Where to Get Your Yarn Fix-My Top Six

What is your porn? For some people porn is their porn, but for me yarn is porn. I am sure if scientists hooked me up to heart rate, and brain wave activity monitors they'd see just how stimulated I get from looking at photos of yarn. While it may not be sexual stimulation I am talking about I spend a lot of time shopping for yarn online and in real life at my Local Yarn Shops (LYS). Sometimes I "have to look" because it is my job. I've gotta know who has the best deals on yarn and it has to be top quality too-I've gotta business to run ya know. I have tried all sorts of avenues to get my yarn fix and today is your lucky day 'cause I am here to share them with you!

photo from Elann.com website
"sample skeins subscription"

Elann.com

Elann is a Canadian-based company, yet I am sure that they ship worldwide-but as usual rates are probably better if you live in North America (if someone has purchased from them from outside N.A. please share your experience in the comments section)
I have been buying yarn from these guys for a long time and you don't get much better than this in terms of quality and price. Shipping is super quick, packed nicely and includes their latest brochure on newly released or upcoming yarn releases.
Elann has their own brand and carries some famous brands too like Noro, Debbie Bliss, Ella Rae, Araucania, Berocco and more! They've also got books, but you'll get better deals on those on Amazon or Knit Picks (when they have their sale). However, they do have a customer loyalty program. Once you spend $500 you get $50 to spend on more yarn and if you purchase books you get a certain number of vouchers per book that earn you $2.50 off every yarn order over $25.
Honestly, Elann's prices are like getting good yarn at wholesale price and that makes me very, very happy.

Image from the Knit Picks website.
This sock kit is currently on sale here

Knit Picks

I purchased my yarn swift for $50 (they have a swift sale from time to time-so always wait until it goes on sale). It was the best price I could find for the quality. I realize I am not talking about yarn here, but an indispensable tool for any yarn hoarder, so you can appreciate! The swift is all wood, is packaged well and ships quickly. It gets the job done and I have no complaints. I am sometimes not a careful person, but I take care of my swift because the parts that make up the umbrella seem fragile so I'd say be nice to your swift if you get one, and you and your swift should have many happy years together.
My plan is to start purchasing yarn from Knit Picks. They seem to have a very nice selection, prices are great too. They have a really pretty website and it is full of inspiration. I urge you to check it out! I adore the kits they put together and if you like knitting socks you can buy a kit to make five pairs for as little as $26!



Oregon Trail Yarn

This Ebay shop is one of my faves because I can save money on Brown Sheep Company's Lamb's Pride. This shop sells "mill ends" and the good stuff on cones and saves you a bundle! Mill ends in my experience just means there are a couple of knots in the skein of yarn, which for me is no big deal. I found Oregon Trail to have great customer service, quick shipping and fantastic product and prices. You really can't go wrong.



Craigslist

You probably know this already, but Craig's may have a site for your community where people buy and sell and post announcements. When I was first building up my yarn stash, I trolled Craigslist religiously. You gotta be quick and you gotta be willing to travel across town for a potential good deal. I have NEVER had a bad experience shopping here, but please use your common sense when meeting sellers. Go with a friend, don't go in their house, do what you are comfortable doing and what seems reasonable. In addition to individual sellers, many shop owners post announcements on Craigslist to remind customers about store sales...so keep checking!

Image from the Ravelry home page.

Ravelry

Ravelry is an online community of knitters and crocheters and spinners. If you aren't one of the one million members, NOW is your time to get your free membership. There are more benefits to Ravelry than just shopping for yarn. You can make friends, learn about local Stitch N Bitch groups, get support, find patterns, share patterns, catalogue your stash and tools. Individuals will post yarn for sale or trade from their stash and often if you join the right group you'll learn about "secret" sales. Ravelry is a necessary resource.

Etsy

Seek and you will find on Etsy. Go to the search bar and type in what you're looking for. I like to search "handspun yarn" or "hand painted yarn" choose "supplies" from the drop-down menu on the left and away you go. Pages and pages and pages of yarny goodness. Go to Etsy when you need to splurge and when you are in the mood for something special. Delayed gratification is okay, trust me, your yarn will arrive in the mailbox and suddenly you'll say "today is a good day".

Tell me about your favorite yarn sellers...How do you get your yarn fix?

Athabasca Spring Scarf Knitting Pattern

This lightweight spring/summer scarf is named for the Athabasca River, which can be seen clearly from the air as one arrives to the well-known oil town, Fort McMurray, Alberta. I began knitting this scarf just before my journey up to the northern Alberta town and completed it while there visiting my mother. The colours that appear in these sumptuous yarns remind me of hues of green and blue that can be seen from the airplane window high above the town. It is beautifully stunning countryside!

Materials
Yarn A: 1 skein of Punta Cotton Hand Paint  Colour Hp10 (100 % cotton/ 214 meters, 235 yards/ 100 grams)
Yarn B: 1 skein of Nuna by Mirasol Shade 1017 (40% wool, 40% silk, 20% bamboo/175 meters, 191 yards/ 50 grams) 
1 pair of 6mm knitting needles


Notes
This pattern is really all about the yarn. If you choose beautiful yarns, your scarf will look amazing! This pattern is very simple and is great for beginners or experienced knitters that want a great pattern to sit and relax with.
Yarn B will be carried along the side when you knit the rows of yarn A. Just simply wrap A and B around one another when you carry B so that yarn B is hugged more tightly to the edge of the scarf thus diminishing the appearance of a loop.

Instructions
With A CO 47 sts
Row 1-3: k
Row 4: With B *k1, yo twice, k1* repeat to end
Row 5: continuing with B *k1, slip 2 yo off needle, k1* repeat to end
Row 6-9: with A k 4 rows
Row 10: with B *k1, yo, k1* repeat to end
Row 11: continuing with B *k1, slip yo off needle, k1* repeat to end
Repeat Rows 1-11 until your yarn is nearly finished. End with 3 knit rows in yarn A. BO loosely and weave in ends.

The Little Man Sweater Vest

Size: Three Years

Materials

2 balls of Mission Falls 1824 wool in Denim

3 balls of Mission Falls 1824 wool in Cocoa

5mm knitting needles

5.5mm knitting needles

yarn needle

tape measure

Guage

4.5 sts x 6 rows = 1" on 5.5mm needles in stockinette stitch

Sweater vest is knit in two pieces from the bottom to the top.

To Begin

Using 5mm needles and cocoa

CO 64sts

Row 1-14: k2, p2 repeat across row

Switch to 5.5mm needles and using denim

Row 15: k all stitches

Row 16: p all stitches

Row 17-36 (20 rows): continue working all rows in stockinette stitch

Row 37 (decrease row): k4, ssk, k to last 6 sts, k2tog, k to end

Repeat rows 17-37 twice more working your decrease row on the right side only

After last dec work 5 rows of stockinette st.

Armhole decrease:

BO 4 sts at beg of next two rows

(RS) Change to denim and k to end

(WS) k1, p1 repeat to end

(RS) p1, k1 repeat to end

the last two rows form the moss stitch pattern, continue in moss st for remaining rows

next RS row: dec 1 st at each end of row and following two right side rows

When piece measures 4" from beg of moss st patt, on right side, work 15 sts in patt and place on stitch holder, BO centre 14sts, work rem sts

now working shoulder dec one st at neck edge of following three rows (12 sts)

work 4 more rows and BO

Join yarn with shoulder sts on holder and work as for other shoulder, decreasing at neck edge.

Repeat patt to make other side of vest.

Sew side seams and shoulder seams, weave in ends.

Schematics

I welcome any questions or comments!