Where do you buy yarn?

[jennmwalsh]

I'm all about the comfy chairs Plus one that's knit AND crochet friendly would be nice. All the local ys here has (or did have, I believe they just took it down) is a wooden table and some chairs. Not a "crafter friendly" enviroment, unless you're writing the pattern right there. LOL

[Guest morici]

oh it would definitely be crochet friendly. i might even have needlepoint supplies if the demand were there. and big comfy chairs for hanging out.

[Jen]

no one at my local lincraft has the slightest clue about crochet, they are all PYT's(pretty young things) who knit all the samples are knitted and they have a limited range of crochet hooks, I've never even seen a bamboo crochet hook!

 

I'm going on an adventure too to find a wool shop about an hour away that sells hand dyed stuff, but until then i'm stuck with my lincraft (which is a big chain craft & habby store)

[MommaChelle]

Oh I would love that! To go to a yarn shop that has both crochet and knitting supplies, a wide range of yarns, and having the table and chairs with baked goods and drinks! I bet you would meet so many other women there and make new crochet friends. It would be a great place to go shop and relax, and trade tips or patterns with other crocheters! Yep, that's the place where I'd be!

 

 

Chelle

[Julie]

When I was at Joann's yesterday, the lady at checkout asked if I was knitting or crocheting. I don't think she liked my smiling answer very much, or I'm not nearly as charming as I used to be.

[Guest morici]

i don't think it was your response so much having the unenviable position of having to work as a joann cashier. i'm not saying it's not happening by any means, but i think that maybe "hookers" need to not have such a chip on their shoulder about their favorite craft. i've been knitting and crocheting for years and i remember being in college and getting funny looks for pulling out my knitting needles and knitting in public. now, it's the "in" thing.

 

a LYS that wants to continue prospering will just have to adapt and if people come in asking for crochet supplies they'll start supplying them.

[Tiffany]

I think we need to combine all of our ideas for the perfect LYS, decide on a name, and when we have the ability, each of us can open our own branches across the country (and world!). We'll have a head start on becoming the first "chain" crochet-oriented yarn store!

 

Last night I had dreams of sitting in a nice comfy chair crocheting and chatting with others at a yarn store.

 

I went to a quilt store that had a kid's play area, where I even got in "trouble" from the owner for not taking my girls there when I entered the store and making them walk around with me. I think a little kid's area would be a great addition to an LYS, especially one that has toys with a creative/crafting theme.

[Julie]

Maybe if the condition of the yarn section in the store had been in better shape, nicer layout, actually stocked, etc, I'd have felt differently. <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif" />

 

My mother used to drag us around through fabric stores when we were little. It didn't do much at the time, but I'm sure helped add to my desire to craft later. It seemed natural to me. Kids areas are great, but maybe you miss out a little on the teaching process. Of course... if it were my store I'd probably be pushing the kids area like crazy! <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif" />

[Guest jennrz4]

Locally we have Michaels, JoAnne's, and Walmart. I tend to go to Walmart more than the others. I love WM's discount rack. I still have over 10 skeins of homespun I got there last year for under $2 each. I do think there are some "yarn" or "knitting" stores around, but I have yet to venture out to them. (I'm afraid of the temptation and eventual $$ I'll spend :b )

 

I have bought yarn online. My first purchase was Bernat's Cot-N-Tots and I was familiar with the yarn and colors so I wasn't to worried about the purchase. Some of my other purchases have been on Ebay - mostly buying up other people's stashes. I've gotten a lot of great yarns for very little money. Sometimes the shipping was more than the actual price of the yarn.

 

Another favorite yarn spot for me is thrift stores. I have a few around me that I've had some *great* finds at. I got four large grocery bags full of yarn last December for under $10. It was all good clean yarn and already sorted by colors. (using it for Jeremy's Afghan - posted about it under current projects)

 

I rarely pay full retail price for yarn...especially when there are so many good deal to be found. Sure it takes a lot of patience but it's worth it. IMHO My next adventure will be to go explore our "garment" district and see if I can find some wholesale yarn suppliers and what deals I might find there.

 

Jenn

[Tiffany]

I finally visited my other LYS today, Gail Knits and even though it is completely knit oriented (I want to find crochet patterns using some of this beautiful yarn!), they had an amazing selection of yarn. The owner was very nice also. They have a huge table where ladies were sitting around chatting and knitting. She invited me back to come knit/crochet with them anytime. They had the Lorna's Laces Helen's Lace that I've been eyeing. I'm much more tempted to buy it now that I've seen how beautiful lace-weight yarn is.

 

I think I fear my inner yarn devil squealing in delight now that I can find locally of that beautiful yarn I only look at online.

