I received a rather opinionated comment a few days ago about the "eye-watering price" on a skein of local yarn - an alpaca/silk blend hand-dyed with botanicals. She said she could purchase a similar yarn manufactured overseas for much less. Here's my take on pricing.
I am proud to support Canadian farms, mills and indie dyers. The alpaca yarn manufactured overseas is often sourced from places like Bolivia where the average farmer earns around $10K per year. I am sure you would agree that our Canadian farmers deserve to earn a fair wage.
Canadian farmers are held to a certain level of national industry standards with respect to the ethical treatment of animals. For example, the practice of mulesing has never been used on Canadian farms.
If a yarn is dyed with botanicals, you are enjoying yarn from an individual who has taken the time to develop specialised skills. Again, I will say that the artisans who create these gorgeous colourways also deserve to earn a fair wage for their knowledge and time.
Canadian farmers are held to a certain level of national industry standards with respect to the ethical treatment of animals. For example, the practice of mulesing has never been used on Canadian farms.
If a yarn is dyed with botanicals, you are enjoying yarn from an individual who has taken the time to develop specialised skills. Again, I will say that the artisans who create these gorgeous colourways also deserve to earn a fair wage for their knowledge and time.
If a skein of Canadian wool or alpaca from a small indie farm is priced in the $40-$60 range, it would be in roughly the same price range as a round of golf or an evening at the movies. But you will enjoy knitting with this skein for hours. You will have not just a golf score or a ticket stub when all is said and done, you will have something that you can wear or gift to someone.
I am proud to feature only natural fibres like wool and alpaca, not yarns created from petroleum by-products. There are Canadian yarns made of natural fibres like wool and alpaca at price points ranging from around $8.00 to over $60.00.
You can choose to craft with whatever fibre and within whatever price point best suits your needs. But before being quite passive-aggressive about the price of an item, ask yourself if Canadian farmers, mill operators, indie dyers and retailers deserve to earn more than $5.00/hour (which is more than the average Bolivian farmer earns on an annual basis).
I am proud to feature only natural fibres like wool and alpaca, not yarns created from petroleum by-products. There are Canadian yarns made of natural fibres like wool and alpaca at price points ranging from around $8.00 to over $60.00.
You can choose to craft with whatever fibre and within whatever price point best suits your needs. But before being quite passive-aggressive about the price of an item, ask yourself if Canadian farmers, mill operators, indie dyers and retailers deserve to earn more than $5.00/hour (which is more than the average Bolivian farmer earns on an annual basis).
(photo of Molly Girl and Mini Cooper from Claymac Farm in NS)
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