Monday 26 March 2012

Wool Factory SALE!

We've been a little bit excited about this for the last week and today it was finally the big day! The Wool Factory in Hamburg, where we buy a lot of our yarn, started their sale! This happens twice a year and lasts for a week. We did not know what to expect since we had never visited one of their sales before.

As we were on the bus towards the factory we noticed a lot of women with big empty shopping bags and trolleys. We joked that they were all on their way to the factory to stock up on cheap wool! As it turned out, they all were! We figured it was going to be busy and laughed at the thought of us all fighting over the same yarn. It turned out to be very civilized and they even had coffee and cake!

The Yarn Factory is normally one (quite small) shop, but because of the big sale they opened up a part of the warehouse to the public. Five hundred square meters of yarn on sale! Amazing!
Shopping at the Factory normally works by picking out a yarn type and color. You than have them wind it on a cone in the desired amount of ply's and weight. This normally takes some time, and as it was sale week, this was not possible. Instead all of the sale-cones were already wound into a certain thickness and a set weight. This was a little disappointing as we were hoping to get our yarn in the thickness we like to work with. With the sale being this big, it was however understandable and they still had loads to choose from!


The yarn was still plied quite thin so that it's easy to go up a hook/needle size by buying a second one or even a third one (this means you just work from 2 or 3 cones at the same time). The suggested needle sizes were all written on each box of cones.


We sort of expected a chaos of yarn, but it was organized so very very efficiently! Neatly stacked boxes, all labeled with: price per 50 grams, type of yarn (or blend) and recommended needle sizes for 1, 2 or 3 cones. It made it very clear to find what you were looking for!


There was cotton, merino, pure wool, linen, alpaca, lamb, silk, cashmere, and all possible combinations of these. The color choices per type of yarn were not as vast as we hoped for. But if you were planning to work on projects that don't need more than one or two colors, it was easy picking! 

We managed to find some great bargains! Most yarns were priced down to 1 euro per 50 grams! We also got a great deal on some angora/merino blend for 1.20 euro per 50 grams.

Once we filled our trolley with all of the sale yarn we desired, we then had to go to the main store to pay. The main store is where all the normal prized yarn is being sold. As normal there was much more choice of color and the possibility of choosing ply and weight. As you can see, a lot more (vibrant) colors to choose from!


Want to see what we bought at the sale?

 
Not all yarns were labeled, as they were one of a kind so we ended up buying a couple of cones of which we have no clue what type of yarn it is. But does it really matter... :-)?
The cones above are about 1 kg each.


Another 800 grams of a very delicate green!


1 kg of lovely faded pink and 2 kg's (1 cone is not in the picture) of white (can you ever have enough?) Both pure wool!
 Matt chose 4 cones of a very soft and warm rose. It's pure merino!


We really went a little bit crazy buying all this yarn, but it made sense to take advantage of the ridiculously low prices!

Do you want to see what we bought in the expensive part of the store?


Six bright and gorgeous colors of fabulous yarn! It's 90% wool and 10% nylon! So very very soft and squishy! Wouldn't you like to get your hands on that?


Many of you have expressed an interest in the yarn cones we use and have mentioned how they're not available in your areas, so we have decided to buy this yarn for... YOU!!!

Over the next week we will explain how you could be the new owner of 1200 grams (200 grams per color) of this lovely yarn! We're very excited to be giving this away, and can't wait to share HOW very soon!

If you have any crazy yarn sale experiences, we would love to hear them!
Hope you are all having a lovely start of the week!

Matt & Dennis xxx
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52 comments:

  1. Y'all are SO LUCKY to live there (for a lot of reasons - not only the yarn). That yarn is some kind of gorgeous and I can hardly wait to see what you're going to make with it. I especially love that delicate green.

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  2. Oh lucky! Will be keeping my eye out for the giveaway :)

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  3. Oh my Gosh! This is so exciting! I'm looking forward to see what these cones will become in your skilled hands!

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  4. That looks like heaven! Trip to Hamburg next year methinks!!

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  5. Wow, like Willy Wonka's factory for Yarn Fanatics...what a stash :)

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  6. Wow! You lucky guys to live near such a place! and how generous to plan to give away those gorgeous cones!
    I usually buy yarn online as there are not much yarn shops in my area, and I always get carried away :)
    (a few days ago I went shopping for 1 ball and ended up with almost 50... so maybe it's a good thing I don't have a place like this in my area!)

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  7. Oh my Gosh, it is so crazy. Have you told, the sale took for a week? Well, I am living from Hamburg just 1400 km away, if I ever visit to Hamburg I will visit that shop. I always use german yarns, I love them.
    Have a beautiful day,
    Hanni

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  8. ENVY here! Love the rose and ..... and ..... and!

