Thrifting / Op shopping for Crochet & Knitting Treasures: SO MUCH YARN & MORE! 🧶🌟

[@suzettefaircloth5037]

You're so lucky to have charity shops that have yarn. Here in North Carolina USA there's rarely any yarn.

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hi Suzette 👋 Oh, that's not fair! Maybe everyone in North Carolina use up all their yarn, so there's none left to donate? Are you in an area where crafts are particularly popular? 🤔

[@suzettefaircloth5037]

@MelsYarniverse to be honest I don't have any idea. I don't socialize with anyone and don't have a job. Ps. This is how I like to live. Just me and my husband

[@MelsYarniverse]

@suzettefaircloth5037 Well then, as long as you're happy, that's great! 😊 I guess maybe there could also be lots of crafters in the area, and they are all keeping their yarn, so you're not seeing it at the thrift stores. Hopefully, one day, you'll find some and get a lovely surprise 😊💕

[@bethholness5153]

I grab baby blankets knitted or crocheted whenever I find them. I add a heap of borders and bingo a lap blanket to donate to our local respite centre for adults.

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hiya 👋 That is an amazing idea! I just love that! 😍

[@josmith2002]

This is the fourth time I am playing this- I keep falling asleep part way through- your voice is sooo calming I enjoy winding down to your videos at night 😊

[@MelsYarniverse]

Aww thanks, Jo 🙏💗 That's very sweet of you to say 💗 I'm honoured to be part of your winding down process 😊💕

[@lorrainehuddle4257]

Stunning photography 😻

[@MelsYarniverse]

Thank you, Lorraine! Yes, my cameraman is certainly very gifted, and I appreciate him a lot 🙏💗

[@sarahspicer1964]

Now you have the hook to make a lace trim for a collar on a blouse 😊

[@MelsYarniverse]

Oh, yes you're right, Sarah! 😃 I'll have to figure out which cotton to use!

[@debrathacker306]

Wow wish I could resaleing with you when we get rich you come here and I’ll come over there . My husband will have to come with me lol

[@MelsYarniverse]

That would be fun 😃

[@marcellebaldwin4036]

Hi Mel! Just found your channel and have subscribed! Wow! I never thought to look at the op shops!! I loved watching everything thank you ! The conversion for that size 12 hook is 2.50 Have a blessed day 😊

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hi Marcelle 👋 Thank you so much, and welcome to the club! 🤗💗 Thank you for the hook size - I measured it with a size guide when I got home, and you are absolutely right, it was 2.5 mm! 😊 Have a lovely day ☺️🌞

[@robynwilliamson7066]

I enjoy your program and the great bargains. That flurry yarn was very trendy some years ago but I’ve never liked it. It’s everywhere in op shops!

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hi Robyn 👋 Yes, I seem to find it at almost every op shop I look in! It must have been extremely popular once upon a time! ☺️

[@looloo4029]

The botanical gardens in Ballarat are wonderful to visit. The Aero 12 crochet hook is 2.5mm which is a quarter of a centimetre or a tenth of an inch. That’s tiny! Do you think it would be used for crocheting cotton yarn into edging for doilies or something like that? You’re so lucky to have such marvellous op shops in your area, Mel. The ones in country towns near me are all pretty small. I loved seeing the patterns for scarves, cardigans and jackets in the Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hi Looloo 👋 Have you been to the Ballarat botanic Gardens before? It is lovely, especially during Spring 🌸 I just had to share it with everyone! Thanks for the heads up about the hook size! I just measured it and you're spot on! 2.5mm! Yes, I think it's meant for doilies and lace edgings on clothing (collars and cuffs) and table runners and things like that. Very, very small! I'd like to give it a try though! There were some fabulous patterns in the magazine wasn't there?! That's why I love sharing them with all of you, because I know that you appreciate them as much as I do 🤗

[@looloo4029]

@@MelsYarniverse yes, I have been to the Ballarat Botanical Garden on several occasions. Magnificent place and so beautifully managed. The prime ministers’ walk is so interesting too. The begonia displays are out of this world 🌎!

