KNITTING & CROCHET ON A BUDGET :: Thrifty tips for crafting when you're BROKE!
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- čas přidán 2. 07. 2024
- Knitting and crochet are fantastic hobbies - but they come at a price! This video shares my tips for how to knit and crochet when finances are tight. The cost of yarns, patterns, tools and equipment can be quite intimidating - especially for beginners. Yet I've been knitting on a strict budget for many years, and that has never stopped me from enjoying the craft and making beautiful things. In fact, it's forced me to be as creative, inventive and innovative as possible! The reasons for your budget will range, and will be influenced by a range of factors both within and outside your control. But there are so many possibilities out there for sourcing yarns, patterns, knitting needles and crochet hooks even when purse strings are tied in the knottiest of knots.
Do you have any further suggestions, tips or advice? Share the (yarn) love in the comments below :)
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I have two tips to share. First: public libraries often have so many knitting books! My branch is still really limited right now, but in non-pandemic times I love getting a new stack every few weeks. It's a great way to work with those books that only have one pattern you'd like to make. My second tip is to knit things that are hard! Just like knitting with finer yarns, it makes projects take longer and has the bonus of producing stunningly beautiful shapes and textures. I'm knitting a lace-weight allover lace shawl right now, and I think I'm going to get about two months of enjoyment from 200g of yarn.
Yes libraries! I have got many patterns from them over the years. I guess they weren't at the top of my mind due to the closures, but still great to remember.
Cheryl Stephenson these are brilliant tips. Thanks for sharing😀
I'm not sure how things are in other areas right now, but I live in fl and my local libraries are still closed, however they have used this time to expand their digital collections and they are now offering more ebooks for download as well as access to some magazines via a mobile app. The apps my library system uses digitally that I find most useful are Libby (previously overdrive), Hoopla, and RBdigital. So I would suggest that even if your local library is closed see what is available online now, you might be surprised.
Also,some libraries will buy in things for you. My library does this regularly for me. Sometimes there is a small charge,sometimes there isn't.
Our library also offers that if they can't purchase the book, you can pay $3.00 and they will get it thru interlibrary loan if they can. I think that's a pretty good deal still. Better than buying the book myself.
During lockdown I could not find my knitting needles and I used kebab skewers.... Not my proudest moment but it worked!
You’re awesome 👏🏼
❤️❤️
😂👍
Omg why did that happen to me, I lost my crochet hooks
@@umhi345 I once crocheted with a pencil when I couldn't find a crochet hook. I've also made one out of a branch in my back yard and some knives to carve the hook part.
Being a bad knitter has saved me tons 😂 It takes me months to actually finish a garment. All that frogging and starting over equates to hours and hours of knitting!
I can relate. Lots of hours knitting 😁
Hehe brilliant!
When I started my first crochet project earlier this ear, my first 15 hours was litetally me making it, unravelling after messing up and making it again haha (I know raugly the time because I was watching/listening to Critical Role episodes and their loooong) so I relate so much
Hahahaha, same! I am learning crochet, working on what is called a simple coaster, suitable for absolute beginners. It should be done in an hour or so, but it is taking me a full week. But I am learning to crochet and patience at the same time :)
I started knitting when I was 5 years old. I am 73, so I've made lots of projects. Think about learning to spin. Spindles can be had for a few dollars, along with relatively inexpensive sheep fibers that make beautiful yarn at a fraction of the cost of processed yarn in skeins. You can colorfast dye spun yarn with food coloring or leave it natural. I've made a couple of scarves, some socks and a shawl out of my hand spun. Eventually, I invested in a wheel, but it really isn't necessary to make good yarn. Frankly, once you master the technique, you will find it very relaxing. There're plenty of youtube videos on how to use a spindle. It takes a bit of practice until you get going, but well worth it in the end.
Yes! I am knitting with my handspun while watching this. I can buy a pound of undyed fiber for less than a single 4oz. indie dyed skein, dye it myself, then spin to my needs. There is much more variety in fiber than yarn as far as breeds and softness go too.
I started spinning on a drop spindle at 64..
This is not a cheap hobby. Even undyed fiber is usually much more expensive than a normal yarn. It is cheaper than indie yarns, but the people making those yarns are worth paying for. It will take you at least 3 weeks to spin the yarn for a pair of socks on a spindle and months to get the consistency to actually use for socks. And wheels are EXPENSIVE.
My next skill to learn, how to use a spindle .....
@@pam3515 really? is it that easy? do you only use wool?
I spent $30 on yarn at a goodwill where everything was I think $1.25/pound.
Think for a moment how much yarn that was. I'm still working through it a year and a half later.
My goodwill charges $3 per ball, unless its very big then its 5. But once they had some big bags for $10 each and I got 2 of the 4. A lot was lion brand $10/skein, and some was like fancy hand died stuff
Oh my goodness. This video practically brought tears to my eyes. I am young and have a super super limited budget and I’ve been getting so discouraged lately listening to some podcasts and looking at things on Ravelry that I can’t afford. I have no knitters in my family, so I don’t know any experienced frugal knitters who can help me figure it all out. Thank you for acknowledging the gate keeping in the knitting community and helping knitters and crocheters like myself break through those barriers!!
Look on ravelry search, there are a lot of free patterns. You may find a stitchers club close by with a lot of lovely ladies, skilled, and happy to pass on tips. These days you might have to meet on zoom though. Do you have a country women's group like australia has. England has the women's institute. You could phone and get the details. It does take persistence, yet, you can't beat the "I made that" feeling. The being quietly satisfied, seeing people wearing my pieces or using the baskets I make, has got me through being very unwell so many times. All the best.
I'm on the other end of the spectrum from you Elizabeth Miller. I've been knitting & crocheting for over 50 years and I've noticed how we are being marketed to and how that's changed over the decades. It's shameful! Which is why I will do yarn swaps with friends, look for sweaters to deconstruct at the thrift stores or dye my own yarns. (Thank goodness for Koolaid!) Ravelry has a huge library of patterns as does Pintrest and your local library. There's lot's of options out there, just keep your eyes open.
Also, I'm on Social Security and it is my only income, so I truly know what it is to say "Damn, if only I could afford that..."
If you choose projects where you don't have to match dye lots, you can stock up bit by bit. If you want to make something nicer, buy a skein of yarn at a time instead of trying to buy an entire sweater worth at once.
Also, call around to thrift stores. Many have craft supplies. Many get craft supplies, but throw them out because they don't always sell well. You can get nice things for not a ton of money.
