Skip to main content

Estimations

Let's talk some more about how to estimate the value of yarn lots you can thrift online before you place a bid. Here's a nice lot of 30 Red Heart Super Saver skeins that has an opening bid of $15.75. This is where you do simple math. $15.75 divided by 30 is .525 cents. Now, if the winner lands this lot for the minimum bid, and the shipping is another $20.00, that brings the total cost up to $35.75. That's still $1.19 per skein.

Red Heart Super Saver retails for $4.49, and Jumbo runs about $7.99 now. So Let's say you get 27 regular skeins, and 3 Jumbo. These would cost you $145.20 to buy new.

Small yarn lots can have value, too, and they're a bit easier to price if they have the labels, but you need to watch the cost of shipping. There were 11 total skeins in this lot (four are not pictured in the opening listing shot) and I estimated them to be worth $38.27 retail. The opening bid on this lot is $8.99, but shipping is probably going to be anywhere from $15.00 to $20.00. But it's still cheaper than retail, and if you need a specific yarn, it may be worth it to you.

Here's a massive yarn lot with what I count to be 73 skeins, hanks and balls of yarn that weighs well over twelve pounds. Many of the skeins are in plastic bags, which is a good sign. Opening bid on this one is $7.75, which is about 11 cents per skein. The shipping to me on this one is less than twenty dollars, which is fantastic for such a huge lot.

If I were going to bid on any of these lots, it would be the first one. Why? I like Red Heart Super Saver, which is a workhorse fiber that never lets me down. It's a very decent value and the yarn looks clean and mostly unused. The reason I'm not bidding on it is because I currently have enough of these colors in my stash, as well as plenty of Red Heart Super Saver.

As for the others, the small lot has a couple interesting skeins, but in the end does not offer enough value. While the massive lot seems tempting, a lot of the yarn in the bags appears on closer inspection of the pics to be eyelash yarns, which I don't care for, and many of the other skeins are probably vintage acrylic judging by the labels, which does not age well.

When thrifting yarn online it's always a buyer beware situation. So do your homework first, run the numbers, and if it's a decent value for you, then place a bid.

Image Credit: all of the pics in this post came from the auction listings at ShopGoodwill.com.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Future Me, Checking In

The new thrifting & crochet blog has been such a joy for me to write that I'm now more than a month ahead on pre-written posts. Because I would prefer to be only a week ahead, I'm going to be doubling up for the next few weeks so I can stop getting so far ahead of myself. I think the reason I'm all about crochet these days is that I have no real limitations in regard to it. That has not been the case with quilting and embroidery, so it's a lovely change. I'm still as fast as I used to be when I was younger, too, thank goodness. I began this Iris throw (more on that in a few days) on January 27th, and this is how much I had finished as of last night (2/10). I have two or three more days of work to do and it will be finished. I needed some joy in my life, and this blog and all things crochet are providing that for me. I really couldn't ask for more. Stay tuned to see what I'm getting myself into this year, and how happy it's making me -- a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bucket List

This year I'll turn 65, so I am starting to put together a crochet bucket list. It's not because I think I'll be kicking the bucket any time soon, but while I'm still around there are some projects I'd like to make. It's also fun to compile a list of dream projects. This crochet version of a double wedding ring quilt definitely tops my list. I have a nice little collection of these quilts, and it would be fun to crochet one. When I first saw the Aura Mosaic Crochet Blanket I knew I wanted to make it. It's not that I dislike all the brightly colored Persian tile type projects, I just gravitate more toward earthy and nature-inspired palettes. This one is simply stunning. I'd really like to crochet a light and lacy duster like this one from Red Heart to wear. Mine would likely end up being a mossy shade of green or off-white. Speaking of mossy greens, this Mirrored Leaves throw was on the cover of the catalog that Herrschners sent wit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Eight Plus Numbers

When I was looking up the retail on the small lot of yarn plus a tapestry kit I got a lot of surprises. This Red Heart Roll with It Sparkle skein in "Diamonds" was actually a cake that sells $10.99 on Yarnspirations. The lot included two Red Heart Super Saver Jumbo skeins, which retail for $8.99 each, and stuck in the center of the buff color I found a 5.5 mm crochet hook. This is a skein of 100% Icelandic wool, which can be really expensive. It's marked with a price tag of $7.00, and I found it selling for $8.00 online. The needlepoint kit is the biggest surprise of all. It makes a pillow, and hails from the UK, where it sells for £45.00 ($60.76 US). Since it's flamingos I definitely have to finish it if I can. Altogether my eight plus lot retails for $125.04; I paid $21.30 total for the lot with the buy-it-now option and one penny shipping. I indeed got a very nice bargain.
Post a Comment
Read more