"good" yarn?

[myjulybabes]

Ok, so browsing through old topics here and reading various knitting blogs, and I see people talking about good yarn vs bad yarn. And it would seem that I'm using the "bad" yarn. LOL I shop at Michael's and *gasp* Walmart. But I've never had any complaints from the people I've made things for, so My current projects are using Lion brand "Homespun", which I like because it's really soft and light, but admittedly, the texture is a bit of a challenge to work with. Then I have one going with Caron "Simply Soft", which I've used in the past and liked, but either I got a bad batch, or it doesn't work well with this new pattern. It looks lovely, but doesn't feel as soft as past projects. I hate to rip it out a second time, but it's a baby blanket that will be a gift, so I want it to be nice.

So what makes a yarn "good"? I almost have to have washable stuff because I'm usually making it for my kids, or other peoples kids. Can you recommend some brands, or at least what to look for on the label that makes it "good"? Stores/websites where I can find them? One of my mom's friends opened a little yarn store about 20 miles from where I live, and I've been dying to get there, but they have funky hours, so I haven't made it yet.

[perditafoster]

A good yarn is a yarn that you like. The end. Seriously, though, if you like it, knit with it to your heart's content! I've knitted with high-end stuff and low-end stuff, and the results are always the same: soothing periods of knitting (occasionally frustrating if I'm doing cables or something) followed by a beautiful knitted work of art! Or at least a cool scarf or something Ideally, I would knit only with alpaca, but I can't justify putting my often-grubby toddler in an alpaca cardigan :LOL As to what makes a yarn good...it's whether you like it or not. And some yarns just won't work for some patterns, no matter how hard you try. But buy what you like...I keep Michael's in business

[Ellp]

Hmm... good yarn vs. bad yarn... thats kinda hard to answer as people have their own preferences.. It also depends on what you're making.

For instance, soft yarn is good for "next the skin" wearing like scarves, gloves, soakers (where the yarn meets at the waist and legs), but would be bad (in general) for items that need to take a beating, like rugs, slippers, some sweaters, etc. because they might pill or get out of shape.

Washable yarn is great for babies, kids, and next to the skin wear where washing often is necessary. However, it would be bad if your intent was to felt the item, eg. hats, felt toys.

Cheap yarn is good for items that are one time use, or will be replaced frequently, eg. department store cotton for dishcloths.

Expensive yarn is not a sign of quality, I've learned.. it can just be plain expensive and a pain to take care of.

I guess my criteria for good yarn is what is suitable for the purpose and the price. I'm a spinner myself, so I always have access to wool and specialty fibers, but I'm known to buy stuff from the yarn stores, just because what I make just isn't suitable or is too precious for what I want to make.

That said, I'm afraid I can't help you with places to shop as I'm trying to get rid of my stash as it is, and haven't been in a yarn shop for quite a while.

Hth

[myjulybabes]

Thanks for your answers, if anybody has more, I'd love to hear them.

I also realized that a lot of people here are working with wool, esp for soakers, so maybe that's why it seems like a lot of people use expensive yarn. If I was putting it on my baby's butt, I'd want something pretty darn nice too! LOL But I'm just futzing around with blankets and hats and scarves, so if it looks good and is easy to work with, I'm happy. My mom makes gorgeous stuff, and I know she doesnt' spend a lot on yarn, so if she can make nice stuff out of cheap yarn, I can too, right?

That said, I'm still going back to the store tonight, probably Michael's. This Simply Soft is pretty, but I'm just not liking the feel for something that's going to be used for a newborn. I'll just finnish it up for my preschooler to use in the car on those super cold days when it takes awhile for the heater to get going. And when I get to the yarn store my mom's friend owns...........look out! LOL She's got some nice stuff from the looks of her website.

[tippytoes26]

*LOL*.. when I first started knitting, I went out and bought a bunch of wool and even some wool/silk blend stuff because it seemed everyone kind of wrinkled their nose at acrylic yarn.

Well darn it if I dont' regret it now. Oh, sure, wool has awsome properties.. FOR THE RIGHT PROJECT. If you are making diaper covers or a warm hat or a felted bag etc... a nice wool can make your heart go pitter pattern.

But, I'm finding that I really like a LOT of the acrylic yarns out there for making stuff for my potty trained toddler. I mean.. if it can't go into the washer.. it might as well not be used at all because she WILL get it VERY dirty within a few minutes of wear and I WILL lose my mind if I have to panic when she wears it. I love the caron simply soft. It usually has such a nice drape to it. I much prefer to crochet with it than knit because it's so thin that knitting with it takes a bazillion years for me. Wal-mart carries a few yarns that I really like. But, they also carry some that I would consider "bad" yarns. I absolutly hate red heart one pound skeins. Ick.. eww.. I don't like to knit with it, hate crocheting with it and when i do I can only create a horrible, stiff fabric that I can't imagine would be nice for anything. BUT, that said, my MIL crochets with it and has produced some VERY lovely things.. so maybe it's my own inexperience.