[Donna]

That's great, Tiff! A crochet-friendly LYS! :woohoo

[MommaChelle]

I visited my LYS today also, for the first time, very knit oriented, but a few crochet items. The prices however were outrageous! $6.75 for a small skein of fun fur when it's $4 something at walmart. $10 for some wool...I guess Im just not THAT ready to spend that much money for one skein.

[LI Roe]

I usually buy my yarn in Wal-mart, Michaels, or Joanns and when it's on sale it's even better. I have ordered online from Herrschners and Smileys yarns in NY, and I have been satisfied. Some of the yarn I was familiar with, the others looked good and I liked it when it came. There are very few local yarn stores where I am and I know the prices are more than what I can afford. I should check them out anyway, maybe there is something different at a reasonable price. You never know.

 

Happy crocheting!!

 

LI Roe

[BklynVonne]

Discount stores, fabric stores, hardware stores (twine/cord) and yarn shops such as:

 

Smiley's Yarns

Save-A-Thon Fabrics

The Yarn Tree

The Yarn Connection

Seaport Yarns

School Products

Knitting Hands

Herrschners

Mary Maxim

 

For their websites, visit my Shop for Stash page at groups.msn.com/VonsCrochetCyberspace !

[Donna]

Thanks, Vonne! That is an excellent page you have!

[Ambersafghans]

Hey, I've not been able to find a Gold color Red Heart yarn anywhere around here! Any having that trouble?

Amber

[Donna]

I haven't seen any, but I haven't really been looking. They do have gold; maybe you will have to order online somewhere. :scratchchin

[kickstart45]

I usually get yarn, when I can from Wal Mart. When I was on another board I just joined call live journal a lady who sell off ebay gives the ladies at the board a chance to buy first. I thought that was real nice. You all might check it out sometime if interested. Here is a way to get to the board for the crochet www.livejournal.com/community/crochet/

The young lady was selling I think it was skeins of caron for $1.50 each. Plus she sold lots of others and some she even dyed herself. By the time I checked back with her she had sold it all. I am not really up on the prices of yarn yet, but it must have been a good price. To be active on the board you do have to join and it is free. :woohoo Corla

[totallycrochet]

My favourite place to buy yarn is mary maxim in Paris Ontario , Canada ~ They have a tent sale a few times a year and you can buy it cheap ~ Since I moved to Whoop !Whoop!

my choices are limited ~ walmart , lewis craft, and the Atlantic Fabrics and Crafts.... I also liked Michaels but there isn't one here

When I travel back to Ontario I buy loads of it and just stuff an empty suitcase ~~~LOL

 

Leaving tomorrow for Ontario and have an empty suitcase ready to fill again ~

 

Lora:cloud9

[luvtocraft]

I usually buy my yarn at Wal-Mart or Hobby Lobby. :bigsmile

 

Sometimes I buy it at Michaels or JoAnn's, but they have to have a REALLY good sale for me to darken the door there. They are usually SO expensive!

 

I have never bought yarn online.

[shelbyro]

ok, up until now I have either a) used the giant stash my grandmother left me when she passed away, or b) bought at either Walmart or Michael's.

 

BUT NOW, I have an absolute new favorite--<a href="http://www.smileysyarns.com/" target="_new">smiley's yarns</a>. Their prices are sooooo cheap, even though you have to spend $30 and their flat ship rate is $8.95, you get sooooooooo much for your money.

 

I placed my order last Thursday around noon, and my package arrived UPS yesterday around 2 (I am in the same state they are though).

 

Their selection isn't as vast, but they have loads of specialty yarns and the chenille and other chunkies... Here's what I got for $42:

 

<img src="http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/2825/yarn.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

2 sk lion thick&quick--3.99 each

1 sk jamie bonus bundle--3.99

4 sk cervinia calzetteria sock yarn--2.50 each

2 sk bernat coordinates--1.99 each

4 sk plymouth encore dk sock--1.50 each

2 sk lion jamie--1.00 each

 

btw, everything had labels--my 2 yo ripped some off--and was nicely boxed (except I wish they had put them in some sort of plastic bag incase the box had gotten wet).

 

<img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/cheerleader.gif" /><img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/cheerleader.gif" /><img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/cheerleader.gif" />

[RebeccaVelasquez]

good to know!! thanks for the post!

[Ambersafghans]

I love smileys

They are running out of certain colors though.

They don't have three colors of the Bonus Jamie baby they did when I found them

Amber

[froggy]

We have quite a few places here on the East Coast in Maryland but, my favorite places are A C Moore and Wal Mart. A C Moore accepts all other coupons and I think its Michaels that has a 40% off coupon and with some of the more expensive yarns this is great.

[Guest chica123]

I usually get my yarn from Joann's. My Wal-Mart sucks, I was in there the other day and the shelves were half empty and they didn't have any of the colors I was looking for. (Maybe I just went at the wrong time, though.) I think there's a LYS somewhere near me, but I've never been to it. I'm scared to go in cause it's a knitting store!