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So we wandered into a craft shoppe and thought of buying some proper wool to make fingerless mitts with. And discovered two major problems (this has happened several times in different towns, so not just the one shop):

1. yarn is ludicrously costly, so much so that whatever you may knit with it could be bought cheaper if you only knew where to look
2. and it hardly ever seems to be wool: just some blend of stuff that won't even keep you properly warm.

Does anyone else here know better? Is there a secret wool outlet somewhere, even a black market (run by black sheep)?

Look for nice woolen garments in charity shops. That's what we do. Let them down and Robert is your parent's sibling.

Oh yes good point and I do that as well The jumper I have on right now is a hand-me-down from a neighbour, who said she has an allergy to wool which begs the q why did she buy it in the first place, but there you go

The fingerless mitts are an "idiot's dream" of mine because I have long arms and at this time of year my wrists get cold, which chills the rest of me in short order. I've even been thinking of making a pair out of olde sleeves...

Get some ordinary mitts and cut the fingers off?

Can't think for the moment how to use the spare fingers. Any thoughts...?

Seriously though, sounds like you need a proper wool and sewing shop, rather than a craft shop. Might be worth trying these??
http://www.woolandyarn.co.uk/north-york ... s-c62.html

Having said that, I know from my wife's experience that, yes, wool is pricey.

Swedish army surplus wool wristlets if you want them ready made.

Or modify old woolen socks?

Is there a secret wool outlet somewhere....

RenewableCandy, PM me your address and I'll send you some of our goats' wool.

hardworkinghippy wrote:RenewableCandy, PM me your address and I'll send you some of our goats' wool.

Your goats can knit?

Nope you daft bugger but they can grow a mighty fine fleece !

I've been putting goat hair in my lime plaster!

RenewableCandy wrote:So we wandered into a craft shoppe and thought of buying some proper wool to make fingerless mitts with. And discovered two major problems (this has happened several times in different towns, so not just the one shop):

1. yarn is ludicrously costly, so much so that whatever you may knit with it could be bought cheaper if you only knew where to look
2. and it hardly ever seems to be wool: just some blend of stuff that won't even keep you properly warm.

Does anyone else here know better? Is there a secret wool outlet somewhere, even a black market (run by black sheep)?

Yes there is, but it is in Newport New Hampshire USA. Lots of nice stuff there that the Boss cuts into strips then braids into rugs. Seems a waste of perfectly good wool cloth that could just as well be made into shirts etc. But my opinion on the matter has not been requested.
http://www.dorrmillstore.com/

Interesting that you mention crap insulation....most modern shop bought clothes now have terrible thermal properties. I was freezing the other day wearing a so called 'fleece'...swapped it out for a good old jumper from ages ago and ...yup, you guessed it. toasty.

I think they should put the tog rating on clothes. However I am lucky: Marvellous Other 1/2 has returned from Overseas Assignations with some proper Russian woolen thermals for me

VT, you boss is a Rug-Hooker ?? Sounds scary... (UK English Hooker is a position in a rugby side I trow...sort o'thing Kenneal knows about!)

RenewableCandy wrote:VT, you boss is a Rug-Hooker ?? Sounds scary... (UK English Hooker is a position in a rugby side I trow...sort o'thing Kenneal knows about!)

Nope she makes braided rugs. Hooked rugs are made from the wool yarn directly while the braiders use strips of wool cloth cut into three inch wide strips. The store I linked to caters to both hobbies.
As to the Rugby side of things one of my daughters played rugby as an under grad but she played the prop position not the hooker.