Tallinn has plenty to offer for knitters. Several small yarn shops and plenty of traditional hand knitted items for sale. We traveled to Tallinn to see Zemfira live, but while you are there, why not visit a couple of yarn shops also? On the first evening in Tallinn we were in Kalamaja neighborhood. We visited Telliskivi Loomelinnak hipster center in an old electrical engineering factory (with history going as far back as 1869 Baltic Railway factories) and found two lovely little shops: Rohelinevihmavari yarn shop and Minu väike maailm children's clothing shop. Roheline is a shop that sells ecological products and training. Their yarn selection is mostly Drops yarns, and they have KnitPro needles and tools. Next to Roheline is Minu väike maailm, a shop that sells kids' clothing. They have hand knitted alpaca and wool hats, mittens, socks, cardigans, etc. for little kids, as well as other clothes that have been designed and made in Estonia. Great place for souvenir shopping, that is! There's also a cool restaurant at Telliskivi Loomelinnak: F-hoone.
How to get there? Take tram 2 from the center (there's a tram stop in front of the harbor if you're arriving by boat from Finland): in one direction you come to Telliskivi, and in the opposite direction get off at Autobussijaam for Wool & Woollen (it's on the other side of Tartu mnt from Karnaluks, for those of you who are heading to the biggest yarn store in Tallinn). Buy a smarcard at any R-kiosk for 2 euros and a day ticket to public transportation for 3 euros. Alternatively you can take a cab that doesn't cost much, and both places are also within a walking distance if you are used to walking around.
Wool & Woollen is located next to the long distance bus station. It's a lovely LYS that has a selection of yarns consisting mostly of their own brand and Drops yarns, but also Rowan yarns and other brands, such as the Haapsalu shawl yarn pictured below. On a Saturday morning there was a group of ladies sitting in the second room of the shop, knitting away. The shop also has a selection of knitwear for sale. I liked the brown colored Haapsalu yarn and bought it as a souvenir, although I noticed that it is actually produced in Latvia. I was told that there are no spinning machines in Estonia and that's the yarn is not made in Estonia. It is called Haapsalu yarn after a certain lace shawl type that is called Haapsalu shawl. I'm not sure if I'll be knitting lace shawls anytime soon, but it was a nice souvenir anyway.
How to get there? Take tram 2 from the center (there's a tram stop in front of the harbor if you're arriving by boat from Finland): in one direction you come to Telliskivi, and in the opposite direction get off at Autobussijaam for Wool & Woollen (it's on the other side of Tartu mnt from Karnaluks, for those of you who are heading to the biggest yarn store in Tallinn). Buy a smarcard at any R-kiosk for 2 euros and a day ticket to public transportation for 3 euros. Alternatively you can take a cab that doesn't cost much, and both places are also within a walking distance if you are used to walking around.
