Which Knitting Yarns Should You Choose?

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 Knitting and Sewing. The site provides information and advice for people looking to take up knitting as well as for experienced participants in this increasingly popular activity.