About Yarn and Knitting

HOW TO SUBSTITUTE YARN IN A KNITTING PATTERN To substitute the suggested yarn in a knitting pattern, here's what you need to consider: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ORIGINAL YARN FIBERS: Merino wool, alpaca, cotton, hemp… STYLE: Hairy, woolen, silky, number of ply COLOR TYPE : Solid, striped, gradient, speckled? YARN WEIGHT: Lace, sport, fingering, worsted… LENGTH (YARDAGE) & SKEIN (OR BALL) WEIGHT THE FINAL USE OF KNITWEAR Is it a seasonal garment? Durability (will be worn in shoes?) Softness (worn on the skin or over a sweater?) Maintenance (must be machine washable?) Drape (must be smooth or needs toning). Was the yarn in the original pattern knitted with larger needles than the recommended size to achieve an openwork effect? Stranded colorwork (fairisle) ideal with woolen yarn Must be feltable (choose an untreated wool, i.e. the yarn must not have the mention "superwash") CALCULATION TO SUBSTITUTE THE REQUIRED QUANTITY Here is how to calculate the amount of required yarn when using a different yarn than the one suggested in a knitting pattern. NOTE :  If the yarn specifications are not identified in the pattern, Google and Ravelry.com will always be your best allies!   ORIGINAL YARN SUBSTITUTE YARN Collection Louise Robert Algua Marina Katia Concept Seacell Cotton 70% silk, 30% seacell 250 meters / 100 grams Gauge : 20 to 22 sts = 10 cm Sug needles : 3 / 4 mm 75% cotton, 25% lyocell 120 meters / 50 grams Gauge: 21 sts = 10 cm Sug needles : 3 / 3.5 mm Quantity required to knit the pattern in the chosen size : 5 skeins See the answer below … Calculation of the meters required to knit the pattern : 250 meters x 5 skeins = I need a total of 1250 meters   Calculation of the quantity required in the substitute yarn : 1250 meters ÷ 120 meters = 10.41 rounded to 11 balls   MAKE SURE TO MEET THE SUGGESTED GAUGE SUGGESTED GAUGE 10 STITCHES & 11 ROWS = 10 CM² In most patterns, the number of rows suggested in the gauge is not very important since you can easily add or subtract rows to get the required length. On the other hand, the number of stitches must be the same to get the right knit size (unless you are knitting a shawl or other garment for which the final size is not important) but take note of the following: NOTE: a different gauge could mean that you will use more or less yarn than indicated in the pattern so be sure to take this into consideration!  👇👇👇 TO GET THE PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS POST, CLICK HERE!

Nowadays, we use the word wool in all its sauces: cotton wool, mineral wool, steel wool and glass wool ... But know that pure wool literally is defined on the site Wikipedia Legally, the term « wool » refers to the fibers of the sheep and the fibers of other animals (but in the latter case we always call these textiles by their name ) whose fleece is composed of keratinous fibers such as goat angora (of which fleece fibers are referred to as «  mohair wool »), the albino rabblit or angora rabbit (whose fleece fibers are referred to as « Angora »), the so-called cashmere goat (whose fleece fibers are designated by the same term « cashmere »), lama, alpaca, guanaco, domestic camel, yack, etc.  This is why some producers using synthetic fibers adopt the term "knitting yarn" rather than wool ... Have you ever noticed? Pure virgin wool, what does that mean? No, this term does not refer to the virtue of the sheep that has been stripped for you, dear knitting adepts! This title appeared in the 1960s when the textile industry experienced a major development.    While some producers retrieve the fleece of slaughtered animals and recycle the wool already used to "pass" knitting wool, we establish the Woolmark certificate to identify the goods that contain virgin wool from shearing wool. healthy and alive animals. The Woolmark label then guarenteed a product made of 100% Pure virgin wool. Are all sheep called Merino? When we talk about merino wool, it is a breed of sheep. Merino is the sheep on which the finest hair of all sheep grows. That's why this wool is the sweetest: it's the pure wool of happiness for knitters and a fiber of choice in the field of sportswear. Spinning pure wool in action Although Biscotte Yarns has been working in the woolen field for almost a decade, we are still contemplative about the transformation of the fleece into a knitting yarn. We found this video informative for you ...   Biscotte Yarns is a tight-knit, Quebec-based company proudly offering you pure hand-dyed wool in Quebec in a variety of semi-solid colors as well as in more than 80 Self-Striping colors. Click here to visit our online yarn store, and happy shopping !!

