About Yarn and Knitting

In the world of indie dyers, there is no such thing as solid colour. It has to do with dying the wool after it has been spun. Commercial yarn brands dye the wool before they spin it into balls; they have the space and the huge vats. Small variances in shade or tone are blended in the spinning step so the eye sees a true solid colour. There is a reassuring reliability to knitting with solids and they are the go-to choice for many projects. But, oh, how charming the subtle beauty of the not-quite-solid colours you get from indie dyers.  These yarns are dyed after they have been spun, so the dye attaches itself a bit differently to the yarn. Sometimes it clings with all its might and sometimes it is a more casual embrace. The effect is a subtle (or not if the natural yarn itself had different shades throughout) blend of tones or shades of the colour of the dye. Pure Comfort Cardigan by Andrea Yetman From afar, a sweater, shawl or socks knit in tonals look like a solid, but when you see it close up, you can see all the intriguing shifts. Such a pleasure! Not as dramatic a feast for the eyes as a speckled or variegated yarn, more like a wink and a smile. Tonals have personality! Each batch is a little quirky, a little unique. And isn’t that why we knit? To create unique pieces for our loved ones and ourselves. Why choose tonals semi-solid yarns Lace patterns shine in a semi-solid yarn where the intricate stitches are splendidly showcased. Summer Butterflies by Louise Robert The light play of tones enhances rather than detracts on cables so they truly pop. Stranded work takes on a unique look when knit with tonal yarns: the patterns are a little less crisp giving the sweater or toque a different allure. Role Model Yoke by Andrea Yetman And a plain tee or pair of socks are never truly plain when knit in a tonal yarn. Still not sold on tonals? Garments or accessories knit with tonal yarns are great additions to any wardrobe. Tonals are easy to pair with just about every item of clothing you own: they are fabulous with plaids, prints, and stripes. They complement stranded knitting and yes, are a playful friend to pieces featuring speckled or variegated yarns. Whisperer Socks by Dolly Bhardwaj When you jump onto the tonal bandwagon (we know you will – they’re irresistible), there is one rule to follow: if your project requires more than one skein, be sure to alternate skeins every so often (i.e.: every 4th row). It is pretty common to have colour variations in hand-dyed yarn, even from the same dye lot. These variations may not be obvious when looking at the skeins but can become quite visible once you start knitting so don’t risk it, alternate! Find more info on this topic here: Yarn pooling - what is it and how to manage it. If you haven’t already, try one of our tonal yarns. Let us know how you like them, what projects you made or are planning to do.  

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