Crafts and hobby supplies: how to buy materials at a good price
In crafts, small details decide the result
Yarn from different batches can differ in shade, and fabric of a different thread count holds embroidery differently. It is the same in art: watercolour for a beginner and for an artist are different materials. So, to avoid buying twice, state clearly what you need and for which project.
This section has four areas. In yarn and knitting supplies the fibre (wool, acrylic, cotton, mohair), the length per ball, the batch number, and also needles and hooks matter. Embroidery supplies are fabric such as Aida with a certain count per inch, embroidery floss of the right maker and number, needles, hoops and ready kits. In art supplies look at the type of paint (acrylic, oil, watercolour, gouache), the weight of the paper, the canvas format and brushes. Paint by numbers and diamond painting are chosen by canvas size, type of rhinestones (round or square) and whether there is a stretcher frame.
How it works through BlaBlaPrice
You create a request and describe what you need: colours, quantity, deadlines. You can add one photo of a sample. The request is checked, and you are told what sellers are missing. Then shops and makers reply in the chat with price, availability and delivery terms. Sellers can see where they stand among the others and compete for your choice. Your phone stays hidden. More in the “How it works” section.
What to put in your request
- What you are making — a sweater, a tablecloth, a picture; it helps to choose the material.
- Code or maker — for floss, yarn and paints the exact colour code matters.
- Quantity — for yarn you need one batch, or the colour will drift.
- Specifications — size, thread count, fibre, needle diameter.
- New or leftovers — some sellers sell off leftover stock.
- City, delivery, budget, if you want to state it.
Example: “I need 700 g of wool-acrylic yarn, graphite colour, one batch, for a sweater, 4 mm needles. Tsuen Wan, shipped by the post. Budget up to HK$190.”
How to compare offers
Look not only at the price per ball or kit but also at the length and fibre. A 50 g ball may cost less than a 100 g one, but you should compare the price per gram. For embroidery, check the colour number against the catalogue, not a “similar shade”. For art supplies compare the quality grade: student or professional. Find out about quantity discounts and the shipping cost, because light goods often work out dearer because of postage.
The price depends on the fibre of the yarn (natural is usually dearer), the brand, the canvas size, the number of colours in the kit and whether everything needed is included.
For dearer purchases (large diamond painting kits, professional paints) ask for a photo of the real product, not just the advertising picture. Ask whether the kit has a paper pattern, a full set of rhinestones with spares and an adhesive layer on the canvas. For yarn, ask for a photo of the ball in daylight, since the shade on a screen may differ.
Common mistakes
Buying yarn by eye and then running one ball short before the piece is done. Not matching the colour batch. Taking fabric or canvas without checking the thread count. Forgetting small things: needles, glue, varnish, a stretcher frame. For gift kits, it is worth checking timing in advance if the gift is for a set date. More hobby ideas are in the “Hobbies, leisure and sport” section.
