Stitches

Knitting question - does it really matter the yarn you use?

I like using yarn I get at a craft store, I go to a knitting group and they talk about different yarns and they are more expensive and I don't think the finaly product will be much different.

Public Comments

1. make sure it all is in the same lot numberor the colors want't match
2. Go here and click on the substituting yarn on the lower left-hand side and see if this will explain the answer to your question better than I could. http://www.lionbrand.com/
3. If you use exactly the same weight yarn called for in the pattern, the only real difference will be the appearance and texture. If you use a heavier or lighter weight yarn than called for, the resulting knitted object will be larger or smaller than the pattern measurements indicated it would be.
4. Yes, you do have to use the type of yarn called for in the pattern OR one that gives you the same stitch count. As far as price, I have a friend who likes to get her yarn at the high end specialty stores. She does all sorts of intricate stuff and is very skilled. I'm just a hobby knitter and use what I can get on sale at Wal-mart and Joann Fabrics. Red Heart is good for just about anything and it's not expensive. My friend will spend upwards of over $50.00 a skein. If I have to spend over a hundred dollars for a sweater, I'll go buy one already made. Part of sewing and knitting myself, is being able to make something wonderful, for a fraction of the price. I've been knitting for over 40 years and get lots of complements, when I wear any of the sweaters I've made. They are cardigans and none of them cost me over $5.00 to make.
5. More expensive yarns typically have a softer texture or the texture is just different. I rarely use the yarn a pattern calls for--I just make sure it's the same weight. Just make sure you get the gauge right.
6. The cost of the yarn doesn't mean it is a better yarn, and as long as the yarn is of a similar weight it won't matter much either. I used to buy the Red Heart and Caron yarns for all my projects. They are least expensive to work with and give a good quality end product. The more expensive the yarn, the more pressure on the knitter or crocheter to make a perfect item from it. Does this make sense?? I sell hand spun yarns to people and they are very expensive to get enough to make a garment as the fibers are quite expensive for me to purchase. Usually in the range of $7/ounce!!! Sweater uses upward of 2 pounds so 7 X 32 or however many ounces plus tax and shipping is probably more than most want to pay for a sweater. Just use the best you can afford or what you like to work with!! The end product is not the be all of knitting, really!! it is the satisfaction of the meditative action of knitting or crocheting or weaving for that matter!!! Just be happy with what you are doing and using and don't worry about what Jane Smith is using or doing. She may be one of those trouble makers who make everyone else uncomfortable with their enviable skills!! And she is using $$$ to cover up her unhappiness.
7. Actually, it can matter. While many people figure they can just use the yarn that's handy or available, not all yarn substitutions work equally well. For instance, substituting an acryllic yarn for a cotton yarn or other plant fiber yarn can result in something that has a totally different hand (drape of material and feel) to it. While it is easier to substitute an acryllic for wool or other animal fiber because they have similar properties, again, acryllic will not necessarily give you the same hand. Does this mean you have to spend enormous amounts on yarn? No, there are reasonably priced natural fiber yarns, however, you will pay more than $2 or $3 dollars for an 8 ounce ball of plastic, which is what acryllic is. Can you pay a lot more for yarn? Sure, I've got a few (actually more than a few, but then, I've had a long time to appreciate yarns) $40+ skeins in my stash, but they are yarns that will do what I expect of them for the purpose I plan to use them for. Will your final product be appreciably different? Well if you match the gauge of the yarn you want to use to the pattern, for the most part it will come out reasonably the same. Will it feel, look, and last the same, possibly, but with inexpensive acryllics you really need to use almost the same care that you use on animal fibers. While acryllic won't shrink, it will pill and heat will change the qualities of the yarn itself which make it springy and bounce back into shape. In the end it really depends on what you want out of your finished product, since not all inexpensive mass merchandise yarns are not created equally and for every purpose. They don't have the same qualities that many of us look for in natural yarns, but that doesn't mean you can't make a nice final project with them, just choose your yarns carefully.
8. The yarn you use absolutely affects the final product. There are some decent yarns available at your average craft store, so I won't dismiss them all - I use them for big, yarn-gobbling projects myself. There are many projects for which you just don't care ... if you're knitting a bag and you want durable more than blissfully soft, then of course you'd take the cheap acrylic over the alpaca-silk blend. But I think everyone deserves a divine knitting experience! I would encourage you to give it a try - go to a great yarn shop and get some alpaca blend or silk-cashmere. Tell them you're looking for something with a soft hand. Then knit up a delicate scarf or lacy shawl. Just give in to the desire to touch it ... you will be amazed! It just feels so good as it's running through your fingers, too ... you might just get hooked! Please feel free to email if you're having trouble finding a great yarn. Happy Knitting!