Choosing the Right Yarn

Choosing the right yarn depends on what you are making and what you want the finished item to look like. Choosing the right yarn for the project is based on the 3 things you need to know to understand yarn -see Understanding Yarn for more details:

1. What is the yarn made of - i.e the fibre
2. How thick is the yarn - i.e. yarn weight
3. What is the physical characteristic - i.e. yarn texture

 

The yarn weight, yarn fibre and yarn texture will all influence the finished result, for example:

- heavier weights result in chunkier items and are more suitable for winter knit wear.
- natural fibres tend to be softer than their manmade counterparts;.
- textured yarns won’t show stitch pattern details – their appeal is the texture of the yarn rather than that produced by the stitch pattern;

- fluffy and spiky yarns are not suitable for babies.

 

You can make a sweater from any of the available yarn weights i.e. 4 ply, Double Knit, Aran, etc., but they will result in very different garments.

 

To get you started, the Project Ideas section in Knit Knack PC CD ROM has been specially designed to help you to experience some of the different types of yarns to choose from. There is no substitute for experience. By using different yarns and working on a variety of projects you will broaden your knowledge. You will get to know how each indiviual yarn feels in your hands to knit, how the yarn behaves i.e. how it drapes as a finished piece of knitted fabric and what the finished knitted fabric looks like in the different stitch patterns that you will learn. You will also get to know your favourites and you will build the confidence to both choose the right yarn and to add your own personal touch to any project if you wish.