If I can make it myself I will usually try. I have tried for a few years now to convince myself that I don't need to pay good money for a few lengths of wool yarn, when I can get my own yarn and do it. Well, I've tried the craft store stuff (usually has synthetic fiber blended in), I even got on line and found a wool mill and had them send me a skein of their 100% wool yarn. Figured I had enough material to last me the rest of me life. It just isn't the same, haven't found anything that works as well yet, I just keep coming back to the Bow Hush. Wish I had come up with the idea.