You don’t need me to tell you that crocheting has exploded in recent years. It doesn’t have to be yet another expensive hobby. You really can crochet on a budget! 

Gone are the days that you would only see your grandma or great aunt crocheting afghans for everyone. Now this hobby has captured the attention of our younger generations and is a hot trend in fashion. But yarn can be expensive, especially if one project requires 2 to 3 (or more) skeins of it to finish. Not to mention the additional tools you need for your finishing touches and any books that you think you’ll need to get going.

Trust me, I get it… starting this hobby may not be cheap. Unless you were lucky enough to inherit all of great-aunt Ethel’s never-ending supply of yarn and crochet supplies. But lucky for us, there are some easy ways to accumulate what you need at a low cost.

Crocheting on a budget can be fun if you know the right places to look.

I have compiled a list of 6 creative ways to find your crocheting supplies without breaking the bank. Because let’s be honest, unless you are planning to get into crocheting to be able to sell everything you make (and actually sell those items right away),  chances are your finished projects will be made for you or friends and family as gifts; so why spend a ridiculous amount of money when you don’t have to? Oh, and I should mention that you won’t be compromising price for quality either. I assure you that you will score on some pretty amazing findings using these tips.

1. Thrift stores

If you are already a thrifter, then you probably know that there is no shortage in the yarn section. People are constantly donating their yarn that most likely hasn’t been used or touched in years. I have gone to some stores where there are huge bins of yarn for less than $5 a piece.

It won’t happen every time, but you might even come across some very elegant and typically high-priced new yarn at a super discounted price. I recently bought a bag of yarn for $2.99 with about 5 skeins in it that had a brand new skein of alpaca wool yarn! 

If on the rare occasion, your thrift store doesn’t have any yarn, try looking at the sweater section. If you happen to see a knit sweater that is of larger type yarn, you can unravel it and re-purpose that yarn for your project! 

So, if you haven’t already, be sure to check out your local thrift stores for yarn and you might even be able to find some crochet hooks and some good “How-To” books while you’re at it.

 2. Crochet Groups

There can be many potential benefits to joining a crochet group. One in particular is networking. I mean this not so much in a professional sense, but for resources and tips of the trade. You might find yourself learning some great techniques to help you get better and there probably will be opportunities where members will give away certain things like extra crochet hooks, yarn, etc. It’s one of those things that you get way more out of than you might have thought.

 3. Be Resourceful

What I mean by this is that there are some things that stores want you to think that you need but really, you most likely already have something in your home to get the job done. For example, there are patterns that require stitch markers. Yes, you certainly can go to the craft store and buy those fancy stitch markers but this is unnecessary! There are many different items that I bet you already have that can serve the exact same purpose and they include:

• bobby pins
• little scrap pieces of yarn
• safety pins
• paperclips

I once even used a set of my earrings… I was really in a pinch at the time being that I was a passenger in the car. 

You can also get creative when you want to try out amigurumi (crochet stuffed animals). There is the traditional fluffy stuffing you can buy but, if you don’t have the time or extra money for that, you can try using extra yarn you have. This is pretty cool because it gives the figure more of a firm finished look. 

There are ways you can be resourceful with your “yarn” too. There is such a thing known as t-shirt yarn and it is exactly as what it sounds. It is made out of t-shirts, and yes, you can make it yourself! Now, it is worth mentioning that not every project you do will look great using this sort of “yarn”, but it does make a pretty neat and sturdy basket. Other things you can make with it are:

• Macrame wall hangings
• Purses
• Macrame Plant hangers
• Rugs
• Seat covers

 4. Subscribe to Craft Stores

By subscribing to your local craft store you can sometimes earn rewards when you purchase items and they will send you emails telling you about their latest sales. Sometimes stores will have some crazy sale or coupon that otherwise you might miss out on if you didn’t subscribe. I have taken advantage of bogo yarn sales on many occasions thanks to the emails I received. I know it’s sometimes the last thing you want to do when you are cashing out and they ask you if you have signed up yet, or if you are a rewards member, or whatever but honestly, in the long run you will be saving money from those few extra minutes you took at the register. 

 5. YouTube and the Internet

If you don’t know this by now, YouTube is an amazing resource when you want to learn how to do just about anything. Rather than spending money on a class or a book, check out YouTube and other websites that can give you really good lessons on learning how to crochet. You can even check out some of my own videos here while you are at it.

Be sure to also take advantage of the numerous free patterns out there on the internet. With a little research, you will be able to find the pattern for exactly what you are looking for at no cost!  

 6. The Library

If you are someone that prefers books to videos, the library is also a great resource to use. Here you can find some awesome crochet tutorial books and cd’s (do people still use cd’s?). Also, remember that crochet group that I suggested earlier? This is most likely the place where you will be able to join one! They may not have this in particular, but I know that my library has a huge magazine selection too… so you might even be able to find some craft magazines that can help you along on your crochet journey as well.  

As you can see, there are so many ways that you can save money when you need to buy items for your crochet project. All it takes is a little creativity and willingness to look for those ways to save. But, I have found that when using these tips (in my case the thrift stores in particular), I think you’ll find it extremely satisfying when you do find exactly what you are looking for and end up with an amazing finished crochet project. 

If you have any other suggestions of how to crochet on a budget please leave a comment and let me know