[@MelsYarniverse]

@looloo4029 It really is a lovely place to visit. Yes, the Prime Ministers walk is interesting, isn't it? There are some great sculptures there. And the begonias are just beautiful. It's a lovely place for a picnic too ☺️

[@ourcreativebeehive]

I use that size hook with crochet thread to make fashion doll clothes like barbies.❤

[@debrathacker306]

Beautiful

[@TinaCasna-Clark-gg2dm]

Ok. I'm grabbing my coffee in a to-go cup. Let's go!

[@MelsYarniverse]

Yay! 😃 Here we go!

[@SueFletcher-e7r]

Hello Mel from Wisconsin, USA... That white baby blanket was a very good deal...

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hi Sue 👋 Thanks for your comment, and for watching my little video! 😊 Yes, it really was a great little bargain, I was really happy I found it. Have you been crocheting / knitting for long?

[@moirahurley2862]

Oh wow I love the yarn, I'm definitely going to have to hit the thrift shops to pick some up. I crochet emotional support chickens (the pattern can be found on youtube ) and I'm always looking for some scrap yard.. you have made my day thank you :)

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hi Moira 👋 I'm so glad my video inspired you! I hope you find some lovely yarn for your chickens at your local thrift stores! 😃 💗

[@debrathacker306]

I had to leave and then came back .

[@MelsYarniverse]

Well, I'm glad you're back! 😃💗

[@jeanetteferguson7079]

I love the baby blankets. 💕

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hi Jeanette 👋 Yes, they are lovely, aren't they? 💗

[@KayVCornett]

Lace weight crochet hooks the numbers work in a different order than what you are used to, the lower the number the bigger the hook. A twelve is .70 mm hook. I have some even smaller than that I inherited from my mom and grandmother that you can't even really see the hook tip. They are so small and frail they actually have metal caps for the tips to protect them from breaking as well as piercing through a hook case or material.

[@MelsYarniverse]

Wow!! 😲 They sound amazing! How lovely to have such a memorable keepsake from them both 💕

[@deanahutson7516]

Absolutely loved seeing the beautiful gardens!! The flowers were breathtaking! So enjoyed your shopping spree, too. You definitely had a great day!! Much love from Texas USA❤❤

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hi Deana 👋 Thank you so much 🙏💗 I'm so glad you liked it! Big hugs to you from Down Under! 🤗

[@KrisCheyne]

😎 I enjoy everything! 😎

[@MelsYarniverse]

Thanks Kris 🤗💗

[@jessm.5385]

Love the blue tutorial Tess looking over your shoulder with her sisters.

[@MelsYarniverse]

I knew you would spot her!! 😃💗

[@JudyWheldon]

You are a very lucky bargain hunter, a lady after my own ❤️ heart. I think the yarn bargains are my favourites. You can use that for your makings. I don't think there are more shopping adventures better than Op shops. 😂

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hi Judy 👋 Thank you so much for your kind comment 💗 I agree, I really like the fact that you never know what treasures you might find at an op shop 😊

[@Mountaingirlcrochets]

I love looking at color combo too, it’s amazing how great some colors go together. Thank you Mel❤ great yarn!

[@MelsYarniverse]

You are most welcome! I just love seeing how other people come up with their colour combos - especially when they do something I never would have thought would work and it just looks amazing😃

[@gwenwilliams7881]

You have the most Beautiful Heart ❤

[@MelsYarniverse]

Awww, that's really sweet of you! Thank you Gwen, that's really lovely of you to say 🤗💗

[@erininwood8131]

With the tiny crochet hooks, they are old enough that they pre date the metric sizing system. there are charts out there that will show the conversion. Also, here in New Zealand we call the Salvation Army op shop "the Sallies", so cool to hear how other areas name similar things. Im currently working on a mega chunky wool striped basket for my Mum, she started it but the arthritis in her hands and other health issues she couldn't complete it. I'm also working on a Kracken hat, very out there and not everyones taste but I'm loving it so far! Loving your videos, and your enthusiasm. Its so cool to see people in the yarn community on our side of the world. I also watch CrochetmeZaddy, he's a kiwi but living in Oz.