This is morbid but hit the thrift shops near nursing homes and retirement communities. When people pass families have been known to drop crafting supplies off in large amounts. Also plenty of crochet and knitted items that can be frogged back for the yarn. Or stop at my house and have a bag of extras. Texas here.
@@Ritde77 I know this is projecting my own feelings, but just think how happy it would have made those individuals to know that their enjoyment and collection of a hobby brought someone else joy. My Mom had a whole bedroom full of quilting stuff and I was able to get it to a local guild that was able to use it to make masks and comfort quilts for hospitals back during the beginning of the pandemic. It brought me a lot of peace.
WEAR what you make and knit in public when you can. The more your knitting profile raises, the more people will give you patterns, yarns and needles. Knitting is not more expensive than shop bought garments in New Zealand. We have really well priced wool here and sales are brilliant too. We need to educate people about the longevity of knitted garments and how sustainable knitting is.
definitely!
You have loads of sheep to be fair! :p
@@redtarka We are seriously outnumbered by sheep.
In the Before Times I would sit in Starbucks and knit. People of all ages, mostly women but occasionally men, would come up and ask what I was making.
It's really refreshing to see someone take this stance. Crafters are heavily marketed to and it can sometimes feel like you're just another cog in the machine.
I often have to have a strong word with myself when faced with the endless marketing and bear in mind that knitters of yore would have used whatever they had on hand and just made it work with a bit of ingenuity.
Lots of food for thought, thank you.
I so agree with your sentiments. ..it becomes a burden all the pushing expensive yarns.. ☺
1. Go through all the free patterns online first. There are dozens, if not hundreds of them! I think that by the time you have mastered all, including all the different stitches, you are able to create your own.
2. Experiment with materials: I am making a potholder from a thin jute string sold in a garden section: 4 rolls of 197 ft (60m) each, that's 240m cost me only £1! If you invest in a big hook, you can crochet rugs made of T-shirts and sheets cut into strips and even plastic bags (not biodegradable), which are great as doormats and in other wet places. Of course, you could learn to hand-crochet if you have really thick fabric.
3. You can combine very different kinds of yarn that normally don't go together by making granny squares, as long as the yarn connecting is the same type. Excentric perhaps, but can be quite fun.
I agree! Do enough free ones, and you can figure out how to make anything you want! Trial and error, then you can be even more creative and you don’t ever have to buy a pattern!
I highly recommend selling finished projects that you don’t want to wear so that you can buy more yarn. That’s what I do.
I’m a beginner and everything i crotchet I can’t sell because it isn’t god enough
Where do you sell?
When I decide to get a new tool I usually go with a cheaper option first. If it breaks or wears out, I know I use it enough to invest in a more expensive version. For example, I knit lots of socks so I now have high quality 2 mm needles. But I very rarely knit with heavier weights, so I still have the cheap 8 mm needles I started out with.
Yes,yes to all of that. Back in the days before ravelry, a friend and I used to buy the Rowan magazines together when they came out and now we buy yarn together. For instance, we both have small feet so we can buy three balls of knitpicks felici and get a pair of socks each out of that,if we were shopping separately we would have to buy two balls each. So,talk to your friends,I often swap yarns and get leftovers from people,and we do wholesale orders together for undyed yarn and then have dying parties. If you can, pool your resources. My knitting group does a wee kitty library. Instead of buying each other presents at Christmas or birthdays we look at how much we have saved during the year and then buy some books. Last year it was Susan Crawford's Shetland Vintage book. Share your resources!
Another thing ,which was incredibly common when I was a child, is to buy a little at a time. Most people in my town couldn't afford to buy a whole sweater quantity at one go,so the shop would put the yarn aside and they would buy one or two balls a week( my lys still does this!) Most yarn suppliers don't do this nowadays but we can still follow the idea. Knitting colour work? Or even stripes? Buy one or two balls instead of the whole lot. I have a Marie Wallin project on the go at the moment,I started with two balls of yarn to knit the ribbing and then bought the next two colours for that section of colour work. It has a lot of colour work so dye lots aren't so vital. I expect to take a year to knit this project and I get to think about my Irish granny who lifted scraps from the floor of the woollen mill where she worked and took five years to make herself a beautiful coat with them.
Don't be embarrassed in your lys to buy one ball of yarn. Back in 2009, my family hit a rough patch and I was paid weekly. I had very little spare cash but wanted to crochet a blanket from a Rowan pattern. I started going in to my nearest large lys and buying a ball a week of Rowan's handknit cotton. As they were a large store in a prosperous town,I expected them to sneer at my weekly purchases,but after a few months I was astonished by their interest. They would all gather round the blanket and confer over which colour to use next. One day,the owner rushed out of his office and presented me with a bag of random colours for which he charged me £1. At the end of the year when I took the blanket in to show them,he pointed out that over the year I had spent over £1,000 and was their most valued customer.
It is so easy to get caught up in the marketing of the knitting industry and want to churn things out to " keep up" or buy beautiful, expensive yarn to be "in" , I found myself recently considering a pattern and yarn which would have taken my entire year's budget for crafts until I stopped,went for a walk and thought " but would I wear it?" Again,when these impulsive urges hit me,I will discuss with a friend which is incredibly helpful and will make you laugh at how often you have the same impulses!( Stephen West is a weak point for me and I need my friends to remind me how much I hate knitting his patterns every time he releases a new one).
Always check the dollar store for yarn. Occasionally they have some and always check for yarn/craft supplies sale from hobby lobby, joann or michaels it ranges 30-50%. Try not to buy anything full price.
If you see new yarn that you just have to have, but they’re a little too expensive atm, be patient because once all the hype about them is over these yarns will be available as a close out sale or they’ll go on clearance. If not, they’ll definitely get a price drop. I always wait until the popularity of an item fizzles out. LoL doesn’t usually take that long especially when there’s a lot of hype about it at first. Good luck y’all !
one scrap project I am waiting for enough yarn for is the puff hexagon quilt! It uses very little yarn for each "puff" hexagon and I even saw someone use the cut off weaved ends as stuffing for each puff which I thought was genius! I have started collecting all my shorter scraps for stuffing and it has blown my mind how much yarn I toss just from weaving in ends and cutting the yarn.
