Yarn Snobbery? - Page 3

[rootzdawta]

You know, I actually avoid LYS . . . I routinely feel inadequate in those places. I usually can't afford much of anything and often feel like I'm not wanted there if I'm not buying. I'm much more comfortable buying yarn online or at Michael's. No pressure.

[sabrinat]

Originally Posted by rootzdawta

You know, I actually avoid LYS . . . I routinely feel inadequate in those places. I usually can't afford much of anything and often feel like I'm not wanted there if I'm not buying. I'm much more comfortable buying yarn online or at Michael's. No pressure.

Interesting point. I have 2 LYS in my area and one of them is welcoming IMHO and one is not. The prices at the welcoming one tends to be a bit higher, but they don't care if you sit in there all day and they will help you fix stuff. The staff is great, the owner however is a crazy old bat but even she will help you without too much pressure to buy. The other one is in a more exclusive trendy area and hence they act accordingly. However, they offer a ton of classes and will order stuff for you or get it from their sister store. I just have to be in the right frame of mind when I go there.
At this time in my life I feel that I have a responsibility to knit from my stash since I could knit for at least a couple of years with what I have.

[iowaorganic]

I'll answer my own question now about the sweaters worth of yarn. I try to keep it at $50 or less. Except this winter when my LYS had a 50% off sale on angora. I bought enough for a CPH and I love it. I have worn it at some point of everyday since I finished it- definitely the best $70 on knitting ever.

I am stash knitting now. And trying to use patterns I already have or freebies. I decided to knit hats and handbags for christmas gifts this year with only stash. I would love to buy all new yarn for this- but honestly- the recipients won't know or care. Stupid economy. 2 years ago commoditiy prices were sooooo much better- disaster year and disaster economy make me- well much more economical.

[Shantimama]

I have so much yarn in my stash that by the time I get through it all, things should be better

[sabrinat]

Originally Posted by Shantimama

I have so much yarn in my stash that by the time I get through it all, things should be better

I know the feeling. I've been reevaluating my craft expenditures lately and finding it much harder to justify buying more stuff. I'm having a fun time rediscovering all the cool fabrics and yarns I already own.

[battymama]

Well i have texure issues so i guess i am a bit of a snob I really like soft cottons and i love wool. Acrilic has been known to make me vomit, litrally. In fact my Nanna gave me a hat for my baby made out of some pastic wool rubish the other day and i hurled when i touched it. Having said that i dont care what others use, so long as you dont make me touch it

[Aeress]

I like what I like. I tend to go with all natural fibers but I don't mind a blend.
I just spent way to much on yarn this weekend but it is so yummy, I couldn't resist.

[SophieAnn]

I am the opposite of a yarn snob, but the economic times have nothing to do with it. I am frugal by nature, and have always found the price of retail yarn to be... uncomfortable for me.... but I never shop at the big box stores either.

1) Secondhand yarn. I started out shopping for yarn at Value Village/Goodwill. Sometimes you can get pretty lucky! It's great for small projects, but there was never enough of one kind of yarn to make a sweater.

2) Local yarn factory! About 1 hour away is a yarn factory that spins Bernat, Patons, Lily, Phentex (Spinrite Factory in Listowel, ON). Since Bernat & Patons is what I would buy anyway, it's great. "Mill ends" are priced at 35 cents per ounce (and occasionally go on sale for 22 cents per ounce). So, about 95% of my yarn shopping is there at the factory store - and it's kinda local!

Yarn for a sweater for myself? At the factory outlet I will buy approx:
600g (21 oz) of worsted weight - $7.35 + tax
OR 1000g (35 oz) of chunky weight - $12.25 + tax
How much would I be willing to spend? I really don't know.... for now I just love being super-frugal.

These are acrylic or acrylic/wool blends. I love the feel of natural fibers, but I actually prefer to work in acrylic or acrylic/wool blends. I've never minded acrylic - this stuff feels soft to me. But my #1 reason for sticking with acrylic or acrylic blends:

That sweater I just spent a month knitting for myself - I'm not going to accidentally shrink it in the wash (and it will hold its shape really nicely).

P.S. to PP who mentioned the plastic wool rubbish baby hat - sounds like Phentex. It's this plasticky yarn that ppl use to knit slippers that last for 20 years. The feel of it makes me want to vomit. I guess we all have our limit, eh?

[earthknitter]

yes my thoughts have turned to frugality....I am actually knitting with red heart yarn lately...I know people on here hate that stuff! My favorite yarns are the natural fibers, wool and cotton (that's why I picked earthknitter for my user name, but sometimes I like the acrylic). When I first started crocheting and knitting 9 years ago, red heart was all I could afford, so I did appreciate it. And the only place with yarn was walmart! Our finances got way better, then I knit with "yarn shop yarn" for a while, but I got sick of spending a fortune even if I could, and frankly I got sick of the snobbish attitudes there! So, my yarn lately comes from my stash, or walmart, hobby lobby, and my FAVORITE, KNITPICKS! Don't hate me for the red heart!

[sabrinat]

I have to say I've been having a lot of fun shopping my stash. I'm currently working on a quilt for my niece and I used primarily stuff I had stashed. It's been fun to challenge myself in this way, kicks up those creative juices. I'm working on a shawl for myself and the only color yarn I had enough in one color was this bluish gray...at first I wasn't sure about it, but now I'm kind of stoked about it.
The economic time have definitely made me less impulsive. I still shop, but I try and think about purchases much more now.