Discount knitting supplies

by CK
(Toronto)

Hello
I'm contemplating starting a home based knitting business. I've been hand knitting sweet teddy bear jumpers (Debbie bliss pattern) for a few years and several people have suggested I should sell them.

A few questions:

1. Where do you purchase yarns wholesale? I really want to use pure wool, really gives it the best look but at $4.99 - $5.99 a skein that would make the product more pricey.

2. Currently I'm hand knitting but I know that if I want to do this in volume I've got to either buy a knitting machine (don't know ANYTHING about knitting machines) or recruit knitters.

2a What is average cost of a knitting machine?

2b Has anyone ever paid others for knitting? What is the going rate? I'm assuming the rate would be by the piece.
CK
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Hello CK,

First: you must check the copy right of the patterns you are using. Does the creator of these patterns allow you to sell the product you make from these patterns.

If it doesn't state it in the pattern you should contact the creator and ask if she will give permission for the pattern to be used to create items to sell.

Second: When I was buying my yarn in bulk I bought it from Montgomery Mills in Walkill NY. They were very easy to work with. It has been a few years so you will need to contact them and to see if they carry what you want and at what price.

Here is the information you will need:

Montgomery Mills Inc.
23 Factory St.,
Montgomery, NY 12549-1261, United States
(845)457-9241, (845)457-9242 fax

Third: I love the knitting machine. Price depends on the make and model of the machine. Also are you interested in new knitting machines or used ones.

A quick search online brought up many pages of knitting machines new and used. If you have never used a knitting machine I recommend you buy from someone local so you can take lessons. When I bought my first machine my mentor agreed to teach me how to knit with it.

Forth: Yes there are contract knitters out there. You supply the materials and pay them so much per piece. There is no way to give a price for doing this as you must take into consideration what they are knitting and how long it takes to knit and such.

Best of luck to you,

Linda