Malabrigo yarn is available in Japan, so I didn’t have to import it.
But after a long internal battle between logic and emotion, I decided to order it directly from the United States.
If you’ve ever wondered why some knitters go through the trouble of importing yarn, here’s my story — complete with cost comparisons, struggles, and a few emotional twists.
Falling for the Trustfall Shawl
It all began with the Trustfall Shawl pattern from Laine Magazine 26.
I was instantly drawn to its elegant yet bold design — I knew I had to knit it.
The problem?
The official yarn, Malabrigo, wasn’t available in the color I wanted here in Japan.
Malabrigo is sold domestically, but not every shade is imported.
And of course, the shade I fell in love with was the one missing.
Comparing Options and Costs
I had three choices:
- Find a different yarn in a similar color
- Use another brand that’s easy to buy in Japan
- Import the exact Malabrigo yarn from the U.S.
At first, option 3 sounded unreasonable — international shipping, import tax, long waiting times…
But when I compared the total cost, importing wasn’t as expensive as I thought.
In some cases, it was even cheaper than buying imported yarn locally.
The Emotional Struggle of a Knitter
Still, I hesitated.
I told myself, “It’s just a shawl. There are other good yarns.”
I tried substitutes, knitted swatches, searched color charts… but nothing felt right.
It wasn’t just about the color — it was about using the yarn the designer imagined.
Malabrigo’s hand-dyed tones and texture have a depth that can’t be replaced.
In the end, I felt as if the knitting gods whispered:
“Stop thinking so hard — get the real yarn.”
And so, I placed the order.
How Much Does It Cost to Import Yarn?
Before ordering, I used ChatGPT to estimate the total cost — yarn, shipping, and import tax included.
The answer: around ¥25,000.
After removing one skein, the total dropped to about ¥23,000.
Not cheap, but still within reason for a project that truly inspired me.
The Unexpected Delay
Just when I thought it was settled, I got an email from the U.S. store:
“Sorry, we only have one skein in stock.
The rest will take up to six weeks to arrive.”
Six weeks!
At that point, I could only laugh.
I had already decided — I wasn’t turning back.
What I Learned
In the end, the total cost turned out lower than I expected.
But what I really learned was this: sometimes trying to “save money” just costs more energy.
Next time, in Part 2, I’ll share the actual import fees, delivery timeline, and, of course, photos of the gorgeous Malabrigo yarn when it finally arrived.
