Cheap wool?

[Deleted User]

I love to make gifts and clothes for my family instead of buying them, but we are on a tight budget. Does anyone know where to get hold of wool/yarns that don't cost a packet? I've tried Freecycle (no luck yet) and Ebay sellers seem to be asking a lot more for small amounts.
Any ideas MSEers?

Lesley

mrs-moneypenny

aldi have got 400g balls of aran in at the mo for 3.49 in pale blue, chocolate, cream and red. car boots are quite good if you only want little amounts a lady was doing some at 10 balls for 1 pound at a car boot i went to a couple of weeks again they were all odds so would be any good for jumpers etc but ideal for little things or patterns

Kay_Peel

Like Budgeteer, I ask for yarn through freecycle and have yet to get a response. I'm going to keep trying every three months or so - you never know!

Wilkinson and Woolworths have some yarn left - but stocks seem to be running low as we approach Spring. I bought a 250g ball of double knit yarn in Aldi today for £1.99 (there's even a little pattern for a simple baby coat on the inside of the ball band) - but its very soft 'baby' type stuff and they do it in lemon, blue, pink, white and chocolate brown only.

The other thing that I've done, in the past, is to get a handknitted all-wool garment from a charity shop and unravel it! It was beautiful wool and the jumper had been hardly worn - if it had been worn at all. It was worth it, though.

Good luck with the search

kay

spendaholic

I find the Poundstretcher and similar shops, if they get wool in, have lots of it quite cheap.

Hardup_Hester

Kemps online always have a good selection on offer

icandream

My local wilkinsons had some really lovely wool in recently, and pretty cheap, though i can't remember what it was. I've also picked up some at a couple of car boots, though you have to get there early as it seems to go quickly.

spendaholic

Remembered after my other post - my grandma used to buy jumpers, sweaters and other knitted products from jumble sales and charity shops and wash and unravel them. Then she'd knit loads of stuff from one item at a fraction of the cost.

moanymoany

If you are going on holiday to France this year, go with the equivalent needle sizes and take the patterns you want to knit so you can work out how much yarn you need.

Yarns in France are much cheaper than here, and are good quality. I bought some cotton blend last year, it was about e2.50 a ball. There are more wool shops there than here.

I find the cheap yarns simply don't stand up to wash and wear. The expensive stuff is outrageously priced and there doesn't seem to be a middle way!

Mariel

In poundland the other day all wool and knitting needles (packs of 3 pairs I think) were half price. That's 50p each before anyone asks!

[Deleted User]

Thanks for all the suggestions. what a lovely bunch you all are:beer:

donna73

theres often wool in our local charity shop, just have to take pot luck as to quantity and colours , but worth popping in and checking when you pass by