Well, I FINALLY found the yarn I need to make my summer sweater. It was discontinued last year, so there’s very little of it left. It originally cost $5.75/ball, now it is $3.00/ball. Seemed cheap, until I realized I needed 13 balls, which will come to about $50.00 (with shipping). :shock: Now I’m not so sure I want to knit that lovely, beautiful sweater. Also, I read about the yarn on Knitters’ Review, and some people complain that it pills after just a few washes. (Would handwashing help with that??) To sum up, I need some persuasion. 
I’m sooo frugal with everything, and I’ve never spent $50.00 on any item of clothing in my life! But I really do love this pattern. HELP!!!
Cheapskate in need of persuasion
I used to cringe at the cost of some of the yarns needed to make nice sweaters. Then I made a sweater. The amount of time involved just isn’t worth using cheap-o yarn for it. If I’m going to make something that I can’t resist making, I want it to last through washing and wearing. I want to love the feel of the yarn in my hands and love the look of the colors and be proud of the finished product.
Look at what happened to Amy’s WOTA sweater.
I’ve not finished my sweater yet, but I agree with Ingrid. There is just way to much time and effort involved to end up having it pill, fall apart or just plain hate it when you are done.
$3 is not alot for a ball of yarn, but I think you did the right thing in reading the reviews…if it pills, then its not worth it. I would want to assume that the reviewers have been washing according to the instructions on the label…it shouldnt pill as long as they are. What yarn is it, by the way?
Being rather ahem frugal myself, I too would be hesitant. Well, hesitant might be an understatement But you have options…
- Find a cheaper, but still pretty (and quality!!) substitute yarn…
- Try to salvage substitute yarn from a thrift-store sweater (I am still boggled over the fact that I got a cashmere sweater for $1… which equals over 200 yds of yarn for a buck!! :cheering: )
- Suck it up and decide that you will love this sweater enough to spend the $50 for the yarn. Hand wash and invest in a sweater shaver.
I absolutely hate when I see that ball of yarn is three dollars and think “Wow, what a deal!” only to find out that it’s only a 50gm ball with maybe 85 yards per ball or so… :wall: but like Ingrid said, if you’re going to spend that much time making something special, make sure it will last and be something you’re proud to wear.
Good luck!!
Thanks for all the input, guys. The yarn is Classic Elite Newport merc. cotton…70 yards/ball. (Click here: http://www.handworksgallery.com/newporty.htm )
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks it’s expensive. (I thought everyone would think I was a super “cheapo”! )
The only problem is, I can’t seem to find an inexpensive alternative. It calls for a bulky cotton yarn as a substitute. Anyone have any ideas?
What about good old Sugar & Cream cotton?
Excuse my ignorance, but who makes “Sugar & Cream”? :??
I have no idea what the pattern looks like or if this would even work but… I used Lion Brand kitchen cotton for a throw - I used 2 strands to bulk it up. It has lasted beautifully and you can get the big spools for $10.00 - I used 4 of these for the entire throw which is really big!
Don’t feel bad about the “cheapo” thing - I am constantly trying to find alternative yarns that fit my budget. I can blow the whole thing on one project or shop around and do lots of projects. :rofling: Well, that’s how it’s supposed to work but I sometimes slip.
Good luck, Angela
It’s Lily Sugar & Cream. It doesn’t have the same finish as the one you posted, but it’s mighy inexpensive, and really does knit up nicely. I’ve made washclothes out of it, but I also did a little dress as a pattern test and it was remarkably nice to handle and the finished stitches looked very smooth and even.
Like the yarn Angela pointed out, I guess it would be considered a kitchen cotton, but there’s certainly not a law. I think Silver posted a picture of a sweatshirt she made with it and it looked wonderful.
I have a bunch of it and will probably make a sweater out of it one day, well, because I have a bunch of it. 
That Sugar & Cream might just work. I’m just not sure if it’s bulky enough. The pattern gauge is 4st/in on sz 9…this yarn is 4 st/in on sz 7. What do you think, Ingrid? And how soft is it??
When you first feel it on the ball, it feels like, well, cotton. Not super soft, not rough. It knits up very smooth and soft, though. It’s possible that it’s not bulky enough, though. I think the other yarn probably knits up looser since it’s probably more slippery. How about making a bigger size with the thinner yarn?
I was wavering between sizes small and medium, so I might just go with a medium and that yarn. I love the colors, and it’s super cheap compared with that other yarn. (Plus, they have the 1 lb. cones on sale now!) Thanks so much for all your help. You’ve made me very happy! 
:cheering: :cheering:
http://www.knittersreview.com/article_yarn.asp?article=/review/product/010308_a.asp
Knitter’s Review didn’t give it a terribly favorable review.
Someone else recommended this…at 12.50 for 205 yards,
5 to 5.5 st on a size 5 to 6 needle
or this at 8.00 for a 215 yard/ball, 5 st on size 6 needle
I’ve heard good things about the Cotton Fleece, I think.
go for it Kaye–I love Sugar n Cream! I bet it’ll look great!
Buying cheap isn’t always as it seems.
http://goknitinyourhat.blogspot.com/2005/12/myth-of-cheap-big-box-craft-store-yarn.html
http://www.airraidsirens.com/blog/archive/2006/01/my_blog_my_rant.html
If I were you, and I knew how much yardage I need for my sweater, I would also check eBay. I got a bunch of Cascade Sierra (like LP Cotton Fleece) for incredibly cheap because the skeins were mislabeled. 1700 yards for 25.00 or so. Pick a yarn, find similar ones, and then look them all up.
Just a warning about the “dishcloth” cotton… the richer colours and the deeper varigated colours have a tendency to bleed and muddy when machine washed. If you are using something that’s bright or bold… do a test swatch first. Delicate cycle, cooler water, or hand washing may prevent this.
Elann has LOTS of cottons to choose from. I’ve used them before to get cotton and they rock in terms of shipping times and low price. Also WEBS has great clearance sales. I got 10 skeins of Jo Sharp DK cotton for $22. Shop around, you’ll find something.
I’m leaning toward the Sugar & Cream, but I was just wondering if anyone has used this yarn…
http://www.yarn.com/yarns-knitting/sohoSummer.html
It’s more expensive than the Sugar & Cream (which I saw in Micheals yesterday, btw, and it is not bulky at all. I’ll definitely make the medium if I use it. It does look nice, though.) 