Your so right and I really enjoyed your perspective! There’s so many of us that don’t want to spend $200 to knit a sweater or a Shaw nor could we really afford it when we have grandchildren and other people in our family that need food and other necessities and it’s only a very elite few that can actually spend that kind of money on themselves
A tip I have is to knit with your yarn held double or triple! Fingering yarns are very popular, and like you said, ultimately cheaper. If you have a bunch of fingering yarns, you could hold them double or triple and make worsted/Aran projects with them. That way they knit up a little faster, and you can do some really fun gradient and marbled knitting!
Also just a bit of a rant, I've learned now that just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's good. Not to throw shade, I'm just being honest, I bought the HHF interchangeable needle set and cried the first day I used it. I bought it because I LOVED the look, and thought the idea of the tension held needles was great. But the tips wouldn't stay on the cords, or they would for a little bit only to fall off while I was knitting. Now they sell the needles, cords, and case all separately. If only I had waited, I could have just had the pretty case and not wasted $200 😢
ALSO, I really loved Loopy Mango yarns and patterns, I loved the idea of knitting up a sweater quickly with bulky yarns. Well, they had a collaboration with some hand dyers, and I spent $300 on a sweater quantity, made the sweater, and it pills and sheds SO much. The yarn structure is basically just a really thick single plied with a thread, so it fluffs up and gets matted constantly. And THEN I left it in a car on accident and it got huge sun bleached spots on it, which was definitely my fault but it just added to my disappointment.
I still like both companies, I just have some sour feelings about them. ANYWAYS, great video! I definitely agree about the clique-iness of the knitting community.
I often unravel my old project that I'm getting bored of, and my friend will say "Oh what a pitty... Bla bla bla"
But now I'm glad that I'm not alone in this world 😁
This is how my mom is sometimes...about other things...I wish people do take time to understand we all have different reasons and perspectives!
I have a similar problem. I do craft shows, and if I have an idea that just didn’t go over well for 3 seasons those items are either donated or remade. My friend I do shows with is very unhappy when I do this. She will take the same items to shows for decades. But I don’t have the storage space she does. I have not felt bad about donating my work to charity.
i need to get better about that.!
If I'm buying patterns from Ravelry, I literally don't purchase until I am going to cast on because I may change my mind and then I have spent money unnecessarily.
That's a good idea
Same!!!
Yeahhh I bookmark a lots of patterns but I'm only gonna buy them when I'll be set on doing them having yarrn and all haha
Thanks for sharing your budget tips in such a joyous, rather than miserly, way. My tip is to keep an eye out for pattern books from the 1940s and '50s. Many have entire make-do-and-mend chapters that are clever, inspiring and beautiful.
Adding on to the "embracing scraps" tip: magic-knotting scraps (sometimes called a sliding knot, I think) is a cool way to utilize scraps instead of throwing them in the trash. You probably wouldn't want to knit a garment with a bunch of knots, but a magic-knotted ball of scraps would be good for making things like blankets, rugs, or potholders.
Brilliant!
I do that too, even with very small bits of yarn! If its larger than 6 inches it goes on. I like to make coasters out of mine. I also make different balls, one for worsted weight, one for lighter weight, which I also toss thread onto. I find that way the coasters 'sit' better on flat surfaces.
I'm thinking of using them for a kind of fringe-y cardigan since I once was given a bag of 4 cm pieces of yarn. But this is something really useful that I'll keep in mind :)
I put all my scraps in a jar so I can use them to stuff toys
Knotted yarn is much easier to hide with crochet too, I've found
A few years ago loom bands were the most popular toy ever, now they are littering second hand shops, I bought a pack of 100 for 50p and they make ideal stitch markers
My #1 tip is buying mill end yarns from craft stores. I often get a sweater quantity of 100% wool yarn for $8 (after a coupon). I might poke my finger into the plastic bags to check if it feels “wooly”,😇 so a good knowledge of how wool feels vs acrylic is important. 🐑 A burn test at home often confirms the lucky find! Embracing the frogging is also so important. 🐸 I’ve actually enjoyed knitting a gorgeous hand-dyed skein three times over during quarantine just because it needs to find its perfect final form!!
Theres a man that knits he dose not have money for wool, so he goes into the second hand shops he sees many jumpers cheap, buys them and then takes the home wash the jumpers and then undo them he knits from that wool some lovely things, needles i from the second hand shop and knitting patterns knitting mags there too. Great video.
I certainly enjoy browsing 2nd hand shops too!
I got lovely old-fashioned fashioned knitting needles from the thrift store, pastel colours with „crystal“ knobs that make dainty knits pretty even while you work!! (lace or baby things)
pamela mckenzie this is what myMum did all the time we never had a commercially brought jumper cardigan hat or gloves as kids. In those days it was easy to find wool in knitted garments in jumble sales. Spent many an hour holding a skein whilst Mum wound it into balls.
I wash mine after unraveling. It reduces the wrinkles.
I find luxury yarn this way. I specifically look for cashmere, silk, and camel hair sweaters in the thrift shops, wash them and then actually knit from the pieces of these sweaters without first unraveling them. I unravel while I knit. It works great. This cuts out the part where you unravel, skein and ball up the yarn. Any kinking I’m the yarn washes out when I wash and block the new piece. I once found a Scottish cashmere cabled sweater in size 2x for $2.50 at a thrift and made two big lace shawls with it. A joy!
For me, I only shop for jumper quantities now because I hate knitting socks and love knitting garments. And while buying a jumper quantity can be expensive it means I stop myself from buying random single skeins that I have no clue what I want to make with it. It also forces me to shop for projects and really think through if I want that yarn and do I have a project in mind for it. I also consider it part of my “wardrobe” budget as I’ve stopped buying machine made cardigans and jumpers, which also gives me all the more reason to wear my knits.
Yes the unloved single skeins are definitely not helpful most of the time!
I need to get into this mindset. I have so many single skeins of yarn, it's ridiculous!
Elizabeth Kirpes yes, I love them but found myself constantly scratching my head one what to make out them. All the shawls!! 💛
@@yarncurator I do like the 'layered colourwork' idea by Arne&Carlos: with a lace thread you can knit, not intarsia or fair isle , but a pattern to use a second thread with the original yarn. They have a star-pattern designed to use this technique.
In case you still have a lot of single skeins, having a big chunky cardigan made out of individually made squares is like really in now. I'm personally looking to do that kind of project soon.
I would suggest drawing out the pattern you like and coloring it with preferred colors on paper. I've found fascinating combinations by following complimentary/primary and tertiary colors!
