Knitting, like any hobby, can end up costing you more than you bargained for – after all, who can resist all those gorgeous yarns? We’ve got a number of fab ideas to help you save, and even earn, money whilst carrying on doing what you love.
1. Sell It!
With craft-specific internet sites like Folksy and Misi (Make It, Sell It), not to mention Etsy and Not On The High Street, it’s now super-easy to sell your own handcrafted creations to shoppers out to purchase that unique item for a loved one or themselves. It’s the perfect guilt-free way to enjoy your hobby!
2. Make do and Substitute
For the easiest substitute, make sure your yarn has roughly the same meterage per grams as the original yarn. If possible, try to match fibres – different types of yarn have very different textures and appearances! And remember to consider how the stitch pattern will both look and feel next to your skin in your substituted yarn. Choosing a fluffy yarn for a lace design may mean that the stitch pattern looks less effective when completed.
3. Scrapheap Challenge
Reviewing the contents of your ever-growing stash really is the best way to reduce your knitty spend. It really is a win-win situation, you end up with a gorgeous finished item, your unruly yarn pile is diminished and you’ve not had to spend anything in the process. Toys are a great way of using up the odd ball you’ve got laying around. We particularly like the website Free Amigurumi Patterns!!
4. Swap Shop
Join an online group which helps you swap the yarn you don’t want for stuff you do – all for free! Shirley MacDonald, from Dunfermline, Fife, tells us all about her group UKarma on the website Ravelry. “I can’t resist a bargain, which means I buy yarn on sale only to realise I have no idea what to actually make with it. I set up UKarma to allow UK knitters to swap their unwanted yarn for yarn that they will actually use.”
5. Recyle It!
You might not believe it, but common everyday household objects make great knitting accessories! Try using paper clips for stitch markers, or wine corks for needle point protectors. A baking tray and fridge magnets can be combined to become a magnetic pattern holder!
6. Savvy Saver
Did you know that 81% of knitters buy yarn at least once a month? Cut down on impulse purchases by adding your spare change to a pretty jar for three months and then buying some extra-special fibre as a treat instead!
Will you give any of our top tips for saving money a try? Or are you already using them? Let us know!
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