A Knitter’s Blog

When I was a young knitter, I can’t tell you how many times mid-project, I would begin wondering if I had enough yarn to finish. Then, the nagging worry would begin. Rather than enjoying my knitting, I would begin to stress over every stitch.

I confess, when buying yarn, I would always go for the cheapest way out. 

I was reminded of thess yarn buying habits when a knitter posted in the Sweater Wizard Group that she felt the need to purchase the exact amount of yardage for her projects.

I totally understood her. That’s exactly how I felt in my ”former” knitting life. Then, I would find myself in the situation that I described above.

I no longer torture myself in this way. When I use Sweater Wizard, I always buy more yarn for a project than the program estimates. I always add a full skein. I do the same when I use a commercial pattern. Even if I buy a kit, I will purchase the yarn required for a size larger than the one I am going to knit.

I know, you are thinking, “She must have money to burn.”. I don’t. But, I do know that to knit successfully that I need to have peace of mind. One can’t complete a project if there isn’t enough yarn to knit the last stitch!

The money I spend on yarn is never wasted. If within a year, I have not used the leftover yarn from a project, I find a home for it. I may give it to a friend. If I hear of a group for beginner knitters, I donate the yarn. Or, if I am lucky enough to find a small project for the remaining yarn, I use it to knit.

Other than luxury fibers, yarn averages about $6.00 a skein. Notice, I said average. Buying an extra ball doesn’t cost much more than a latte and a scone. The latte and the scone are a small price to pay to silence the question “Will I have enough?” 

Filed under: Knitting by cwulster