I worked in a nursing home. One of my little old ladies would come up to me and say “do you have a spare pencil?” I gave her one. I later found out that she was using a butter knife to whittle the pencil into a crochet hook! She would then take sheets or hospital gowns and tear them carefully into long strips about 1/2 inch wide, join them end to end, fold them in half, and then used her “crochet hook” to work them into hats! They looked crazy but I was so impressed with her ingenuity and resourcefulness. I eventually brought her some crochet hooks and yarn, but it seemed like she preferred to do it her way! She had lived through some very hard times, so I imagine making something out of scraps and found materials was more satisfying to her. Little Miss Maggie, also loved a dip of snuff!
During lockdown I dug out this king size afghan my grandmother made for me. Never used it because the stitch she used was not suited to the the yarn and size of piece, it was always breaking and I was tired of tying up the holes. It looked unsightly. So instead of keeping in storage as a “memory “ I unraveled the whole thing and have started a new afghan more useful and will no longer kept in a container, forgotten.
Wow, that’s honestly kind of sad. 🙁 Even if my Grandma made me the ugliest blanket ever that kept falling apart, I would never unravel it. My Grandma made one for me too when I was a child, and I’d rather unravel or burn every project I’ve ever made in my entire life than unravel that special blanket. That’s something you’ll never get back.
DJLC LOPEZ I understand your sentiment. I just didn’t have that feeling towards this piece after 30+ years. It was taken up space, it was not a special, beige, and I never liked the stitches. Would rather have it be reused into something useful then end up thrown out. Trust me grandma would be happy that it yarn was saved and reused, she was very thrifty.
I started crocheting half way through my PhD just across the sea from you , it's a great way to relax isn't it ❤️ I have recently started a new challenging project which can be concidered as con budget" - I am spinning my yarn on a drop spindle
YES to a video about how to substitute yarn, please! 😊I find yarn construction (ply? roving? blow?) specially difficult to substitute correctly.
This is exactly the crochet therapy I needed! Nice to know others dream of yarn & projects they will never do, or start and find it is too ______ (fill in the blank). I have unraveled so many projects for various reasons. All of the advice given here is so sensible. Thank you.
I LOVE THIS VIDEO! I’ve been on a budget since I started knitting in 2012. These past two years my knitting budget has been Zero. But by applying a scavenging mindset to materials and tools, as well as well researched requests for birthdays and holidays, I’ve filled a double wide closet with high quality craft materials! I especially love your tip about marketing savvy. Having the ability to reflect on what I actually want to make vs what might be marketed to me as desirable has been a huge help in maintaining my satisfaction in my scavenged materials. I believe the reflection aspect of budget making practices has helped me become a more confident decision-maker both when it comes to my craft and even outside my creative practice. Thank you for such a wonderful video Anushka!!! And thank you for cultivating a welcoming environment that resists consumerism.
So glad you enjoyed the video! I totally agree - doing the research makes us more confident and capable makers.
Yes! Putting your pride to the side when frogging a project. Today I started a knitted hat I was so excited to make. Casted on, and did a couple of rows of the stitch pattern..... and I hated it. It just did not sit right. “oh well I’ll just finish it” but then I realized I would never be happy with the finished project. So I frogged and now I’m doing my first cabled hat. And I LOVE it!
Thank you thank you thank you! After watching this video I decided to frog my $120 "sweater" that I had set aside in March. I would say I am an advanced-beginner knitter and I joined a sweater club last fall- talk about pressure to buy the very best yarn and cool patterns and good tools etc. Needless to say, I now have a full set of chiagoo needles (which I love) and a ton of other notions I was not prepared to buy. The second sweater I decided to knit is beautiful. Tons of lace and intricate stitch patterns. By the time I went to buy yarn, the store only had sweater quantity in a deep blue color. I got very frustrated trying to learn how to knit lace using a dark color. Now I am frogging and planning for a simple sweater with maybe some cables or new stitches- but no lace!
Thank you for helping me realize the unfinished sweater that I had shoved in the back of my closet is just wasted $$$!
A tip I've learned as a fellow budget knitter: look for patterns that don't require you to snip your working yarn (e.g., to switch to a new color or move to a different area of the project). Often, there are other patterns that have solved the dilemma of having to cut your yarn to achieve a certain effect. Makes it easier to reuse yarn if you want to, or if you make a mistake/decide not to continue the project.
Best thing I have found when looking for knitting tools is second hand stores. So many great tools for very cheap. It’s sad to think that they’re there probably because some old lady died but great that they come to use!
I started knitting in January 2020 I learned from CZcams!! I started knitting because I needed to get out of my head!!! My dad had passed in May 2019 and work was slowing down I needed something to do!!! I love it I’ve made several things I’m always a bit sad when the project is complete. In January my coworkers wife sent me a box of scrap yarn I was so excited!! Between projects I practice different knit stitch patterns there are so many out there!!! I learned how to do Celtic cables with wooden lollipop sticks!! I’ve made my own stitch markers!! I also cut some glue sticks and used those as point protectors!!!
Wow! Very impressive. You sound super resourceful! :)
I learned how to knit after my dad passed 13 years ago. We were cleaning out his stuff and my mom taught me. It helped me get out of my head.
It's taken me 30 years to learn how to knit. I have also been crocheting for the last 3 years too. I enjoy both and don't buy into this knit vs crochet thing. Both are very good to learn but, if you prefer one please stop knocking on the other. I don't and have walked away from several groups because of this. One was a 'crafting' group (all were knitters) and someone said to me you should try knitting I can teach you. I replied, I can knit but I prefer crochet as it's more relaxing for me.
Well, that went down faster than a burning spitfire. Needless to say I never went back as the looks I was getting from these knitters was horrendous and most certainly uncalled for. So for now, I'm sitting at home knitting and crocheting, trying to keep my dog's toys out of the wool bag.
As for free/cheap patterns because of budget issues? I keep an eye out for cheaper books that I know have at least 4/5 in I will use. I also am friends with some knitters who give me their scraps and unusable yarn barfs as I can spend hours untangling them (maybe start charging for this service, haha joke)
I hear you about the "rivalry" between both crafts. I also do both and remember going to a (knitter's) book launch, sat quietly in the audience with my hook and got booed at! Absolutely ridiculous behaviour by grown people, but unfortunately it was not a surprise.
