Yes You Can! Bargain Fiber Crafting
Have you ever wanted to start a craft, like say knitting or crocheting, because it looks cool and like a fun hobby, and maybe you want to pick up a skill, or just make a lot of blankets or cute animals? Except when you do even a little research, everyone says "you have to use the expensive tools", and so suddenly you're intimidated?
You don't have to be! You can do whatever you want (honest!), and there's literally no point where you have to "graduate" to expensive tools!
Hi, I'm Damien, and I want to talk about crafting and why you can do it for cheap, and keep doing it for cheap, and you're NOT wrong!
I started with fiber arts (as they're called) when a beloved cat died mid-pandemic, and I needed something to pass the time that would distract me, and I'd always wanted to get into knitting. Of course, I already had needles from attempts years prior, so I bought a roll of yarn on sale. $3.50 for a big old ball of Red Heart Super Saver. I messed up so many times it's not even funny. Once I got the hang of it, I turned out a pretty great scarf. Still love it even a year and a half later, and a hyperfixation on crochet.
I got a little scared though when I saw so many videos and blogs about "heirloom crafts" and "you need to spend the money to make your experience great" and "it's okay if you ruin luxury yarn". That especially gave me a shiver! Imagine spending $30 on yarn and destroying the roll! I mean, in the end, sure, it's just yarn! But still, scary!
Well, let me tell you. I hate being told what to do, and I hate the idea of spending too much money when I don't need to. SO, the idea of bargain yarning was born in my little wee noggin (actually my head is huge but shh don't tell).
Most of my tools? Less than $5 each. Still work just fine! I shop at Joann a lot, so there's always deals and coupons. If RedHeart gets me down, which it does sometimes, Joann has a fantastic yarn called Big Twist, which is the same exact price, lots of beautiful colors, and best of all? Soft. Soft soft soft. Mmm. I could sleep in a box of Big Twist skeins.
(Plus, if you buy cheap, you can hoard more! Pro tip: don't actually do that, I mean, unless you want to)
I admit I don't make a lot of clothes, but I've made my fair share of accessories, a lot of hats and cowls and fingerless mitts and legwarmers, and you know what? It's all cheap materials! I haven't caught fire and exploded yet. And I'm not the only one, although it's hard to find crafters that actually use bargain yarn instead of just saying 'oh I'd use this!' about Dollar Tree yarn. *side eye*
My personal favorite is the absolute knitting and crochet dervish known as ikoxun on Youtube. She uses a lot of bargain yarn (some from Hobby Lobby, which she admits is the only store really near her) and turns out some spectacular clothing with it. Highlights include a fairy skirt, Wednesday's cardigan from the show, and most amazing: HOWL'S COAT FROM HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE. With bargain yarn!!!
While I've yet to see tools at my local thrift stores, I have seen and bought yarn, which you can get for really good prices sometimes, I have a friend online who got three garbage bags full of yarn for $20. You can buy destashes on Ebay. Or you can be wise and only buy the yarn you need. *wink* We all know you're not going to do that.
And really, unless you're opening a crochet business (you don't have to do THAT either!!) you don't need to do luxury stuff. Heck, even if you DID open a business. Big Twist Mania, my friend! You can make hella awesome stuff with a $6 roll of yarn ($3 if you have that 50% off coupon that Joann has). And if you have 2, you can make a chameleon! And with the leftovers, you could make......another chameleon!! Who doesn't love that?
Basically, what I'm trying to say is this: You can do this hobby and you don't have to spend lots of money! It really is just a neat thing to do. It's a great skill to have, and you can just spend a few dollars and feel mightily accomplished.
Places to find yarn cheap!
Joann: (there are always sales and coupons, get the free app!)
Michael's: (a little more $ than Joann, but they have stuff too)
Walmart: (you don't have to shop here, but if it's close...)
The Lobby that Shall Not Be Named: (I'm queer and trans, nuff said)
The Thrift Store: Look around! Mine has come from Goodwill
Garage sales: (this one's a bit tougher, but keep an eye open!)
DollarTree: Literally the cheapest, and it's a familiar brand, Premier. Although their Crafter's Square yarn is pretty nice too.
Amazon: Look I know a lot of people hate Amazon but if you live in a rural area and have no access to anything else..... plus there's cool yarns from what I've heard. I've never bought any, but people recommend ICE yarns.
Hobbii: Situated in Kopenhagen, Denmark, they have a lot of really awesome yarn, and some of it is really really cheap. They ALWAYS have sales going, and they might drive you bonkers with all the sales, but you can get cool yarn in pretty colors.They also ship pretty quick too!
Many of these places you can
also find notions. I think Dollar Tree is the only one that doesn't
have any crochet hooks, at least none I could find.
So in
conclusion, yes you CAN make stuff from bargain stuff, and trust me,
it wears JUST as well, one of my partners has a hat I made them early
on, and they wear it a LOT, and no signs of trouble! Not even a loose
thread. And it's been washed tons.
So pick up a hook or
some needles, and some cheap yarn, and come do fiber crafts with me.
You'll be glad you did.
This post is not sponsored. All items or locations mentioned are for information purposes only. My opnions are my own. Thank you for reading. If you'd like to help out, buy me a coffee!
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