CH5: Crafty in Shanghai

Inspired by some of the artists and makers featured on CreativeHunt? If so, then perhaps it's time to get crafty and take full advantage of the myriad materials available and affordable in Shanghai. Herewith are a few of our suggestions...

Knitting

Yes, it may be swelteringly hot right now, but just wait: come winter we'll be dusting off scarves, hats and wooly sweaters with gusto. Ensure your look is unique by donning a set of knitting needles and getting creative. It doesn't all have to be practical, though – Helen Lee's recent Open Black collection featured gorgeously quirky knitted panels set against feather-light chiffon, whilst her new store boasts woolen light fittings, no less. And if you needed further proof that knitting is cool, take a gander at these inspiring shots.

One of the cheaper crafts on offer, head to the Jianguo Lu/ Ruijin Lu intersection for a bevy of stores selling yarns of various weights, colours and quality – the cheapest is just 40rmb for 500grams, or around 10rmb per ball, with super-soft Australian wool starting at a pricey 235rmb per jin (149 Jianguo Lu). Knitting needles are a steal, ranging from 3 to 8rmb a pop, whilst the 46 Jianguo Lu no-name store not only stocks crochet hooks and circulars, but is also staffed by some particularly lovely ladies who are friendly, knowledgeable, and, take it from us, extremely patient when it comes to explaining the finer points of their craft.

Alternatively, Knitting Corner, a tiny store perched above Anfu Lu's EverythingButTheCafe, sells an assortment of Italian, Japanese and Chinese yarn for 70-100 rmb per jin. Their weekly get-togethers are open to all, no matter whether you're a beginner in need of lessons or a lifetime knitter seeking to wile away an afternoon. Call ahead, as opening hours are limited and change from week to week.





Beads

Shanghai's abundance of boutique jewelry and accessory stores mean a wealth of choice and certainly some unique gems for the fashion-conscious. However, there are more creative and infinitely more satisfying options out there, the starting point of which should undoubtedly be Hongqiao's Pearl City. Simple strings of glass beads can be picked up from 10-15rmb; the makings of a truly unique necklace, bracelet or whatever. A good downtown option is the third floor of the First Asia Jewelry Plaza at 288 Fuyou Lu, close to the cacophony that is Yu Garden. There are pearls, stones and beads aplenty, but buyers beware – it's overwhelming to say the least.

A more eclectic option is the nearby Small Commodities Market (225 Fuyou Lu). There are bead shops aplenty, most stocking stringing material to boot. Or, head to stall 87 on the second-floor for DIY beaded door curtains – you'll find thread, instruction, and a bewildering array of glitzy beads from 40rmb for a 500g bag, or just 2rmb each for more unusual offerings. It's worth mentioning that the market also sells ream upon ream of colourful ribbon (check out Ayou at stand 6), as well as pretty gift boxes, net and cellophane wrapping, ideal for home-made party favours.







Lace, thread & buttons

Lace doesn't have to be all net curtains and doilies, and to experiment with the material, be sure to check out Jingling Lu, south of Henan Lu. Fabrics in a variety of colours and weights are available, all very, very cheaply. These stores also stock an astonishing array of buttons and clasps in just about every colour and finish out there – 175 Jingling Lu has a particularly pretty selection.

Otherwise, either of the city's two main fabric markets offer a tantalizing range of buttons and adornments, with perhaps the Dongmen Lu site being the more sane – not to mention affordable: simple styles are just one kuai each, with larger and more unusual examples going for 15 kwai a pop – bargain hard. To stitch all these treasures together, though, you'll need thread, and for that, one hidden gem is head and shoulders above the rest: the second floor of 141 Jingling Lu is essentially a warehouse of cotton and zippers in quite possibly every shade imaginable – seriously, it's like walking through a rainbow of yarn.







Paints and canvases

For the more classically artsy types, Shanghai offers a few stores that will satisfy all your painting, sketching and drawing needs. Marie's is the benchmark brand for Chinese art supplies, and their "painting supermarket" is located at 850 Xikang Lu. A standard tube of own-brand oils costs 12rmb, with imported paints ranging from 60-130rmb.

Alternatively, take a stroll down Fuzhou Lu around the giant foreign language bookstore and you'll stumble across a few shops also offering both painting and drawing materials of all kinds: pastels, watercolors, acrylics and so forth. Number 408 and 402 are the places to go for bargain canvases, with the latter being everso slightly cheaper and both offering framing services: depending on how elaborate you want to get with your frame (plain dark wood, or gold-embossed fleur-de-lis, no less), costs vary enormously from 20-100 rmb/m.

Or, head down to Painter's Street at 212 Wending Lu, close to Nandan Lu, where various stores also offer custom-made wooden frames. Mao Shi at C25 comes highly recommended, as does FengFeng at C10 who will also print photographs onto wood and fabric.







Clay

No, we don't mean the type of clay that requires potters' wheels, slab rollers and fancy kilns that you probably don't have just lying around your house; instead, Taobao presents a much less messy option. Play-doh lovers of yore, relive your glory days with soft, oven-suitable clay that's become popular with the young and DIY-inclined in China. Available in a full range of colours, it's easy to shape, and once you're done, just pop your creation into the oven to harden. The options are endless... Jewelry! Christmas ornaments! Reproductions of Rodin! Go berserk. For that, check here, here and here

If ovens for kilns just don't cut it, head to The Pottery Workshop for expert tuition and all the professional paraphernalia budding potters need. Classes are taught in both English and Mandarin and can cater to both adults and children, as well as hone specific skills such as painting. Prices start from 800rmb for four sessions and cover pinch, coil, and slab building methods, progressing to wheel throwing and molds.





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All of the above stores and markets are well worth a wander, but if your bargaining skills aren't up to scratch or you're after a one-stop solution, then check out – where else? – Taobao. We've sourced a few stores selling big brand materials at eminently affordable prices – here, here and here.