Yarn & knitting supplies

Yarn and knitting supplies in New Zealand: prices and how to buy

Updated 11 November 2026

Yarn in New Zealand costs about NZ$3 to NZ$20 a ball for most acrylic, wool and merino yarns, and imported lambswool sold on cones for machine knitting is around NZ$31. For a price that matches your project today, describe what you need in a free BlaBlaPrice request.

Care labels and warranties

Yarn is a textile, so the care labelling standard applies to it whether it was made in New Zealand or overseas, and whether by machine or by hand. Check the care symbols on the ball band before buying yarn for a baby item or for something you will wash often. The Consumer Guarantees Act gives long-lasting guarantees on products bought for personal or household use, so an extended warranty is rarely needed.

Weights, units and buying by the metre

Yarn is sold by weight in grams and by length in metres, so compare the metres per 100 g rather than the price per ball. Weights use the ply names (4 ply, 8 ply or DK, chunky), and needle and hook sizes are given in millimetres. For a large project, ask the seller to quote a total that includes delivery to your city, because shipping can change the cost of an order.

Winter demand and when to stock up

Winter runs from June to August and summer from December to February, so knitting and crochet demand usually rises as the weather turns cold from autumn. Late spring, as it is now in November, is a sensible time to buy yarn for winter jumpers and blankets before the busiest months.

What to write in your request

Name the item and the yarn weight, the fibre (merino, wool, acrylic, alpaca), the colour, the quantity in balls or grams, the needle or hook size, and what the project is for. Add your budget and the city you are in, for example Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton or Tauranga, so sellers can quote delivery to you.

On BlaBlaPrice you describe the project in your own words in the chat, and you can add a photo of the pattern or the yarn label. The AI asks for missing details, looks through local sellers' websites and price lists, and shows the prices and businesses it found. Sellers registered on BlaBlaPrice reply with their own offer, price and delivery, and your contacts stay hidden until you choose whom to contact. Start with a free request, or browse crafts and hobby supplies.