Knitting has become a very popular activity with some celebrities (Julia Roberts!) and with young people because of its calming qualities (when things are going well, at least). It’s not hard to learn and offers many rewards such as hand made gifts, unique and gorgeous garments and for those who are adventurous, the chance to design their own clothing or more customization (the fiber of yarn, color and shaping to fit the body). Compared to some store bought garments, pure wool, alpaca, cotton, silk or even blends are more comfortable to wear than the acrylic you might often see. Not to bash acrylic entirely – acrylic blends are great for machine washable garments and some brands carry more refined acrylic. There’s lots of options, but one of the major factors to consider when knitting is that yarn tends to be quite expensive, if you don’t want to skimp on quality. So here are some handy tips on how to get around that problem!
I should also note that it’s really helpful to have a paypal account since Ebay, many people and online merchants process transactions via paypal which is handy and safe.
Recycled Yarn from Thrifty Stores/Old Sweaters
I list this first because I think this is a great idea to reduce “waste” and contribute to the current greening of everything. Got some old sweaters your relatives knit you that you never wear but the yarn is in good condition? If the fiber content is good then just unravel them and reknit them into something you want. Going to thrift stores is a great way too, since you can find sweaters ranging from $3 to $12. Before you do however, BE SURE to read the Recycled Yarn Tutorial on how to pick the proper seams, how to handle wool as compared to cotton and more detailed instructions. Another tutorial here also deals with the topic if you’re interested.
Ebay
If you don’t feel like unraveling, washing and cleaning old sweaters Ebay is an excellent option to get high quality yarn at VERY discounted prices. People often need to destash their yarn for various reasons and would sell brands like Rowan, Karabella, Colinette, etc at more than 50% off. I’ve come across Rowan Kid Classic at $20 for 10 balls which is very cheap compared to its retail of about $100! Granted, the colors may not always be your top choices but I’m willing to settle for the quality rather than be highly picky about the color. At the end of seasons, there are great deals on RYC, Rowan and Jaeger from UK sellers that sell 10 balls in a mill sealed pack for about $20-$50. Some even offer free shipping so be sure to check on Ebay frequently since quantities are limited. Ebay also has several sellers who have their own yarn line which sell 100% wool yarn in 1000-2000 yards for about $25-$50. Don’t forget back issues of magazines like Interweave, Vogue and Rowan that sometimes people sell for very cheap, as well as buttons and needles that can be found at great prices.
Trades, Destash
There’s a great online networking site called Ravelry (as some refer to it, facebook for knitters) where users can post their projects, what yarn they’ve used and any notes. There’s also an extensive database of yarns and patterns (online and in print). There are several groups within Ravelry where users can post for wanted yarn and sell/trade their yarn. If you have a stash and want to trade, it’s an excellent resource for finding people. The handy yarn database also lists who’s stash is up for sale/trade. Destash for Cash is a great blog where users post yarn, pattern books and more, usually for a bit cheaper (or a lot depending on how desperate…) that you can capitalize on.
Garage Sales, Dollar Tree, Big Lots
I’ve come across some Patons novelty yarn at a Dollar Tree, something I wouldn’t get personally because I tend not to use novelty yarn but it’s still a great resource for those that do. Not all Big Lots have cheap Lion Brand yarn, but it might be worth checking the next time you’re on a trip there.
Online
Some of these are actually LYS’s for people who live near them but for the rest of us, online shopping for yarn is one of the best ways to get yarn for a lot cheaper. Shipping is a concern, but a lot of these sites offer flat rate shipping or in most cases, the shipping added on to the total price is still cheaper than buying it full price at a store. When buying online, be sure to check for coupon codes at the checkout that stores sometimes offer that saves you for example, 15% if you order above a certain amount or a code for a certain amount of yarn. Often, shipping codes are helpful too. These codes are sometimes listed on their announcements/news page or revealed if you sign up for their newsletter. Signing up for their newsletter is a good idea in general because you get notified on what new yarns are in stock and are on sale/closeout.
Knitpicks: This is a very alternative to brands as knitpicks offers competitive yarn at very competitive prices. One of their most popular is Wool of the Andes, which at worsted costs about $1.99 for about 100 yards (100% wool) so this is definitely a very cheap way to go. They have now also a more extensive selection of alpaca, silk, cotton and various blends to compete with “trendier” fiber selections that have been coming out. Shipping is also reasonable and it’s free for over $50!
Elann: Elann is an excellent source for finding very reduced brand name yarn, which gets rotated once in a while so be sure to check every once in a while or subscribe to their newsletter. They also have a yarn swap service which helps you to destash or trade. You can also subscribe to Elann Sample Skins to get a skein of various yarn to try before you buy. They also have their house yarn, which is similar in idea to Knitpicks with various gauges and fiber content. Also very cheap and a good alternative.
Little Knits: This is an excellent store that sells brand names at 30%-70% off. You’ll find Noro, Debbie Bliss and many other good quality brands at amazing prices. There are often very good deals for a bag of 10. Often, these are in the leftover colors that aren’t as popular but really, they’re not so bad…yellow, orange and gray are fine for me.
WEBS: This is probably one of the best online yarn vendors. They have an enormous anniversary sale in April and May on top quality brands at decent percentages off. They often have yarn closeouts as well and from personal experience, they have excellent customer service. Definitely recommended.
These are just a few of the ones that are popular but here are some other places. The Knitters Review has an extensive review of yarn as well as shops. Be sure to check out their forums for online store experiences, questions (since store owners sometimes frequent the forums) and other helpful knitting tips in general.
Unwind: Knitting for Your Body and Mind
Handpaintedyarn.com (A great alternative to Manos or Malabrigo, truly gorgeous colors!)
Herrschners’ Yarn Sale
Patternworks (Grab bags!)
Yarnzilla
Jimmy Beans Wool
Discount Yarn Sale
Knitting Warehouse
Yarn by the Bag
NuMei
UK
Angel Yarns
Cucumber Patch
Colourway
Colour Mart
Hopefully, you’ll find whatever you’re looking for at a decent price!
