Knitters and hookers step this way please

[AcrylicMantaRay]

I was wondering if you could share your best online sources to buy yarn. Currently I am looking for an Aran weight yarn in cotton or cotton mix in this particular colour (see photo - the brown, not the grey), but I am not finding anything that isn't extortionate. Or maybe I am just really cheap, but I'd like to pay around £2 for a 100grams ball.

£2 for 100g is extremely cheap, so that will limit you. In the U.K. there are generally more colours available in DK weight. Stylecraft Special dk has a good range and 'gingerbread' is a reasonable match.

Try this from Woolwarehouse: https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/sirdar-hayfield-bonus-aran-100g-all-colours

Just over your price, but there are a couple
of browns that might hit right
for you. There’s usually a 10% code about too, making it cheaper.

At £2 for 100g your options are pretty much Poundland and nowhere else.

I'd be surprised if you could get cotton for that price. I usually use woolwarehouse.

Wool Warehouse and Hobbii are my go to places for yarn. Hobbii ships from Denmark (I think) but it's always been quick and trouble free.

i doubt you'd get 100g for £2 though!

I love hobbi and think their prices are good. Otherwise love crafts or shops like b&m, Poundland etc for basics.

I usually use Wool Warehouse or Black Sheep Wools. This is aran weight, cotton mix, brown on Wool Warehouse. https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn?blend_nav=50618_50619&colour_name=2012&yarn_weight=2035

I missed the cotton requirement!

The cheapest cotton aran weight yarns I'm aware of are:

Drops Paris - £1.10 for 50g https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/drops-paris-all-colours

Hobbii Rainbow Cotton - £1.65 for 50g https://hobbii.co.uk/rainbow-cotton-8-8?option=9665

Neither will work up with the same drape as your images though.

Yarnsmiths Aran is 1.70 for 100g atm. It's not cotton but crochet's beautifully and has a lovely drape. A cotton yarn would make quite a stiff blanket. Otherwise I'd use something like soft fun or stories - Dk mix but you could size down a hook and make extra squares to get the same size blanket?

There's also Lovecrafts, they're a very big site.

Does Hayfield Bonus pill as badly as Hayfield Journey, the DK weight?

It’s splitty as hell, and goes fuzzy quite quickly. I’d expect better from a Sirdar brand, but it is their cheapo line. <shrug>

I'm not surprised! Hayfield Journey is frankly rubbish. The red colours run and are as scratchy as hell (was less issue there with the pink and blue colourways) and the pilling! My pink jumper looks like pink leopard print, it has such a buildup on it.

Laughing Hens might work.

You could try this Drops Safran in Light Brown which is £1 for a 50g ball. If you hold 2 strands of sport weight (5ply) together you get Aran weight (10 ply).

Alternatively, Drops Paris Aran weight at £1.20 for 50g (or £1:10 from the same seller, but on eBay.) It’s out of stock in brown, but you could choose a light colour and dye the blanket when it’s finished.

If you sign up for the newsletter at Laughing Hens you get 10% off your order, but I don’t know if that applies to sale yarn.

Both yarns are 100% cotton.

I’ve had good service and prices from Hobbii, mentioned above, but postage is £6:95 - or free if you spend £69+.