[@MelsYarniverse]

Kia Ora Erin 👋 Thanks so much for that info! It's really helpful 👍 I'll do some research and see what I can find out on the size conversions 😊 Sallies is a great name for the salvos! I love it! Oh, good luck with your projects! They sound awesome! 😃 I'd love to see the kracken hat when it's done! Yes, I also watch CrochetmeZaddy from time to time. His amigurumi are very cute 😊 Thank you so much for watching! 🤗

[@angelsandcats]

I have a size 14 steel crochet hook. Beautiful haul today

[@MelsYarniverse]

That is awesome!😃 Thank you for watching💜

[@EmilioThumbgusset]

Thanks for converting the kilos to pounds for us 'across the pond'; metric is Greek to us!

[@MelsYarniverse]

My absolute pleasure! 🤗💜

[@TinaC-jf7wu]

Your yarn haul today is amazing. Thanks for letting us join in the fun!

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hi Tina 👋 thank you for joining me! 😊💗

[@josmith2002]

💲🔊🇦🇺Exclusive news just for Mel’s Yarniverse: My local Coles is having a clearance for $1 of soft acrylic yarn on a 200 gram cone - 8 ply. Worth checking if it is on clearance at your local Coles too. I think it is a good buy- but I don't know what the original price was.

[@MelsYarniverse]

Thank you so much for the heads up, Jo! That's really kind of you! 😊💗 I'll have to check out my local Coles and see if I can find some! 😃

[@craftedbybethany]

i love finding mini skeins of yarn at the thrift store bc it makes me creating & try to come up with different color-ways haha love the chat you gave about each book!

[@MelsYarniverse]

Thanks Bethany! 🤗💜 Yes, it definitely helps with the creativity when you have limited yarn to work with doesn't it?

[@julielashley3478]

My favorite thing to do with you. ❤️

[@MelsYarniverse]

Aww, thanks Julie! I love that I get to bring you with me on my adventures! I get to share my thrift store finds with people who also appreciate them as much as I do 😊 Thank you for your support and for watching my little videos🤗💜

[@slavicachang7440]

I noticed there’s a fair bit of that flurry yarn donated to op shops. I was thinking it must be hard to work with as so much is donated. 🤣🤣

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hi Slavica👋 Hope you are well 💖 Yes, I see so much of it, so I assume the same thing - I'm not really tempted by it, although some of the colourways I've seen it in are really quite lovely! It's a shame really. I do hope someone who can use it will find it and put it to good use!

[@LynneEmery-w2y]

Mel you had a great find, happy crocheting 😊

[@MelsYarniverse]

Thanks Lynne, always appreciated 🙏💗 Happy crocheting to you my friend 🧶💗

[@lindas5680]

I wish we could have looked at the doll at 13:39. ☺️ Great video! 😎

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hi Linda 👋 My apologies, I didn't even realise it was there! I must have missed it while filming! So sorry about that

[@Goldnfinch]

Woke up early in the US to knit a to-be-felted hat for a commission and watch some good content ❤

[@MelsYarniverse]

Well then, good morning! 🤗 And, I'm honoured that you include me in that! 😊💗

[@angelawossname]

Yesterday I binge re-watched all your videos and crocheted all day. Do you have enough watch hours yet? I'll do it again next time I have a lazy day.

[@MelsYarniverse]

Aww, Angela you are wonderful! 💜💓💖 Thank you so much for your amazing support 🙏💜 Every single view really does count, so thank you so, so much for your support! The channel is now monetised, which is great because I can use that money to fund more op shopping visits, and buy better cameras to help me film better videos e.t.c (when I make that much!) But let's just say I won't be quitting my day job anytime soon 😂

[@grandmasmagic3858]

Hi Mel...you make me want to get in my car and take a drive to Ballarat (I'm in Sunshine)...alas, I'm sick right now and not quite up to it..also, I work weekdays, so I can't spend the time doing it...but it would be such a good pick-me-up...are these Op shops open on Saturdays..??

