Hi guys! I’ve been buying yarn since 2016, so in that time, I’ve made a lot of “mistakes” that work for some people, but ended up costing me money. These are my 5 yarn buying mistakes that cost me hundreds of dollars over the years.
Let’s take a look at the things that I did and why they didn’t work for me, so hopefully you can avoid these same mistakes and start saving money on yarn. The more money you save, the more yarn you can buy, right?
This post is not meant to shame people or say that you are making a mistake if you do any of the following. If these strategies work for you, that’s awesome!
Pin this Yarn Buying Mistakes Post – HERE!
1. Buying Yarn just because it’s on Sale
The keyword is “just”. The only reason to justify my spending is because the yarn is “on sale”. There is no other reason.
Buying yarn on sale is NOT bad. I encourage you to shop the deals, find coupons, and try to get yarn at a discount. However, if you’ve never tried the yarn before, if you don’t know what you’ll make with it, and if all you can say is, “well, it’s a great deal”, then I’d put it back on the shelf.
I’ve fallen into this sales trap so many times, and I always think, “I’ll figure out what to do with this yarn later.” Flash forward 5 years and either the yarn is still sitting in my stash taking up valuable space, or it has been donated/gifted to someone else.
If you can’t seem to pass up a good deal, here is my solution: get one skein. Bring it home, try it out, and if you love it, then make a plan for how to use it. Once you’ve thought it through, go back to the store (online or in person) and get some more. Otherwise, if you don’t like it, you’re only out the cost of one skein.
2. Not Having a Plan for my Yarn
Yarn shopping is exciting. I love yarn, so it’s easy to get carried away when I’m walking through a store or shopping online.
“OOO, I love that colour”. Add it to the cart.
Before long, I’m making a bigger purchase than I originally thought: My plan was to get 3 skeins of yarn for a sweater, and I came out with 20 skeins and no plan for anything other than the sweater.
No plan = yarn that sits in my stash for years. Sometimes, I get lucky and can make it work, but chances are that the yarn is going to sit there unused.
Solution: Make a plan before you shop (and try desperately to stick to the plan).
3. Missing the Return Window
I get home from the store all excited about my yarn (or get my package in the mail) only to realize after trying the yarn that I don’t like it.
It pills, it’s scratchy, the stitch definition isn’t what I expected, it’s hard to work with, I don’t like the colour, etc. Whatever the reason, this yarn will not work for me.
So I set the yarn aside, meaning to return it, and it sits there until I can no longer return it. I just wasted money on yarn that I know I will never use. It will either die a slow death in my yarn stash, or I have to try to sell it or donate it to free up some space.
Worse is when I buy a bunch of yarn, but don’t get around to testing it until after I can no longer return it.
Solution: Test your yarn as soon as you get it and make it a priority to return it if you don’t like it.
4. Buying Yarn Wholesale
Buying yarn as a wholesaler is something that you can do when you have a business (Etsy shop, craft show vendor, yarn shop, crochet on commission, etc.).
Wholesale is great for businesses because they can buy yarn at a discount to keep their costs low and profit margins high. However, the downside of buying wholesale is that you have to make a large purchase. I’m talking $300-$400 at a time.
I’ve placed 4 wholesale orders through Lionbrand and loved the experience.
However, I’ve ended up with a lot of yarn that I didn’t use and here’s why:
In order to place an order, you have to reach the purchase minimum. To meet the $300 minimum, I bought yarn that I had never used before, in colours that I’ve never seen, with plans that I didn’t have for it.
I got the yarn with high hopes of using it for a project, only to realize that I didn’t like it and couldn’t return it. Since then, I’ve been able to sell some of the yarn I didn’t like, donated some, and kept the rest in my yarn stash. Some of this yarn has been in my stash for 5 years.
Solution: Buying wholesale is perfect for those that use the same brand(s) of yarn in a few different colours. You can buy in bulk and keep it in your stash until you need it. Think makers or craft show vendors who sell finished hats, scarves, accessories, etc. in a variety of colours that the customer can choose from.
5. Adding More Yarn to get Free Shipping with Online Orders
Is there a nicer deal in the world than free shipping on online orders? Shipping fees can be so expensive, so when you get to the checkout and see, “Shipping Fees: $0.00”, it’s such a win!
It sounds counterintuitive to saving money, but if I don’t meet the minimum order requirement for free shipping, then I don’t add more yarn to my cart. Oh believe me, I’ve done this countless times, and still have to fight the urge to do it.
Here’s what I know: If I have to add more yarn to my cart than what I need, then I’m not saving money. This is another scenario where I’ve ended up with yarn that I don’t need or want just to save a little money that ended up costing me.
Solution: Check out my tips for buying yarn online, so that you can make an informed purchase and love all the yarn that you buy.
Have you noticed a pattern? Not testing the yarn, not liking the yarn, and not having a plan for it means that it doesn’t get used. Yarn that isn’t used and is taking up precious space in my stash is a waste of money for me.
Check out these other Posts:
- 6 Essential Crochet Supplies
- 16 Ways to Declutter your Yarn Stash
- How to Stop Feeling Disappointed when you Crochet
I hope my 5 yarn buying mistakes help you save some money on yarn. What is your best yarn buying tip?
Sincerely,
Dayna