Finding good yarn in Bangkok can be surprisingly difficult, especially for expats used to larger craft stores and wider selections back home.
Options are limited, with small selections typically found in areas such as Sampeng Market and Sam Yot.
That is why Bigknit Café has become a go-to spot for knitters and crocheters in the city.
Located inside RQ49 Mall in Sukhumvit, the café combines a yarn shop, a workspace and social hub in one.
Visitors can order coffee, cakes and light meals while knitting or crocheting.
Yarn from floor to ceiling
Inside, the space is filled with handmade items – from crocheted figures to chunky knitted bags, cushions and small decorative pieces. Yarn is stacked from floor to ceiling, often hidden in cabinets you have to open and explore to find what you need.
The shop offers a wide range of yarn, including acrylic, cotton, mohair blends and even paper yarn.
Most of the yarn is imported – and often more expensive than what many Scandinavians may be used to back home – with some mohair blends costing around 450 baht per skein and cotton yarn around 500 baht.
Still, Bigknit remains one of the few places in Bangkok offering such a wide selection in one location.
More than just knitting supplies
According to the café, around 80 percent of customers are expats. Some visitors also spend hours knitting, crocheting and chatting inside the café.
Staff are also on hand to help, whether you are starting a new project or need assistance finishing one. It is not unusual to see employees helping customers with techniques or small fixes.
A visit to Europe
The idea for Bigknit Café came from owner Nice Tansrisakul’s lifelong love of arts and crafts.
Since knitting and crocheting often take hours, she wanted to create a space where people could sit, knit and enjoy coffee or food at the same time.
The café has now existed for more than 20 years. And today, Bigknit also operates smaller branches in Bangkok, including at Siam Paragon, though the Thong Lo location remains the only full knitting café experience.
How to find Bigknit Café
The main Bigknit Café is located inside RQ49 Mall in Thong Lo.
The café is around a 15–20 minute walk (1,5) from BTS Thong Lo or Phrom Phong station, though many visitors may find it easier to take a Grab directly to the mall.
Visitors arriving by MRT can get off at Sukhumvit station and walk around 2.5 kilometres using Google Maps directions.
Bigknit also operates smaller branches at Siam Paragon and Central Rama 9.
