How are you saving $ on your hobby?

XStitchDoc

Okay, since I found this site, I'm definitely buying fewer charts!

But I've come up with ways over the years to be able to have what I want to make my stitching fun, stress-free, and as beautiful as possible by saving a little $ and cutting a few corners here and there.

For instance, I make my own Floss Friends out of sponges and little plastic boxes from the Container store. Cost $2 to $2.50 at the LNS cost 40cents making my own.

I also love, love, LOVE the round blue magnets the LNS sells for $7.50 for a set of 4. I found the same thing in grey (just as strong) at the hardware store and a package of 10 is $1.00.

So how do YOU save money on your stitching supplies? What tips, tricks, and work-arounds have you discovered?

xxstitcher

Only buy DMC when its on sale at your local store, pick patterns selectively, you will never stitch all the patterns you buy

tcca

nudkks replied at 2013-9-25 19:01

                               
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I make my own floss winders using cardboard from the cereal boxes we use, we keep our eyes out in sa ...

i made my own floss bobbins too from some cardstock tht I had printed with a bunch of stuff that I don't need any more! Works really well and it is made from paper that I would otherwise had thrown away.

tcca

I shop on ebay for bundles of threads - there are lots of sellers who sell 50 or 100 skeins for a set price, and you give them a list of the colors you need.

I bought boxes to hold my bobbins from the hardware store - they're made for holding screws and nails, and use scrap cardstock to make my own bobbins.

I make my own 'pako needle organizer' by using a sponge with strips of paper with the symbols drawn on them.

I use a hole punch and print off my own thread organizers for each pattern I am working on and cut 1 - 2 lengths of floss at the length I work with (usually  just 12" since I stitch on 28 count in heavy confetti patterns) and store those in a plastic sleeve with my pattern so that I don't have to keep messing with my bobbins all the time.

I buy needles in bulk (packs of 50 needles for about $10) so that I don't have to pay full price. I store them in altoid tins with a magnet in each tin so that the needles don't go flying when I open the tin.

I bought cuticle scissors to use instead of expensive embroidery scissors at the craft store - a great pair cost only about $4 and work just as well.

Use a 'cool' color  lightbulb in a gooseneck lamp that I can adjust instead of buying an expensive replacement bulb  for my ott light. 3 light bulbs only cost me $6 at walmart and I have been using it 2 - 5 hours a day every day for 6 months and the first one is still going strong.

I also make sure I use coupons to buy my fabric - joanns and micheals have coupons nearly every week. I also don't buy 'stash' just to have it. I have no more than 2 items on the go, and fabric for the next project I want to start ready so when I finish one I can start the next without having to go shopping.

htsear13

Following this thread

soapmaker

Hi again!  I buy my linen on ebay or at thrift shops (old pieces).  I also am ALWAYS looking at thrift shops for floss and have snagged a couple of good deals.  Ebay can be a good place if you do not mind dyeing some of the more garish colored floss you may get in a lot.  Ebay and thrift shops are my friends!!

langstep

I purchased my DMC floss from ebay.  I always shop around when buying kits or charts to compare prices.

The best money saver I have are my thread sorters.  I cut a strip from a breakfast cereal box and punch hole along the length, they cost nothing and I have an unexhaustable supply.

XStitchDoc

These are such great ideas!

waterbaby842

langstep replied at 2012-8-18 00:41

                               
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I purchased my DMC floss from ebay.  I always shop around when buying kits or charts to compare pric ...

I love this idea :-)

loki2012

I shop on ebay also

chaos557

I only buy my stuff when I have coupons for my local store.

rosebud

I buy thread rings aka mother of pearl rings from Firemountain in bulk.  They are less expensive than buying them from my LNS as "thread rings".  Sometimes Hancock Fabrics sells plastic ones in the notions section, too.  Also Hancock Fabric sells Sullivan's floss 5 for $1 when on sale, and regular price (in my area) is just .33 per skein compared to DMC at .39 per skein.  I like DMC the best because that's what I started with and still maintain a full supply of it but when I see Sullivan's on sale I will stock up on it, too.  So far I find Sullivan's to be very good and very comparable to DMC.  Also I sign up for coupons with the major franchise craft stores for extra discounts and buy my fabric on line through FOTM'S from Silkweaver, Zweigert, and PTP.

lizgo6x

I have bought a lot of my supplies from ebay, usually if others are selling as they have too much, you can never have too much

oceano

langstep respondió a las 2012-8-17 16:41

                               
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I purchased my DMC floss from ebay.  I always shop around when buying kits or charts to compare pric ...

i also make my own thread sorters