I would not call myself a yarn snob but the more I see of the yarns at our new LYS the more in love I fall with them. Now going to Micheals does not see so fun or JoAnne’s. However, it is expensive so what I do is go in and feel everything and dream about what projects I am going to make someday with them. I use the good yarn on certain projects where it really matters and on others that i want to be really, really washable I use the cheaper yarn. some yarns I won’t use as is not soft or it frays or whatever. I have never been afraid to show a yarn label however.
I’m an anti-snob.
There are plenty of natural fibers I’d like to make stuff out of, but there’s no way I’m paying that much so I can put that much more labor into something.
A wool blanket I made would’ve been over $350 just for the yarn if it wasn’t on clearance.
I compare everything to the cost to buy it pre-made.
I wont work with a yarn I don’t like the feel of. Brands don’t mean a damned thing to me. I HATE noro yarns, esp kureyon because it’s scratchy and full of vegetable matter, it’s pretty to look at, but murder to my senses to touch. I also like caron Simply soft, but I can’t stand the feel of any of the red heart yarns that I’ve had contact with. Also, whenever I can I will work with wool or another natural fiber over acrylic. Fiber content does affect the outcome of a project and I prefer the look and feel of natural, blockable fibers in a FO. Every fiber has it’s place in a knitters stash, and every knitter has fiber preferances.
The lady at my LYS tried to steer me to $8 yarn for dish cloth making which I thought was ridiculous! When it became obvious that I was sticking to my ball of Sugar & Creme she walked away. I’ve found my LYS to be very intimidating. The yarns are beautiful but I get the feeling the employees look down their noses at me if I don’t snap up the most expensive stuff. Maybe its just me, or maybe I won’t feel that way after I’ve knitted awhile and have more confidence.
Look at it as shopping for anything. The clerk is going to try to upsell you whatever you’re shopping for. There is generally a higher profit margin on the higher end merchandise, I imagine yarn would be the same.
Would you let a clerk talk you into a more expensive appliance than you wanted? More expensive clothing?
I can empathize because it’s difficult for me to stand up and say no when pressured. I spent $50 on 6 skeins of yarn at my LYS just because the owner looked so desperate for a sale. I think it may be the only sale she made all week. I still think of how much more I could have gotten at Knitpicks for that money.
Maybe I’d better stay away from the LYS. I don’t like to be pressured and I’m sure it won’t help their customer base any if I yell, “You want me to pay $100 to make a sweater? Are you going to knit it for me?”
I even got loud when Walmart tried to rip me off for $40 on a bad DTV converter box (offered to refund my $9 but was going to keep the $40 no re-issue coupon).
I hate stupid and I really hate getting ripped off. When stupid tries to rip me off I boil over. 
I feel fortunate that my job takes me overseas and I can buy some really nice yarn… at “NORMAL” prices. I do buy yarn-- because, I know that when I get to AMERICA again… this school teacher can’t afford to pay the LYS prices that they charge for the same yarns.
So, I’m looking at my yarn stash as an investment… for my current and future knitting… (does that excuse to buy yarn work?):teehee:
I think any day that ends in Y is a great excuse to buy yarn, so that works perfectly in my world. Now if you want to buy some of that great yarn, and pass on the savings to the rest of us, it would be great.
I went to my knitting group and proudly showed my yarn labels and all. There are still snobs there but others ohh and ahhed over my yarn. YEA!!! At the store the owner had this project bag with three hole in the top for you to thread yarn through. If was kinda netty and had a zipper closer but the price almost made me faint. It is a nice little bag for keeping yarns separated and not twisted and the cost $35.00. I would rather but her expensive yarn. I don’t know where she gets them but they are really selling. I use plastic zip lock bags with holes cut on the sides to thread the yarn through. She doesn’t pressure you to buy yarn but there is yarn there I would love to try!!!
My friends in England and Australia would love to get their hands on some of our yarns because they are so much cheaper here. Import duties are costly for them. Every so often I send them some yarn. It is costly to send it now as the countries got together and created one way to send packages and it usually cost twenty dollar or better. I used to be ables to send for around eight but the governments took care of that.
I would love the opportunity to be a yarn snob ;), but my funds just don’t allow it. I’m a huge fan of Simply Soft, Wool-Ease (which goes on great sales!), and another soft yarn. I love KnitPicks yarns since they are priced well and have free shipping if you spend $50.
BUT - if I can find a great sale - I will try some of the more expensive yarns. I just bought 4 balls of Noro from Little Knits for $4.65 a ball. Yes, that is still pretty expensive, but I plan on making hats for Christmas gifts. I’m usually willing to spend a little bit more if I’m knitting a gift.
I knit up my first hat this week and I love it. Not enough to pay full price, but I do love it!! (Check out my blog for pictures.)
I am a natural fibers freak but not a brand snob. I care about fiber and quality and that’s all. I’ve been using a lot of Lion Wool and Wool Ease because I can afford them. If they are not good I don’t know it yet. I love Knitpicks because I can get good stuff so cheaply. I have to use acrylics for charity projects but really only like I Love This Yarn and Vanna’s Choice. I don’t like to touch Simply Soft. I’m odd.
My Lion Wool hat is warm, not scratchy and has held up to a few hand washings.
I’d comment about it as a thick sock yarn but that pair came out too tight so it’s thin and allows a draft to hit my skin. For what little I’ve worn them it seems OK though and definitely warmer than store bought suit socks.
Lion is one of my personal “snob” brands
I live in a small town with no LYS. The only places within about 50 miles that I can buy yarn is Walmart and Michaels (we JUST got a Michaels, before that it was only Walmart). So I make due with what they have and I learn to appreciate it.
I’d love to have a quaint little yarn shop and to be able to buy exotic yarn, but I can’t do that unless I’d like to go on a road trip (and have the spending money I don’t usually have). Sure I can buy yarns online, but I like to feel the yarn and to see the exact color choices with my own eyes.
Maybe one day I’ll open my own little yarn shop. 
I have had car issues since last fall and thought they were very serious and since I was unemployed I didn’t get it fixed until this week. Now that I am mobile again I cannot wait to hit my LYS’s. I looked them all up and put their numbers and addresses in my cell phone back in the winter. I should go check the closest one out today but I have nothing to spend today. I should anyway.
Thanks for the feedback on Lion! I have been buying the wool for myself but haven’t completed or washed anything yet. I do like it so far. I stocked up on three skeins each of six different colors (ordered fom Jo-Anns and got free shipping) so I could crank out some alligator scarves for kids in the family. I hope they love them and don’t get itchy. I don’t think any have allergies. My mom saw the pattern and keeps pointing out acrylics that she thinks would be cute but I want to do it in washable wool. She knits in acrylics and I’m very self-conscious of not saying anything to sound like a snob. I have been weird about natural fibers since middle school but I’m not snobby about them on others. I would never want to make anyone else feel bad about their choices. You should use what you love to touch.
First of all, Mathwizard, I don’t think you should worry about the yarn you buy, as much as the people you knit with!
I am a yarn snob, but like Ingrid, I knit for my pleasure. I don’t have a stash. I knit everything I buy and only buy when I’m ready for a new project. I may spend $150 on a sweater for myself, but I don’t go near a Starbucks, check out books from the library and never hit the mall unless I have to.
All that being said, I would never comment on something a person was knitting, other than to praise her/him on a job well done.
Jana