yarn substitutions

 I love interweave press and the patterns and information.  The only problem is you have to be quite wealthy to do any of the patterns.  I love so many patterns, but can't afford $132.00 per sweater.  Please help us poor folk out by giving us yarn substitutions for the patterns.  Thanks!

Cynthia Cox

Boise

 You are so right, Cynthia. Not only is some of the yarn pretty expensive, it is hard to find in the first place. Or maybe I'm just not looking in the right places? I live in an area that is pretty "underdeveloped" when it comes to yarn stores.

Claudia

Elizabethtown, KY

 Hello Claudia (your nick-name and the picture make me think you have either German ancestry or actually are German)

Here in Germany it is pretty hard to find the yarn the patterns ask for and I just cannot always afford to pay a huge yarn-bill. So I try to adjust the patterns to the yarn that is available/affordable for me. 

You both are right, it would be nice to have some kindof suggestions what kind of yarn we should be looking for. I mean, does the yarn used for the pattern need to be very stretchy, and so on. I sometimes just have no real idea about drape etc.

(I love knitting but to think about drape gives me the creeps.)  

Cheers, Julia

 Hi Cynthia,

Have you tried Knit Picks?  I have found they have the best quality yarn at affordable prices.  I agree that while so many of the yarns used are gorgeous, the prices are outrageous. 

www.knitpicks.com

I'd love to hear any more ideas on where to find affordable yarns.

Monica S, Miami