The price of a hobby

isthewashingdryyet · 06/07/2023 19:12

Have you knit socks yet? They take ages and a ball of sock yarn can be around £8.00.
So hours of entertainment for a small cost per week.
and hand knit socks are glorious and you feet will love you forever

Original poster

TheDutchHouse · 06/07/2023 20:06

isthewashingdryyet · 06/07/2023 19:12

Have you knit socks yet? They take ages and a ball of sock yarn can be around £8.00.
So hours of entertainment for a small cost per week.
and hand knit socks are glorious and you feet will love you forever

Yes I have , we'll gloves / mittens not socks .
Guess I'm just having a moan as I left nearly a spare room full when I left the ex. Wasn't room to pack it. I just my WIP in my handbag.
I'm doing crochet small things , toys etc with the odd cheap ball but cheap yarn shows doesn't it ?

OP posts:

Catsmere · 07/07/2023 02:29

I hear you, OP. I was looking at a jumper pattern in Rowan Felted Tweed recently. That stuff's AU$25 a ball, which only comes to 175 metres, and they wanted it knit on 3.75 mm needles. It would have cost over $300 to make!!!

(I did it in Fiddlesticks Superb 8 on 4.5mm needles instead - came to 10 skeins, so about $60. Still bloody pricey.)

Original poster

TheDutchHouse · 07/07/2023 07:46

Catsmere · 07/07/2023 02:29

I hear you, OP. I was looking at a jumper pattern in Rowan Felted Tweed recently. That stuff's AU$25 a ball, which only comes to 175 metres, and they wanted it knit on 3.75 mm needles. It would have cost over $300 to make!!!

(I did it in Fiddlesticks Superb 8 on 4.5mm needles instead - came to 10 skeins, so about $60. Still bloody pricey.)

Wow that's a massive difference.. isn't nice to find ypur own solution

OP posts:

Catsmere · 07/07/2023 08:15

TheDutchHouse · 07/07/2023 07:46

Wow that's a massive difference.. isn't nice to find ypur own solution

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Yes indeed!

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 07/07/2023 08:26

If you shop at Aldi, they quite often have yarn. I've bought yarn there a couple of times with 20 % wool content, makes goid socks that can be washed in normal load. Much cheaper.

Original poster

TheDutchHouse · 07/07/2023 15:29

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 07/07/2023 08:26

If you shop at Aldi, they quite often have yarn. I've bought yarn there a couple of times with 20 % wool content, makes goid socks that can be washed in normal load. Much cheaper.

Oh that's a good idea I'll have a look , I've purchased fabric squares there years ago and they were good thanks 😊

OP posts:

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 07/07/2023 15:33

They do the nice variated {sP?) sock yarn, which is normally quite a bit more. Enjoy!

triballeader · 07/07/2023 16:55

Might be worth joining a craft group based in a low cost venue. From experience crafters can be a good source of yarns. I can normally make a baby’s set from leftover yarn from another crafters leftover from an adult jumper balls and crafters when they de-stash prefer to hand over good yarn to known fellow crafters who will appreciate and value said yarn. Its that or look for good quality old jumpers./throws you can dismantle and unfrog like they did in WW2.

Catsmere · 08/07/2023 01:08

triballeader · 07/07/2023 16:55

Might be worth joining a craft group based in a low cost venue. From experience crafters can be a good source of yarns. I can normally make a baby’s set from leftover yarn from another crafters leftover from an adult jumper balls and crafters when they de-stash prefer to hand over good yarn to known fellow crafters who will appreciate and value said yarn. Its that or look for good quality old jumpers./throws you can dismantle and unfrog like they did in WW2.

They might also know of op shops that sell yarn. One of my knitting group friends gets lots of yarn that way. (Mind you she only knits baby clothes for charity, so doesn't need large amounts.)

user1477391263 · 08/07/2023 01:50

TheDutchHouse · 06/07/2023 19:09

Why is it so expensive! Was it always so ?
I love crochet and knitting, and usually pick up the odd ball cheaply from a charity or boot sale.
But as I'm on minimum wage and all my wages go on the awful COL I thought I'd try and make a few things to sell .
But the cost of good yarn to make decent things is exorbitant.
I guess I'll just go back to reading patterns for pleasure instead.

OP, knitting and crocheting things for sale rarely works out financially.

I would stick to knitting as a hobby, and lookout for yarn sales/people destashing, or try to find sweaters for unraveling at second hand stores (you will need to find out how to do this and what kind of seams it will work for, though).