Cost of Yarn

[Chrysalis101]

Has anyone else noticed that the cost of yarn keeps going up and up and the quality keeps going down and down? I make all kinds of baby blankets and give them away to the women's care shelter for teen moms who have been kicked out of their parent's homes.
I gave up on buying yarn at Micheal's a long time back unless it was a deep discount (hasn't happened in a while). I gave up on buying yarn at Hobby Lobby too. Well, I went to Micheal's a week or so ago and not only are their prices even higher but they're also cutting back their selection! My mom says that their HL is doing the same thing...
My 2 best friends, my mom and I all crochet for charities and we want to be able to keep doing so. But we won't be able to if prices keep going up. We thought about buying yarn in bulk (you know where you have to have a minimum order) and then splitting the yarn and cost. But we can't seem to find anything. Do any of you know of a place to get discounted yarn en mass?

[chitownmelli]

Do you have a joann fabrics nearby? I haven't bought yarn in awhile since I took a break from crocheting and started sewing, but I have found the prices to be reasonable. I never did like the prices at Michaels or the small selection. My friend and co mod domincsmommy told me about some yarn you can buy at AC Moore (we dont have them in WI, sadly) where it's like the end of the lot or something, so they bag it up and sell it - can't remember if she said it's a pound or more, but whatever it was the price was good. If you have one of those stores, I would check it out!

[Rene S]

I wish I could help. I used to buy my yarn at Walmart, but they built a new store and the craft section is miniscule. I often buy cotton yarn and could get steins for less than a dollar, but haven't found any sales like that in a couple of years.

All I can offer is to check craigslist. Sometimes I see lots of it on there, but of course selection varies.

[aemt221]

My Mom is a big knitter and she has the same problem. Hobby Lobby has a clearance section where you can get deals from time to time. I also check auctions, garage sales, ebay, and craigslist and can sometimes get a deal. Good Luck!

[aimeebee]

I have a stockpile of yarn. I buy a lot of it at Big Lots and Dollar Tree for $1. I also got a bunch when our WM remodeled and cleared out a whole bunch of yarn. Hobby Lobby did a reset and I got quite a bit of yarn then, too. Usually, if I buy yarn at JoAnn's, Michael's or Hobby Lobby it is with a coupon or discontinued and on clearance.

[aimeebee]

I wish I could help. I used to buy my yarn at Walmart, but they built a new store and the craft section is miniscule. I often buy cotton yarn and could get steins for less than a dollar, but haven't found any sales like that in a couple of years.

All I can offer is to check craigslist. Sometimes I see lots of it on there, but of course selection varies.

If you use a 40% coupon, the Sugar & Cream cotton are just a little over a dollar at the craft stores near me. I haven't bought any in a couple of months...so that is unless they have recently raised the price.

[Chrysalis101]

I normally get my yarn at Walmart anymore. The selection is terrible, but the price is good. Even there, it seems to be going up. I did get some 2.5 oz skeins for $1 in there the other week. It feels awful going through my fingers while I'm crocheting it.

I wish we did have a AC Moore. I'll have to see if any of my crocheting friends have one, but that sounds like a great place to get it. You never know what you'll find on Craigslist or auctions, and even if you do find it, there may not be enough of whatever to make a project, so I don't look there too often.

I used to have a stockpile of yarn too. But DH said it was getting out of hand and I had to use it up before I could buy more. 18-20 baby blankets and a few prayer shawls later, and I'm looking at a very small pile of yarn that doesn't match (if not in color then texture).

Thank you all!

[dominicsmommy]

Just saw this thread:) I buy most of my yarn at AC Moore. They have yarn there called Mills End. Like chitownmelli said in PP you get a pound of yarn that the ends. Using there 40% off q I can get a pound of yarn for 3.59. They have all different types even higher end yarn like chenille. They also sell the 100% cotton in these bags. The only problem I have found with this method is the colors are you get what they have...LOL
I have done an entire kitchen set, place mats, coasters and pot holders/hot pads for around 5.00!! I used the 100% cotton.
AC Moore also does sales on Red Heart from time to time for 1.99 for 7 oz, which IMO is pretty good.
I have also found yarn at Good will, once an entire bag of 100% cotton sugar n cream (about 25-30 spools) for 3.00...I did the happy dance right there in Goodwill!!!
I definitely agree thought that the cost of yarn is going up and also do you all remember when you used to get 8 oz instead of 7 and it was cheaper..LOL

[M_Lexx]

To be honest, yarn prices have been going up for the past several years and in the process driving yours truly up the wall. Gone are the days when one could get a bag (10-12 skeins) of merino or alpaca for $6-7, so I have moved over from worsted weight to sports and lace weight, as those yield yardage. I can't do much with acrylic, so I normally use it an backup yarn for sock heels, etc. If you have a chance, check out the local Goodwill and Salvation Army stores, sometimes they have boxes of 'left-over' yarns or plain sweaters to recycle. My personal favorites are XL and XXL men's wool, alpaca and merino sweaters.

[Rene S]

FWIW, thought I would throw this out there--I was in my local Walmart this weekend and they had a bunch of yarn on clearance. Sugar & Cream $1 each, some Red Heart super saver skeins, baby yarn, and a few other brands. It's been a LONG time since I've seen a yarn clearance anywhere, so I grabbed a bunch to stock up. Maybe some of you can score too.

Note: I found these in their "clearance" aisle, but it might be worth checking the craft area too.