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hiya 👋 I'm sorry to hear that you're unwell right now and I hope you feel better soon 😊 I'm so glad that my videos inspire you! 😊 Yes, some of these op shop's are open on Saturdays and some, even open on Sunday's too! The bigger ones (Salvos, Vinnies e.t.c) are the ones who tend to open weekends. The smaller church based ones are really only open for a few hours on certain days of the week.

[@BronwynSutton]

I tend to find a lot of moda Vera in op shops in my area.

[@MelsYarniverse]

Is it hard to use stuff like faux fur and eyelash yarn? 😂 at least that's what I call it!

[@BronwynSutton]

@ hahaha eyelash yarn. Love it! I’ve only tried to use it once. And totally the wrong hook size. I want to try again with a larger hook size to see if it was the yarn or the hook.

[@MelsYarniverse]

A friend told me recently that she combines it with a similar or complimentary coloured yarn, and that makes it easier to see the stitches and much easier to work with, if that helps? 💗

[@BronwynSutton]

@@MelsYarniverse oh I’ll have to try that. Thanks for the tip!

[@MelsYarniverse]

@BronwynSutton Good luck, Bronwyn! Let me know how you go 😊💗

[@alicial6072]

I was going through my craft things and came across some small hooks (mine are smaller a 5 & 7) like those you found and I pulled out some string yarn I bought to make lacy ornaments about 30 or more years ago and I tried one of the ornament patterns and then I remembered why I never used it, its so hard to crochet with with such a thin yarn so I put everything in the donate pile.

[@MelsYarniverse]

HI Alicia 👋 Yes, I think I might struggle with hooks so small too! Hopefully your donations will be found by someone who can appreciate and use them to make some beautiful new things, thanks to you 🤗

[@slavicachang7440]

Just looked at a conversion chart for hooks and an English size 12 is supposed to be 2.5mm.

[@MelsYarniverse]

Yes, you are absolutely spot on! I found my hook size guide and it was an exact 2.5mm! It looks so tiny!

[@slavicachang7440]

I found some very old short length metal hooks that were a third of the size of your hook in an op shop. They just had to come home with me. Not sure I’d ever be able to use them though. 😄😄

[@MelsYarniverse]

@slavicachang7440 Oh wow! They must be almost microscopic! 😲

[@منالبيتالىالحديقة]

Amazing i love all thinks into video.😊

[@MelsYarniverse]

Thank you so much! 🙏💗

[@georginavlog]

I'm from the UK. whats an op shop?

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hi Georgina 👋 Thanks for your question ☺️ An op shop is a thrift / goodwill store, usually run by a charity organisation to sell donated goods to raise funds for their cause. They used to be called 'Opportunity Shops' here in Australia (as they provided people on a low income an opportunity to buy cheaper clothing, homewares, e.t.c) which ofcourse got shortened to 'op shop' ☺️

[@marybethtanner959]

Mb here Do you mix all the yarn together or do you separate it

[@jessm.5385]

Maybe join them as you wind them? Make a scrappy yarn cake.

[@MelsYarniverse]

@marybethtanner959 Hi MB! 👋 Usually, I keep them separate so I can make granny squares with them, but I'd also like to make a scrap ball of yarn to mix some them together, as Jess suggested. I've not done that before, but I think it would look great! Just need to work out how to join them 😊

[@MelsYarniverse]

@jessm.5385 Great idea! 😃 I'd love to do that. I just need to work out how to join the scraps together 😊

[@melstephen5191]

💐🧶🧶🧶💐

[@MelsYarniverse]

🌸💜🌸💜🧶

[@EmilioThumbgusset]

You bought more buttons. So what. So what? Sew buttons!

[@MelsYarniverse]

😂😂 Ha ha ha that was amazing!

[@MichelleStaunton-l4b]

Not a good idea to rip holes in the plastic bags of yarn it’s wrapped to keep it clean for other people

[@MelsYarniverse]

Hi Michelle 👋 Just letting you know that I didn't tear a hole in the bag, there was already one in it. I was trying to be careful, so I didn't make it any bigger. When I find sealed bags of yarn, I always leave them that way, unless I intend on buying them ☺️