5 Tips for Knitting or Crocheting on a Budget

It can be really discouraging to find a cool hobby and then see the price tag attached and know it’s out of reach for you. With some hobbies, there aren’t many choices to help with this particular problem, but fortunately, fiber arts don’t have to fall into that category! Knitting and crocheting on a budget is possible! There are a couple areas in this craft where you can be frugal and really open up the financial accessibility. In this article, I’m going to share some of my tips and thoughts on how to crochet and/or knit on a budget.

Basic aluminum crochet hooks are the cheapest option, but can be hard on your joints.

It can surprise newcomers to the craft, but there are a lot of tools that can be pushed toward knitters and crocheters as being “necessary.” Many times, they’re things that can make the hobby more convenient, but they aren’t actually strictly necessary. For example, blocking mats are definitely really helpful, but there are plenty of people who make do laying their work out on towels. You don’t need to buy every little tool that exists, especially when you’re just starting out. The tools that are actually necessary can vary depending on your project, but at the most basic level all you need is yarn and a good set of needles or hooks. As you continue on with the craft, you can identify the tools that will actually benefit you the most and prioritize those, so you aren’t spending a lot on tools you might not even use.

When you’re looking for crochet hooks or knitting needles, keep in mind what your needs are. Do you need a bunch of different sizes of hook or needles, or are you finding that all your favorite patterns call for the same three sizes? There are some affordable sets of hooks and needles out there, but definitely check the reviews on those products to make sure they aren’t prone to breaking or other problems. You don’t want to have to buy your basic tools more than once! And when looking at crochet hooks in particular, consider your physical needs as well—some folks can get by with the cheap, basic aluminum hooks, but others needs the ergonomic hooks to keep their joints from protesting.

Finding patterns is a huge rabbit hole, but it’s one that lots of people happily tumble down. There are so many beautiful things to make! And best of all, this is one area where you might not have to spend any money at all. There are so many wonderful independent artists out there creating patterns and posting them online, which means all you need to do is a little Google searching to find a bunch of free patterns. Some of these are on the artists’ personal websites, or on YouTube in a video tutorial format, but you can also join community sites like Ravelry to find large databases of patterns (though you may need to filter for the free ones). Companies like Lion Brand Yarn, Yarnspirations, and Hobbii all have catalogues of free patterns on their websites as well. And never forget that your local library might have some awesome pattern books that you can check out!

I really like Hobbii for their yarn options, free patterns, and how frequently I can get what I need on sale.

Yarn can be one of the most expensive parts of the craft, depending on the fiber. Wool and wool blends can be upwards of $30 for a single skein, and if you’re making a larger item like a sweater, you’ll probably need several skeins. Even with a more affordable fiber like acrylic, the costs can add up! But if you’re willing to be be patient, you can get a good deal on yarn if you know how to go about it. Stores like Michaels and Joann Fabrics will often have coupons or sales that can help decrease the cost of supplies (and not just for yarn! If you’re looking to buy a set of crochet hooks or knitting needles, using a 40% off coupon is a great idea). If the yarn that you are using doesn’t have dye lots (generally marked on the labels), you can buy what you need for a project over time, taking advantage of coupons as they appear. Online stores like Hobbii will also have frequent sales. Get on a couple mailing lists so that you get updates on upcoming deals.

It’s also possible to keep costs down by limiting yourself to certain types of projects. Smaller projects use less yarn, as one might guess, and that directly translates to less cost. Can’t afford to make a full sweater? Try a sweater vest, or a winter hat, a shawl, etc. There are entire books full of “one skein” projects, and a number of brands of yarn cakes (frequently with pretty color gradients, too), where a single cake of yarn is large enough to make an entire project. Cutting down the amount of yarn you need to buy with some strategic pattern picking is a very helpful way to decrease the cost of the craft.

This shawl was crocheted with one Scheepjes Whirl yarn cake and a free pattern from designer Wilma Westenberg’s YouTube channel.

This is extremely hit-or-miss, but you can find some great deals on secondhand yarn or hooks/needles. Some thrift stores will have craft supplies available, though what kind of yarn and how much of it you’ll be able to find is a huge question mark. It might not even be a full skein. This option works best if you’re planning to make a scrappy project like a granny square blanket. There is a secondhand store in St. Paul specifically for art supplies: the ArtScraps Reuse Center. You may have more luck finding yarn or tools there than at a general thrift store. And of course don’t forget to check local “buy nothing” groups to see if anybody in your neighborhood is looking to pass on old crochet and knitting supplies. There’s no guarantee that you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for when you start looking at secondhand supplies, but you can find some great surprises, and it’s a very affordable option.

Okay! There are five tips for making your knit or crochet habit a little more wallet-friendly. I hope that at least a couple were new ideas that can help you out! If you have any tips or tricks of your own, go ahead and post a comment down below. Happy crafting!

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K. N. Hamann is a graduate student in biology and education. What time she doesn’t spend in a laboratory or doing schoolwork she devotes to various geeky pursuits. Her favorite pastime is marrying the joy of artistic creation with whatever her current fandom obsession is.

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