There are some people who are not wild about “the math” but as I have mentioned before, I love the math. Especially when it allows for a larger yarn purchase. “But Cheryl,” you say, “I really don’t need more yarn, nor can I really afford it.” Not to worry, I have developed a special math system whereby you too can purchase more yarn, because purchasing MORE yarn=greater savings. For those of you who are ok with the math, the proof follows below.

I began working on this proof many months ago, but after my visit to the Fuzzy Mable website the other day for emergency yarn, I decided to work on the proof. Although the actual equations may vary from purchase to purchase the general principle remains the same. The process is best explained by the proof equations and explanation of each step.

To purchase the 6 skeins I needed to finish Jim’s sweater, it would cost $7.50 per skein for at total of $45.00. No choice about that…it was either get the yarn while they still had it or be totally and completely screwed on a sweater that is 90% complete.

Equation: ($45.00 worth of yarn needed to finish project that is almost complete) – (purchase cost of $45.00)= $0=(Free Yarn worth $45) + (Shipping). In following equations free yarn and shipping will be denoted by FY and S, respectively.

Since S=$4.95 the next equation is FY+S=$4.95.

In this particular situation, shipping was free for purchases over $100. Not only that, if a dozen skeins of the same yarn were purchased, an additional skein of the same yarn is a free bonus.

Now there is $45 worth (FY) of yarn with an additional $55 (denoted by MY, more yarn) to spend in order to get free shipping, (FS). Now comes the more advanced math. Since the shipping would have to be paid anyway to receive the FY, one really only needs an additional $50 purchase. ($55-S=$49.95)

FY+FS=$0.00=additional $50 purchase

In this case, 14 skeins total (ST) are needed to put the total over $100.00.

So, FY+(MY-S)(*original retail price-sale price)=$3.60.

$3.60 x ST=$50.40 (big fat savings, BFS)

* the original retail must be factored in because that is what the yarn is worth…discontinuation does not affect the true worth of the yarn

So far there is a $50 savings plus the FY AND there are now enough skeins to earn the free ball (FB) of yarn worth $10.50.

Final equation:

BFS+FY+FS+FB=Total Yarn Savings (TYS) by substitution, 50.40+45+4.95+10=50=$110.85

Got it?

My proof will be submitted to the Journal of Yarn Purchase and Internet Shopping, in partnership with the Advanced Mathematics and Contrived Calculation Institute.