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The Numbers

Since prices on yarn have been increasing lately I went through my latest thrifted lot and priced all the skeins that I could. Here is what they would cost retail:

Caron One Pound White: $16.98
Big Twist Twinkle Red: $6.49
Mandala Sparkle Serpent: $8.99
Patons Grace Cotton Blush: $6.99
Yarn Bee Through Thick and Thin (discontinued): $11.00
Caron Latte Cakes Blueberry Mist, Gray Velvet & Earl Gray: $13.00 each
Lion Brand Ice Cream Parfait: $5.99
Coats & Clark Wintunk Frankie: $4.99
Lion Brand Hometown USA Cambridge Tweed: $5.99
Lion Brand Homspun Montana Sky: $8.99
Caron Simply Soft Sunshine $5.99
Lion Brand Hometown USA Oakland Black $5.99
Impeccable True Gray: $4.99
Loops & Threads Snuggly Wuggly Bib Baby Pastel Ombre: $14.99

These seventeen skeins would have cost $160.37 if I'd bought them new. Many are no longer offered for sale except as used or vintage. The four that aren't labelled I can price at $5.00 each and add on for a total of $180.37 value for the lot. I paid $9.99 for the entire lot.

Prices on everything have been steadily climbing, but I was a bit shocked by the retail prices on the yarn I thrifted. It's also important to note that most yarns are manufactured outside the US, and will likely now be subjected to hefty tariffs, which will only increase the costs to the consumer.

Thrifting yarn comes with some problems, first and foremost that you usually get only one or two skeins of the same type and color in a lot. The yarn may have a storage smell, and/or some outer soiling. But: if you like doing small projects using scraps or only one skein, thrifting is definitely the way to go. As for the smell or soiling, you can wash the yarn before you use it.

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