It's been awhile ! Yarn Shopping at Michaels

 I started crocheting a Bluey Hooded Blanket this weekend. I need to make at least two possiblely three by Christmas. So  I jumped right in, searched my yarn stash, grabbed a hook, and started.

 I saw several videos on Youtube about this blanket and thought, "Easy! I got this" . 

 Nope!   I followed the links on the Youtube videos and ended up buying the pattern on Etsy.   I did buy the pattern. It was quite expensive. The normal price for this crochet pattern was $12.31, but it was on sale for $6.15. 

 I am not going to link the pattern on this blog.  I did read through the pattern but . . . it wasn't for me.  I will take the designers general measurements and ideas, but that is it.  The pattern is crocheted with 2 strands for the main blanket and hood.  I think this would be a little heavy for toddlers, and I didn't really like it.  

I grabbed my 5.5mm red Tulip hook along with a skein of Big Twist Sky Blue yarn, and started with a foundation row.  I crocheted in double crochets until my width measured approx. 42".   The first part of the blanket was easy. It was just crocheting a  rectangle approx 42" x 36".  It needs to be a little shorter due to the hood I will be adding.  

I started slow. It took 2 days to finish my first skein of yarn.  THe next day went quicker and I finished the next skein. I was getting right at 12" per skein.  I went and dug through my stash again and found another skein of Sky Blue Big Twist. 

I was 6 inches into the new skein when I noticed. . . . 

Epic Fail ! 

Now decisions need to be made.  Do I dig through the stash for more skeins? Was the first two skeins that was discolored and all others will not match? Should I get new yarn of the same color lot and start again? 

Desicion Made. . . Michaels here I come. 

The first MIchaels in Newport KY was a bust.  The shelves of Big Twist was slim. 

Squirrel- Have you seen this color of Big Twist Before?      

Michaels name it Cerulean Blue. I don't remember this color from Joann.  

I needed up purchasing Big Twist Cornflower Blue and Varisty Navy. I  Matched up  color lot numers for 7 skeins of the Cornflower Blue, and 4 skeins of Vasity Navy. 

  

  I have to admit that  I have not yarn shopped at Michaels in years. I find their prices way to expensive.  Even with discounts and Coupons I paid  $3.80 per skein for Big Twist.  The last time I bought Big Twist at Joann I paid $1.66. That was before the BK news, with coupons, and I did a huge yarn stockpile at that price.  

It was a bit painful paying $3.80.   I used my 15% off military discount. 

As I walked around Michaels I found even more yarn I wanted to try.  

I have never seen the Loops & Threads Classic Cotton Big Ball yarn.  

I ened up buying the Bubblegum color.  The online color doesn't come close to the real color.  It is a dusty mauve color.

This yarn is 100% cotton. It is 14 oz, 400g or 664 yds or 608m.    There were solid colors and ombre.  The solid colors had more yarn.  According to the Michaels website there are 19 solid colors and  5 ombre colors.  The colors of the Big Ball matched many of the Loop & Thread Cottons.  

The Classic Cotton Big Ball is priced at $14.99 online without discounts or coupons.   In my store the price is $16.49.

I ended up buying one ball using a 30% off  in store only coupon,  

$16.49* .70= $11.54

I found the Loops & Thread Luxe Merino.  The Luxe Merino is a SuperWash Merino blend.  The blend depends on the yarn you choose. There is a solid 55% SuperWash Merino, 45% Acrylic. Then I bought a Tweed that is a 50% SuperWash Merino, 40% Acrylic, 10% Tweed. 

I bought one Tweed Blend and One Solid color.  

The solid color Luxe Merino  a size 3 yarn with 410 yds, 5.03 oz, 375 m, 150g. 

The tweed is a size 3 yarn with 341 yds, 4.4 ox, 312m, 125g. 

Both cost $9.99 each, I paid $8.50 each. 

I spent so much more than I wanted or needed.