I have several crochet books with gorgeous patterns. When I choose a pattern I want to make, I hardly ever find the yarn that's specified in the book. I wind up having to decide on an alternate yarn which may not be the exact weight or thickness for the gauge. Which means I need to move up a size or two on the hook. And adjust gauge. FYI: I live in a small-midsize city (80,000 population, not counting the pets). We have a Wal-Mart Superstore, Hobby Lobby and some local (more expensive) craft or yarn stores. At this time, cost is an issue for me. Until my income goes up, ordering/paying on the internet isn't an option, either.
I'm a little confused. You want the same yarn as in the book but you don't want to buy expensive yarn? I think most yarns in pattern books are usually higher-priced, natural yarns.
If you want a close match, then you could try looking up the recommended yarn in Yarndex and then search that site for a similar, less expensive yarn with the same qualities. It will also say if the yarn is still being made or if it's discontinued. Or go to sites with a variety of less pricey yarns, like Elann.com or KnitPicks.com, for a close match. Of course these two yarn shops are internet only. I think the internet is where you'll find the real bargains. Sometimes yarn sites have a snail mail ordering option if you don't want to use a credit card. Of course, touching the yarn isn't possible.
Sadly, Yarndex doesn't list the mostly acrylic brands like Lion Brand, Red Heart, or Caron.
Most patterns will list the specifics on the yarn used, such as weight. Choosing a less expensive yarn with the same weight should be fine.
http://gaugebeforebeauty.blogspot.com/
Yarndex does list them? My search was faulty then. Or maybe I only searched on Caron and extrapolated from there.
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