I have to thank you for showing that shawl that use to be socks, you frogged. I did that recently with a skirt I made with super soft yarn from Lion Brand. Unfortunately it was not in gauge and way to large. But this past weekendI turned that skirt back into 3 awesome cakes again. So I can do a swatch and make the skirt in gauge. Again thank you. I just recently subscribed to your channel and have enjoyed the videos. 👍🏽😊
Another total gem. I love your point about boundaries at the end -- that actually a boundary (self imposed or not) can stretch us creatively versus limit us. It's all in how you frame the narrative and also an important practice in gratitude. I think your voice is so refreshing and inspiring.
Thank you!
Great tips! Actually the thing that saved me the most money was starting spinning. It’s possible to buy wool roving for less than £3/100g (I often then dye it myself). As a bonus, it then takes even more time to become an FO because you get to spend hours making the yarn too, so you get double the crafting pleasure for your money 😊
This is the first podcast of your's that I have watched and it's terrific. I think people just need to get over knitting the latest and greatest pattern, with the latest and greatest yarns. I used to do that and half the time I'd end up gifting it because I wasn't thrilled with the outcome. Now if I'm knitting/crocheting for others, I use acrylic or cotton for easy care. If it's for myself, I tend to use wool and I have also realized that books are a better deal than single patterns. Great podcast!
Hi there, I have a few long winded comments. :) 1. This is actually my favorite video of yours so far! You look happy & very upbeat btw! 2. I agree on taking sweaters apart! I usually look around at my local thrift at what sweaters have come in at least briefly to make sure I don't miss a huge bargain. Especially in the men's XXL section. There is sooo much yarn in a men' xxl sweater, as a crocheter, and a short female, I can sometimes make myself TWO sweaters from a six dollar sweater. It's very important to look online at articles on taking them apart though, so you do not accidentally take a sweater home that is NOT deconstructable. (sewn seams, ack!!! ) Once or twice I've brought home a sweater that LOOKED like it could be taken apart but could not, despite not having sewn seams. But that's twice out of maybe 15 sweaters worth of yarn. Not a big loss! 3. Cotton sweaters are the easiest to take apart. I love wool but its important to tug a bit on the sweater to make sure its not felted!!!
4. I live in an area with a lot of tiny, affluent towns. Some have yarn shoppes. I used to say, if you don't have money to blow, avoid them. But a friend dragged me to two & I found that while their clearance section was small, I got some very nice deals on high end natural fiber yarns. As in cheaper than WEBS on sale prices! (Swoon, webs is so dear) So now, I basically mentally prepare myself before I go into those shops. I prepare for a little bit of an attitude from shopkeepers. Because I know that the best way for me to not either spend money I didn't have in my budget on 2 skeins of yarn when I need a sweater's worth is to walk past all the fancy racks & look for the clearance bin, find what I like & can afford, and get the heck out. Before I get sucked in. And that is the very last thing that a shopkeeper wants to see. I remind myself that times are not easy for fiber sellers in some places, and that they are trying to earn their own bread & butter, but that my empathizing with that, doesn't mean I can afford to support them at their higher end level. I also remind myself (before I go in) that most of these shopkeepers (not all, but a lot) are not from my own background and they simply don't understand on a first hand basis, what its like to be from a background where if you spent too much on yarn, you might have to eat less , literally! There isn't any sense in explaining that you only buy very deep discount yarns, due to your budget, because these shops in affluent towns deal with people who generally have so much disposable income that to them, a $20 bottle of wine is a 'good deal'. So, its not that they don't believe you when you say you literally cannot afford to support your local small sheep farmers crop, the local fiber shed, etc. its simply that their notions of budget and yours (well, mine at any rate) are on different planets. They put their shops in affluent areas, because they want to draw affluent clientele. So I just mentally gird myself, and get in & out asap. (Please don't hate on my comments Shopkeeps from non affluent backgrounds, this is simply based on my experiences & discussions with many many yarn boutiques in different states. I'm a chatty sort, as you can see from this novel sized comment, and so I often get the full monty when folks are chatting...their childhood, their spiritual & economic outlook, etc. I realize there are Many exceptions) I think it's important to really prepare yourself mentally to get what you need/can afford, not pie in the sky, BEFORE You go yarn shopping.
5. Lastly, this is a source for nice 'special occasion' yarn. Its not super duper 'cheap' but I bought a sweaters worth as a christmas present to myself with $ from a friend a few years ago. It is very comparable per skein to the price of many large yarn stores, but it comes (undyed) from heirloom breeds of sheep, raised by a nice lady on an old fashioned farm out west. The skeins come with adorable little pictures of the sheep they came from & the sheeps names. (she names all her sheep!) The site has nice photos & information so you don't just buy the yarn, you buy a cool story. (When I made hats for friends with it, I included the tag from the yarn, minus the price of course, and the recipients just loved it! ) While the yarn is the same price (at least it is as of today) as a larger yarn stores big brands per skein, its WAY cheaper than any of the tiny farms I've seen out there that sell the Story Yarn as I call it. Mind you, I'd love to support my own fibershed & what not but I just can't pay $15 a skein right now. I purchased the fingering weight yarn in dark gray and really enjoyed it. It is completely untreated if I recall correctly so don't toss this in the washer! Unless you want felt. This yarn maker sells a lot to the historical re-enactment crowd so if that's your jam, you will like that aspect too. www.suzy-the-shepherdess.com/
6. I did indeed drink the holst garn coolaid, with an unexpected bit of good luck a few months ago. I bought a couple of those huge but amazingly priced cones of wool. Even with shipping from so far away, it was a great deal. I'm hoping to get started on a sweater as soon as I finish the mill ends one I'm working on now (OH! Mill ends, sometimes you can get mill ends at a very good price!). I'm going to go pull up your video on holst now! Thanks! Apologies for having Quite so much to say. Grin.
I just have to say I loved the whole outfit with those yellow socks! So cute! But I totally agree with repurposing precious yarns and I'm glad you've made something new, beautiful, and more wearable.❤
Thank you!
this showed up in my recommends and well, google knows me well! A cheery person with an accent chatting about yarn is just the best. Thank you for sharing
I love to look for sales from Indie or Commercial dyers, use coupon codes, sale yarns from the local LYS, craft books from the library...I'm a big believer in being monogamous with making, it just suites me.
Knit, crochet, spin, make what you want, who cares if it's not trendy. If you like it & the project speaks to you, so be it. Great video Anushka! :-D
HaHa! My hubby just came home, looked up at the screen and said "Well isn`t she adorable!" Great minds think alike...
I needed to hear the "Frogging is Ok' comment. I get so committed and it's hard to admit that I was wrong about a pattern I so initially loved. But it happens. There's freedom in frogging and starting a project that I will actually cherish and wear. Thanks for this.
