We all know we're fanatical when it comes to yarn...and yarn shops. Whether traveling for business or for pleasure, a trip is not complete without a visit to the local yarn shop in that community, more so if you are a knitter yourself and sometimes if you are lucky you get to visit stores that are selling knitting yarns at discounted prices. So,what do you do? Obviously you buy all different colors of those discounted knitting yarns for yourentire family because these opportunities do not occur every day.
Shop for discounted yarns!
There are some big name knitting yarn companies out there with big name prices. They carry wonderful knitting yarns but the prices are not so wonderful. But donít be disappointed because you can get discounted knitting yarns which are as good as the expensive ones. The expensive ones sure would make a lovely sweater but unless you're knitting for a doll, the final tab for your project will break the bank!
Go directly to the bargain bin of the yarn store. Dig through all that discounted yarn stuffed in the baskets. Check and see if you can find a number of skeins of the same yarn in the same dye lot. You might find enough for a vest.
So what if you can only find one or two skeins of that discounted knitting yarn? No problem, because you can use it for stripes or an odd ball project or a snazzy yoke.
If you are purchasing discounted knitting yarns for use with commercial yarns, knowing how much to buy is simple; invariably, the instructions will include how much yarn is needed to knit each size. But what if you would like to use a different yarn?
Things to remember before you pick the yarn:
Determining the weight of the yarn originally used is the first step; that is, is it chunky, worsted, sport or fingering yarn? Usually, one can determine this by the specified gauge given for the yarn. Three stitches or so to the inch is chunky, four is worsted, five or six is sport and anything over six is fingering as a general rule of thumb.
When selecting the substitute discounted yarn, it is important to stick to the same general weight of yarn. You can use double strands of yarn, in which case two strands of fingering will equal about a sport weight, two sport weight strands will approximately equal worsted weight, etc.
Look at the yardage per gram/ounce of the original yarn. The yarn you select as your substitute should approximate that yardage. Do not match yarns by their weights alone; 50 grams of mohair will probably have considerably more yarn than 50 grams of cotton because mohair is much lighter. Just remember the old "brain teaser": Which weighs more...a pound of feathers or a pound of lead?
The discounted knitting yarn provides you untold number of yarns in all the possible colors you can conceive, yet there remains a limitation that shops possibly canít carry every yarn available in every color. But that should not disappoint you because you can go through shops operating on the Internet or explore the arts and craft trade shows in your area. Trade shows are popular with the retailers too because it allows them to browse, go through samples and swatches, ask questions, and feel all the wonderful yarn.
General tips for purchasing discounted yarn
Go for yardage. If it comes down to two yarns that knit at the same gauge and one has 100 yards per skein while the other has 150, which one should you choose? Hmmm......
In order to take advantage of these discounted yarns, learn how to estimate the amount of yarn you need for a project. You don't need to be stuck with the suggested yarn of a commercial pattern. Match the discounted yarn to the pattern, not the other way around.
Another way of getting discounted knitting yarns is to keep an eye out for stores selling yarns that are closing down. You can get these yarns at throw away prices that allow you to knit sweaters for your whole family for less than half the price it would have cost had you purchased the yarn in retail stores.
For discounted knitting yarns, you can even check the charity resale stores. They often have bagged assortments of yarns for really low prices. Sometimes along with discounted knitting yarns you can also find knitting pattern books and needles at great prices.
So, look for such stores in your neighborhood and rush to get your yarns today! Happy Knitting!
