Is knitting really frugal . . .

or am I just kidding myself?

Ok, I have a yarn stash. Mostly it's for things that I intend to make, so I feel that I am being very good and not buying it just because it's pretty. Not like my mother and her quilting stash . . . nothing like that at all. Much. Yet.

My mother keeps telling me that it is not cost effective to knit things to wear as it is cheaper to buy it ready made. I think this is a cheap ploy to get me over to the quilting side. Which by the way is a much more expensive hobby than mine - you need a sewing machine and the sort my mother has does not come cheap. In fact she has been trying to pawn her old sewing machine off on to me!!! I will resist

Now I obviously buy some new yarn and have bought some fabulous silk and merino blend in soft browns to make a pretty scarf for my mother - and this yarn is not cheap at £12 per ball (or skein). Now I know that some of the really luxurious stuff retails at closer to £50 a ball but I'm not crazy!! I'd pay £25 for a beautiful handmade silk scarf, I would not pay £100.

Ulitmately making stuff yourself gives you a one of a kind item which is often customised for the wearer. There are things I see in teh shops and often think if it were a little longer, a different colour, didn't have that pattern etc.

See I can always find justification for doing the things I enjoy!