[wwwdot]

I think I have spotted a few knitters/crafters on this forum...

Would anyone know the average price of a ball of merino-mix yarn in the local shops? Also, are there specific crafts shops or which types of shops would I find the best selection of yarns in? What about fabrics?

I have found a couple of internet shops and was wondering whether the $15 seems the average price for a 50g ball. The merino yarn is expensive in the UK and I was hoping it'd be cheaper in NZ. Any other ideas where to buy from? Ebay in the US?:confused:

And, eugh, my skin cannot handle ordinary wool...:o

[BkyMonster]

Have you looked at TradeMe?
Although, even there looks like you get a better deal if you buy a lot.

[wwwdot]

Have you looked at TradeMe?
Although, even there looks like you get a better deal if you buy a lot.

Even on TradeMe the prices per ball seem about $12-15. And the choice of colours is not always the best (although the pink-yellow mix IS very cheerful;)) So far US eBay seems cheapest but have paid full UK prices as I have been worried about customs etc. duties when buying from US.

Ideally, I also like to feel the yarn and see it and would love a yarn/fabric superstore in NZ. Please, oh please Forumites, tell me that this exists :o

[IanW99]

...
Ideally, I also like to feel the yarn and see it and would love a yarn/fabric superstore in NZ. Please, oh please Forumites, tell me that this exists :o

I'm sure that you won't have any problems e.g. Spotlight - Yarns & Accessories (http://www.spotlight.net.nz/departments/craft/yarns_and_accessories) and I'm sure that there are plenty of better sources than them (IMO).

Where about are you heading to and I'm sure that other forum members will be able to advise on the best shops in their area.

Ian

[nippa&pippa]

Where about are you heading to and I'm sure that other forum members will be able to advise on the best shops in their area.

Ian

:yes you may find little local factory shops or little shops sell them at cheaper price.

[wwwdot]

I'm sure that you won't have any problems e.g. Spotlight - Yarns & Accessories (http://www.spotlight.net.nz/departments/craft/yarns_and_accessories) and I'm sure that there are plenty of better sources than them (IMO).

Where about are you heading to and I'm sure that other forum members will be able to advise on the best shops in their area.

Ian

Spotlight seems great and they have a shop in Dunedin:nice1 Is the only reason you don't like them high prices or...:confused:


:yes you may find little local factory shops or little shops sell them at cheaper price.

Great thanks for the idea! I just noticed that Merinopossum seems to be located in Dunedin.

[nippa&pippa]

Great thanks for the idea! I just noticed that Merinopossum seems to be located in Dunedin.

Just ask the owner of the shops to see if they have any in stock, or not, ask them to take you to the person who selling it at cheaper.

Once you are in NZ and try to mix with local communities, soon or later, person will tell you where you get this, get that at cheaper price ;). Just it is case of you need to get on with kiwis to know what going on behind the scene, like cash works :yes

[IanW99]

Spotlight seems great and they have a shop in Dunedin:nice1 Is the only reason you don't like them high prices or...:confused:
...


I've not got anything against spotlight and would definitely recommend that you check them out, I'm sure that they are a great resource.

But I would expect that you will be able to find a speciality shop would give you better advice and choices.

Ian

[wwwdot]

Once you are in NZ and try to mix with local communities, soon or later, person will tell you where you get this, get that at cheaper price ;). Just it is case of you need to get on with kiwis to know what going on behind the scene, like cash works :yes

Ooh, that should come naturally to me I hope as I tend to be very stingy.Yes, I was hoping to meet like-minded people in Dunedin... I hope there are some knitting circles in NZ ... not sure how popular that is over there (in the UK my knitting circle consists of husband watching TV while I knit next to him:p).

[wwwdot]

I've not got anything against spotlight and would definitely recommend that you check them out, I'm sure that they are a great resource.

But I would expect that you will be able to find a speciality shop would give you better advice and choices.

