Saturday, March 21, 2009

Knitting Yarn Can Be All Sorts Of Materials

By Gina Williams

All sorts of materials can become knitting yarn as long as they have the right size and length to be knitted by hand, loom or machine; here we should mention cotton, wool, ribbon, string and all sorts of artificial fibers. The important thing to remember before choosing the knitting yarn is that this item gives the features of the knitted object. You should ask yourself questions about the level of formality, the type of weather you want the knitted piece to go for and the need for washability. This means that the right knitting yarn triggers the level of success or failure in a knitting project, although it does not work alone in that direction.

First of all, knitting yarn comes in different sizes and shapes, plus the structure of the fibers does count to in the equation. Thus, fibers of animal origin such as wool are great for their warmth and durability. This means that such knitting yarn works great for socks, blankets, gloves, hats, sweaters, baby clothes and shawls. In case you are after some highly breathable materials that can be comfortably worn during summer, then go for cotton and other plant fibers as knitting yarn.

Nylon and polyester are other knitting yarn types often chosen by knitters; they offer the advantage of being suitable for more fashionable clothes, but will never work for baby clothes. Use only cotton and linen knitting yarn for the clothes that come in direct contact with the delicate baby skin. The quality of the knitting yarn is one other aspect that needs to be considered. You definitely need to make sure that all the yarn skeins belong to the same batch so that you don't have the surprise of discovering color variations.

Knitting yarn comes in a variety of thicknesses otherwise known as weights. Aran yarn works as the standard weight and it is ideal for simple knitting patterns and hats. Everything thicker than Aran yarn is usually meant for heavy jumpers and works only with thick needles. On the other hand, knitting yarn types that are thinner than Aran are usually double-knit yarn and four ply yarn. The former is good for children's clothing and socks whereas the latter is remarkable by the fine size ideal for elegant items.

I hope you enjoyed this article. As always if you wish for more information on knitting do not forget to use the internet, as it is such a valuable resource of free advice. - 15246

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