Comments on: I’m NOT a Yarn Snob!

By: Nicole

Nicole — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:32:22 +0000

Buying the cheapest you can find will rarely save you money in the long run – this isn’t just true for yarn – and it’s sad when people don’t realize this because it leads to so much extra garbage.

(A small off-topic rant, though: if you’re talking about hydrogenated shortening, you might do almost as well to use the Vaseline. And yet I get in trouble with some people if they find out I use butter and lard; too many animal products, I guess.)

By: Beau

Beau — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:13:40 +0000

“I still only manage to spend about £40 per month on average.”

“only”.

I like top quality, but £40 per month is still a lot of money for yarn in my book.

By: Diane

Diane — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 10:57:39 +0000

Whoo! Go girl, you’re saying everything I want to write up on a billboard one of these days.

I am definitely not restrained when it comes to buying yarn, and I always buy top quality cause I’m a snob and yet, I still only manage to spend about £40 per month on average. I couldn’t get a gym membership for that.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 13:33:43 +0000

Allena, I got your email about the patterns and photos, but I’m in Kentucky and for some reason can’t SEND email with the internet connection the Marriott made me PURCHASE (arggggg). I will email you what you asked for on the 14th….

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:55:42 +0000

I believe that acrylic yarns have their place. While some Mothers have no problem hand washing baby/kid items, many people I know would never get around to washing them unless they could go into the washer and dryer. Yes, there is also superwash wool, but I have felt acrylics much softer then many wools. Some are actually much better than they used to be.

By: Em

Em — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:07:15 +0000

“Why not use Vaseline instead of shortening in pie crusts. sheesh.”

Firstly, eww. Secondly, yep, you’re totally right! That’s pretty-much how I feel about plastics in general — why is there so much pressure to go synthetic, when the natural products are healthier and nicer? And since I’m always on a budget, why not make sure I go for the best I can get, if that’s the little I get to work with?

I have been a sewer longer than a knitter, and an avowed ‘natural fiber snob’ for all my crafts. Wool, cotton, linen… you name it, I bet it’s nicer than it’s synthetic counterpart.

By: Lilleduck

Lilleduck — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:50:19 +0000

I do confess to being a yarn and fiber snob. I havent always been though. I used to shop cheap wool yarn and even acrylic, but then I found the nice yarn, and I can afford it. I think that spinning has made me more aware of the fiber and quality in yarn. I do envy you the sheep and all the wool, but I don’t have the place for sheep, I am getting some angora rabbit and then I get to buy wool and shopping is fun! I have aquired some sheep owning friends here with the purpose og getting my hands on raw fleece, and maybe getting to cut it myself of the sheep.

By: Allena

Allena — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 11:56:41 +0000

Beau,
For someone who is supposed to be using it, you are seriously unaware on the stash and it’s current state of affairs.

1. I have used and or sold about 40 pounds of our fiber

2. We have “maybe” 4 pounds of yarn. I used all of the huge skien except for about one pr of socks worth.

We are yarn impoverished and fiber deficient. Luckily the sheep will be sheared/plucked or something next Spring, so we should get around 40 pounds of new fiber. How do other spinners manage without owning sheep?

By: Carrie

Carrie — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 04:56:46 +0000

I don’t have anything worthwhile to add but just YAY! Excellent post and excellent points!

I’d rather spend more money and have something that is a pleasure to knit and to wear than save a few dollars and hate the project all the way through.

By: Beau

Beau — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:54:39 +0000

We have something like 100 lbs of roving of various shades and colors, including the wool and blends of various sheep breeds, alpaca, and blends with angora, and who knows what else. We also have probably 10 to 20 lbs of yarn that is either wool or a wool blend with other natural fibers.

We have no earthly need to by yarn, and yet we still do, and invariably we buy some kind of wool or natural fiber. Sometimes with a little synthetic something mixed in, but mostly 100% natural. Why? Because it just feels nicer. If that makes me a yarn snob, well then I shall point my nose proudly in the air! hahaha!

If synthetic fibers are your thing, well I guess that makes you a yarn snob too…your just a synthetic snob