disclaimer : Guys this is a joke, and although it makes some valid points, it’s meant to be funny, don’t take it too serious.

I was reading a blog I like that I just found not long ago, Shepard Chik

I tried to comment but blogger hates me. I mean it, I have an account, but either I am too stupid to use it, or it has some evil plan to not ever ever allow me to comment. I may have posted this comment like 6 times on the poor ladies blog. Sorry SC, I didn’t mean to do it, I just am dumber than your average blogger user.

Anyway, here is the post I made and isn’t terribly on topic, she was discussing something really much more interesting, but I got off on a tangent. Read her Nov 6 post and you’ll understand it better. Basically I am giving my opinion on cheap acrylic, and stash management and the idiotic questions people ask like “Why do you need all those needles?” DUH, to knit with moron. Of course I don’t say that… Why do people feel the need to critisize knitter because they own tool of their trade? Who gets all over a machanic who has lots of different sized wrenches? Sort of like needles, you need different sizes…

Anyway, I have an opinion, and you’re all just lucky unlucky enough to hear it.

WHAT IS UP WITH CRAPPY YARN?? WHY DO PEOPLE THINK THATS ALL THEY CAN USE? AND WHY DO THEY THINK THATS ALL I SHOULD USE?

Why on earth should anybody feel guilty and be labeled “snob” because they use a quality yarn for something they are going to pour hours of work into?

I have used NICE acrylic, but really it’s still PLASTIC. Why would I use yarn that I can buy for like less than a $1 an ounce, when I can use wool, alpaca, cotton, silk and all the many other options, or even really nice acrylic or synthetic blends for just a little more? And why get all over someone who likes natural fiber, when is plastic ever better? Who wants a plastic house or car? But no, if you don’t want to use plastic yarn you’re a yarn snob.

Well who in the world goes to church on Sunday in a new sweater, and gets a compliment and gushes “It’s acrylic!” Cashmere, sure, angora of course, acrylic…Please.

The other line I get that annoys me is the old “I can’t afford wool/good yarn” which really means, “I have a huge pile of this terrible garbage in my basement, that was given to me or I bought and now I HAVE to use it” (Note: This remark is related to specific incident with my mother who has a million yards of red heart, and refuses to use anything else, even handspun I give her….FOR FREE) I am addressing the stubbornness of many knitters who have always used this, and will not try anything else, regardless of price. There is yarn almost AS CHEAP that is nice. Please see the list of links at the end of the post.

I think I am NOT a yarn snob, I think I am smart enough to buy a the best quality product for my work I can afford, so that it will last, be of good quality, and be beautiful forever instead of pilling up into a scratchy cheap plastic mess after a wash or two. It will also feel nice while I am using it and be enjoyable to knit with.  To be fair all acrylic is not equal.

I have a newborn infant coming in June and BTW if anyone wants to send me hand-washable wool garments, blankets or whatever, I am OK with that! Moms in this day and age do NOT ALL have to have machine washable items. I wash them all in one go, just like I wash fleeces in cool water, no problem. Many Mothers prefer natural fiber and for very good reasons

Acrylic will melt onto the poor baby/person if there is a fire, whereas wool will protect you from fire. I mean really what are those legislators DOING, this should be a law, get rid of plastic yarn! at least for bed items.

How many contractors do you know who side their houses with plexi-glass? Or even use in windows? Why, isn’t it better???

Why not use Vaseline instead of shortening in pie crusts. sheesh. Its cheaper, oh and it gets rid of hairballs.

My stash is small, but well loved, and I don’t think stash should be tracked too much, if you’re working/knitting and not starving or letting the kids go without shoes then BUY AS MUCH YARN AS YOU DARNED WELL PLEASE. Buy within your budget, but don’t feel you must always buy the cheapest yarn because it’s only a hobby. There is a difference between choosing the best you can afford, and automatically choosing the absolute cheapest because someone will give you a guilt trip if you spend more the $10 on yarn.  Your handknit sweater can cost more than you can buy one for at Wal Mart.  We don’t have to knit to save money on clothes.

Hey, why doesn’t somebody yell at someone who snarfs down at McDonald’s everyday, that’s like $6 a day, $30 a week getting flushed down the toilet. Think about that. HEY and I have a sweater, you just have well, never mind. My yarn purchases can almost ALWAYS be covered by one dinner out, and nobody would ever think to criticize me for doing that, and it gets flushed, it’s gone, right down the john. But knitting, knitting keeps you warm. I don’t spend even remotely $20 per week or even a month on yarn, but I hear that. “Why do you spend all that money on yarn?”

I think we should all embrace our yarn, and darn it, people should just butt out! Go back to their big screens and antique cars, that I would like to point out cost lots of money….Everybody spends their money…on…something…But wool, keeps you warm.

But now, how bout I tell you what I REALLY think? lol

Yarn snob indeed.

PS:

www.thesheepshedstudio.com quality cheap fiber and yarn, from Brown Sheep Co

oh, and we have plenty of it in our shop too. it’s all nice, and all pretty cheap.

www.knitpicks.com

they have lots of very nice yarns, and anyone should be able to save up to buy nice yarn for larger projects with some of their choices.

Finally if you like acrylic, then fine, just say so, and quit calling me snob because I don’t.