How many skeins of yarn do you buy?

[chefmomster2]

I have a shop that sells wonderful, high quality yarn near my home. (Unfortunately its other supplies cater almost exclusively to knitters...grrr.....) Anyway, it always has a few bags of yarn kits with knitting patterns available at huge discounts. For instance, last week I purchased 3 hanks of Delicious Kollage for $5.00! Each skein is normally $9.00 at this store. Altogether I purchased 11 skeins of different yarns for only $25! Quite a bargain!

My question is this: if I have no particular pattern or project in mind, how many skeins of yarn would it be best to purchase in general. Will three be enough to complete many projects and therefore a good number to buy? Would it be better to buy four? I guess I am trying to optimize my value for the yarn. I would like to have an idea of what would be enough without having a whole lot of scraps.

When you find a yarn you particularly love, how many do your purchase?

[Anaisa]

I am never a good judge of that! Mostly, if you are following a pattern they tell you how much they used...I just figure if I bought to little I will, make something smaller like a motif or socks....

[Maryjane]

I usually buy 2 skeins of yarn when I find a good deal! But, I make little things, so I do use any leftover yarn! So I guess I don't know how many is a good amount! I know and averaged size afghan takes 4-6 skeins, a sweater takes about the same! Other people will have answers too!

[Barbara G.]

Hello,

For smaller projects, probably buying 2-3 skeins would be good. This has always been in the back of my mind. Although, nothing is more frustrating than deciding to do a particular project later, only to find that you do not have enough yarns - especially if it has been discontinued!

[crochetgal]

Since most of what I design are wearables, I'll tend to purchase at least 1000 yards of any yarn at a time, just so I have 'enough' to finish a project.

I will take all my partial balls and use them to make a scrap afghan though and they all get donated to Project Linus.

[Val]

when I see solid yard I like I buy 10 skeins..if they have a dye lot number..I buy 7 skeins..if there is any extra yarn after I finish a project..I make babies blankets ..potholders..slippers..its never wasted..

[chefmomster2]

Since most of what I design are wearables, I'll tend to purchase at least 1000 yards of any yarn at a time, just so I have 'enough' to finish a project.

I will take all my partial balls and use them to make a scrap afghan though and they all get donated to Project Linus.

Thanks for the great advice and the wonderful service you do through Project Linus. It's a VERY worthy cause!
Chef

[chefmomster2]

Thanks for your advice Val, Anaisa, Maryjane and Barbara G. I will feel a bit more confident in buying these impulsive skeins of yarn!

[MsStitchWitch]

I usually buy what I can when I can preferably on sale or just what I need for a particular project. I have so many I want to do but on a meager disability income it holds me back a lot

[Betzi]

Thanks to everyone who answered this thread. What an execellent question. I always wondered that myself. I have yarn all over my house from "working on my PhD. Love that expression. Great answers.
Betzi