Home
|
Money

This Week In Money Banking Budgeting Cash Management College Consumer Protection Credit Cards & Repair

Credit Scores Debt Earning Money Expenses, Family Finances General Advice Houses: Buy/Sell Investments IRA's

Legal Issues Miscellaneous Mortgages Retirement Savings Taxes Working Working Women
|
Food

This Week In Food & Groceries Alternative Food Sources Appliances Babies Beverages Breakfast & Dairy Children & Family Convenience Foods & Alternatives Cooking Cooking Tips Coupons

Diets Food Expenses Food Safety Freezing Foods & Freezer Meals Fruits & Vegetables Health Foods Kitchen Tools & Organization Leftovers Lunches Making the Most of Food Meals & Meal Planning

Meats & Poultry Meals on the Go Organizing Recipes & Coupons Pantry & Food Storage Price Books Recipes Restaurants Saving Time Shopping Tips & Tricks Snacks & Desserts Warehouse Clubs
|
Home & Auto

This Week In Home & Auto Air Conditioning Appliances Automobiles Buying Cleaning Consumer Protection Crafts Debt

Energy Finances Furniture Gardening Home Decorating Home Equity Home Repair Houses: Buy/Sell Insurance Investments Mortgages

Natural Living Organization Pests Plumbing Property Management Recycling Space Management Taxes Time Management Utilities
|
Lifestyle

This Week In Lifestyle Beauty Buying Canadian Interest Charity Christmas Cleaning Tips Clothing College Coupons Crafts

Furniture Gardening General Advice Groceries & Food Health Hobbies Holidays Home Decorating Insurance Medical Care Miscellaneous Natural Living

Organization Parties & Entertaining Pets Recipes Recycling Refunding Single Living Space Management Time Management Vacations Voluntary Simplicity
|
Baby Boomers

This Week In Baby Boomers Finances Funerals Health

Insurance Investments IRA's Legal Issues Medical Care

Mortgages Moving Retirement Savings Taxes Vacations
|
Family

This Week In Family Automobiles Babies Budgeting Cash Management Children Christmas Clothing College Crafts Daycare Debt

Dentistry Divorce Earning Money Education Expenses Family Activities Gardening Health Holidays Homeschooling Investments Marriage Medical Care

Miscellaneous One Income Families Organization Parties & Entertaining Recipes Romance Savings School Single Parents Taxes Time Management Vacations
|
20 Somethings

This Week In 20 Somethings Appliances Automobiles Budgeting College Consumer Protection Credit Cards and Repair Credit Scores Credit Unions

Earning Money Education Family Activities Finances General Advice Home Decorating Home Equity Home Repair Homeschooling Houses: Buy/Sell Insurance

Investments IRA's Marriage Mortgages Moving Retirement Savings Space Management Taxes Weddings Working
|
In Critical Condition

This Week In Critical Condition Automobiles Banking

Budgeting Consumer Protection Credit Cards and Repair

Credit Scores Debt Emergencies Taxes Working
|

Finding Inexpensive Yarn

Saving on Yarn Costs

Less Expensive Hobby and Craft Supplies

Crafting Without Spending Money

Finding Yarn?

I enjoy crocheting and making homemade gifts. The problem is that the yarn I typically find is of low quality and very expensive. Does anyone have any tips for buying yarn less expensively? I am open to buying through catalogs or the Internet. Thanks!
Autumn

Three Suggestions

I, too, love to crochet, and I have found all sorts of yarn at very reasonable prices. Here are some of my best deals

Dollar stores and stores that specialize in buying up odd lots from distributors often have odds and ends of yarn. You usually can't find enough of one dye lot to make an entire monochrome afghan, but you can get plenty for hats and scarves and such. There is one particular brand that you often find called "Famous Maker Odd Lots" that is high quality acrylic yarn. You won't see dye lots or the originating manufacturer name on these skeins, and there are often small knots or weak spots in the yarn, but it's good quality yarn and works great when you don't need a lot of one color.
Garage and estate sales often have brand new or partially done projects for sale.
Old sweaters or other knit products from garage sales can be real gold mines for yarn. If you see a sweater at a garage sale that is a great color and a ho-hum style, you can dismantle it and use the yarn for your own projects. Your best bet is a solid color (one yarn) sweater. Carefully cut the seams using a seam ripper or small pair of scissors. Lay out the resulting pieces and look for the "top" (the last row knitted). Snip the end and slowly unravel the sweater, being careful not to pull too hard as the fibers may have started to separate in the yarn and it may want to knot. Work slowly and it will get done faster (no, really!). Wind the yarn around a chair back or a picture frame to help straighten it; it will be really kinky. If you can wet it down and let it dry while it's stretched out, that's even better, but don't sweat it if you can't. Wind it into a ball after you're done and voila! A couple of nice balls of yarn at a great price.

Amy

Web Resources

Here are some websites you can check out for yarn. Some of them are distributor-direct and thus cheaper than at the local store. Others have clearance pages where you can find extremely good yarn at much lower than expected prices.

Elann Fibre Company at www.elann.com/
Lion Brand Yarn Company at www.lionbrand.com/
Mary Maxim Ltd. Home Page at www.marymaxim.com/
Jill V.

Try Yard Sales

I often find brand new yarn at yard sales. Many people buy everything they need for a project and then find they never got around to it. I am nearly finished with a cable-knit sweater for my husband, and I only paid $2 for the yarn!
Patti

Herrschners

Herrschners has a wide selection of yarn at a reasonable price. Find their website at www.herrschners.com or call toll free at 1-800-441-0838.
John W

Penny-Wise, Pound Foolish

As a dedicated and passionate knitter for many decades, I can only sadly say that there is no cheap source for good quality yarn. There is cheap yarn, cheaply made, cheaply marketed. Then there is the good quality stuff.

Personally I prefer using the good quality stuff because the finished product lasts longer. Over the years I have formed the habit of buying my yarn at the end of a season. Usually most yarn shops have a clearance sale and i have obtained some excellent quality yarns at 30-70% off. Of course, usually, I don't get a whole garment's worth of matching dyelots. So I have had a lot of fun over the years combining my yarns with other finds.

I have heard of people finding excellent yarns at the thrift shops and yard sales. I have never been so lucky. But I am told if one researches by calling first, one can identify where they might be yarn ahead of time. I have also heard of people finding handknit items in the thrift shop, buying it for a dollar or so, take the sweater apart and re-knit it. Again, I have never been so lucky.
Gloriamarie A

Take the Next Step

Stock up on sewing & craft supplies at Fabric.com

Stay Connected with TDS

Subscribe to TDS Newsletters

Join over 250,000 other subscribers!

To subscribe, check the newsletters you wish to receive, enter your email address and then click Subscribe.

View the TDS privacy policy.

Looking for an answer to a frugal living question? Click here to ask a
Dollar Stretcher Stretchpert!

Contact the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton FL 34280
941-761-7805

"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.