I suppose it's all about the project and not SO much about the yarn. But, one thing I have learned is that I'm not a yarn snob and I refuse to feel like I'm using less than quality when I use acrylic yarn. I kind of compare acrylic "lower end" yarn to making something with fleece fabric which is inexpensive but still makes very nice garments and acessories.

Amber

[chloesmom]

She's got some nice stuff from the looks of her website.

Link please! :

[wendymc]

I like quite a few of the so called "cheap yarns". I buy most of my yarn at walmart, michaels or thrift shops, actually.

I try to use acrylics for kid and baby items so they can be chucked int he wash. Cashmere might feel nice for a baby but what new mom wants to be fussing around with handwash only items? Bernat and Patons make some nice affordable yarns and even offer free patterns, so I like using them!

I've used too many yarns to make reccomendations, but if you have a particular project in mind, I'm sure we could come up with suggestions for affordable yarns we liked using that would be appropriate.

[myjulybabes]

Originally Posted by chloesmom

Link please! :

Well, she's not selling on the website yet that I can tell. However, it's a new store, I think she might in the future. Hey, maybe somebody can tell me what's good from there, eh? LOL Knitorious

[khrisday]

I think a lot of people think about it from an environmental perspective, too. If that's how you're looking at it, then it makes sense that natural fibers are the "better" yarns (better for the environment- although I guess that coudl be argues, too) Personally, I don't liek the feel of the lower end acrylics- they are scratchy to me. I'd rather knit stuff out of cotton for kids, but I do use some of the fancy acrylics for myself. I agree though- "good" yarn is whatever works for you!

[Throkmorton]

See, now I haven't bought yarn at Walmart for well over a year (and even then it was just to edge an afghan). My Walmart is just a sea of Red Heart acrylic which, in my experience, isn't nice to work with, doesn't wear well and is too bulky for my tastes.

I prefer to use wool, or a blend with a high percentage of wool for most of the things I make. DS is 3, and actually has a couple 100% wool, "hand wash only" sweaters. My biggest reason is that wool is so much warmer than acrylic and I try to knit things that will be practical and actually get worn. I wash the sweaters on a delicate cycle, and also wash soakers in the machine, because I am a rebel.

It's not that I look down on people who use acrylic, far from it. If Homespun achieves the effect you were going for, then knit away! I don't avoid Homespun because I think it's cheap (it costs more than a skien of my favorite wool) I avoid it because the texture frustrates me, as does the inconsistency of colour from skien to skien in the same lot. That is me being Captain Pickypants (hello Senior Name!)

Let's face it, for blankets, hats and scarves for an area where the temperature doesn't get down to -35, acrylic is fine. For small children who spill mustard, often vomit on their clothes, to say nothing of mud puddles, acrylic is awesome too.

I buy most of my yarn at thrift shops too. nothing like a challenge to figure out what to do with 3 mismatched skiens of an angora/wool/poly blend. That became mittens and a hat for an 18 month old girly girl.

[myjulybabes]

I'm actually not that fond of most types of Red Heart either. Pretty scratchy. But just tonight I came across a variety called TLC Essentials, and it's pretty soft. It's actually what I bought, because I wanted something soft enough for a baby but not baby-ish colors, if that makes sense.

Oh, and my Walmart carries Caron, a "house brand", and a limited selection of Bernat in addtion to the Red Heart, so I can sometimes get decent stuff there depending on what I'm making. I have never seen yarn at my thrift stores, you all are lucky! LOL

Oh, and around here, it almost never gets below 0* F, so wool isn't a must, acrylic works just fine.

[Oregonian]

I don't have a thorough answer really but wanted to say - boy - do I hate that Red Heart stuff too. I bought it for practice knitting for a joke gift - a beer cozy....and it drove me nuts for that tiny project!!!

Anyway, I've seen the TLC and it seems nicer but haven't tried to knit with it.

I am a sucker for some expensive yarns but I just need to keep trying new yarns to come up with more affordable favorites. I bet there are plenty out there I'm missing.

Personally, because I am a novice knitter, I like yarns that are stretchy and forgiving which generally means wool but I've found some cotton that I like too and wool blends.

Anyway, not really good vs bad here. Except that the Red Heart stuff might be the only thing I'd nominate for "bad." If I could knit better, maybe I'd hate it a little less.

