Where do you buy your yarn and other supplies?

Hi everyone,
I’ve recently rediscovered crocheting.
I’ve read a lot here about Schachenmayr Catania yarn… it seems to be the most popular among crocheters. I’d love to try it out myself.
Does anyone know where I can get it for a good price?
Unfortunately, I don’t have much extra money right now, but I really want to crochet a squeaky duck. I’d love to use Catania for that. I also need a squeaker and some crackling foil.
So far, I’ve always bought yarn at the yarn shop around the corner, but it’s just way too expensive.

Do you have any good tips?

Thank you so much for your help.

Best regards, Bine

Hi. Check out online yarn retailers. Take a look at the prices—maybe some of them have discounts right now. You can also look for yarn from other manufacturers. There are affordable alternatives to Catania in particular.

And keep an eye on shipping costs—it’s often free on orders over 50 euros. 

For my hats, neck warmers, and other clothing, I use yarn from Lana Grossa. It’s a bit pricier, but I think that given the effort you put into crocheting, the quality should be right—and you’re wearing these items right against your skin, after all :-D

A good alternative from Lana Grossa is the McWool Neon Sport. It has a high percentage of virgin wool and is therefore very well-suited for winter. Right now, it’s available on www.filati.cc for €1.95. Plus, shipping is free. I usually buy the yarn from a local store, though. But with deals like this, it’s impossible to resist. I just ordered a shipment that arrived on Monday, and now I can keep crocheting my three new projects—for which I’m currently writing patterns. Yippee.

For amigurumi, I also use Schachenmayr’s Catania. I’ve also tried a different yarn as an alternative—namely, “Paris” by Drops. But I’m not as satisfied with it as I am with Catania. First, I don’t find the colors as vibrant. And second, I often get stuck while crocheting because the strands tend to unravel. Next time, I’ll go back to Catania and be sure to snag some when they’re on sale.

Hope this helps.

If I need something a bit cheaper, I really like to knit with Drops yarn (e.g., via www.lanade.de). The quality is great, and in my opinion, the price is unbeatable.

Limone from schoeller * stahl
Cotton 125 from nextyarns / mclana