a discussion on yarn

UndrThTblNDrumng · 02-03-2010, 07:16 PM

I was hoping that we could start a thread on yarn reviews and discussion. All types of yarn. Yarn you've loved, yarn you've hated, yarn you want to try.

I'd love to hear others opinions on indy dyed, lys, and big bin yarns. Any weight, any project.

What kind of projects have you made from said yarn and what do you think about it? colors, fiber content, hand, craft you prefer to use it for (needle or wet felting, crocheting, knitting, weaving, etc)

Spill... what's your fave (most hated) and why?

ETA: pics are a plus

UndrThTblNDrumng · 02-03-2010, 07:20 PM

I have recently discovered Malabrigo sock yarn. I've heard a lot about it on Rav but didn't have a shop around me that carried it. I found it at a shop near my mom's house and I'm totally hooked.

I picked up a skein of tiziano red and it's lucious. it's 100% merino wool (no nylon) and it's a light fingering. It has a velvety hand with nice stitch definition and it makes a fabric that is sooooo soft! I'm guessing that because there's no nylon in it and because it is so soft that it might not make for a good pair of socks. I'm making a scarf from it. I'll get pics up when the sun comes out

briggszilla · 02-05-2010, 12:48 AM

I haven't met a yarn I didn't like lol, I even like the cheapy ones. Well, except for one. The only yarn that comes to mind that I ever had a problem with was the first and only time that I ordered homespun wool yarn, I bought it through an eBay seller.

The yarn was thinner than I thought it would be, and stiff/sticky, more like twine than yarn. I didn't like how my fingers felt holding it. I've never worked with homespun wool like that before (or after) that, so I'm not sure if it's normal...but I'm thinking it's not since most people seem to rave about it. I ended up getting rid of it.

UndrThTblNDrumng · 02-05-2010, 01:05 AM

bummer... the indivitual plys were probably way over spun... have you gotten to work with a better handspun?

weareborgswife · 02-06-2010, 11:22 AM

I like soft yarns... my fav acrylic is Lionbrand homespun. I really dislike working with the basic acrylic yarns like Red Heart. The Caron brand soft spun is nice though.... I just used wool (Patons) for the first time- I get very itchy from wool clothing so I had avoided using it, but my friend wanted a hat to match her dd's coat and it was the only brand/yarn with the right colors, so I went for it and it was surprisingly nice to work with

.

AshleyLD · 02-06-2010, 11:31 AM

I love wool. I dislike cotton and acrylic. My fav acrylic is the baby weight. it always seems to be so soft.

Malabrigio sock yarn... YUM (insert drooling face) Also jitterbug is pretty nice.

I love bfl yarn. And I love the way licorice twist dyes

PennyPinchingPixie · 02-06-2010, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weareborgswife

I like soft yarns... my fav acrylic is Lionbrand homespun. I really dislike working with the basic acrylic yarns like Red Heart. The Caron brand soft spun is nice though.... I just used wool (Patons) for the first time- I get very itchy from wool clothing so I had avoided using it, but my friend wanted a hat to match her dd's coat and it was the only brand/yarn with the right colors, so I went for it and it was surprisingly nice to work with

.

I'm with you on the lionbrand homespun! MY fav, especially for afhgans, though not so good for tassles

but I don't much like tassles anyway

briggszilla · 02-06-2010, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UndrThTblNDrumng

bummer... the indivitual plys were probably way over spun... have you gotten to work with a better handspun?

No I haven't tried one since then. I'll get around to it eventually

UndrThTblNDrumng · 02-06-2010, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshleyLD

I love wool. I dislike cotton and acrylic. My fav acrylic is the baby weight. it always seems to be so soft.

Malabrigio sock yarn... YUM (insert drooling face) Also jitterbug is pretty nice.

I love bfl yarn. And I love the way licorice twist dyes

I love the look of licorice twist! My lys has some amazingly soft cotton that I've been dying to try but it's $30 a hank and at the moment I don't have that much to drop on cotton yarn

. I'll have to go look at the brand... I think it might be a manos yarn

Quote:

Originally Posted by weareborgswife

I like soft yarns... my fav acrylic is Lionbrand homespun. I really dislike working with the basic acrylic yarns like Red Heart. The Caron brand soft spun is nice though.... I just used wool (Patons) for the first time- I get very itchy from wool clothing so I had avoided using it, but my friend wanted a hat to match her dd's coat and it was the only brand/yarn with the right colors, so I went for it and it was surprisingly nice to work with

.

Does the homespun have much give to it? I've tried a similar yarn and it was really hard to knit because the stitches were really tight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by briggszilla

No I haven't tried one since then. I'll get around to it eventually

of you want a couple of mini skeins of handspun PM me your addy and I can get some sent off to you. It's a bummer your one experience wasn't a good one.

weareborgswife · 02-10-2010, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Does the homespun have much give to it? I've tried a similar yarn and it was really hard to knit because the stitches were really tight.

I crochet so I can't tell you on the knitting... it slides pretty well on the hook, and I have used it on the loom and although it isn't as stretchy as some, it didn't break off like the chenille yarns (Oh that was a bad day... half way through a hat and snap... AUGH!).