Ian

Thanks again for the clarification. I am trying to figure out whether I should buy the yarn for my next project here or in NZ (or somewhere else)...

[nippa&pippa]

Should be knitting circle as I couldn't believe how many clubs are there in Ellesmere areas by go look up your local council website for list of local clubs in your areas ;)

Speaking about craft, I am keen crafter but not done much since had kids. My eldest found lots of my craft so i let him making things. But he had left my box full of hema beads...my youngest just managed (10 mins ago:yes) to cracked double lock of the box and spilled all thousands, thousands hema beads over the carpet, argh!:uhoh My next job is need to teach my eldest to put craft kits away once he finish using it.

[migratory birds]

May or may not be related to wool prices but NZ took their sheep husbandry knowledge to China to teach them how to raise sheep/wool and are now the world's largest producer of wool. Apparently the wool market in NZ is bottoming out and sheds are sitting packed full with wool that isn't moving on the global market.

[wwwdot]

Should be knitting circle as I couldn't believe how many clubs are there in Ellesmere areas by go look up your local council website for list of local clubs in your areas

Speaking about craft, I am keen crafter but not done much since had kids. My eldest found lots of my craft so i let him making things. But he had left my box full of hema beads...my youngest just managed (10 mins ago) to cracked double lock of the box and spilled all thousands, thousands hema beads over the carpet, argh!:uhoh My next job is need to teach my eldest to put craft kits away once he finish using it.

:eek: I can just imagine the state of your carpet now...can't wait to have kids, eh:uhoh

I wasn't even thinking of the city council to find clubs...thanks for the idea.


May or may not be related to wool prices but NZ took their sheep husbandry knowledge to China to teach them how to raise sheep/wool and are now the world's largest producer of wool. Apparently the wool market in NZ is bottoming out and sheds are sitting packed full with wool that isn't moving on the global market.

Let's hope this means that in the future my knitting produces socks/beanies/sweaters that are not twice the price I would pay in the shops:roll

[YouMeAndThree]

Sorry for hijacking your thread - but does anyone know if it is easy enough to buy coned wool? I'm bringing my knitting machine with me and hoping to have room to keep it out and in use (in the UK I had to pack it away every time, so it rarely saw the light of day). I'm really getting quite excited at the prospect of having my knitting and sewing stash back in use. The removals men were cursing me Thursday and Friday as I've such a variety of wools and fabrics, it took them ages to box and wrap :p

Lx

[wwwdot]

Sorry for hijacking your thread - but does anyone know if it is easy enough to buy coned wool? I'm bringing my knitting machine with me and hoping to have room to keep it out and in use (in the UK I had to pack it away every time, so it rarely saw the light of day). I'm really getting quite excited at the prospect of having my knitting and sewing stash back in use. The removals men were cursing me Thursday and Friday as I've such a variety of wools and fabrics, it took them ages to box and wrap :p

Lx

I came across some coned ones on TradeMe and then there's my new favorite yarn that is sold on cones as well as balls:
http://www.merinopossum.co.nz/trade.htm

I love the environmental aspect of this yarn!:yes

[JandM]

I know it's not quite as convenient as buying it ready done, but is there not a gadget that will wind wool onto cones?

About knitted/crocheted things costing twice what you'd pay for them ready made - I'm afraid that's certainly true if buying yarn at normal retail outlets in the UK. Then the only advantages are having things that fit better (if the wearer is a non-standard shape/size), and getting the colourway you want. Apart, that is, from the pleasure you feel in doing the craft. I like to have something for my hands to do while watching TV - the sensation is soothing, and I don't feel I'm totally wasting my time.

[Familyofmonkeys]

Our local wool shops sell Merino and also soya yarn for about $10 to $12 per 50g ball. Really feel like a new craft project.....but so far not found anything affordable to make :o

For knitting circles try the bottom of this page:

http://www.knitting.co.nz/site/page_features/

I was expecting craft stuff in general to be cheaper than in UK....bu so far wool/yarn etc doesn't seem much cheaper anywhere, although for beads/jewellery making stuff (dd just started having a go) you can get lots of cheap stuff in k-mart and the warehouse.

