Buying wool

[funkyllama]

Could I ask everyone where you buy your wool from? I am particularly looking for any wholesale or discount wool. I love knitting but finding it expensive to make larger projects with decent wool.

[DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn]

I use a lot of Drops yarn from Woolwarehouse. Not wholesale but there are regular sales or special offers for different yarns.

I've bought quite a bit from Hobbii too, although I don't believe their "special limited time discounts!" are at all special or limited time. Surprisingly quick delivery from (I think) Denmark.

[Helenluvsrob]

Wool warehouse.
Knit picks in offer.

Ice yarns can be good but I think only eBay etc

[AHippoNamedBooBooButt]

I buy from lovecrochet as they always have something on sale

[PineappleDanish]

I've bought from Love Crafts before, and Deramores.

If you're a bit like me and just like to hoard yarn until the right project comes along, make friends with the staff in your local charity shop. We get a fair bit of yarn handed in to ours and a lot of it is good quality. Knitted myself a lovely scarf/wrap with some vintage sock yarn which was lovely to work with.

[PorpentinaScamander]

Wool warehouse
But I make sure I spend enough to get free delivery. Hence I now have a cupboard FULL of lovely squishy ness

[FlaviaAlbia]

Drops and Holst Garn Supersoft are good value. Even with delivery on the Holst it still works out reasonably cheap for pure wool, especially if you buy it on the cone. You've got to wash the spinning oil out of it after finishing knitting but that's not too much trouble.

[Theducksarenotmyfriends]

I ended up buying a spinning wheel and spinning my own! It's cheaper but takes a lot more time!!

[SpeedofaSloth]

Hobbycraft often do 3 for 2 offers.

[FlaviaAlbia]

I'm upgrading from drop spindles to an Electric Eel nano as a Christmas present Theducksarenotmyfriends it's arriving on Tuesday, I can't wait!

What wheel did you go for?

[gonewiththerain]

Ebay is good a small it’s easy to list businesses put the ends of lines etc on and there are lots of smaller sellers who have fairly cheap yarn but only limited lines. Also vintage yarns can be good value

[funkyllama]

Thank you for all the posts. I am currently looking at them. I am in awe of those who are spinning!

Hence I now have a cupboard FULL of lovely squishy ness.
I relate to this although haven't got to cupboard status yet.

Would be great to start a thread to help beginners. I am finding as a new knitter I am learning how to after, I've mangled a pattern/wool.

[FlaviaAlbia]

Oh, I've just remembered, Lett Lopi is very cheap, though definitely not a next to skin wool, even through thin t-shirts it can be a bit scratchy. The paler colours seem less scratchy than the darker ones to me.

I've got a collection of "I've messed this up but at least I learned a lot while I knit it" items "funkyllama" or clothes I knit for DS2 who grew like I'd put miracle grow in his food and didn't manage to wear them more than a couple of weeks

[timtam23]

Kemp's - their stock is all discount offers so there sometimes isn't a massive choice but if you sign up for notifications of new stock you can pick up some real bargains. A lot of my sock yarn has come from Kemp's for as little as 99p a ball (for end of line unexciting one-colour yarn)

[funkyllama]

Thank you again for postings. It's been very helpful. And also for FlaviaAlbia support on the pile of mangled shame of early attempts.

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

I spin my own when I need a lot. I have recently started buying fleeces which are seriously underpriced right now (poor farmers). It's a LOT of work, but even the best quality you can imagine costs a negligible amount (eg £10 for a beautiful Ryedale fleece that had won gold at a show and will make several jumpers or equivalent).

[OllyBJolly]

I always try to buy from small independent shops but there are so few of them. (and the staff are usually knitters so very helpful if I get into trouble!)

I've used Lovecrafts, wisebadger and sometimes will go into a Hobbycraft.

Currently trying to use up all my leftovers which is resulting in some "interesting" garments....

[KerrieReilly]

You can find a lot of them online. I found this store Woolly Mahoosive just by searching the Internet, and I buy all of my wool here for all my projects. If you have the time, check out with your friends or with your local suppliers. Sometimes, there are small-time sellers of wool around that are handmade or made from recycled materials, and you could check them out too.