Definitely check if there’s a Buy Nothing group in your area, or free cycle. I agree people are very willing to gift crafting materials they aren’t using. I just picked up yarn from three different people in my Buy Nothing group to make a patchwork cardigan.
I also love how you talked about the pressure to spend money to feel part of a hobby or interest group. That’s so real!
Two things occur to me - think about the kinds of things you like knitting, your favourite gauge, you will probably find you have an affinity for certain needle sizes - I only ever use 2.5mm for socks, I prefer garments at gauges 3-5mm so I don‘t need ALL the needle sizes... Also, there is good quality non-luxury yarn. Especially for crochet that is often cushions or blankets that need frequent washing it‘s so much easier to machine wash manmade fibres, they are cheaper and crochet eats so much yarn! Crocheting or knitting gifts and for kids is also a good reason to use manmade fibres, as your recipients may not know how to look after wool and ruin your piece through ignorance, what a waste of all that work 😳
Love this savvy, smart video: Acknowledging the commercial part of knitting industry as we live in the industrial, capitalist world, but telling us to not feel pressure! Me, as a newbie and someone who could afford sets of interchangeable needles and a variety of yarn, I still felt like I'm not buying enough (not getting Chiaogu sets) or buying tons of mohair or merino wool in stacks (we have good quality ones cheaper in cones in Korea, thanks to the knitting community and small companies). Ppl laughed at me at the idea of unraveling an old sweater saying that is too hard (we don't like used stuff or go to thrift store much). Knitting is good for the soul and mental health and we may choose to spend less money (be cautious at beginner's level) or can't afford to spend hundreds of dollars for some reason. So well said. I don't mind spending a lot for a nice hobby but if we can use stashed yarn and make a fun sweater, why not as well? I guess I could try that too one day. It doesn't have to be all perfect :)
i love this video! i feel like i do a lot of this already (as a fellow postgraduate student), which is heartening. one extra thing about lighter yarn weights being cheaper: i'm currently using exclusively sock-weight yarns. this means that a) my leftovers are all of a uniform weight so can all be combined in scrap projects and b) they can be held together to make all the heavier weights. i think scrap projects are a lot harder to come up with if you have a little bit of each weight that don't match. i also love playing with marl effects! so yeah generally if I want to do a pattern which asks for DK/worsted/aran, I'll just buy sock and hold it together.
Thanks so much for sharing these ideas. I too have to watch my nickels and frequent thrift stores and libraries for crafting stuff. I also repair anything I can. The only other tip I have to offer is to join a guild and take free stuff when offered. I had to swallow my pride a couple of times and took free fleece for spinning and probably have enough to last at least 10 years. I've also received free yarn and pattern books. A crafting network can really help those of us who don't have much disposable income. Thanks again!!
Lovely to find enthusiastic young knitter/crocheters. In my younger days, as a feminist, a super-rebel and lefty I did all the my knitting in secret LOL well in my 50's i don't give a damn it is a fantastic craft and i love finding old magazines to find paters and designs we can well use now a days. Great channel!
One way I've found of making the crafting budget stretch as well as get access to new patterns is to test knit for knitwear designers on ravelry.
If I see a pattern I like that is a paid pattern but not currently in my budget I will either look around on "the testing pool" on ravelry or see if the designer has their own group page on ravelry and sometimes if you test knit a new pattern for a designer you will receive a copy of that pattern once it is published in it's finished form and some designers will also allow you to pick one paid pattern from their portfolio as compensation.
In order to make this work you of course need to have the requisite skills required to complete the project you have committed to and need to be able to work within a deadline, clearly communicate with the designer any issues with the pattern you find and document your work via photographs.
If you are able to do these things it opens up a world of new possibilities for your craft, provides designers with a valuable service and also helps you make more connections within the fiber arts world.
Test knitting is definitely a valuable service though it isn't suitable for everyone. I'm glad you see it as a fair exchange
I love how conscious you are about the money/class issues that are unstated but right up front in a lot of the cliquishness found in some craft groups. I felt this years ago, but could not articulate it. Also, I was a wool snob, so I just felt bad that I couldn't afford the designer yarns.
I just stumbled across your video. I just picked crochet again after 45 years last year. I have accumulated a larger than I can accommodate stash by buying yarn on sale. After watching your show I am going to donate the iffy yarn. And I cam going to just work through my stash until I finish at least 50%.
Thank you
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!
For so long now, I have felt completely out of the clique of knitters, as well as other crafters, who seem to have all the money in the world to just go out/go online and buy all the beautiful and expensive crafting materials they want. What little extra money I can save every month from my pathetic teacher salary, and after I have paid my daughter's college tuition bills, I very, very carefully choose one, maybe two things that I can afford as a little treat for myself.
Thank you so much for pointing out that the important thing about crafting is the crafting, the making of things with our hands and our hearts!!!
Thank you! I have learned many of the things you talked about over the years, but truly I'm thinking, "Gosh, I feel like maybe I shouldn't have this as a hobby if I can't afford it!!" But I find an artistic release in the effort of producing handmade items and there is the sense of pride when it/s done! Thank you!!
This is the first video of yours I've ever seen. Your practicality and attitude about how knitting should be a HAPPY thing for people and not a Keeping Up with the Jones's source of stress is refreshing- I feel so left out of many knitting spaces because I can't throw wads of cash at this wonderful hobby.
Thank you for putting your thoughts voice out into the world for others, it's so very appreciated. I'm gonna go find more of your videos to enjoy right now!
As a knitter who's allergic to wool and alpaca (I use acrylic or cotton yarn) I appreciate you sharing this.
My library has a huge stash of yarn that in the before times, I would occasionally dig into. When I was knitting my mitered squared blanket it came in handy a couple times.
Tip: (from Before Times) If you're local library has a knit night, check to see if they might have some stash that's been donated.
eta - Thanks for the link for the shawl in the dooblie-do.
Really enjoyed the advice packed video, full of ideas, tips and practical suggestions. I would love to see a video on yarn substitution.
Thanks for that video. The first one which consider that people can not afford all those expensive yarns and tools. And it gives great tips .
The hone your eyes took me literally a decade and was a huge factor. Another expensive thing for me was ordering online when I didn't know exactly what I was getting. This is hard when one doesn't have the opportunity for in person buying. I have been dissapointed by both quality and colours (this especially) so many times and then had to work through that unloved material. Of course you can destash, but for me I still always lost a good bit of money. So one tip, I guess, is to order colour cards (or fabric samples for sewing) whenever possible. I wish more companies had that opportunity.
