where do you get your yarn?
By b0ndgirl007
@b0ndgirl007 (56)
United States
February 20, 2009 12:29pm CST
Do you like to go to big stores like joann's or michaels? or do you like to go to smaller buisnesses to get your yarn? do you have one store you are faithful to or do you shop around? does the price matter to you or do you just buy whatever you like?
i shop at a little store near my home called yarndogs in los gatos ca. they have great yarn and really nice and helpful employees. for the most part thats the only place i go. but we just went to this new shop i found called the yarn place in capitola, ca. their yarn is a little cheaper and the lady is just as nice. so i guess now i will be faithful to two different places. for the most part the price of yarn does not bug me - until i get to the register hahaha. as long as the fabric is what im looking for then i will buy it.
3 people like this
12 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
20 Feb 09
I go to different stores, depending on what I want, and sometimes I buy from online stores. Joann's is kind of expensive, but they have good sales and coupons. I don't care for Michael's here very much because they have a poor selection. I like Hobby Lobby, but they don't have enough of any one thing out at times, and have none in stock.
The last yarn I bought through http://www.discountyarnsale.com. They have good prices and their service was very good.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
25 Feb 09
I'm pretty well settled in the kind of yarn I like, so I know what brand and type to buy whether it's online or local. Hobby Lobby is a wonderful store! I think they're headquartered in Oklahoma. They don't cover the whole US, but they do have a store here in Colorado.
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@b0ndgirl007 (56)
• United States
24 Feb 09
i think thats why i tend to like a lot of the smaller shops. most of the time they have everything you need in stock and if not they are happy to order it for you. - at least the shops here are. i havent ever bought yarn online. im pretty picky about the way yarn feels and i dont want to be disapointed if i buy something online and it doesnt feel how i wanted it to. where in the US do you live? ive never heard of hobby lobby before and you are the second person to mention it. im in california.
1 person likes this
@KatieDidit (989)
• United States
20 Feb 09
I'm lucky to have a yarn shop right next door to me. My neighbor has a shop on her ranch. She sells mostly through the web, her own site and eBay but she takes walk in customers as well. I love going in there. It's really colorful and I love all the different textures.
She's sells not only yarn, but fibers for spinning or felting. She has some really interesting exotic ones as well, Buffalo, Qivut, Guanaco and Vicuna which is $145 for 1/2 ounce and way too spendy for me! 
She's sells not only yarn, but fibers for spinning or felting. She has some really interesting exotic ones as well, Buffalo, Qivut, Guanaco and Vicuna which is $145 for 1/2 ounce and way too spendy for me! 1 person likes this
@b0ndgirl007 (56)
• United States
24 Feb 09
oh wow! thats really interesting. is there a way i can look up what she sells online? i love finding new and interesting yarns!
1 person likes this
@KatieDidit (989)
• United States
25 Feb 09
Sure her website address is:
http://www.mountain-shadow-ranch.net/page/page/1601825.htm
and then her eBay store address is:
http://stores.ebay.com/Mountain-Shadow-Ranch
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
20 Feb 09
I tend to buy my yarns from ebay, they have so many different yarns on there its amazing and I have had some bargains from there I must admit! I always look for the bulk offers, especially if I am knitting something big, at the moment I am knitting a throwover and managed to get all the wool I need for a fraction of what I would pay in the street shops.
1 person likes this
@b0ndgirl007 (56)
• United States
24 Feb 09
wow! i didnt even know they had yarn on ebay. i will have to check that out!! thanks for letting me know!
1 person likes this
@b0ndgirl007 (56)
• United States
24 Feb 09
thank you for responding. i havent gone to michaels of JoAnns in a long time. i have local stores that are closer that i like to support!
1 person likes this
@zhuhuifen46 (3483)
• China
22 Feb 09
When I used to knit, I got my yarn from wholesales market, esp when there was a sale. The price was much lower, and you had so many choices and you selected and bought, so felt assured of quality.
On other cases such as giving out as gifts, I would go to the established brand shops, because the tag showing the brand adds value to the gift, or at least proves my sincerity as the giver.
@b0ndgirl007 (56)
• United States
24 Feb 09
yea, i guess that is a good way to look at it. although anything you knit is priceless because there is not anything quite like the stuff you make out there. and you put a lot of time and love into your gifts- at least i know i do!
@pinkap (48)
• United States
21 Feb 09
I barter my services for yarn most of the time... so having to actually purchase yarn isn't anything that I've really done for a while. :-)
The last time I did by yarn though, it was at a yarn shop that I wanted to check out that was fairly new and I was in the area. I think I would rather support my local shops and economy than the chain shops. Even if Michael's and JoAnns is cheaper, their yarn is just not something that I'd rather knit or crochet with right now. I go through my yarn-snob phases and I think I'm in one of those right now. :-)
@pinkap (48)
• United States
25 Feb 09
Hey b0ndgirl007,
I used to be an accountant in my previous life and have used that skill to barter for some nice amounts of yarn. :-) But I also have a bit of skill in designing and teaching. When all else fails and I really 'need' a certain type of yarn, making garment samples is always a good one to fall back on. :-)
Take care,
Pinka
http://pinkap.etsy.com
http://pinkap.blogspot.com
@b0ndgirl007 (56)
• United States
24 Feb 09
haha i think im in the same yarn-sob phase as you! what services do you barter for yarn? making other people things?
@b0ndgirl007 (56)
• United States
24 Feb 09
you just answered my question for the last person!! thanks for responding!
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
22 Feb 09
I buy yarn at the craft store - they carry my favourite yarn. Sometimes I will go to my local yarn store, but it's more expensive there. they do have a wider variety of yarn, though.
@b0ndgirl007 (56)
• United States
24 Feb 09
when i first started i would go to the craft store. but now i tend to go to the local shops because they have more of a variety.
@overhere (515)
• United States
21 Feb 09
I have found a specialty yarn shop in a town about 20miles from me. the mass market stores are great if you just want something basic but for more choice and special yarns then you have to go a bit further especially as I am in the back of beyond in Ohio. I brought some patterns back from the UK when I was visiting in November and was over at the wool shop last weekend and had to order wool. My biggest problem is getting knitting patterns I like as mot people in the US seem to crochet and finding patterns for experienced knitters in this neck of the woods is difficult.
@b0ndgirl007 (56)
• United States
24 Feb 09
i have problems figuring out some patterns too. im trying to find a fairly simple pattern for a shawl or stole that calls for multiple yarns and im having a hard time finding one that goes into good detail how to do everything!
@moneymommy (3418)
• United States
21 Feb 09
I get my yarn for my crochet work from thrift stores are small private sellers. I dont go in the big craft stores.
@b0ndgirl007 (56)
• United States
24 Feb 09
i didnt realize that thrift stores had yarn either! geez! im learning a lot today! i was just reading an article (dont remember where) about a woman who goes to thrift stores and buys old knit sweaters and such, unravels them and then makes something new from the yarn! i thought that was totally cool!
@cowgirl03051979 (918)
• United States
17 Oct 11
i do now have a preference of where i buy yarn i just go to wherever is the cheapest i usually go to hobby lobby because i can always find coupons and their prices on yarn is not that bad either and it is always in good condition the dollar store near my house sells yarn but it is often unraveled and has dirt and stuff all mixed in with it so i do not buy it i would love to learn how to spin my own yarn for my use and to sell