[mcacmartin]

Ooohh I can't wait to get down there and start searching out all the great yarn. I just learned to knit about 7 months ago and I love it!!

[wwwdot]

Our local wool shops sell Merino and also soya yarn for about $10 to $12 per 50g ball. Really feel like a new craft project.....but so far not found anything affordable to make :o

For knitting circles try the bottom of this page:

http://www.knitting.co.nz/site/page_features/

I was expecting craft stuff in general to be cheaper than in UK....bu so far wool/yarn etc doesn't seem much cheaper anywhere, although for beads/jewellery making stuff (dd just started having a go) you can get lots of cheap stuff in k-mart and the warehouse.

Soya yarn sounds exciting. Merino prices seem similar than the UK then, last ball of merino/microfibre/cashmere cost 4.50GBP at John Lewis. My "waiting to move to NZ" project is to use leftover yarns to make squares in different patterns than I can make into patchwork pillow covers - that should be cheap. I guess I expected craft stuff to be cheaper...I'll have to adjust my expectations! Thanks for the knitting link:nice1


I know it's not quite as convenient as buying it ready done, but is there not a gadget that will wind wool onto cones?

About knitted/crocheted things costing twice what you'd pay for them ready made - I'm afraid that's certainly true if buying yarn at normal retail outlets in the UK. Then the only advantages are having things that fit better (if the wearer is a non-standard shape/size), and getting the colourway you want. Apart, that is, from the pleasure you feel in doing the craft. I like to have something for my hands to do while watching TV - the sensation is soothing, and I don't feel I'm totally wasting my time.

I agree that it is better not to calculate how much the projects cost:o The pleasure and creative release are unmeasurable. Also, I dislike clothes or home decorations shopping because I have such exact idea of what I want and can obviously never get that in the shops - so I try to make a lot of these things myself. And yes, I feel less quilty of wasting my life in front of the TV when knitting or peeling chickpeas for hummus or whatever...


Ooohh I can't wait to get down there and start searching out all the great yarn. I just learned to knit about 7 months ago and I love it!!

Maybe we should start a picture thread showing our creations...the ENZ knitting club:)

[SarahEDH]

If you're in Wellington try KnitWorld in Lower Hutt. Not a superstore but they have a nice selection and friendly staff.

[JandM]

And yes, I feel less quilty of wasting my life in front of the TV when knitting or peeling chickpeas for hummus or whatever...I've never peeled chickpeas, but the thing I've been doing a lot of lately while they're in season is stringing and slicing runner beans for the freezer, and that's a very satisfying manual task, too.:)

[tea drinker]

My fingers are itching at the thought of Knitworld :clap

Got to ask...what do chickpeas look like before they are peeled? Mine always come out of a tin or are dried and don't need peeling

[JandM]

That's a good question. I hadn't seen them, either. http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=chickpeas&gbv=2

[wwwdot]

My fingers are itching at the thought of Knitworld :clap

Got to ask...what do chickpeas look like before they are peeled? Mine always come out of a tin or are dried and don't need peeling

Yes, Knitworld seems like heaven (to knitters...) - I cannot wait to start knitting a sweater with 70% Merino/30% Silk at a very reasonable price!

I used to make hummus with chickpeas straight from a tin but then an Middle-Eastern colleague of mine recommended to try peeling the chickpeas before making hummus and I have never looked back... Chickpeas from a tin have a (glaucoma-like) thin, white skin that I remove by gently squeezing - the skin must also exist for dried and rehydrated chickpeas (I never use them as they never seem to get as nice and soft as the ones from a tin...any tips?). Anyway, to cut the long story short - the peeled chickpeas make a heavenly hummus!!!:D