials and also ask and look to see what the locals are making with it.  Usually they are sitting there knitting so you can ask questions, though I doubt they speak English.  Chatting with them and telling them I knitting, they were very helpful in advising needle size, weight, etc.  

 

[boom_boom]

If your ports include Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, they have nice yard selection in  a shop a short walk from where the tender drops you.