Friday, February 10, 2006

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is beautiful, the sock had a delightful time enjoying the view from the balcony of our hotel.



We spent quite a bit of time visiting with JF’s friends and family and traipsing around the city. In exchange, JF agreed to accompany me to the yarn district and act as my translator. (This is particularly hilarious if you know JF!) JF’s knitting aunts had warned me that the yarn district was huge, and could be a bit overwhelming, but I had no idea what I was getting into.

I have never seen so much yarn in my life. Three blocks of yarn stores, one after another, lining both sides of the street.

I’d say about 50% specialized in machine knitting yarns, and of the remaining 50%, half of those were closer to the acrylic end of the spectrum, but the remaining 25% (must’ve been at least 10 stores) looked like this…





Most of the shop employees didn’t speak English, so JF gamely translated, “do you have wool, very thin wool?” “No, she wants the kind that is only wool, to make something for the neck, perhaps a cape? Made of lace?” “She likes the thick wool too.” “How many yarn, um, things are in a kilo?” “Do you have any more in the back?”



The phrase he used most often, “She’ll take one kilo.”

19 comments:

Megann said...

Those last two photos look like heaven!

Mintyfresh said...

I am swooning. Swooning!

spajonas said...

wow, i need me some of that yarn!

i'll take a kilo.

--Deb said...

I'm sorry--did I get drool on your monitor?? Wow, those pictures!

My mom's first, favorite phrase to learn when going to any foreign country has always been "Where's the bathroom?" I'm thinking "I'll take one kilo" sounds like a really good one, too! (And clearly, additional numbers are important . . . two kilos, three kilos....)

Anonymous said...

Um, so I think I just had a yarngasm looking at those last couple of shots. Nothing like a little yarn porn early in the mornin'!

carrie said...

i had to stop myself while reading your post and say out loud -- yarn district?!? there are cities that actually have yarn districts?!? how have i never been there?

Anonymous said...

HOLY MOLY! why can't NYC have a yarn district???

Jeff in NC said...

How sad...The Sock is more worldly than I.....

Brooklyn Handspun said...

Ok, you are so KILLING me with all this...yarn by the Kilo??? Oh my, I must find a flight to Argentina...stat!

Anonymous said...

do you remember the "address" or name of the Yarn district...? we are going to Buenos Aires in a few days... and my girl friend and I are addicts, and my husband might be cooperative to take us there?
please respond to me at my email below
Yours, Marilyn

Anonymous said...

So where in Buenos Aires is this yarn heaven? I have recently moved to BA from Texas and I keep reading about the yarn district but nobody post where in BA it actual is. Please put me out of my misery and share the location of "Yarn Heaven".
Thanks,
Mrs. Herbie

Anonymous said...

OOOps my e-mail is
the.wilbanks@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Help! I am leaving for BA next week! Where is this street? Neighborhood?
betsyolson@mac.com

Anonymous said...

Hi I just came back from Buenos Aires last week and I did go to the beautiful yarn district on Scalabrini Ortiz, if you go by bus the #110 will take you there for only 0.30 cents.
I'm an avid knitter and being there I felt like a kid in Toy's R-S.
I brought back yarn in a big suitcase full to capacity....I think I spent no more than $180.00
I'm almost sure that it would had cost me more than $700.00 in the US
Most of these shops sell the yarn by the kilo; but you could buy as much or as little as you want
I really loved Mi Lana, this shop had specialty yarns and acrylics that were so beautiful and very inexpensive; I also liked Nube, Yanabey & Moussa....they had so many more.
In the same area you will also find stores that sell buttons, handles for knitted bags, etc.
It was soooo well worth it!

Rona Zevin said...

I just came back from Buenos Aires. The yarn shops are on the
900-1100 blocks of Avenida Scalabrini Ortiz 1414 Capital Federal

MiLana was my favorite shop.

You can take the subway and walk about 8 blocks to the area.

Unknown said...

Hi all. How wonderful to discover a community which talks about yarn like they might a lover. Married with 2 sons, we are in BA and finally this morning we went (without the boys) to the yarn district. First shop was Milano. Oh what a treasure this place is. No line for me. I was the only one there and had the best service going mildly insane with excitement as I oohed and ahed my way even into the back room to see the lovely hand knitted garments for sale. Heart racing, husband panicking I too was like a kid at toys r us.
My yarn stash would put some small stores to shame so it was not a question of needing anything but how can one resist so many beautiful and colorful yarns. Earlier comments, yarn-orgasm don't seem strong enough for me so this is simply a must if you are visiting BA or reason enough on it's own to come here. after reading these comments my husband has agreed we will go back for more.

Anonymous said...

Hi!
Near my apartment for rent Buenos Aires , I think in Scalabrini Ortiz st. you have plenty wool stores!
I had such a great time in BA!

Purl Gurls said...

so how was price compared to us price for a skein/hank I plan to take an extra bag for such shopping

Gudrun Klingelstein, OEYC-OWN, Centrepointe Early Childhood Resource Centre and Co-operative Nursery School said...

Was in the Yarn district in November 2012. Just getting to documenting my trip. your pictures are great. I felt like I was in a candy store and after a while I could no longer look, as I was getting sick. Too much candy...Like everything in live, moderation, moderation. but not possible, as we were only two days in BA.