15 Ways Thrifty Knitters Save Money On Yarn (2024)

This post won’t show just knitters how to save money on yarn, but of course, those who crochet too. I couldn’t fit both in the title, and since I love to knit and can barely crochet, I decided to go with thrifty knitters.

My addiction to knitting started with the pregnancy of my second child. I developed a condition that caused me to need to have my feet elevated most of the day ( I will spare you the details as of the condition).

I don’t like sitting for long periods of time, and it was driving me a bit crazy. My mom was visiting and decided to teach me to knit. We started with a dishcloth, and let me tell you it was a long, long road before I knitted one that was at all square.

Once I got the hang of it, though, I was hooked. Knitting gives my fidgeting hands something to do. I knit while my husband drives. I knit while waiting for events to start. I knit while watching TV. I have even been known to knit while waiting in line at the drive-thru window.

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1. Freecycle

A friend of mine once got a huge tote full of yarn for zero money spent off of the website Freecycle. Granted, some of the yarn wasn’t usable due to it being tangled or not of high quality, but some of it was, and the usable yarn was well worth the drive to pick it up.

If you live in a big center where Freecycle is active, you might want to keep an eye out for yarn.

If your area doesn’t have a Freecycle see if perhaps it has an active Buy Nothing Facebook group.

2. eBay

You can find yarn in lots on eBay for great deals.

3. Craigslist

I searched my local Craigslist and was surprised at how much yarn was listed for sale. These are mostly “lot” deals meaning the seller has a bunch of different types of yarn they are selling for a take it all for …….price.

4. Facebook Buy & Sell Groups Or Facebook Marketplace

I couldn’t see any yarn currently listed for sale on my local Facebook buy & sell groups but, my guess is if I see yarn available to buy on Craigslist and eBay, people will also list it for sale on Facebook.

5. Estate Sales & Yard Sales

When a loved one who was a knitter passes away, often, no one wants the yarn stash, and so it ends up at an estate sale.

Other times someone gets ambitious and decides they are going to learn to knit this year and so they buy half a dozen balls of yarn thinking they will make a blanket as their first project only to get several rows in and decide knitting isn’t for them. When this happens, they sell it for .50 cents a ball at their next yard sale and those who knit treasure the find.

6. Purchase It On Sale

Yarn goes on sale frequently at a craft store like Micheals, Hobby Lobby and Joann. Sign up to receive their emails and mailed flyers so that you are notified of current sales. Also, don’t forget to look for sales at department stores that are not craft exclusive but do sell yarn and do put it on sale from time to time like Meijer.

7. Use A Coupon

When you join the email clubs of all the stores mentioned above, you will start receiving coupons that you can use on yarn. This is how I buy a lot of the yarn I use for my dishcloths. Another way to receive coupons from these stores is to download their apps.

And here is a money-saving tip I don’t think a lot of knitters know about — the app Ibotta often offers cashback on in-store purchases at Joann’s. Go here to sign up for Ibotta.

8. Take Apart Sweaters

Google how to take apart an old sweater so that you can reuse the yarn in a new project.

9. Make Your Yarn By Repurposing Items You No Longer Use

I have knitted dishcloths from homemade t-shirt yarn before. Although I didn’t find that they made very good dishcloths, I did find that they made excellent floor cleaning cloths. I have seen others knit t-shirt yarn into floor mats.

You can also make yarn out of plastic bags (it is called plarn) that you can crochet into an easily cleanable beach bag or shopping bag.

Fabric can be made into yarn and then knitted or crocheted into different items too. If you have sheets you don’t use that are like new, fabric yarn would be a great way to put them to use.

10. Clearance

Non-knitters might have a hard time believing this, but yarn is seasonal. There are spring colors, fall colors, and winter colors. I often find yarn marked down to as much as 75% off and sometimes even 90% off. Search end caps and clearance aisle.

11. Search For Yarn In Discount & Dollar Stores

I have found name brand yarn for $1 a skein at my local dollar store before. Big Lots gets in yarn from time to time. I have seen yarn in closeout stores as well. Keep your eye out where ever you shop.

12. Use A Discount Gift Card

If you purchase your yarn at a retail store like Joann or Michaels, you might want to check out discounted gift cards from MyGift CardPlus which is available to members of Swagbucks and MyPoints before you shop. This can save you an additional 5 to 10 percent or more on your purchases.

13. Sell Enough Of Your Work To Pay For Your Habit

I have done this for years. Each year I set up an album on Facebook and sell my dishcloths to my friends. I don’t sell them for high prices, just enough to keep me in yarn for the next year, no profit made as I give away more than I sell.

This means I can knit all year long and not have it affect our family budget.

14. Find Small Projects To Use Up Your Odds & Ends

I love using the ends of my cotton yarn to make little round scrubbies. Search Pinterest for projects like mug cozies, ear warmers, boot cuffs, cell phone holders, and you will get lots of ideas for small projects that can make sure you get every penny possible out of your ball of yarn. I pin the ones I find to my All Things Yarn Pinterest Board.

15. Join Point Programs & Cash-Out For Amazon Cards To Buy Yarn

Amazon often has great deals on yarn and yarn supplies. You can earn gift cards to spend on your purchases at Amazon through various point programs. Here are a few of my favorites

• Swagbucks: I have had readers tell me they have earned $100 a month using Swagbucks
• InstaGC: I love that InstaGC gift cards are instant, here are 4 of my favorite ways to earn with InstaGC
• PrizeRebel: With a $2 Amazon gift card option set at just 200 points, it doesn’t take long to earn some yarn stash money through PrizeRebel.
• For more point programs, check out my list of 18+ point programs to help you earn $50 or more in gift cards each month.

Thrifty Knitters and those of you who crotchet have I left out any ways to save on yarn?

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