frugal yarn question for knitters

[cab54]

I think the problem is that most knitters do smaller items nowadays. Socks, or little filmy lacy scarves, fingerless mittens, hats........they only take a skein or 3. More affordable at LYS.

I mainly make sweaters, baby layettes (the entire outfit, sweater, booties, caps/bonnets, mitties, a blanket maybe), big warm shawls, big afghans, whole outfits for toddlers, etc......I usually need 10-15 skeins/balls or more. It gets costly if you go to the LYS.

I made my Mom a heavy wintery shawl last year that cost me about $120 for Christmas. (!!) A Merino/Angora blend. Niiiice. It's big enough to really wrap up in, because I believe knitting should keep you warm, too. Unless it's done for the artsiness of it, like lacy shawls for Spring.

I think the answer lies in what Contrary Housewife said....compromises and careful shopping. Spending more for those 'special' projects, and looking for bargains on others. Comparing prices, checking aorund online, and watching for sales at LYS. Giving them your email address usually means they'll contact you about sales.

[Incognito]

My little town doesn't have a yarn shop. Our dollar store sells a bit of yarn. But mostly I buy my yarn at the Church Thrift Shop. It is donated (usually from clearing an estate), and packaged in bags and costs about $1 or $2 a bag. Each bag has about 6-10 large skeins of yarn, so it's a fantastic deal. I have a huge yarn stash of beautiful wool yarns of various gauges, some acrylics, some mixed, some baby yarns. I've got a large crochet cotton stash of many colours and gauges. And most of it came from the thrift shop, for a few dollars.
I check to see that the yarn or thread is new or like new, and I never buy anything that has a smoky or musty smell.

I've also bought some hand-knitted sweaters from the thrift shop, and ripped the yarn for re-knitting. As long as it's tightly wrapped in a ball, it helps take out the curl of the old stitches, and then I rewind it into a looser ball before I knit with it, so I get the correct yarn tension.

I occasionally buy yarn or crochet cotton from stores, but only if absolutely necessary. These crafts can cost a small fortune, and that is not what I want to do with my money. My goal is to make something beautiful and useful for very little money, so I'm always looking for ways to repurpose material or save on costs.

[nuisance26]

~Have you talked to the owner of your local yarn shop? Tell them how much you want to buy from them and support local business owners but the markup at the shop is just too high. Bring some mid-price range printouts from online places. If you're polite about it, the owner may be able to come down on the prices for you.
You can offer less for items you pick out as well. I know it's hard to haggle but since the mark-up is so high, almost everything can be talked down a little.
Maybe the shop is on Facebook or has an email list you can join for special sales. Ask about a club card or customer reward program. If they don't have one, suggest one.
If they don't move at all on prices, they are far too invested in their dream of being a shop owner than actually selling anything. There aren't too many of us that can afford to plunk down 125% or more the going rate for hobby items just to support local business. You'd be better off buying online and donating 10% of your online purchases directly to the store.
There is one lone fabric shop in our county and it's 12+ miles away from me. The shop has way more problems than just price and selection to make it worth my while to fill their suggestion box but I am so tempted! ~

[Early Bird]

For instance, I have this really gorgeous pattern for a jacket-sweater that is SOOOO my Mom. I really, really want to make it for her. And I want to use the yarn called for (Prism Symphony). I've found it online and it would cost (gasp!) $328 to make the item. Yikes. I love my Mom but...... And I know if I go to the yarn shop that recently opened in my small town, once I touch it, fondle it, and even roll in it naked (LOL!) I will PAY whatever they want for it....all of it. I know---I've seen me do it.

Sigh. Knitpicks has a similar yarn for a LOT less, but of course, not in a color I can live with. What to do.....

Have you considered Colourmart? They buy remainders from the upscale knitting mills -- cashmere, silk, extrafine merino, etc. There are some upsides, like free worldwide shipping. And there are downsides -- the yarn comes oiled for the knitting machines, so I almost always pre-wash before knitting with it. But it might be worth a look.

[McD]

Check this website: Knitting Supplies | Discount Yarn


They have a lot of nice yarn fairly inexpensively. I recently made my first purchase.