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  9. Wow! I live in France, in the rural heart of it, and there's barely a wool shop here (though lots of sheep) never mind a yarn factory.

    I reckon I could drive to Germany...

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  10. There I was grimacing in acute jealously at your purchases when I spied your possible give away - swoon in delight!!

    How lucky to have a yarn factory so close :)

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  11. woooww!!1. Pretty yarn and colors...How to be able to buy????.I want to participate in this give away
    Hugs from Spain

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  12. Wow lots of very yummy yarn - I have to say my favourite is definitely the merino rose but the colours from the "expensive" bit of the store are very very very nice and the colours compliment the lovely weather we are having at the mo. Hope you have a good week being creative and can't wait for the "giveaway". xxxxx

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  13. Help,help-I'm having a severe yarngasm,and it won't stop until I have a cone of each marino color(including white) so I can make your magnifique granny blanket,Matt! Holy cupcakes,you must give them to me(buy? Win?)whatevaaaaa!!!

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  14. Why wasn't there a yarn factory near me when I lived in Germany?! I'm impressed that you haven't bankrupted yourselves splurging... I know I would :-)

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  15. Looks like a feast for the eyes! Lots of colors and bargains! Lucky you!~Hugs,Patti

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  16. A contest for that yarn!!!!!! My heart just skipped a beat....

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  17. Oh my goodness! Certainly so different from anything I've seen in New Zealand! I'm so impressed you could decide on anything at all, I think I would go into a flat spin...so beautiful and I love your choices.
    Hmm, my neice goes to visit her family in Germany from time to time - must find out where they live.....

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  18. Wow! I got a little lightheaded, just looking at that wall o'color. You chose some gorgeous, subtle, lovely colors, and I can't wait to see what you make with it! :)

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  19. How fun it that? The rose merino is just gorgeous. Looking forward to hearing more about your giveaway plans.

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  20. What a fun excursion for you, I bet you made LOTS of new friends! Did you wear any of your creations? Did you tell any of the others about your blog? I love the rainbow colors! I look forward to your giveaway AND to see what you make from your stash. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  21. I never worked with cones but it does look lovely! Yarn heaven if you ask me. Angora?! My my, you have a posh taste ;-). Can't wait to see what projects will be created with these beauties.

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  22. Oh wow, I would have loved to spend a few hours at the Wool Factory! I've never seen any decent yarn sales here in Belgium, the best thing you can get is a lys selling a few balls of yarn for half the price twice a year...
    Ooh I wanted to thank you again for mentioning the VeryPink website a few posts ago, I am doing all kinds of stuff now I thought I would never be able to do, such as -gasp!- cables!! :D x

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  23. There's actually a lot of yarn stores here in Istanbul, but they don't have all the posh yarn that you describe, lots of it is just acrylic... good enough for blankets for the kids, but not really 'fulfilling'... however, I get into a frenzy whenever close to one of the yarn stores!! it's always exciting to be planning a new project, isn't it? I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll make out of your new purchases... enjoy!!

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  24. OMG I know for sure if I would go to a sale like that I would be bankrupt LOL I would think of all new projects I neededthe yarn for right at the spot. You bought some really nice yarn, I love the bright colours but the other ones are very beautiful too. Can't wait to see what you are gonna make out of it :)

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  25. Pati from London27 March 2012 at 10:45

    How lucky to have that factory there, Matt! am jealous!!! Yesterday, my littlest child couldn't sleep so I decided to go for a trip to John Lewis's haberdashery for a bit of inspiration and was shocked at the prices of wool, has it all gone up??? Crickey, they were expensive!! I think you bought great bargains and lovely colours. Look forward to seeing your creations. Enjoy the sunshine!! Pati x

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  26. What an amazing shop - I wish we had something even close to that here. I love the colours. Just imaging what you can make with it all. Lily. xxx

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  27. Oh... i wish to live in Hamburg and not near to Cologne... ;o)
    XO,
    Martina♥

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  28. i am so J.E.A.L.O.U.S... that is all.

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  29. Oooh, how exciting, what lovely colours!! I love how you have photographed the yarn too - your photos are always so impressive!
    Maria x

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  30. WOW what fabulous bargains - on your doorstep too. I wish I had some place like that to buy my yarn!

    My experience of cones of yarn are from the days my mother had a knitting machine. It was mainly acrylic then with some wool, but nothing like the selection you have now!

    In response to Pati from London - I went into Peter Jones (part of John Lewis for those who don't know) last week as it's close to work, and could not believe their prices!!!! I NEEDED something to finish off a project, but I doubt I'll be hurrying back.