Cheryl

[Knittin' in the Shade]

I admit, I'm a yarn snob. But, I'm also able to buy yarn wholesale, so I don't get sticker shock much My biggest complaint about most of the craft store acrylics is that they just don't wear well. Wool-ease pills terribly, as does red heart (besides the fact that it feels like a soda bottle, which I guess it was in a former life, LOL!) I spend a good del fo time knitting, and I want it to feel good in my hands, and I want it to last beyond the week after I finish and still look good. For me, that means natural fibers. My kid's sweaters are wool, or cotton. Stuff I knit for myself is wool, cotton or alpaca. I don't think it's my place to say what's a good or bad yarn for someone else. If it makes you happy and serves your purpose, then that's the yarn for you

[alliwenk]

Well, I am a bonafide yarn snob too :. I detest acrylic...the feel of it, the sound of it (it makes a squeaky sound that I can feel on the needles *shudder*), the fact that it is a petroleum byproduct...I am perfectly happy to handwash a "real" knitted garment...it's totally worth it to me. It is too big of a trade off for me to make "easy care" garments if I can't stand the feel of them. I have been knitting a long time and have learned that my time spent knitting a garment is too valuable to spend on a yarn that I don't like.

Wool is warmer, more water repellant, more natural, bio-degradable, soft, dyable...etc. And wool does not have to be expensive! Check out any wool from the Brown Sheep company...or Paton's merino, or Plymouth Galway, or Cascade 220....etc. And there is nothing better than some nice alpaca... www.knitpicks.com has some wonderful "house" wools and alpacas that are amazingly affordable right now...

There is also another level of snobbery that involves novelty yarns...you know...furry yarns & their ilk. Specialty yarn stores are becoming inundated with the stuff because it is so popular with new knitters and the old-timers are upset at seeing their nice dk, sport, and lace weight wools being edged off of the shelves for easy/quick-to-knit yarns. I understand this "snobbery" yet I am also excited to see so many new people being attracted to the craft...I just sincerely hope that they can move past the easy/quick/flashy stuff and delve a bit deeper into the craft of knitting and discover the joy of its unique technical challenges.

Happy knitting!
Allison

[myjulybabes]

it makes a squeaky sound that I can feel on the needles *shudder*

Ok, good, I'm not insane. I've noticed that too, but not with all acrylics, just the cheapest ones (Red Heart again......there is no end to what I don't like about that stuff) Drove me nuts.

Thanks for the link, that stuff does look more affordable than other sites I've seen lately.

And ok, I admit it, I have an aversion to wool. : Every wool sweater I've ever owned has been horribly horribly scratchy. I just can't imagine soft wool, even though, rationally, I know there must be some.

[alliwenk]

Originally Posted by myjulybabes

Ok, good, I'm not insane. I've noticed that too, but not with all acrylics, just the cheapest ones (Red Heart again......there is no end to what I don't like about that stuff) Drove me nuts.

Thanks for the link, that stuff does look more affordable than other sites I've seen lately.

And ok, I admit it, I have an aversion to wool. : Every wool sweater I've ever owned has been horribly horribly scratchy. I just can't imagine soft wool, even though, rationally, I know there must be some.

Yes some wool is quite scratchy! Try merino wool...or even better, try alpaca. It is better than cashmere...I want to roll around naked in it; it's THAT soft . I wouldn't make a soaker out of it (it can get a strange smell when wet) but it would be perfect for children's or adult's sweaters, hats, mittens or socks.

I knit a baby sweater for a dear friend a couple years ago out of acrylic (the mama had 4 other kids and told me that it HAD to go in the washer & dryer) it was called "So Soft" I think...It was OK to knit with, not too squeaky...maybe Caron makes it? Anyway, it has held up wonderfully for 2 years.

Good luck with your knitting!
Allison

Also, try www.elann.com ...you should sign up for updates & buy quickly if you like something because it is a VERY popular site & stuff sells out fast...but they have rock bottom prices on very good wools and have super-fast shipping.

[myjulybabes]

Alliwenk, was it the Simply Soft? I just discovered a weird thing about that stuff. The solid colors are very soft and nice, I've made several baby blankets with those........but the ombres are really scratchy! I picked up the "Country Blue Ombre" for my latest baby blanket, cuz it was so pretty, but ugh.....it doesn't feel nice.

[lrmama]

I'm glad I'm not hallucinating about Simply Soft! I got a solid to make a baby blanket for my nephew, and it was soft, but then I got a multi-color to make my dd a hat, and it's really scratchy.

[chloesmom]

Originally Posted by lrmama

I'm glad I'm not hallucinating about Simply Soft! I got a solid to make a baby blanket for my nephew, and it was soft, but then I got a multi-color to make my dd a hat, and it's really scratchy.

Oh good! I thought it was just me. lol. I noticed the same thing. The solids are ok, but the variagateds are terribly scratchy!

[alliwenk]

Yup...my sweater was done in a solid sage green...I don't think they made multi-colors 2 years ago. Thanks for the heads up!

Allison