Photo by Marco Bianchetti on Unsplash
While crocheting can be fun and relaxing, it can also become expensive fast. As someone who learned how to crochet years ago, I spent my fair share of money on both yarn and other supplies for projects. It makes starting or continuing the hobby daunting for anyone. To encourage others to start or continue crocheting, here are some small ways to hopefully reduce the cost a bit and make it a more manageable hobby.
Check out thrift stores
Whenever I go to thrift stores, I try to find if they have a craft section. Some don’t, but sometimes you get lucky and find some crafting materials and yarn for a cheap price. One time I found a bag of multiple small balls of yarn for $3. Even though each individual ball was small, I was able to find multiple for each color present in the bag. It gave me enough to work with on some small projects. By checking out local thrift stores, you have the chance to gain new materials for a cheaper price.
Make smaller items
By making smaller items, you use less yarn. As a result, you can make more items from the same skein. Big blankets can be incredibly rewarding to make, but they become expensive quickly and they limit how much you can create from a set budget. Creating smaller items can spread out the time between yarn hauls, and it can help you save money while you indulge in your hobby. It’s a win-win.
Shop Clearance
This seems like an obvious choice, but sometimes the wall or aisle of pretty yarn distracts you from this section. For both online and in store, it’s a must to check out the clearance section. Some deals could end up being a steal in the end, and even if the difference in price isn’t that drastic, the price is still lower than originally.
Search for free patterns
Buying patterns adds up quickly, and it can easily push up the bill you will already have from starting another project. Multiple websites and sources provide free patterns that are easy to find. One of the main places I start when looking for free patterns is Pinterest. Obviously, I will find some links to other websites, but there are other places that I will also check out. Ravelry has both free and paid patterns, and it’s easy to search through the collection and filter between what you want.
If you aren’t necessarily looking for something specific and are open to new ideas, you can check out some store websites such as Michaels and Joann. There are also some patterns on yarn brand websites. Finally, there are some giant blogs out there where the creators offer multiple patterns for free. Some names I recommend are Repeat Crafter Me, Moogly, and Daisy Farm Crafts. They all have free patterns available on their websites.
Buy more basic hooks
I absolutely admit that there are some gorgeous hooks out there. Unfortunately, those hooks tend to be expensive because many of them are handmade. Instead, buy basic hooks that get the job done without the higher price tag. Luckily, for basic hooks it’s easier to buy them in a set. Sometimes one set of basic hooks equals the cost of one singular hook. When comparing the price of the two options, it tends to be more cost-effective to buy the set. Bonus – you get multiple hooks so more potential projects have opened up.
Use acrylic yarn
On Instagram and other social media, you might hear crocheters mention silk, mohair, wool, or other yarns that are expensive. While they sound great, they will also break your crochet budget and reduce the number of projects you can complete. Yarns such as Red Heart, I Love This Yarn, Crafter’s Secret, and other cheaper yarns will be made of mostly or all acrylic. It’s lower quality than some yarns, but you can still create beautiful things from it. Most people will still love gifts made from these yarns as well. Plus, there are plenty of tips to make the yarn feel softer or like it is higher quality.
Use some materials already present at home
I just recently went to the store to pick up some basics for my cousin that wants to learn how to crochet. I splurged a bit because she travels between her parents’ houses, and I wanted to pass on a pretty pair of scissors to her so that she could keep them with her crochet things. For those of you that need to stick to a stricter budget and would rather put money towards yarn, pairs of scissors are a good item to reuse if you already have a regular set at home. Fortunately, yarn is easy to cut, and it doesn’t fray unless scissors are extremely dull. This means you don’t have to have a special set to use for crocheting (unlike for fabric). I know scissors aren’t the most expensive item, but every small thing can count sometimes when saving money.
Reuse what you can
This tip sounds like it might be repetitive after the last one, but I’m referring specifically to yarn. Instead of throwing away ends that are snipped off, keep them. In some cases, these bits can be used as stuffing, they can be tied together into a magic knot with other odds and ends to make longer strips, or they can also be used as stitch markers in projects. By keeping these extra strips of yarn, they can add up and allow you to either change their purpose or put them into a new project.
Sign up for emails and promotions from yarn sellers near you
By signing up for emails, you will get notifications from stores about upcoming sales. Michaels tends to have sales throughout the store, and sometimes their deals really reduce the price of yarn. To do this, you must also have strong self-control because it will bring your attention to unnecessary items that will rack up the receipts instead of helping you save money.
Although I have been fortunate with my family supporting my hobby growing up, I know not everyone has the same monetary support. I wanted to share these tips to hopefully encourage people to try out crocheting if they’re on the fence due to financial reasons. I have also used some of these tactics as I have gotten older and become financially independent, so I know they can help. Crocheting can be more affordable, and I hope that people can work within their means to either continue or start a new hobby. Are there other tips you’ve found to help save money for crocheting? Let me know!