Ideas for a less-expensive replacement yarn?

SissyKnits · 03-21-2010, 02:12 PM

I am planning to make this dress for our 3-year-old Julia, and stick it in her Easter basket.

Even the smallest size requires 6 balls of Berroco Tutu, which, by my estimation, costs around $10 per ball! I just can't bring myself to spend at least $60 on the yarn for the skirt alone for something Julia will be playing dress up in!!

Does anyone have any advice on what sort of yarn I could subsitute for the Berroco Tutu?

Thank you so much for your help! I promise to post pictures once the project is completed.

lissaplus2 · 03-21-2010, 08:46 PM

Not sure about that one...I think a sub would effect the overall look of the dress...
there are novelty yarns all over the place that might give a different look but still effective and cost less...normally novelty yarns come in small yardage per skein be sure to look at yardage and not skeins when you figure how many you need and cost.

maybe someone knows of something similar to the tutu tho...good luck!!

Melissa

Daylilydayzed · 03-21-2010, 09:42 PM

Instead of using the TuTu yarn have you considered using ribbon? If you get the ribbon at Jo_Ann the small wheels of ribbon are very inexpensive, something like ten yards for a dollar.You could get 10 of those for the price of one skein of TuTu.

suzeeq · 03-21-2010, 10:06 PM

But the TuTu yarn is 'shreddy' so just knitting ribbon wouldn't give the same effect. You'd need some sort of eyelash or furry yarn to be similar.

You might try looking at ebay to see if someone has TuTu for half off, though that's still spendy.

Sajomaro · 03-22-2010, 12:34 PM

I remember seeing that type of yarn used with felted bags so I did a quick search on Ravelry. I came up with Crystal Palace Squiggle and Crystal Palace DragonFly. The Squiggle is the cheaper of the two as a skein is 100 yards compared to the 44 yards of the DragonFly but both would be cheaper then the Tutu.

HTH

WandaT · 03-22-2010, 01:14 PM

I found this:

http://www.numei.com/wings.htm

Will keep looking ...

Mirl56 · 03-22-2010, 04:08 PM

If you want something shreddy try getting a yard or 2 of cheap cotton fabric in the colors you want. Pattern won't matter, just get the colors you want. Don't cut it in strips, but rip it into 1/2" wide strips. You might need to cut it a 1/2" to get it started, but then rip it. it will give you your shreddy edges.

lissaplus2 · 03-22-2010, 05:22 PM

Quote:

If you want something shreddy try getting a yard or 2 of cheap cotton fabric in the colors you want. Pattern won't matter, just get the colors you want. Don't cut it in strips, but rip it into 1/2" wide strips. You might need to cut it a 1/2" to get it started, but then rip it. it will give you your shreddy edges.

good idea!! you should put that into the tips and tricks sticky!!