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Knitting Stash Enrichment

jennabee25 by jennabee25

Because You Can Never Have Too Much Yarn

It's every knitter's, and crocheter's weakness: yarn. We love it. We savor its texture, ply, color, and appeal. And we can't get enough of it!

I have found some pretty interesting ways to increase one's yarn stash. Some of them are obvious, and others may not be as common, but I hope that you will learn about some interesting, and cheap, ways to get more yarn and tools, even on a budget.

Let's get started with some of the more common ways to get yarn, ok? Time to shop!

Retail Stores

In the US, there are some great crafting chains that offer knitting supplies. Yarn quality can range from OK to pretty good. It depends, really. I encourage you to take a look at some of these stores in your area and see what you can find. It's always best to go to a specialized knitting shop, but the big chain stores will do in a pinch, and you may find some great deals, as well.
ACMoore
AC Moore is my go-to craft store. I like their yarn selection, range of brands and supplies. Plus, you never know what other new craft you may find browsing in their aisles.
Michaels
I got to my local MIchaels rarely. They don't have as many knitting supplies as I would like, and their yarn selection is smaller than AC Moore's. Still, you may find some great stuff there, and they have a TON of crochet tools.
Wal-Mart
What doesn't Wal-Mart have? They have the cheapest of the cheap yarn and supplies there, but, again, if you need something fast, they are an option. Still, look for books and kits at Wal-Mart. You may find something amongst all that colorful Red Heart they sell.

Yarn on eBay

There is a ton of yarn and knitting supplies on eBay! And it cheap! Check out the products below as just a sample of what's available in this popular online auction site.

Lots of small knitting store will sell products on eBay, so keep an eye out for these sellers. They often have some great deals.
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Online Stores

These stores have everything! I get a lot of my supplies online. Yeah, you have to wait, but it's worth it. Sometimes you need a specialty product that other places may not have, or would have to order anyway. At these sites, you can find a lot of designer yarn.
WEBS
Lots of stuff, tough site to navigate at times. Be sure to check their closeout sales. You can snatch up a lot of beautiful yarn.
KnitPicks
I love KnitPicks. They carry their own brands of designer yarn, and i bought from them before, and will again. Great quality and great service!
Jimmy Beans Wool
This is an excellent site. Find great prices on yarn and supplies, and great customer service. And I'm talking personal service like answering and e-mail within five minutes good.
Doodlebug Yarn
This is a smaller online retailer, but they still offer a great range of yarn and other products.

Yarn On Etsy

Now, you may not find something necessarily cheap on Etsy, but you will find something unique and special. Hand-dyed wool, custom stitch markers, and other wonderful things. I recommend you take a look and see what beautiful things you can find.

Hand Painted Yarns | Price: $18

These skeins of fingering weight yarn were hand painted using organic dyes. This skein is sock yarn, 75% merino, 25% nylon.

Each skein is appr... (full description)

I Wear a Fez Now - Handpainted Superwash Merino-Nylon Sock Yarn 400 yds | Price: $0

Fezzes are cool.

This blend of 80% Superwash Merino and 20% Nylon has a great twist, and would be great for long-wearing socks.There are 400 yds in... (full description)

3 x 50g balls Noro Silk Garden Knitting Yarn 008 | Price: $33

'The textures and colours of Noro have no equal. The world's most exciting yarns'. Each ball of multi-coloured Noro yarn is individually d... (full description)

SUPERWASH MERINO wool yarn | Price: $7

Price is for 1 skein of spectacular superwash Merino sock yarn. Great Value!!! Lovely yarn, machine washable, great yardage and superior quality of ya... (full description)

Obtaining Yarn

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Other Ways to Enrich Your Stash

Now here comes the real fun in getting yarn. You may not always know what you're getting, but that's part of the excitement! Below are some of the more interesting ways I've gained yarn.
  • Yard/garage sales can be a great source of yarn. People just want to get rid of stuff, so you'll probably get it for a really good price. Don't be afraid to haggle!
  • Goodwill/Salvation Army: I have found lodes of yarn at my local Goodwill. And high quality stuff, at that. People don't know what they have when they price this stuff cheap. Same goes for garage and yard sales. People just want to get rid of it, and that when YOU benefit!
  • Your Friends: Let your friends and family know that if the see cheap yarn, grab it for you and pay them back. Enlisting the help of others in enriching your stash can be a great boon.
  • The Classified in your local newspaper: My daily newspaper has a Bargain Counter section where people are often selling yarn and tools at a very cheap price. Scan the ads daily and see if anything pops up that piques your interest.

Lastly: Your Local Yarn Store

...or LYS in knitting lingo

I cannot stress how vital an LYS is to an knitter and crocheter. Sure, their prices may seem expensive, but they sell a good product. LYS's also have patterns, classes, and an unbelievable amount of knowledge and help. Check your phone book or online listings for an LYS near you.

Where do you get your yarn?

  • AnnaMKB Mar 24, 2012 @ 3:49 pm | delete
    I teach at Michaels, so I get a lot of my yarn there (staff discount is nice!), but I second your recommendation to try places like Goodwill or Salvation Army. I've found some treasures, that's for sure!
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jennabee25

I'm a knitting, nerdy photographer who loves dogs. video games, and tons of yarn. Hailing from PA, I am inspired by what I see around me.

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