Blue Moon Fiber Arts has a very good article about the cost of wool . . fiber in general . . going up. I remember when the same thing happened with quilting fabric. Blue Moon is one shop but I have a feeling we’ll be hearing about more and more price increases. I had already heard about a few in the past couple of months.
It isn’t a big increase. Targhee Worsted, for example, is going from $36 to $38 per skein. Three skeins will cost me $6 more. I won’t complain.
For the most part, the price increases I’m hearing about are not going to stop me from ordering yarn occasionally. I’ve already cut back because (1) I have more than I’ll ever use and (2) As they say about retirement . . I have twice the husband and half the paycheck! 🙂
I feel really bad for shop owners. Many are operating on a slim margin already. Without a doubt, there are people who will continue to buy, no matter how high the prices but there are some who are pushing their limits now and will find less expensive yarn. There are plenty of less expensive yarns that are not fine – Knit Picks, Hobby Lobby, etc. But, for me, buying yarns from the yarn shops with so many choices of weight, color, content . . the variety just isn’t there when I get away from the bigger online shops.
This just proves to me that my stash is priceless! I’m so glad that I’ve built it up while Vince was working (and not seeing what arrived here).
The cost of everything increases . . it’s happened as long as I can remember. We continue to do what we do — support the shop owners, indie dyers and our hobbies.
vivoaks says
I did the same thing with my fabric purchases, since I sew a lot more than I knit or crochet. While hubby was working I stocked up on fabrics. Now that we’re both (mostly) retired, I’m not buying nearly the same amount of fabric. Our incomes dropped by a third when we retired, and it wasn’t that great when we were both working….
DonnainKS says
I have so much fabric I cannot start buying yarn like you use. Recently I went through much of my fabric looking for a specific piece I knew I had. A friend had shopped everywhere for the chicken wire for a wall hanging. She found it in my stash! While going through my multiple cupboards of fairly well organized fabric. I thought how many quilts are in there and that I better get myself moving! Knitting? I will admire. Husband has been retired 20 years now, one of these days I best quit buying fabric! I have it from 4.98 to the current almost frightening prices. I only buy quilt shop fabrics. I can’t afford to take knitting up again!
Nelle Coursey says
I have noticed the cost of some foods has gone up as well. Anything imported will go up and probably way up.
cassews says
Four of the fabric shops closed up,one reopened at a smaller location. There are only the big box stores (Wal Mart, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Jo-Anns,) and no other yarn stores here.
I could not believe the cost of cotton and how much it went up. Like several of our friends who crochet, knit, sew and quilt have just gone to the online store and get their supplies necessary there rather than the big box stores.
dezertsuz says
I went to a quilt shop here in Ohio today. It was a big one, and they were so busy! Everything I bought was 20% off, and every single piece had a purpose. I don’t buy just because I like them any more. I’m living in that retirement time all my purchase used to be for. LOL!