Sock yarn, self-striping yarn, knitting patterns – oh my. Prior to knitting, yarn was just yarn but as you start to indulge in this new hobby, you’ll quickly see that there is no shortage of options when it comes to materials. With baskets overflowing with all kinds of yarn, it can be difficult to know where to start. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. Here is a breakdown all of the different types of yarn and what each will do for your knitting aspirations. Sock Yarn For Feet Just as the name reads, sock yarns are for the kind of knitting designs you intend to be placed on feet. More specifically, this term refers to the weight of the yarn. You wouldn’t use the same yarn for a chunky knit sweater as you would for a pair of socks and that’s because of the way the material needs to fit. The most common sock yarns are DK weight, fingering weight and worsted weight, and they can typically be found in any fiber you desire. So, whether you want to craft some bulky winter knee socks, hiking socks or soft, traditional socks, sock yarn is where to go.   Self Striping Yarn For a Colourful Change Throughout our yarn website, you’ll hear a lot about self-striping yarn and that’s because it’s a huge trend. Self-striping yarns are yarns that have various colours woven together to create a stylish appeal. The colours change throughout the knitting designs, allowing every piece you create to be unique in its own way. Self-striping yarns are often used to create scarves, socks, hats, mitts, blankets – you name it. Hand Dyed Yarn for True Handmade Creations You’ll also come across several hand-dyed yarn varieties. These are excellent knitting materials for the true artisan out there, as each piece of yarn may not be identical to the next even if they come from the same dye. This is important to know if you intend to knit 100% identical pieces. The benefit of using this type of yarn is that it emits exquisite, hand-crafted beauty that you simply can’t get from brick and motor stores and products.   Yarns from Animals Yarns come from many different places, and some are even made with animal-based fibers from sheep (as the merino wool), llamas, goats (cashmere and mohair), alpacas, etc. Each has their own unique characteristics and softness. However, it’s important to know what type of animal the yarn is made of, as this can instantly determine whether or not you want to use it. For example, you may not want to use animal based yarns that are produced unethically and unnaturally from animals such as rabbits and foxes. This is a very important thing to consider, especially if you’re knitting for profit. Everyone appreciates yarns that are naturally provided by animals, such as wool from sheep, but the same can’t be said for all the rest.  Plant Producing Yarns Plants are also great sources of yarn that don’t harm the environment in any way.  These are a huge trend in today’s knitting industry, as people are starting to prefer natural, safe materials as opposed to synthetic ones. Some common types of natural plant-based yarns include cotton, bamboo, hemp, silk & seacell. Each have their own level of softness, which can help you determine which one is best for your knitting designs. Synthetic Fibers is Great for Starters While synthetic fibers aren't always the most common type of yarns used today, they still hold precedence and can be perfect for your knitting designs. These types of yarns are typically acrylic, which is an inexpensive and machine washable option, making them ideal for many knitting designs. They’re also a great yarn to start with if you’re a knitting beginner. And that’s not even getting into the true depth of the different varieties of yarn available across the industry. From speckled yarns to solid tones, lace to bulky yarn weight, everything you need to knit up your knitting designs can be found on Biscotte Yarns. Join our mystery yarn club today and enjoy new yarn to turn into a unique knitting patterns on the regular. You just never know what you're going to unravel.  NEWBIE KNITTER? Find more info about Knitting yarn types, knitting stitches and other resources for beginners on eKnittingStitches.com