How to Stretch Your Knitting Dollar

Knitting can be an expensive hobby, especially if a ball of quality merino successfully tempts you. But if you're like most knitters, you have at least one tub full of leftovers from spare projects. Learn how to use these in new, efficient ways, and replace them with supplies that don't break your budget.

EditSteps

EditSaving Money on Knitting Supplies

1. Shop with a project in mind. Come up the project first, and plan out how much yarn you'll need. An impulsive visit to the yarn store is the fastest way to end up with a stash the size of Berlin.
   
2. Look for secondhand supplies. Many stashes, scrap piles, and unfinished projects end up at thrift stores and garage sales. Sometimes these are so numerous that you have to restrain yourself even at secondhand prices.
   
   • Keep an eye out for tag sales, clearance sales, and other opportunities to save big. Check for announcements from local outlet stores and antique barns.
3. Turn old objects into yarn. Unravel your old wool clothes, or go thrift shopping for sweaters that have seen better days. Even somewhat worn yarn can become a dishrag.
4. Use alternative yarns.
   • Transform plastic bags into yarn.
   • Make newspaper yarn.
   • Consider turning some types of dog hair into yarn substitute.
5. Organize a yarn swap or barter. Other knitters in your area probably have hoards of yarn scraps they're happy to get rid of. Ask around, and see if you can get enough interest to meet for trades or give aways.
   
   • Some online knitting communities such as Ravelry encourage their members to send each other unwanted yarn.
6. Compare online prices. Depending on craft stores in your area, ordering supplies online may be the cheapest option. Search for "discount yarn" and compare it to local offers.
   
   • Don't forget to take into account the cost of shipping for online orders, and the cost of transport to local stores.
   • Yarn prices tend to increase just before knitting season begins. If you can afford to, stock up at the end of the season to save money next year.
7. Find cheap sources of knitting patterns. You can find free knitting patterns online, or in books checked out from the library. If you're looking for a specific book, buy it from a used bookstore, or try to get it for free.
   
8. Use acrylic yarn wisely. Since acrylic yarn is cheaper, it might be tempting to use it for more projects, but its pilling and low breathability make it a poor choice for most garments. This cost-saving measure is best used for practice projects.
   • Slippers are an exception where acrylic yarn can work well. The acrylic keeps them warm, and they are expected to scuff anyway.
9. Buy the thinnest yarn available. A 50-gram skein of fingering yarn has a whole lot more yards in it than a 50-gram skein of worsted weight yarn, and working through that yardage gives you all the more time of knitting pleasure for your money. However, keep in mind that if you're going to change the weight of yarn, you may need considerably more to make the project the right size and buying more yarn may eliminate any savings from buying a thinner yarn. If you're going to make this sort of change, buy the yarn based on yardage rather than how many grams you're getting in a skein.

EditStretching Your Yarn

1. Make your best yarn last longer. Consider using your expensive yarn for trimming and accent areas. Use a cheaper yarn in a more muted color for the majority of the project. Consider looser knits and lace designs. A nice shawl or knee blanket doesn't need to be overly thick or warm and could use a lot less yarn.
   
2. Choose projects that use what you already have. If you have a stash of knitting supplies, take inventory. You may be surprised at how many hats, scarves, mittens, and baby sweaters you can make without buying anything.
   
   • Look up "one skein projects" in knitting books and websites to find efficient designs.
3. Change colors mid-project. Learn how to switch to a different strand of yarn between stitches. This lets you turn that tiny ball of yarn into part of a larger project, instead of the world's smallest sock. Explore stripes and creative color combinations while you're at it.
   • Switch at the end of a row whenever possible. This leaves a small knot behind, which is less obvious on the edge of the project.
   • Use this similar technique while crocheting.
4. Turn leftover yarn into scrumbles. Scrumbles are freeform knitting or crotchet projects made entirely out of bits and pieces. The only goal is to make a colorful, tactile object and to have fun doing it. One approach is to turn each little bit of yarn into squares, shells, or curves, then attach all the bits to each other.
5. Form a pompom from the end of a yarn ball. Save money on party decorations with this quick technique. All you need is the tail end of a yarn ball, a pair of scissors, and a minute of your time.
6. Make a scrap yarn blanket. Once you pick up the mitered square technique, you can turn any pile of scrap into a square. Repeat that enough times, and you'll transform a whole box of scrap yarn into a complete blanket.
7. Yarn bomb. Yarn bombing is a harmless form of woolen graffiti. Decorate public benches, fence railings, or telephone poles with colorful yarn wrappers. Since these are temporary, outdoor art pieces, you can use the cheapest yarn available.
8. Stuff animal toys. The tiniest scraps of yarn can become stuffing for animal toys. You can use it to fluff up your kid's worn down favorites, or to make your own stuffed animals.

EditTips

• While not practical for everyone, one option is to keep angora rabbits or (if one were particularly serious), goats, sheep, or llamas, and learn to shear them and spin the wool.
• Wooden needles are cheaper than metal ones. They are more fragile, so treat them with care.
• There are places in the world where good yarn, even grown, shorn and spun by hand, can be had inexpensively. Don't travel just to buy yarn, but for sure buy yarn if you happen to travel to one of these places.
• If you have some extra yarn you won't use, consider selling it on eBay or similar websites.
• If you spend more on knitting projects than you would like, set yourself a monthly budget.
• Although not feasible for most people, it is possible to spin your own wool. This is only cost-efficient if you turn it into a business, or if you know someone who raises animals and is willing to sell the wool at a discount.
• Knitting with lots of different colours, for example stripes, can help use up the last little bits of leftover wool.

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