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Have you thought about how to choose the correct yarn for your project?
If this is constantly something you've been thinking about, then you have come to the right page here.
The selection of yarn for your project comes down to various points:
1) How do you intent to use this? Is this a wearable or display piece?
𖠩 If you are making bags/toys/ display piece: Sure go for the cheapest man-made yarn like acrylic/ milk cotton yarn, as you don't have to wear them near your skin.
On the skin, You would like to have fibers as natural as possible.
2) If it is wearable that you are making, you need to consider if this piece is for Summer or Winter use?
Yes temperature does affect the choice of fiber if you are making wearables
(Sweaters, cardigans, beanies, tops/blouse, scarfs, shawls, socks etc...)
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If for summer use (especially in our Hot and Humid Singapore Weather here), you may need to choose summery yarns like 100% cotton, silk, linen or bamboo materials.
You wouldn't want to have any artificial mixture in it where possible. The overall outcome should be able to absorb perspiration.
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For winter wear, ( you need the item to keep warm you) hence, you may choose wool, cashmere, mohair alpaca fibers. These materials does keep us warm during these freezing time. Unless one is having an allergic reaction to wool, then, by all means, no choice it had to be acrylic then. Alternatively, Cashmere will help too (Unlike wools, cashmere does not contain lanolin, a common trigger for skin sensitivities).
Is wearing acrylic that bad?
As a second outer layer (which means after your inner thermal wear) this is fairly alright.
It does not keep warm like your woolen materials but it still has some sort of protection.
Most likely if the "wintery" place you are heading to is like 15 ~18 degree, acrylic sweater is still alright to keep warm
(Do note: Acrylic is a synthetic fiber that does not breathe well and preventing air circulation.)
3) What if I want to make Blankets? The what should I choose?
For blankets, there are endless possibilities. They can be man-made yarn or Natural fibers.
Reason being making a blanket is really a HUGE project, and the cost of these projects can be costly especially for an adult. Unless it is for baby/new born.
For New Born/baby, usually is advisable to go for natural materials to reduce the chances of allergies.
4) The yarn chosen should slightly matched the one on your pattern too:
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For example on the pattern: 6 skeins of XXX brand 65% fine merino wool, 20% mulberry silk and 15% linen.
Each skein of this fingering-weight yarn is 384 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 2170 total yards required.
If you are substituting yarn brands, it is important to note roughly how much yardage is needed for 100g of the yarn (required on the pattern, as underline) that you are going to substitute with. In this way, the substituted yarn is pretty close to the required one as in the pattern. The suggested yarn (in thickness) used will usually correspond to the tools used/needed for the pattern.
(I would say in most cases, unless you are doing lacework/ Solomon knots etc then that scenario is different).
Lastly, after considering materials, yardage and the intention of products, naturally, most people will think about the cost of yarn.
Or perhaps cost could be the most important thing we think about all the time right.
$$$ and cents are always on our mind.
I don't blame you, Like all other hobby, knitting and crocheting does not comes Cheap.
If you want good quality materials and tools, they do come at a cost.
Like I always like to say: 💭 The price matches the Quality of the product.
I'm not saying that yarn and tools are HermèsBag price, but yes, like most quality products they do come at a cost. This is the same like everything else in life.
As a rule of thumb Natural Fibers (such as 100% cotton, wool, cashmere, mohair, alpaca) cost more than synthetic (acrylic, milk cotton, polyester, viscose, nylon etc) ones.
I will cover this topic more on my next post.
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