Cost of knitting

[Astrid]

Just wondering how those of you who knit afford to do so. I do a bit of spinning, but I am not skilled enough to spin some of the nicer yarns.

I was looking at a nice pattern for a short sleeve jacket and was going to get my MIL to knit it (way to advanced for my beginner skills). The yarn alone was going to got $240 I suppose if it was your only hobby to spend on it would be affordable, but for me it is just out of my league. Well, I suppose I could afford it as it takes me so long to knit anything

So how do you afford it? Do you just knit small items that only need a few balls?

[jackrose]

It is expensive, painfully so.

I tend to stick to small projects (found a great book at the library called "one skein") and that way I get the affordable satisfaction of making something with a lovely quality ball of yarn.

Otherwise, I justify it as my therapy. Knitting can give me wonderful peace of mind and it is much cheaper than a psychology session!

[Phteven]

I used to live with a design student who knitted on. A budget.
She used to get second hand jumpers from op-Shops and unravel the yarn to re-use it. It was kind of painstaking but she knitted lots of awesome stuff ona student budget.

[littlelara]

At the end of winter there are often sales where you can get wool for a couple of dollars per skein.

[Astrid]

ooh - old stuff and unravelling. Forgot about that.

Must admit to being hesitant to buy at end of season sales. Would be ok if I had something in mind and I made sure I bought and extra ball or two. I could see myself just buying up on cool colours and then not really having enough when I find a pattern I want to knit with.

I soooo want to knit a long jacket/cardi one day, but the cost just frightens me. I could go for an eclectic mixed wool look I suppose?

Thanks Ladie

[Phteven]

If you look at a seller called katwise on etsy she does amazing stuff with reclaimed wool. She knits long cape like jackets.

[Astrid]

Katwise - Yes! Came across her the other week when doing on Etsy drool session. Fabulous stuff, very tempted to try and no unravelling required!

[AnyDream]

I was going to suggest op shops too, a lot of them have small lots of balls of wool, some of it very good quality. If you're prepared to collect a stash to dip into and you don't mind mix and matching your colours, you could do some amazing funky stuff.

[Rivlas]

There are a few places where you can get the wool direct from wholesalers. I think there is a place in Northern Vic that sells direct to the public.

I used to do alot of knitting when the girls were younger and at the moment I am trying a new pattern where you knit a blanket in squares but join as you go.

[Michellie]

Oh, I love knitting, but it really is expensive. That's why I have decided to knit most things for babies up to three months Takes little time and is not that expensive. I just knitted a dress that cost about 10 dollars