It is not just the cost of the yarn (Berocco makes some great economical yarns but for the larger projects I tend to go up the yarn chain price wise), but it is the work involved. I love making the fingerless cabled gloves because they are easy, but then you get into everyone popping a baby wants a patterned baby blanket, or the intricate neck warmers I make and they take time. I was approached by the class mom when older DD was in 3rd grade to make a baby blanket for the shower the kids were throwing for the teacher. Not a basic Blanket, but a pattern handed to me (doable but intricate), and oh by the way, can I have this done in 2 weeks? Well, gee, let me put aside other PTA business, coaching soccer, working 45 hrs a week, and raising DD by myself to get on that. Good thing, on my own I had found out what colors teacher was using for her nursery and was more than 1/2 way done with a beautiful blanket. I was angry though that they wanted me to give that to the class mom to give as a gift from her and also kick in $25 for the other gifts! Little did they know (as we kept it between us) the teacher's husband and my step sister's husband are cousins..so I was doing the blanket as a family gift!