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  31. What a veritable feast of yarn!
    Love, love love the colours and just wish I had such a great shop near me.....oh to live somewhere cosmopolitan like you :-)

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  32. Hi Guys, I've just discovered your blog, love, love, love it x
    Can't wait to see what you make with your new scrummy yarn :)
    If you get a mo check out my blog....
    http://handmadewithlove-esther.blogspot.com/

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  33. So so jealous! I live in Dundee (in Scotland) and can happily say (as I am not from here) that it's a constant struggle for me to buy yarn/wool as it's not exactly a cosmopolitan kinda place!. I always remember going in to my local wool shop "The Knitting Pin' which is owned/run by quite a 'traditional' 'older' lady and asking if she stocked Debbie Bliss "Cashmerino" as I wanted to knit my baby girl a cardigan from one of Debbie's books......she laughed at me and said "Oh no, we don't stock those expensive brands" Enough said by way of explanation as to why I am so frustrated! I had to make a special trip up the the John Lewis in Aberdeen! (I like to feel wool before buying....and see true colours etc). We recently had a Hobbycraft open in Dundee but the wool section is tiny (although the do have two little shelves dedicated to Debbie Bliss wool!). Anyway I am waffling on here....you guys are so lucky, I was practically drooling at your photo's of all the yarn ON SALE!! Oh yes, nothing better than getting the good stuff CHEAP! Looking forward to seeing what you will be making! You have also set my heart a flutter with that gorgeous yarn..... and YOU ARE GIVING IT AWAY!? ARE YOU NUTS!? Hope so, that's very generous and lovely if you do, will be keeping tuned, OH YES!

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  34. Oh my, I went to the Wollfabrik once and it was AMAZING. The variety of colors is great and I love the merino wool. Too bad I missed the sale, hopefully I'll make it next year :)

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  35. Love the colors....perfect for a rainbow!!! Love your blog & hello from the US!

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  36. How I envy you guys for living near that yarn dreamland! Lovely yarn!

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  37. I am beyond jealous! Look at that fabulous collection of yarn - you lucky guys. You'd think that with the amount of sheep we have here in New Zealand that our wool would be fairly cheap but it's not, darn it. Enjoy all your gorgeous yarn. I can't wait to see what beautiful creations you make with it.
    Leah

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  38. Sounds like you had a fab time, I would have been beside myself with excitement. I love a bargain I do!! Can't wait to see what you end up making with all the yarn you bought.

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  39. I'm so envious. What fantastic finds and yes, I can't get cones of yarn like that where I live. You are so lucky to have such a great place to shop!

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  40. That shop sounds amazing! You got some great bargains. I look forward to hearing about your give away (what a wonderful thing to do) and also really look forward to seeing what you make with all your lovely new yarn. xx

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  41. I wish we had a shop like that here where I am. Will be looking forward to see what you make with all that wonderful yarn and will watch for your giveaway!

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  42. That looks amazing! It sounds like you had so much fun there! Jealous!

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  43. Hilo Matt and Dennis!!! I am brand new to your blog and not quite sure how I got here. However, I am very happy I did. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog and your projects and all the color!!! Its fantastic. I went reading back and you two have some wonderful posts, and totally inspiring!

    Happy Saturday!

    Jenn
    creativelycraftyjenn.blogspot.com

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  44. I have been there myself on Monday and for the first time. It was amazing and I bought so much yarn - lucky I had a car. That was definitly not the last time to visit the Wollfabrik. I love your post, it says it all. And I am happy to have found your blog. It´s great!!!
    Love, Angela

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  45. OMGosh that is cone heaven!!! I actually think you you were both very tame in your purchasing ..ahahaha, you could have gone wild buying in that place, or better still just locked yourself in there with a hook never to be seen a again by the human race .D
    Love all the colours, just beautiful!

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  46. I love it so much. I avoid yarn stores most of the time, otherwise my whole salary will disappear into yarn hihi. Love the colors and the textures.
    Following your blog from the moment I found it :) Great ideas and inspiration. It makes me smile by every post.

    xoxo Marlou

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  47. I so love reading your blog guys..
    thankyou for sharing - love the photos of the yarn..

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  48. LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!, I want to make one for my kids room... please tell me how I can get hold of the yarn?

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  49. Hi

    could you let me know the pattern for the jam jars you have covered sat next to your gorgeous clock many thanks Denise The Linen Company email denise@linencompany.co.uk www.linencompany.co.uk thanks sooooooooooo much

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  50. Hi there,

    Chanced upon your blog today and I love it.

    Lucky that you get wool yarn, on this side of the world we only have 100% acrylic so I'm planning on buying good yarn online and having it shipped over.

    Keep up the good work.

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