Let's Knit Magazine - Your knitting, your style

Pod, some yarn can be very expensive, but a good local shop will help you substitute..
I’m doing my first adult size too, although it is for my 11 yr old daughter, she wears a size 10. I had such a sense of acheivement when I finished the front, but I cast on the back straightaway so I wouldn’t put it away and forget about it, not that I think she’ll let me!

I found this website with SIRDAR 85&#xof;f!!!!!!!!!!!  http://www.abakhan co uk .!!!!

ooops should have previewed that last one

suse - 16 April 2008 08:48 PM

Pod, some yarn can be very expensive, but a good local shop will help you substitute..
I’m doing my first adult size too, although it is for my 11 yr old daughter, she wears a size 10. I had such a sense of acheivement when I finished the front, but I cast on the back straightaway so I wouldn’t put it away and forget about it, not that I think she’ll let me!

She will be desperate for you to finish it Suse…

I agree, if you use the yarn specified in some patterns it is very expensive, I rarely do, I like to choose something in my local shop. Just a note about ebay, I have had some bad buys on there, some of the cheaper yarns are rough, I used a lot for dog blankets for the RSPCA, I also bought a bundle of cotton and it was musty and marked so take care. Saying that the majority is fine and I also got some great bargains. My local shop always has a bargain box with end of lines and odd balls, great for baby knits, hats, gloves etc

I use my local market stall they have some good bargains, mercanised cotton for £1.99 for 100 gms, and it washes up lovely, I also trawl ebay as well, you can pick up a bargain on there, if you look carefully sometimes people don’t list well e.g 300gm wool and that is it, if you look at the listing it sometimes can turn out to be much more,also there are one or two buyers who sell Debbie Bliss, and that usually works out less than in the shops, I agree that a stash grows as if you see a bargain you have to have it lol x

Hi Pod. Like you I am on a budget as well. There is a Shaws in my local town which is pretty useful. I came across this website last night where if you had an order of £10.01 (!!!!!) then the postage would be free. Have a look.

packlanewool.co.uk

She will be desperate for you to finish it Suse…

she keeps checking how far I’ve got with it!! and she wasn’t too impressed when I was knitting covers for the onions, as I should have been concentrating on stuff for her!

I’m sure onion covers will be too boring for her Suse..I agree with her...get on with that girl’s sweater

I’m sure onion covers will be too boring for her to think about Suse..I agree with her...get on with that girl’s sweater

I love helping my customers substitute yarn. The look on their faces when they discover how much less they can pay and still end up with a fabulous looking garment. I also have a lay by service so that they only need to buy a couple of balls at a time, and I won’t put it back into stock till they tell me they don’t need it. Of course this does mean I still have some from a couple of years ago in my back room   I really must have a clear out there.

gill1946 - 16 April 2008 08:52 PM

I found this website with SIRDAR 85&#xof;f!!!!!!!!!!!  http://www.abakhan co uk .!!!!

I have purchased online from them, they’re really quick and have a flat delivery rate of about a fiver

I am happy to substitute yarn for a project if it means I can make it without feeling guilty over the cost. I don’t work and wouldn’t feel comfortable spending loads when there’s bargains to be had.

Over the last 12 months or so I’ve built up a fairly healthy stash by buying off ebay (private sales & shops) and also from knitters having clear outs and destashing on various forums etc.. 

I’m careful who I buy from and if I fancy something special like Rowan or Debbie Bliss yarns etc.. I will usually head to Jannette’s on ebay.

I like to support indie dyers and spinners too if I can.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for buying local and supporting our local yarn shop.  But most of the time I don’t buy wool from there as I can’t afford her prices! 

For example, I wanted 6 balls of King Cole Merino DK for a scarf last year. I think it was retailing at £2.40 at the time but I found a supplier on the net selling it at £2.10 a ball.  However, my LYS was selling the same wool for £2.90 a ball!

The total cost was around £13 inc. postage.  It would have cost me nearly £18 if I had bought it locally.  I know it’s only a difference of £5 (two balls of wool in my eyes) but if I had wanted to make a sweater or cardi, the cost difference would have been nearer £20.

That is unfortunatly why my own shop is downsizing and will probably be closed by the end of the year.

It is so difficult for small shops to compete with the internet or larger stores where they can afford to buy much larger quanties and get big discounts. My minimum spend on orders can come to over a weeks takings and that is not taking into account my bills, like rent, insurance, electric and council tax.

But we all like a bargain, myself included, and I have also bought from ebay and other sources.

I agree with you Paula how the internet has taken over from the small shops...we have a fairly good LYS which stocks all the usual yarns like Sirdar Robin Wendy Stylecraft and some others.  And just a few weeks ago we had another lovely little shop open which stocks Rowan and Patons at the moment and probably more as the business builds up.  Both shops are kept quite busy just now so I hope that the customers keep supporting them as we really have a good selction between the two shops of yarns and patterns and all the haberdashery that goes with it.
I’m sorry that your shop may be have to close down Paula...you must be quite annoyed at the way small business can’t compete these days.