Wooly Wednesday: Do you buy based on color or material?

Dear users, dear authors,
it’s Wednesday—Wooly Wednesday—time to indulge in some wool.
Who has (or hasn’t) bought any wool?
When you buy wool, do you pay attention to the color first, or the material?
Tell me all about it. :-)

Have fun with your wool.

Well, I buy almost exclusively based on a specific project—that is, I have a project in mind and usually have very specific ideas about the materials and colors I need. I don’t buy yarn “just because.” (Still, I end up with a lot of leftover yarn because I usually buy a few extra balls “just in case.” Of course, those have to be crocheted or knitted into something, too. That’s why I have so many patterns for leftover yarn in the shop.)

I usually shop with a specific project in mind first, then I look for colors and combinations that go with the collection I have hanging in my closet, because for me, everything somehow goes together no matter what combination I choose—since I design and sew all my own clothes, that works out really well :-)

I also buy with specific projects in mind, and besides the color I also pay attention to the fiber content, which I discuss with my local yarn shop owner. It’s important to me to buy yarns that are as sustainable as possible and to shop in an environmentally conscious way, which is why I buy exclusively from the local yarn store around the corner.

For me, the environmental factor is the top priority, and I make a point of buying yarns made from natural fibers. Of course, color is also an important consideration. Sometimes I’ll see a yarn and color I like, and I’ll already have a specific project in mind. These days, I have such a wide selection that I don’t need to buy any yarn for months at a time.

Today I got to accompany a colleague to a big yarn market—of course, all my good intentions went out the window, since I saw a few more great designs for which I don’t have just the right yarn!
The project determines the material, and I usually have a color in mind that matches the person I’m making it for.
I have to admit, though, that I also picked up two skeins for myself—simply because I couldn’t resist those gorgeous colors!

I usually shop with a specific project in mind, so there’s no set material or particular favorite color. It just has to suit the project.... Only with Catania and comparable brands do I always keep a wide range of colors on hand. I use those to make little things, and I can always buy more of the yarn later if needed.
For my 50th birthday last week, I received a few more skeins like that, and I often have trouble finding the right project for them. Somehow, it’s never enough... There were three wonderful skeins of felting yarn among them, and I’m already looking for a suitable contrasting color. But I also received quite a few gift cards for the local yarn shop... so I can really indulge myself there...