Going to Michaels

[Jan in CA]

I have all of the above except coilless safety pins...what the heck are those? lol.

You can get them in the beading section. They don't have that little loop at the end that can get caught in yarn. I use them for marking a point that is on the fabric like where I started decreases or noting which side is the front which is important for some patterns. I actually use them all the time.

ETA: they look like this:
http://www.safetypins.com/coilless_pins.htm

[N0obKnitter]

Neato! Thanks.

[N0obKnitter]

So, my mother opted to work an OT shift (she gets paid time and a half or double... = craploads of $.) so I went to Miguels alone. I walked 4 km (they put Miguels in the crappiest places for car-free types like myself here.) I even got lost twice trying to find it (never been to that location before...)

Bought a buncha stuff:

Lion brand Jiffy x 3 135 yards $2.49 each(clearance)
Pattons Classic Wool x 2 (not clearance, I wish!)
Bates size 2 DPNs
Boye Crochet hook value pack
Boye yarn-on-the-go bag (2 in pkg!)

[suzeeq]

I like Jiffy it's nice and cushy. Use size 11s with it and it knits up fine.

[N0obKnitter]

Yeah it feels soooo soft I wanna cuddle it lolol.

Cannibalized plastic bins from my storage room, put my wool / silk / expensive yarn in the big bin. Put notions etc in the small box. My cheaper acrylic yarn are in open bamboo etc bins.

[Crycket]

Last time I had their 40% off coupon I bought myself a really good pair of seamstress scissors. You know the ones that cost $40...

And the other time I got the Boye Crochet hook set.

Both times something over $20. Wouldn't do it any other way...

But here is the fun part...Michaels hands out these coupons like cookies...so they mark their prices up accordingly...

[suzeeq]

They don't mark up their prices at all, I've heard in some stores the prices are less than in nearby Joanns which also has coupons available every week.

[Crycket]

I don't know...I avoid going there for anything for Girl Guides, cause their prices are so much higher than anywhere else. I will go if I absolutely need to. But that is it.

That isn't to say that some things are not marked up...

[suzeeq]

I think a lot of it depends on location. Some areas have higher rents than others and may charge just a bit more. And in Canada you have stores we don't have here so the competition is different.

[lelvsdgs]

I find that the Michael's here is about the same price as JoAnn's. The real difference is in the selection. Michael's is far superior in selection and has much better sales. I used to use the coupons for books but they no longer allow that. I do try to use them on higher priced items too!