Charity Shop Finds for the Knitter and Crocheter

Even in Times of Recession, there are Bargains for the Crafter

Oct 23, 2009

Deals can be found in unexpected places, and charity shops can be a great source of Knit and Crochet supplies.

There are many beautiful yarns, hooks and needles available to buy for someone interested in Knitting and Crochet. However, some can be expensive and those new to the craft, or those on a budget, may be reluctant to spend a lot of money on their supplies.

Yarn

Have a rummage through the bric-a-brac basket in your local charity shop, and there is a good chance that yarn will be for sale there. Sometimes there will be full balls complete with bands, clearly showing what’s on offer. More usually, there will be a small bag with two or three part balls of yarn in it.

There is no instant way to tell exactly what the yarn fibre is, and so the buyer has to make an educated guess based on their experience. In the majority of cases, the yarn is likely to be acrylic, as this has been the most popular and inexpensive to buy in the last few years.

Although many knitters and crocheters prefer to use yarn made of natural fibre, the acrylic can be useful. For example, if a stitch or technique is being tried for the first time, acrylic is inexpensive, and usually shows stitches very clearly, allowing the crafter to check that the pattern is going as expected. Acrylic yarns are also good choices for charity knits, as they are machine washable.

It is extremely unlikely that any yarn bundle in a charity shop will contain enough of the same type of yarn for an adult garment. However, with a bit of creativity, such as using colour, then items can be made using the charity shop bargains.

In all cases, knit small sample pieces and wash them, to ensure that the yarn and any finished garment will stand up to normal wear and laundry.

Needles and Hooks

There has recently been controversy about needles in second hand shops, as there have been concerns that they could be used as weapons. Most shops still sell them, however, although you may have to ask on the counter, as they may not be on display.

Many of the needles available second hand will have the old sizes marked on them, rather than the mm gauge. The following is a guide to knitting needle sizes.

Patterns and Books

Many charity shops have baskets full of knitting patterns, and shelves with a selection of crochet books for sale. At a first glance, these can look very old fashioned, but with a little imagination and adaptation, the patterns can be brought up to date.

For example adding or removing a colour detail can make a big difference to a pattern. Many basic shapes for garments have not changed for a number of years, and so a store of vintage patterns can give the crafter the templates for new garments.

Often the yarns used for the original patterns will no longer be available, but by completing a tension swatch and checking it against the pattern, a good substitution can be made.

Knitters and crocheters are keen to support their local yarn stores as much as possible. But by also supporting their local charity shops, bargains can be had, and good causes can be aided.

The copyright of the article Charity Shop Finds for the Knitter and Crocheter in Knitting & Crochet Products is owned by Lesley Arnold-Hopkins. Permission to republish Charity Shop Finds for the Knitter and Crocheter in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.