Is the Economy Keeping You from Buying Yarn?
Wednesday May 21, 2008
While the economists continue to debate whether the United States (and other countries) is in a recession, most of us are feeling the effects of higher gas prices, food prices, and everything else.
For most of us, knitting is a luxury, albeit one we don't feel like we could live without. Cutting out yarn purchases is one way to make money stretch, and I'm wondering how many of you have cut spending or are planning to cut spending on yarn, knitting books, needles and other supplies as the economy tightens.
As for me, I'm still sort of on a yarn diet. I think I've made four yarn purchases this year (though a couple of those were pretty large) and I'll probably stick with knitting more from the stash for now. If you've changed your buying habits or found a great way to save on supplies, I'd love to hear it.
Poll: Is the economy keeping you from buying yarn?
For most of us, knitting is a luxury, albeit one we don't feel like we could live without. Cutting out yarn purchases is one way to make money stretch, and I'm wondering how many of you have cut spending or are planning to cut spending on yarn, knitting books, needles and other supplies as the economy tightens.
As for me, I'm still sort of on a yarn diet. I think I've made four yarn purchases this year (though a couple of those were pretty large) and I'll probably stick with knitting more from the stash for now. If you've changed your buying habits or found a great way to save on supplies, I'd love to hear it.
Poll: Is the economy keeping you from buying yarn?
- Yes.
- I've cut back a little.
- I think I'll have to cut back soon.
- No.
- I'd cut back on other things before cutting out yarn.
Comments
I haven’t been in to the yarn shop since January. It’s killing me, but I just can’t afford to plunk down $50+ for some yummy fibers right now. I’m working from my stash. I’m getting free patterns from the internet. I may regret this if my LYS goes out of business because everyone in town has the same struggle.
I have stopped buying yarn. So my kids have given me gift certificates for my favorite LYS. I am knitting from my stash and will use the gift certificates for special purchases. I will be retiring soon and will have more knitting time. My kids say If I live for at least 20 more years I may use up all my stash! Knitting is my favorite pastime. My favorite LYS is in Myrtle Beach, so when I go three times a year I can afford to use my gift certificates.
I enjoy your blog very much, thanks,
Is the Economy Keeping You from Buying Yarn? The short answer is, “it is making me think twice before I do and so it is probably slowing me down some what.” I appreciate Kathleen’s concern for her LYS. I feel the same.
Yes! But I have several projects on needles that I needed to finish before starting something new. By that time my birthday will be coming up and I’m hoping for a gift card to the yarn shop. I have a huge stash. Right now I’m working on a stash afghan; I probably have enough yarn to make several.
I consider my purchases longer, so that has slowed my purchasing down. But I also make sure that I buy quality yarn rather than the bulk/mass produced stuff from chain stores, so my LYS purchases have increased.
Yes, and it hurts because I finally learned how to knit socks, (THANKFULLY FROM YOUR SITE). I’m like everyone else knitting from my stash and picking up a skein here and there on sale.
I’m like several others–working on unfinished projects and working from my stash. I have a pretty large stash so won’t have to give up knitting any time soon!
I teach knitting and have accumulated enough yarn to last me a very long time. So, just like the rest of us, I am using up my stash. At least this will give me a chance to experiment with the stuff I have, most of which was forgotten. I too search the internet for free patterns and have made some of the most beautiful garments from them.
My answer on the poll was “I’d give up other things before wool”, but actually I spin my own yarn, so don’t often buy from a LYS. But like many others…I have to live a long time more to use up the stash!!
boy have I ever had to cut down on buying new yarns. Living on a low income has really cut down my buying power and now that walMart has cut back on their supplies, it has hurt me as the local yarn shops are just too far away for me to access and they are charging twice the costs that the department store does too. So, like many others, I am now working on all the older projects that havent been finished. (but they will be now, haha)
I am an advanced beginner knitter so I haven’t spent money on the high end yarns. Fortunately, my favorite LYS has a good balance of yarns and accesories. I was just in a resort town where the LYS is closing, probably because the yarns are very pricey even for those of us who are used to metro prices. If I am knitting for charity, my yarn shopping is done at the mass market stores for both prices and washability of the yarns.
I am researching some other resources like recycling quality yarn from thrift stores and consignment shops. Found a silk ribbon sweater that will look better in another guise and found an alpaca mens sweater for $5.00 that will have to be reincarnated into something very posh.
I notice I deliberate more before buying. I like to support my LYS so I buy in small quantities, but I use 40%-off coupons to buy my wooden needles at Joann’s. I love knitting books so get those from the library ($25 for a book? ouch!). I’s a yarn snob so won’t do synthetics or cheezy yarn, so I’m asking for yarn as gifts so I can buy the nicer yarns I crave at my LYS.
I’ve finally been forced to start using my stash. I did buy Tofutsies for the Sock Wars III competition, but otherwise, unless it’s something to finish a project I’ve already started, I stick to my stash. I have so much I’ll probably go to the end of the year without buying much of anything.
So far, I am knitting from my stash. I do have quite a stash. If I saw a cute knitting pattern and needed yarn for it, I would definitly go to my LYS.
I have cut back myself and it hurts to say so. I haven’t been back to my favorite place of refuge in 1 month. I miss everyone, but I am use to spending at least $100 a month. That has all ended for now. How sad!
miss my yarn shop!
I don’t buy pricey yarns, but I do buy a LOT. I found this great place to buy cheap yarn. angelicrafts.com
Check it out and you will be back to working with fresh yarns in no time!