Knitters sometimes complain that the beautiful patterns they see in magazines are made with amounts of yarn so bountiful or with a yarn so expensive, that the project would cost a small fortune to make. This can put a damper on the lofty goals of knitters who don't have that type of money to spend, but it doesn't have to. There are plenty of ways to enjoy knitting and make lovely projects without going into debt.

Just about any pattern featured in a magazine lists the yarn used and how much of it was used for that particular project. That doesn't mean you have to use that same yarn. You should, however, be able to recognize the weight of yarn so that you can find a suitable substitute. A good way to do this is to take note of the suggested needle size. If a pattern suggests a US needle size 8, you can look in your local craft store or yarn shop for yarns that also recommend a size 8. Once you've been knitting for a while, you'll become familiar with certain names and brands; you'll develop favorites and know whether or not a certain yarn is a good fit for a project.

Ways you can knit on a budget:

• Substitute

Just because a pattern calls for 100% silk doesn't mean you have to use it. There may be times when a particular fiber is used for certain properties or the way it drapes, but if it's not as essential, you can use something else.

As an example, acrylic yarn has come a long way. Yes, there's still cheap acrylic that's rough and itchy, but there are also acrylics that are extremely soft and pleasing to the touch. These can often be found in craft stores for inexpensive prices.

• Shop the sales

Your local yarn store may have an oddball basket, where balls of yarn are marked down. True, it's usually just one or two balls per color, but it's worth looking--you just may find the one skein you need for a small project. Also, get on your LYS's mailing list if they provide one. This way, you can be notified of any sales or discounts they have in advance.

• Scour the Web

There are websites that sell yarn at a discount. Two that are popular and dependable are KnitPicks and Elann. Elann often lists how much the yarn equivalent sells for and what your savings are, which are usually quite impressive. KnitPicks offers a wide selection of yarn in weights from fingering to bulky, in a huge selection of colors and fibers.

Ebay is another option. It may take more dedication to find a bargain there--as it's very fluid and what you're looking for may be there one week but not there again for months--but there are sellers with shops that tend to list prices lower than retail.

• Recycle

Thrift stores usually carry items whose yarn can be recycled. If you find a thrift store sweater, make sure it's a good candidate for recycling by checking the seams. If the seams are sewn, it's not as good an option as one whose seams have been weaved in. You want a sweater whose yarn will unravel in more or less one strand.

• Trade/Barter

On the knitting forums, you can see which members are getting rid of unwanted yarn or are willing to trade for something in your stash. One person's trash is indeed another person's treasure in cases like this.

There's no reason knitting can't be an affordable hobby for everyone. It may take some time and homework, but if you save some money, it can either go in your savings account--or be used to buy more yarn!