[CryPixie83]

I just realized I have two small covers (a bummis and a pair of longies I just finished). I have a hank of cascade 220 to make one more pair of longies, but 3 covers for a newborn doesn't seem like enough. I was given $50 by my lovely Granny to buy yarn to "make that baby some more pants" Help me out here... what wool yarn should I get... ? As much as I'd love to get some of the yummy yarns (like irish baby knits, LTK or BBR) I really need to keep prices low so I can make more than two soakers with $50.

Help?

 

[AutumnW]

I think you can make alot with 50$. My favorite right now is Malabrigo. It's the softest yarn I've found and I can get either a pair of small longies, or a pair of newborn longies and a hat out of one skein and it is only $11/skein at my yarn store.

You could always get more cascade or some fisherman's. Lots of bang for your buck but not so soft.

Have you thought about making some recycled covers out of old sweaters? I know thrift stores don't have many this time of year, but maybe you could find some that your family doesn't want any more? I can get 2 wraps and a pair of longies out of one sweater.

Good luck!

 

[CryPixie83]

I thought about recycling sweaters but I can't sew for the life of me and really it seems the only thing my dd will let me do without much interferance is knit. I know I could frog sweaters but i'm lazy

 

[JZDmama]

You can buy Wool of the Andes for 3.49 a skein at knitpicks.com . You can also get Malabrigo online way cheaper. Try handpaintedyarn.com .

 

[CryPixie83]

How soft is the Wool of the Andes?

btw, it's $1.99 for a 110yd ball

 

[Luthien Arcamenel]

Michaels carry patons classic merino now for $4.99. They're the large skeins like (I'm assuming) in the 100grams, 220 yard, worsted wt., area.

 

[Trishy]

$50 can go very far! Handpaintedyarn's 6 ply merino is 7.50 a skein and I got a hat, a pair of booties and a pair of pants out of 2 skiens of it. It is really soft too.

 

[yasi]

I have bought several skeins of Cascade Ecological Wool- it is about $15 for 250g /478yd

 

[mom2noah]

I really love Brown Sheep Lambs Pride yarn. It's very soft and I haven't had any problems with wicking. I've been using it on my newborn. I pay about 5.50 at a local store http://brownsheep.com/lp.htm

 

[Lousli]

Knitpicks is also carrying some new yarns:
Wool of the Andes hand-dyed:
http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/itemi...n_display.aspx
A nice merino (very soft, but merino pills a lot):
http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/itemi...n_display.aspx
And this merino, which is awesome for kool-aid dyeing:
http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/itemi...n_display.aspx

And if you live in a cold climate, the Sierra yarn is bulky, knits quickly and is soft (It is a wool/alpaca blend).

 

[meritodd1221]

I'll try to be the enabler --

Go for the good stuff -- really. If you are making size small soakers, you'll probably be able to get more than one from a 4oz skein of LTK or IBK yarn. And there is NOTHING like a good soaker with good yarn. You won't regret it.

 

[poisonedapple]

Ive used the Joann's Patons Merino, I really liked it. It dyed well, held up well. Plymouth Galway was another one that I liked too. When I say dye well if you get the natural you can do KA dye, we had a lot of fun with it.

 

[CryPixie83]

I totally understand the value of good yarn. The thing is, right now things are really really tight and I'm thinking of all those newborn blow-outs and how I can make 5 or more soakers out of less expensive yarn but only 2 or three out of the good stuff and I don't want to be without any covers ya know?

I have money I'm setting aside for a few skeins of good yarn (IBK, already have the colorway picked out any everything) but right now I have to be frugal.

 

[sophiamama]

If it were me, I would splurge on a skein of something really nice (IBK or LTK), because you only need 4 oz for a soaker. Then get some Cascade Eco......at 478 yds/skein you can't beat the yardage. Plus, it is soft, plush and super waterproof! You'd be able to get tons of small sized soakers or longies from a couple of skeins of it.

 

[meritodd1221]

Can I ask what pattern you are using for your soakers?

 

[CryPixie83]

Little Turtle Knits' Picky Pants, I love it!

 

[moondiapers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CryPixie83 I totally understand the value of good yarn. The thing is, right now things are really really tight and I'm thinking of all those newborn blow-outs and how I can make 5 or more soakers out of less expensive yarn but only 2 or three out of the good stuff and I don't want to be without any covers ya know? I have money I'm setting aside for a few skeins of good yarn (IBK, already have the colorway picked out any everything) but right now I have to be frugal.

With $50 you could make 5-10 (depending on short leggs or full legs) soakers from nice yarn. These are newborn size right? One 200 yard skien of yarn will make 2 newborn soakers.

 

[CryPixie83]

Actually I'm making small size, not newborn. The PP newborn size only runs to 8lbs (my first dd was 8.5lbs at birth so I don't want to knit a bunch of newborn size pants and have none of them fit). Also, the size small uses between 140-200 yds (depending on leg length).

I'm also on pattern buying restriction (imposed by dh

) but I love knitting up picky pants, so I don't really want to switch patterns. I also don't have money to buy new needles, but I do have the needles I need for the PPs.

Although, out of curiosity, what pattern are you using that you get 2 newborn soakers out of 200 yds?

 

[Aurora]

I LOVE the LTK Picky Pants pattern! Baby dd is actually wearing a pair right now.

I think you are right about knitting the smalls. I knit a pair of the PR/NB ones and they were the cutest things ever(and I am always going to keep them)but only fit her for a week.

She was 7lbs 12oz and much bigger than my other babies had been.

 

[moondiapers]

I can get two newborn fern and fairy or punk knitters out of one skein. Probably two nb LTKs too. For size small you can get 3 soakers out of two skeins. Just make one striped. When you're done with all of your soakers you'll have little bits of left overs to make a crazy striped one too.