I'm not a yarn snob, which makes it easy for me to thrift skeins. I don't mind washing yarns that are a little smelly or soiled, and I have no problem using partial or unlabeled skeins. There aren't many yarns out there that I won't use, either. I'm not a huge fan of boucle, baby yarns or eyelash, but I can work them into a multi-strand project like a basket or scrapghan.
That said, there are some yarns that give me pause, like the glow in the dark variety. I've never found that in any of the lots I've thrifted, but it kind of creeps me out. Why would you want yarn to glow in the dark? What kind of chemicals are in the fibers? Anyway, I'll likely donate any that came my way.
Pom pom yarns have found their way to me a few times, and went right into the donation box. I don't know why, other than their functionality as a fiber is basically zero. Why do makers use these bobbly things anyway?
I have tried super chunky yarn to crochet by fingers a smallish throw. I appreciated the opportunity to try this fiber and technique, but it was quite difficult for me to manage. My old, creaky fingers have flatly refused to have anything more to do with this yarn.
I find that I usually have to try a yarn first before I'll pass on it. I'm basically at the mercy of what other makers donate to thrift stores and auctions, and often this is yarn that they didn't care for, which may or may not work for me.
That said, I don't always agree with other makers' opinions of different type yarns. For example I like acrylic yarn, as it's durable and easy to work with, and thrifting it keeps the plastic out of the landfills or ending up in the ocean. Wool I find is not the greatest yarn to deal with, especially as it's generally too hot for my locale, and all the care it entails is a hassle. Cotton yarn I'm on the fence about, frankly. I don't mind it, but cotton is the most water intensive crop, and that's always in the back of my mind, even with skeins I thrift. Then again it's like acrylic or polyester yarn -- I'm reusing it via thrifting versus buying new.
Image credit: all the images in this post came from product listings on Amazon.com.
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