Which Knitting Yarns Should You Choose?
by: Michael Saville
Anyone who has anything to do with knitting will know the importance of knitting
yarns. For many people one of the most enjoyable aspects of the craft is browsing
through the many yarns available in a knitting shop. This is because there are
numerous textures of yarn and a vast array of colours to choose from. All in all
choosing your knitting yarn is a pleasurable experience.
People who are experienced in the art of knitting know the importance of using
the best quality knitting yarn they can get hold of. In fact what type of knitting
yarn to use is one of the most important decisions a craftsperson has to make.
The choice available is vast and the decision depends on what garment you want
to create. So for example, if you are looking to make a scarf or a hat you could
look to use ‘New Fizz' or for a lightweight summer top use ‘Dune',
or for a realistic animal colour use ‘Foxy'. For general garment creation,
one of the best known kitting yarns is ‘Sirdar'. Often the better yarns
are provided with a range of knitting patterns leaflets.
Australia is famous for both the quality and types of knitting yarns produced.
Remember to use the knowledge of the yarn supplier so that you can get the best
yarn for the job you have lined up. The hand dyed yarns are available in an extensive
colour range and those in natural fibres consist of ‘Merion wool', ‘Cashmere', ‘Cotton', ‘Mohair'
or ‘Alpaca' in addition to ‘Jo Sharp' pure wool and ‘Heirloom
Alpaca'.
There are some things to remember. Firstly, it is always a good idea to do a
tension square as you may need different amounts of knitting yarn. As far as the
patterns are concerned you should remember that the pattern and the ply should
be the same, so use four ply yarn for a four ply pattern and ‘Aran' yarn
for an ‘Aran' pattern. Your knitting pattern whilst looking attractive needs
to be suitable to the garment you want to knit. A good place to start particularly
if you are relatively new to knitting to look for patterns is the yarn skein,
which comes wrapped and nearly every one of these will have a pattern on it. This
is particularly good as the pattern will be correct for the yarn being used. The
other advantage is that these patterns are in effect free. There are old favourites
such as books and magazines. Often books give step by step instructions as well
as a general knitting overview. Finally, an ever growing source of information
on both knitting patterns and the best knitting yarns to use is the Internet.
This includes dedicated knitting sites and an increasing number of forums where
enthusiasts can ask questions, provide advice and share tips and tricks.
For a sophisticated look choose ‘Tuscany' fashion yarn for tops and accessories.
Other accessories choices include ‘Firefly' and ‘Illusion' which are
ladder type knitting yarns. If you prefer a sparkling look go for either ‘Medici'
or ‘Vegas' to improve the look of the garment. To keep warm in winter choose
a chunky knitting yarn, some two ply yarns contain fifteen percent wool.
Knitting yarns do not have to be expensive. Good quality yarns at lower cost
include ‘Aran', ‘Double Knit', four ply, three ply as well as two
ply. Fashion yarns include ‘Milan', ‘Gypsy', ‘Amore', ‘Apache'
and Sirocco which comprises of eighty percent cotton. You could even try ‘Eskimo
DK' which is soft and furry and is available in plain colours. So it makes sense
to take advice and take your time when choosing knitting yarns.
About The Author
Michael Saville has written more articles on Knitting. These can be found at
http://www.knitting-and-sewing.com . The site provides information and advice
for people looking to take up knitting as well as for experienced participants
in this increasingly popular activity.
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