Stacey Trock's Fresh Stitching

We all know that you can get old clothing from a thrift store… but many people are surprised to find out that a second-hand shop can be a real resource for knitters and crocheters! I love the thrill of the hunt, and so I wanted to compose a little list of items to keep your eyes peeled for when you’re out shopping.

• Beautiful knit sweaters Now, I know this is a post about finding supplies in thrift stores, but who can pass up a gorgeous cabled sweater? The photos above are from two sweaters I found at my local thrift shop. The grey one is 100% merino wool, and made in Ireland. The white one is a beautiful Aran made in England. Both of these sweaters ranged from $2-$4 a piece (pause, and let the shock pass). Why are these sweaters in thrift stores? Often, people will purchase these sweaters on a vacation as a souvenir (or receive one as a gift), and then discover it doesn’t really fit their style. As a knitter, I am happy to give these wonderful sweaters a home where they will be cared for and appreciated.
• Yarn You can’t visit a sit & stitch without hearing tales of fantastic scores of yarn from thrift stores. Often, you’ll find 1970′s acrylic that you don’t want to touch with a 10 foot pole, but sometimes there are treasures. I have a friend who picked up 4 balls of Rowan (brand new stuff) for $5 (which is a steal, considering that the yarn retails for $8 a ball!). I still remember when I was 16 years old, and shopping at yard sales and I bought a huge trashbag of yarn for only $10. Inside was hand-dyed yarn, and loads of jumper wool from England. I kept my favorites, and made a tidy sum reselling the stuff I wouldn’t use on ebay. Why is there such nice yarn at thrift stores? One reason is that Dear Old Aunt Mabel, who knits and has a wonderful stash, passes on… and her heirs don’t know what to do with all the yarn, and fail to imagine that it has much worth. And, it winds up at your local thrift store. Here, it pays to inspect the yarn, as yarn can deteriorate over time. Smell the yarn (don’t pick up anything moldy smelling, or particularly foul… because sometimes it won’t come out) and tug at it a bit. If it breaks, it’s not worth your time. Other than that, have at it!
• Hidden Yarn Yarn in balls is easy to spot. But what is ‘hidden yarn’? This is yarn that is already in sweaters, but that could be taken apart for your reuse. A sweater usually has 1000 (if not more) yards of yarn in it, so you’re getting a good deal! You can’t rip the yarn from just any sweater, it has to be a sweater that has been knitted in pieces. If you get a sweater cut from knit fabric, you won’t get anything more than thousands of pieces of yarn in yard-length segments. Here is a link to a page that steps through the process. It’s a great way to get a lot of yarn.
• Buttons Have you priced buttons in shops recently? They aren’t cheap. Sometimes, you can find clothing that you wouldn’t be caught dead in, but that has amazing buttons! They can be snipped off and reused to finish your own creations. So, as you’re browsing through, check out the closures.
• Tools Just like Aunt Mabel’s old yarn, often bags of knitting/crocheting tools get sent to the thrift shop. I’m fairly picky about my needles, so I don’t often pick up aluminum knitting needles… but the gadgets never get old! I mean, how much have stitch holders improved in 50 years? One good bag of old notions can be enough to get you completely stocked. This is especially a great idea for those new to the craft, who may not want to go out and buy they complete gamut new.

So, next time you see a thrift store full of out-of-style clothing, don’t pass it up… there may be some hidden treasures that you can use in your yarn life! Happy hunting!