Totally agree, I have been disappointed or at least surprised many times...
D. H. I too wish more companies would sell shade cards. I’m more likely to invest in yarn with a company whose yarn texture and colours I have experienced personally via shade cards.
@@TheCrimsonStitchery I have experimented with dyes a lot to save some fabric or yarn. Worked sometimes...
Wait though, I don't understand how your hair is so naturally beautiful. 😱
It was a great point you made about how things sometimes work in knitting circles. I have a cowl that has been on the needles since 2015 and it's 5th anniversary just passed! lol I'll finish it soon, but so many people were making it when it was published that I fell into that hole. It seems that then everyone ends up wearing and making the same things. Now, I'll give a new designer a try even if no projects have been made or a pattern from a well known designer that just hasn't gotten any traction at all and that's free. Sometimes it's better just to toot your own horn and follow a different path. This was a great video!
I love your energy and the way you presented all this wonderful information!! Thank you for taking the time to make this video. I hope you have a fabulous day!!
💚😊💚😊
This popped up in my feed and I am so glad. I have decided to knit down my stash this year and knit things that will be used like socks! I find that thru IG there is a “herding” mentality with rushing to make the newest pattern or buying the most expensive yarn which may or may not be worn. I’m stepping away from that and working on projects till they are done. I have only 2 projects on the go now...one knit and one crochet. I have bought patterns that I have never knit. Ravelry has 1000’s of free patterns in every category that one never needs to buy a pattern. Scrappy projects are awesome and one of a kind. Lol. Books are amazing and all your tips really help with not only saving but helping the environment. Stashing down in 2020! A new sub. Sending blessings your way...
Welcome & thanks for subscribing. I've also noticed that mentality on instagram, I think that people are also excited to make connections, but it often misses the point on what actually brings us together
I had to disable my IG account. It was actually causing me great stress and anxiety about knitting and purchasing yarn!
You're wise beyond your years young woman! Thanks for sharing. :-)
Love your tips! Especially about buying books of patterns, frogging, and ergonomic tools. You do such a great job of contextualizing these strategies as creative skills. Can't wait to see more from your channel.
Being in this community I have been through the whole ride. First being the new knitter who didn't care about anything then the one who wanted to do all the trendy stuff but quickly after that I have pulled away from it all and I buy and make only things I need.
New mystery kal..... doesn't matter to me I will not spend time and resources on something I have no clue if I will like or not.
Also confidence plays a huge role. I have no shame buying value yarn and showing off my project after making a luxury whatnot.
You're right, confidence is key, and a touch of bravery and willingness to experiment
I agree with you wholeheartedly about not joining in mystery kal's or cal's. I don't want to use my yarn and time making something that I don't know if I'd like when I'm done. I want to see a photo of the project so I can decide if I like it or not BEFORE starting on it.
Watching while crocheting and this makes me feel more motivated to finish my project ❣😊
This is the best video about knitting I've watched.
Thank you SO MUCH for this video!! I will definitely be watching it again, as there’s so much good stuff in here to think about and digest. I’ve been knitting for a few years now and am definitely at the stage where I feel like I’m “honing my eye” and getting much more comfortable identifying things that are actually going to have a place in my wardrobe and life, but, as you say, that process can involve quite a bit of trial and error! In developing that skill, I’ve found it useful to periodically pull out my collection of hand knit sweaters, lay them all out together, and really think about why I wear some much more than others. I definitely have a few that I’ve made where I got carried away by what was trendy at that moment, and while I may have enjoyed knitting them, I’ve barely worn them since. Your advice about treating these mistakes as a learning opportunity really speaks to me!
Again, thanks so much for taking the time to put this together. A video about yarn substitution would be wonderful!
I've received free* yarn and tools just by asking around at church, local groups and at work, lots of people have extras or spares which they don't need or know someone who is looking to pass things on. (*a box of biscuits to say thank you is often well received!)
Charity shops and church hall sales are also great places to find things, especially tools, all of my knitting needles which I have paid for were, at most, 50p a pair with the exception of one set of DPNs which i got from an actual craft shop.
Also, some libraries / community groups / churches have knitting groups which will have tools and yarn available to use and lots of people with experience who can help you - especially if you're just starting out.
Great video. Thanks! These things are not talked about enough. It’s something to be proud of!
Would love to see you talk more in depth about different yarns and also substituting yarns, especially a beginners guide. Thanks for the video!
I definitely went off a budget this past week when I got alot of Fringe Supply bags and accessories due to their closing sale. I hate to see them close because their quality was very good. Although expensive you get what you pay for. Its so true to invest in good needles to prevent the hand pain you can get with some that are just subpar. I also recommend Knit crate subscription if you find it hard to afford more luxury yarn. Its a great bargain and they have certain days of the month you can order for a fraction of the price if you want to make a sweater or something bigger. I've never been disappointed by the quality of their yarn.
Thanks so much for sharing this😻 The great variety of projects and types of yarn you use is my favorite thing about the channel.
That's great to hear, thanks!
This video got me interested in watching your content 2 years ago, so here's a tip I learned from personal knitting: I have learned that slipping the first and last stitch creates a neater edge, perfect for seaming. I would recommend adding 2 stitches to the total amount of stitches required to making things less complicated.
Here's the stocking stitch version:
Row 1: Sl 1 purlwise, knit to end of row.
Row 2: Sl 1 purlwise, purl to end of row.
I love your tips, makes and more than anything your energy and enthousiasm ! My tip to make projects cheap is never finishing them ! I buy magazines, Dream of makes, start and knit non stop until I décide to unknit and start all over another model ! Love doing that.
Hi I like your advice I never used the yarn that they recamend on a pattern because I'm allergic to wool I only crochet and knit with cotton or cotton acrylic. I buy most of my yarn though ice yarns
I am so glad to have found you! Brilliant outlook and sentiment. You have gained another follower. Thank you.
Finally someone's addressed crafting on a budget
I sleep the idea for a night or two, then I realize if I wanna buy a pattern or yarn, if I still need that I buy it, if I not, I let it go...
Definitely! Me too haha
neolokis thanks I’m going to keep this in mind since I’m trying to save but still do my crafts...
For those who are still using Ravelry despite its recent issues, people's Ravelry stashes are a great place to get yarn at a steep discount-sometimes just the cost of postage, if you can arrange a trade. You're not only saving money but helping out a fellow knitter! And I second the comment about checking libraries for knitting books; many are also available as ebooks.
