How are you saving $ on your hobby?

A.J.

ebay all the way

catusiana

I buy my floss from internet (US$0,44) and thread from ebay :P

~Elle~

+1 vote for ebay. As well as for making organizers oneself.
Also I try to do as much price comparison before purchase as I can (say, if I'm looking for particular kit I'll try nearest off-line shops, on line stores and the site of a kit manufacturer, and the last sometimes is the cheapest option even taking postage prices into account). Sometimes subscribing to e-mail subscriptions of retailers and manufacturers may be helpful - they'll let you know about sales and promotions. Stitching technology is also important: I try to save as much floss as possible, less lose ends and so on. And socializing, too - having friends with the same hobby is really great)

stitchspider

I shop at secondhand stores for many of my crafting supplies. Locally they sell hoops for $0.10-0.50 depending on size. Needles and floss often in a bag labeled "assorted embroidery" and my fabrics and many patterns come from there. Just walk in and ask where their crafting stuff is.  

bizzylizzy

Nice to share ideas!
My mother looks at the fleamarket, secondhandshop, garagesales. She always finds very neat stuff for me!

seb0357

I try to wait for the 30% off or more total sale items coupons from craft stores. A couple of times a year, your regular and sale price items will be discounted and extra 20 to 30% of total purchase.  That's when I buy 2 sets of every DMC color they have! I can stitch for as long as I can see! :D

shiirley

I buy in bulk!

Blinne

langstep replied at 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 ...

That's a great idea...thanx for sharing :)

karriboo

These are all great ideas. I also use coupons whenever possible and shop on eBay. Thanks for sharing!

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.