We all like the good stuff, but yarn is a lot like wine. If you’ve got 100 bucks, it’s pretty easy to get a good bottle. The guys I admire can pick out a great bottle for 10. Same goes for yarn. I think we all agree that Cascade 220 is probably the best workhorse out there followed by Berroco Ultra Alpaca and Knit Picks Swish. They’re the budget yarns everyone knows about; here are some you might not know.
Tipsy Knitter Natasha turned me on to this gem. What an incredible range of colors and what a lovely spin, texture and ply. This beautifully presented Danish yarn is perfect for color work and put up in 50g balls priced about $3.50! You can buy all the colors for your stranded yoke sweater and not break the bank. My hand is on my credit card and my finger is on the button!
Lucca Pullover 
Baja Jacket
I’ve published two patterns in the last year using products from this family owned and operated ranch in Mitchell, Nebraska and I just can’t say enough good things about them. The color range is enormous and very sophisticated. Best of all, their entire shade card, over 80 colors, is available in fingering, sport, worsted and chunky weights. A 50g ball in the sport weight can be had for about $5.00. Tipsy Knitter Ulana loves their Lamb’s Pride, a blend of wool and mohair.
I had the pleasure of working with Harrisville Designs Silk & Wool for my Heckerling Pullover published in Knitscene Spring 2018. It’s a crunchy, bold and delightful blend. Recently, I’ve been chatting with Harrisville about a brand new cold weather shawl that I have on the drawing board, the Octavia Wrap. It’s a rustic color work shawl that is specifically designed for a woolen spun yarn like Harrisville’s Shetland.
The airy, weightless quality of this 100% Virgin wool is really divine and can be had for under $10/100g (217 yards). That makes a sweater length a very affordable thing!
Drops currently has the largest catalogue of free patterns on the internet numbering upwards of 9000. I think every one has seen these gorgeous patterns that are offered by Drops to complement their extremely broad line of yarns. Though they’re probably best known for their alpacas, this Norwegian brand blends all sorts of fibers to create some of the best priced yarns out there. I’ve had this sweater length in my stash for about 6 years. Every now and then I take it out and touch it!
Until recently, Sandnes Garn was not readily available in the U.S., but the clever new retailers at Mother Knitter have made these wonderful yarns available online. I was first introduced to this beautiful and diverse line by Elizabeth McCarten during a day of shopping at WoolTyme in Ottawa, Ontario.
Echo Wrap 
Poppa Socks
Once again, we have the high quality standards of Scandinavian yarns available at really obtainable price points. My Echo Wrap was worked in Sandnes Garn Mandarin Petit and my Poppa Socks feature Sandnes Garn Perfect, a DK weight wool with a touch of nylon that’s just right for quick-to-knit socks.
Katia is a sweet and quirky line born in Spain in the 1950’s. The highly diverse and imaginative range of products from Katia include hand knitting yarns, textiles and patterns. Some of my favorites are the innovative cotton blends like cotton/merino and cotton/cashmere. Katia’s most luxurious yarns can be had for about $10/50g.
See? You can save your pennies and still knit like a maniac!
