Knitting Yarn
As a knitter, it's easy to become obsessed with fiber. Whether you're a purist who only want to knit with natural fibers like wool and alpaca or a wild child who loves the novelty yarns, there is truly something for every taste available at your local yarn shop. But if you're a beginning knitter, picking out the perfect yarn for your scarf or sweater may prove a daunting challenge. There's just so much to choose from. Where do you begin?
Where to Buy Knitting Yarn
Most craft stores have as large a supply of yarn as anyone could wish for. Some areas have small boutiques devoted entirely to yarn, but if you can't find what you need, there are a variety of online venues.
- Knit Picks has a variety of unique yarns and knitting essentials.
- Annie's Attic many different types of yarns for knitting and crochet.
- Halcyon carries yarns as well as fibers for spinning.
- Knitting Warehouse offers yarn and many other knitting supplies.
- Etsy.com, an artist marketplace, offers hand-dyed yarn for a truly custom look.
Most knitters have a stash of yarn because they find a new and interesting type every time they go to the craft store. Having plenty of choices will help you to stay creative with your projects. Yarns come in many price ranges, but keep in mind that cheap yarn is sometimes rougher than the more expensive types. Think about what you will be using the yarn for before you buy it, and choose softer, more expensive types for clothing.
Pick a Pattern
The easiest way to determine the type of yarn to use is to find a pattern for something you want to knit and buy the type of yarn that was used in the pattern. You can go with a different color if you want, but using the yarn that was used in the pattern is the easiest way to achieve success. That's because the pattern will tell you exactly how much of that particular yarn to buy, so you won't end up buying too much or too little.
But what if you have a pattern you love but you can't find the yarn used or you need to use something else because of wool allergies or other concerns? Look on the pattern instructions for a description of the yarn that was initially used. It might say something like "100 percent cotton, worsted weight, 100 yards per ball." Then you know if the pattern takes eight skeins, you'll need to buy a worsted weight yarn and at least 800 yards.
Another way to do this is to look at the gauge listed on the pattern. If it says the pattern requires 5 stitches per inch on size ten needles, look around at the yarn in your favorite crafts or knitting store to find something with an equivalent gauge. If you shop at a store dedicated to yarn, ask someone who works there. They'll be happy to help and will direct you to some great fiber.
Or you can start with the kind of yarn you want to use and find a weight that works with your pattern. Some people only knit with wool or cotton. Others use acrylic, nylon or different blends. If you're making something that will be close to your skin for long periods, shopping by fiber content can be a really good idea. You want something that is going to feel good to you. If you don't like wool, don't buy it.
Weights and Measures
Worsted weight is a generic measurement of the thickness of the yarn. There are six types of yarn available on the market. These categories are based on the thickness of the yarn:
- Superfine
- Fine
- Light
- Medium
- Bulky
- Super bulky
As the size goes up, the size needles you will use goes up and the number of stitches per inch goes down.
Worsted is another name for a medium-weight yarn, much like sport is another name for fine yarn. The names aren't really that important, but it can help to know what the different thicknesses look and feel like. For instance, if you know that you need a bulky yarn, you automatically eliminate all those yarns that don't look bulky.
There is no common measurement for how much yardage is in a ball or skein of yarn. Knitting is one of those hobbies that requires math. But if you have a pattern you are starting from, you will know about how much yarn the project requires and can then figure out how many skeins of a particularly yarn you need by dividing the yardage needed for the project by the yardage in each ball. Say your project requires 1,300 yards of yarn and you're shopping for skeins that have 250 yards each. You'll need a little over five to get the necessary yardage, so buy six and you should be fine.
It's a good rule of thumb to always buy more yarn than you think you are going to need. It's better to have more yarn (which you can always use for another project later) than not enough. You may never be able to find that particular yarn and that particular dye lot again, so stock up while you can.
Dye Lots
Commercial yarn is dyed in large vats, many skeins at a time. Each skein that is dyed together has the same dye lot, which is a number found on the yarn label. When you're buying yarn for a project, you need to make sure not only that you have enough yarn to finish the project, but also that you are purchasing yarn that all comes from the same dye lot. If not, your sweater may come out with an unintended stripe.
Turnover at craft stores and yarn shops is often high enough that you won't be able to find the same dye lot again, particularly if you buy yarn long before you start the project. Save yourself some heartbreak and take the time to make sure those numbers match.
Know the Basics
Educating yourself about the basics of choosing yarn will help you avoid frustration. Whether you're a beginning knitter or have been enjoying this hobby for years, having the right yarn can make or break your project.
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