Do you want to know how to get free yarn? Yes? Here are some tips and tricks for getting free or cheap crafting yarn.
Yarn can be made from various materials, including natural fibers like cotton, wool, silk, linen, and bamboo and synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, and acrylic. Also, it comes in various thicknesses, textures, and twist levels, each suited for different projects and fabric types.
Yarn is used in various crafts, such as knitting, crocheting, weaving, embroidery, sewing, and ropemaking. It is also useful for knitting sweaters, cardigans, hats, scarves, gloves, and socks.
Whether you’re crafting stuff to sell, giving as a gift to friends or family, or knitting for charity, the cost of yarn can add up.
You may be wondering, how to get free yarn to enjoy your favorite craft hobby without spending much money.
Fortunately, there are some ways to get free yarn. In this post, I’ll share some tips and tricks to get free yarn.
How To Get Free Yarn (or Cheap)
Here are some of the best ways to get free yarn for crafting projects.
1. Facebook Marketplace
Typically, Facebook Marketplace is one of the best places to buy and sell used stuff. Did you know that you could find free stuff?
Facebook Marketplace has a separate section for freebies. Type “yarn” in the search bar to find free yarn nearby. Also, you could explore Facebook Free Groups to find free yarn.
Here are some Facebook groups for free yarn:
Type “free yarn” or “yarn giveaway” in the Google search to find freebie groups.
The downside is that you must collect the yarn yourself and follow the safety rules.
Here are some safety rules to follow:
- Always meet the person in public places.
- Never enter a house to collect yarn.
- Always take someone with you.
2. Craigslist
Craigslist is another platform that can help you find free yarn. It has a free section where people post freebies and giveaways. You can explore the section to find free yarn for your projects.
Follow the below steps to find the free section on Craigslist:
- Visit your local Craigslist page.
- Go to the “For Sale” section.
- Under that, click on “Free” to find freebies
Don’t forget to follow the safety rules when collecting free yarn.
Related: 30 Sites Like Craigslist To Sell & Buy Used Stuff
3. Freecycle.org
Freecycle.org is a non-profit organization that aims to reuse and keep useful items out of landfills. It has over 5,000 local groups and over 11 million members worldwide.
You can join local groups to exchange items. Also, you can request items you need. Everything is free on this platform. You can request yarn from your fellow members.
4. OfferUp
OfferUp is a mobile-first marketplace where you can buy and sell locally. It also offers free items.
You can explore the free section to find free yarn. However, finding specific items in the free section is difficult, as everything is merged. For that reason, type “yarn” in the search bar and hit enter. You’ll get a list of results. This will include items you have to pay for. Therefore, you can narrow down the search results by using filtering options.
5. Ravelry
Ravelry is a free website for knitters, crocheters, and fiber artists. It’s a vibrant community where fiber artists can connect, share their projects, find inspiration, and organize their crafting lives.
You can join groups based on your interests, participate in forums, and connect with other crafters worldwide. You can request free yarn from your fellow crafters.
6. Start a Blog
Starting a blog is one of the best ways to make money. You can start a blog about knitting, crocheting, or any of your hobbies to earn free yarn.
Many brands and organizations love to work with bloggers to promote their products and services. If you get a decent amount of traffic to your blog, you can reach out to brands for free supplies and materials in exchange for promotions.
Some companies and brands pay bloggers to write blog posts for them. These are called sponsored posts.
You can start a blog using the below steps:
- Choose your blogging niche: Knitting, Crocheting, Sewing, etc
- Choose a blogging platform: WordPress.org (Beginner-Friendly), Wix, Squarespace, etc.
- Buy a domain name and hosting: Bluehost, Hostgator, etc.
- Design your blog with a theme.
Related: How to Start A Blog in 10 Steps: a Beginner’s Guide
Apart from getting free yarn, you can monetize your blog content using various methods, such as:
- Advertising
- Affiliate marketing
- Selling digital products
- Selling ad spaces
7. Church and Craft Groups
Many craft and church groups provide free craft supplies and materials to artists. All you need to do is explore your local church, libraries, and non-profit organizations knitting/crocheting/craft groups. They often have bins full of donated yarn.
Here are some faith-based groups and national craft organizations for free yarn:
- Prayer Shawl Ministries
- St. Vincent de Paul Societies
- Warm Up America
- Lion Brand Yarn’s Charity Connection
8. Join a Local Knitting Club
You can consider joining a local knitting club. They may have received donations of yarn from manufacturers and retailers looking to promote their products. You can get some free yarn as a member of the knitting club.
Also, you can use meetup.com to connect with your fellow crafters. You can plan and attend events with others. In the event, you may receive free yarn for your projects,
9. Visit Local Yarn Shop
You can visit your local yarn shop to ask for free yarn. Yarn shops often receive samples from brands and companies. You may ask the shop owners whether they have yarn samples to give away.
If you have good relations with shop owners, they may appreciate your request. However, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll receive free yan.
10. Ask Friends and Family
If your friends or other family members are involved in crafting and knitting, they may have spare yarn. You can simply ask your friends or family members whether they can give you some yarn.
11. Use Yarn from Old Projects
Another sneaky way to get free yarn is by using yarn from old projects. You must have discarded projects and it’s leftover yarn. You can use it for your new project. This will save you money for other materials.
12. Social Media Influencer
Many brands and companies love to work with social media influencers to promote their products and services. If you have a large number of followers on social media platforms, you can become a social media influencer.
As a social media influencer, you can receive free yarn from brands. Moreover, you can make money through advertising and creating sponsored content for brands on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
Here are some platforms to work as an influencer:
13. Garage Sales
Visit your local garage sales to purchase yarn at a discounted price. Although you won’t get yarn for free, you could get it for 50 cents a skein or less.
You need to have good bargaining skills to lower the price. You should also consider visiting the garage sale when it is about to close.
FAQs
Do craft stores or businesses give away free yarn?
Big craft stores usually don’t give away free yarn. However, local craft stores or yarn shops may donate leftover yarn to schools, community centers, or loyal customers.
Can I get free yarn from recycling or upcycling projects?
You can retrieve free yarn from old sweaters, scarves, and blankets. Watch YouTube tutorials for step-by-step guides on recycling yarn.
How do I ensure free yarn is clean and pest-free?
When you get free yarn, always inspect for moths, stains, or odors. Keep yarn in a sealed bag for 48 hours to kill pests and then wash gently with soap. For recycled yarn, soak and re-ske it before use.
Are there grants or programs for free craft supplies?
Some non-profit organizations may provide free yarn for charitable crafting projects. On the other hand, teachers or educators can apply for grants via DonorsChoose.org to fund classroom supplies, including yarn.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many ways to get free yarn for your craft projects. You only need to use the convenient methods to get free yarn.
What do you think about getting free yarn? Do you know any other way to get free yarn? Let me know in the comments!
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