Without question, yarn has increased in price since I started to knit. I have been fortunate in that the majority of my stash has come from sale yarn; some prices have been as low as $1.00 a skein for wool. When my LYS had a major inventory clearance before Christmas, I was able to purchase some really nice skeins, but in small amounts. This presents a problem with projects that use larger amounts. 

Then I came across this:

 http://www.dezeen.com/2007/10/21/yarn-from-old-newspapers-by-greetje-van-tiem/

Now I will not be spinning this stuff anytime soon. I don't think it would be good for garments! LOL!! It did get me thinking, however, that there is a lot of material out there for knitting--or crochet. One just has to be creative and persistent. I read an article with examples of a project in Spin Off a good while back on spinning cotton balls into yarn and knitting baby booties. There is the ubiquitous plastic sack or t-shirt that beg to be used as yarn, but I am sure there are more sources out there.

What do you think? Have you knitted/crocheted with atypical "yarn?"

PS: DH said, "It makes you take a second look at the dog." He may have been joking, but I have read articles about that as well.  

 What an interesting idea! Like the others, I'd like to see exactly how she spun it and how it holds up to wear. 

As to your question, I've knitted with (very flexible) wire. It's hard to do because there's no give at all to it. I've also knitted with baling twine, which looks like plastic but doesn't stretch or wear out - probably nylon or something like that. It's fairly bulky, and stiff enough to work up into an open look. (I made a halter out of it for our first cow, too.) 

I've heard of spinning dog hair, too, as well as human hair. I'm not sure I'd care to do either, though.  

I started teaching myself to crochet using butcher's twine. It has a nice heft and a pretty natural color. I think if I was to finish the blanket I started (I've switched to real yarn because its easier) it would have the weight of an old quilt.

I've seen the idea of spinning dog hair too. I just wouldn't be able to get the thought of doggy smell out of my mind every time I saw it. Edey

elovestea:

I've seen the idea of spinning dog hair too. I just wouldn't be able to get the thought of doggy smell out of my mind every time I saw it. Edey

That's exactly my problem with it.

I'd love to see this newspaper "yarn," though.  

Watch for sales on bulk yarn - it's often not in the "cool" popular colors, but our local Hobby Lobby stores sell a pound of Caron yarn for $6-8, depending on the current sale, or lack thereof, and it comes in basic colors... it also comes without lot numbers, and matches from batch to batch, so if you run out, it's easy to get more of that color.

If you want to branch out, have you considered knitting or crocheting with fabric strips?  It takes much bigger needles, but it's a great way to make rag rugs, and you can use any type of fabric you have around the house or get cheap from the remnant basket to do it.  Cut the fabric into 1" strips, and then you can either sew them together or knot them in (depending the look you're going for) - or you can make a long strip (I've only done this with crocheting) and sew it in a circle or oval to make a rug.

I own a hand-crocheted doily made by my grandmother in the 1940's from postal twine.  Not only did my female ancestors make clothing from feedsacks, but they also saved the string used to sew the feed sack shut.  My mother said that my grandmother saved even the TINIEST piece of string to be used for crochet.

I like to think I've inherited that "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" attitude!  Several years ago, I altered the volleyball team's uniforms, cutting off the long sleeves and hemming for short sleeves.  What to do with 50 sleeves?  Well, I cut them into strips and crocheted a bathroom rug from them!  My daughters, who were members of the team, said, "Don't you ever just THROW anything away?"  To which I replied, "Not if I can find another use for it!"  HA!  Miss Paula in Texas

mimipaula1:

Several years ago, I altered the volleyball team's uniforms, cutting off the long sleeves and hemming for short sleeves.  What to do with 50 sleeves?  Well, I cut them into strips and crocheted a bathroom rug from them!  My daughters, who were members of the team, said, "Don't you ever just THROW anything away?"  To which I replied, "Not if I can find another use for it!"

Good thinking! 

I knitted a dishcloth from feedsack strings one time, but it was kind of flimsy. I don't have animals to feed any more (unless you count the wild birds) or I'd try it again, this time doubling the string. Why not? It's string/thread/yarn!  

I have crocheted fabric into rugs. They last!   Someone I know gets the big lb balls of nice acrylic yarn at Walmart (about $8 a ball here) and makes the most beautiful things. She has a great book she has been making things from for the last few years. I have watched her making her projects at moms group for the last few years. She is making a beautiful lacy baby blanket for her new niece. She says with $16 of the yarn from walmart she can make just about anything. She is in her early 30's and is quite a crafter and baker/cook.

I have actually spun my mother's dog's hair--and I think I knitted a swatch of it too.  But, fuzzy as she is (she's a samoyed/border collie cross), she still doesn't make enough for a sweater!  But it works up rather like angora rabbit fur.  And as my mother collects it while she's brushing her out after a bath, it doesn't smell at all.   

I actually used the last fur my mother gave me to stuff my husband's roll-hat for our wedding.  It saved me from having to go buy a bag of stuffing for such a small project.