I've been very lucky wirh the local handcraft group that I joined. One person passed along a jumper'sworth of yarn that she didn't want, and another passed along a copy of Felicity Ford's book, which she ended up not using. i agree about libraries -- very useful. Also, there are many free patterns out there, on various websites. In these financially tricky times, it's a great way to build up a library of basic patterns.
I quit ravelry because I support President Trump. They do not want me as a member because if my beliefs.
@@suzannakoizumi8605 yes, I was very offended by their exclusion of certain members. I am new to knitting and crocheting and was about to join ravelry for patterns, but they don't want me as a member.
I love Ravelry and use it now more than ever!!! I support it any way I can because it's a godsend to my craft.
Agree! I last bought some yarn from someone in April.
I mostly get free patterns rather than knitting the “newest” or “hottest” thing. I may have purchased 2 patterns in 3 years, and have yet to knit either of them 😂
You can definitely get quite far with free patterns but it is limited, and it can vary wildly in accuracy/quality. These days I do purchase patterns directly from a designer if I enjoy their methods/artistic practice even if it takes me a while to get round to knitting them :)
The Crimson Stitchery amazon small comfortable chair
Me too!
Nun teacosy
Cat sofa
Intricate aran wrap
A beautiful Alice starmore Fairisle sweater
All amazing pattern purchases
All yet to cast on...it's an addiction!!
I have never bought a pattern lol. Same with my mom, ah the joys of being poor. Even if I wanted to buy a pattern I couldnt, unless i want to skip out on buying yarn lol. Learning to make your own patterns is easier than expected too.
On taking apart second-hand knitted things, this doesnt just apply to handmade sweaters! If you learn how to analyze what machine made sweaters are something you can take appart in one piece per front panel, back panel, amd the 2 separate sleeves, you can get really beautiful unique yarns. My mom used to sell the yarns and we have an entire shed full of secondhand sweaters to take apart for yarn when we need it.
Grea tips Anushka. Thanks. As a beginner knitter I fell into a lot of the knitters spending traps and amassed yarn that I then fell out of love with etc. Now I have been knitting for 4 yrs and I’m working through that backlog of yarn and have been gradually honing my skills regarding being more careful and savvy.
I have a tip. I too invested in circulars early on. I bought a wooden knitpro set at around £40. Some people say the needles work loose from the cords so it’s better to go more expensive BUT I bought a Chiaogoo Needle Gripper set (about £4) which remedied this happening. I would recommend a needle gripper to anyone who cant to doesn’t want to spend twice as much buying the more expensive ranges.
Btw Anushka that outfit with the homemade socks was fabulously cute😀
Thanks Kelly! I think most of us have been down those kind of routes/diversions as beginners, it's definitely all part of the learning curve :)
Sometimes second hand stores have yarn. The local children's hospital has a second hand store that helps with fundraising, and often they'll have grab bags of yarn fairly cheap. You can also get off-brand needle sets off of Amazon pretty cheap. My husband got me a whole set of size 00 to size 15 needles for $15. They did break after about 1.5 (full size!) blankets, but when you find the size you use most often, you can get nicer replacements for just those.
Also, for any college student knitters out there: offer to sell or commission some products. I funded my knitting addiction in my sophomore year by commissioning blankets at cost for people. I got lucky enough to go to a private school, so thankfully, a lot of students didn't bat an eye at the $60 - $70 price tag for a handmade blanket, but spendy people are everywhere, and I'm sure a graduating senior wouldn't mind the price for something in school colors. Besides taking forever, blankets are relatively easy! As long as you can knit relatively consistently, most people are perfectly happy with a stockinette stitch blanket with a garter border.
Also, Joann's + Honey. Joann's ALWAYS has a coupon for something, and Honey will try out all of the current coupons and find you the best deal. I'm pretty sure that Honey has a deal with Joann's because I've never not gotten at least a little bit off an order.
Hi, I just came across your channel and I love you!!! You say everything so well and I love your attitude and I agree with everything you said!! I've been crocheting for over 50 years and I love to share my knowledge and to learn new things from other content creators. Everyone is so nice and caring and that's something we all need today.
Thank you so much for sharing everything with us!!!! 💖 I subscribed to you immediately 💜
I usually buy the yarn I need right when I'm going to use it.
Please take care and stay safe and healthy 💕💗
For anyone in the USA that is looking for affordable yarn Hobby Lobby is having their yearly clearance sale (they usually have it in July or August) I got 100 yard skeins for 50ish cent and skeins up to 355 yards for 2.50ish just look for the red sticker! From cotton and acrylic to alpaca, silk and wool they have alot of fibers and weights on sale.
this is such a lovely and necessary conversation to have!
Sock yarn tends to be less expensive, but sometimes you may just need something a bit thicker, so... double up the light-weight yarn. Using two strands instead of one. You can use two different colours to create interesting effects. I have been knitting and crocheting for over 40 years and actually still have yarn I bought way back in the 80s and I'm still excited about having bought it in in a sale, very cheaply.
Otherwise at the moment I think we should be avoiding flea markets and car boot sales etc, but there are online versions, where you can buy a bunch of second hand yarn products, to frog and re-use. This is also environmentally an alternative to buying new.
Loved this video! I stumbled on it while knitting and letting CZcams do its thing and have subscribed and joined the Ravelry group! I currently have 2 scrap projects on the go as I love fingering weight yarn and have tons of ends. I have been working on just blanket mitred squares with my ends for a while now but also started the painting bricks shawl by Stephen West for some of my bigger ends and loving that! I also did the drachenfel shawl with some ends that ended up looking amazing and so colourful! Just a few ideas! Thanks for such a wonderful video!
True and I'm 10 so I can't spend a lot of money and when I started I realized that yarn is expensive
Great video with some super ideas. I have another little tip. I’m no spring chicken and have patterns of my own from the 70’s & 80’s and own patterns from 30’s onwards that belonged to my Mum. You do have to be discerning but many old ‘classic’ patterns translate really well with modern yarns. You can often pick old patterns up in charity shops for pence or find them free on the internet. My daughters in particular, tell me you’d never know they weren’t being promoted as they latest’ thing!
Yes, I totally agree! Those "classic" jumper shapes do keep reappearing time and again
Yes, you have to teach yourself to look beyond the brown and orange!
Great advice. Enjoyed it immensely. Keep up the good work.
Wow! Great video! Thank you for that!
You are just wise and so enjoyable! Thank you.