Knitting threads: types, properties and rules for the selection of yarns

April 3, 2017 handmadebase

Content

Varieties of yarn
Video: Yarn Review
Different knitting effects
What brand to choose
Video: How to choose the right yarn for knitting

The first thing that beginner knitters think about isknitting or crocheting - which knitting threads to use in this or that case? After all, they are produced in a huge assortment that can simply confuse: wool, acrylic, viscose, linen, cotton, silk, polyester, with fringe, knots, sequins.
For knitting or crocheting various things,accessories or toys require certain types of thread, while embroidery requires others. Of course, when buying them in a specialized store, the easiest way is to ask a consultant for advice. But without minimal knowledge about the composition, thickness, and properties of the yarn used in certain cases, you will be doomed to buy threads only in this way, and rely entirely on the opinion of the sellers. But today you can order material much easier - in just a few clicks in online stores. No lines, no counters, no trips to the store and back. We looked at the photo, read the description, and chose what we needed. By the way, knitting needles, needles, embroidery patterns and other accessories can be bought there. Therefore, we suggest you understand the types of threads for both knitting and embroidery.

Varieties of yarn

For convenience, we divide them into several parameters. The composition of the produced yarn is the following:

Natural (wool, linen, cotton);
Artificial (consists of natural materials: viscose);
Synthetic (completely chemical composition: acrylic, polyester);
Mixture (it is used most often, it is a mixture of natural and artificial fibers).

Types of natural wool threads
What types of wool threads arepopular among needlewomen? Wool yarn is made from animal hair (most often goats or sheep, less often rabbits, camels, and sometimes even dogs). It comes in varying degrees of hairiness, can be quite thick, or, conversely, thin. These threads are quite warm, elastic and beautiful. However, pure wool fiber is greatly stretched and peeled (forms unsightly “pellets”). To solve this problem, synthetic fibers (polyester or acrylic) are often added to yarn intended for knitting. Acrylic and others can be seen on the label, which indicates the percentage of fibers of different compositions.
Warm clothes are knitted from thick yarn:scarves, sweaters, hats, socks. The thinner ones are used to create light shawls, blouses, blouses, sundresses; woolen floss is used when embroidering rugs, pillows, tapestries, when you need to create a three-dimensional surface. Women's or children's dresses, elegant jackets, and vests are made from medium-thick threads.
Woolen yarn with short nap Merino -The yarn is the most delicate and delicate. They produce it from the wool of merino sheep, due to its softness it is suitable for making children's things. Such woolen threads stand somewhat more expensive than others.
Cashmere is another type of fine yarn. The raw material for it is the undercoat of cashmere goats. Often produced in a mixture with artificial fibers, for example, acrylic.
Alpaca is a very warm yarn that is not prone topeeling because it consists of long fibers. The raw material for its production is llama wool, most often in natural tones, since it is difficult to dye.
Camel - also refers to fairly thin threads of natural tones.
Long pile wool yarn
Natural wool long-pile (fluffy) fine knitting yarns include mohair and angora. Due to the presence of long fluff, they are not recommended for children.
Angora. Made from the wool of Angora rabbits. Most often it is mixed with other fibers. In terms of fluffiness it is inferior to mohair. Angora items are quite elegant and warm.
Mohair.The raw material for it is thin, light goat wool. The wool threads are of high quality, warm and very fluffy. They are used to knit warm scarves and shawls. Often used to create very beautiful blouses with knitting needles. These products look more voluminous than those made from angora.
Natural non-wool yarn
These threads include linen, cotton,silk and bamboo. Their peculiarity is that in their pure form they are used mainly for knitting demi-season or summer clothes, since they are not thick and warm enough to knit winter clothes from them.
Cotton.Threads made from this material conduct air well and keep the body cool, but they are not elastic enough. This means that when you decide to knit with these threads, determine how tightly they are twisted. If it is strong enough (like, for example, “Iris”), then it is better to crochet with these threads. After all, knitting needles require slightly twisted, soft yarn. Often, in this case, wool (or acrylic) is added to cotton to make it more elastic and thick; They are sold in the same skeins as regular yarn for knitting needles, and not in balls. Cotton floss for embroidery is also produced. Such skeins are much shorter than those intended for knitting - only 8-20 meters.
Linen.These threads are also natural, they are used to knit light summer clothes. They are difficult to bleach and dye, so they are produced mainly in natural gray-beige shades. Such threads are characterized by high rigidity and low elasticity. This means they are poorly suited for knitting. Therefore, pure linen is preferable to crochet or use for embroidery. To work on knitting needles, you need more elastic options - with the addition of, for example, wool (or acrylic).

Silk.Silk threads are made from silkworm cocoons. Silk thread is thin and strong, with a noble shine. It is easy to color and gives the body a feeling of coolness in the heat. Silk threads are very expensive to produce, so for knitting they are most often used in a mixture with acrylic, wool and other fibers. In addition, they are available in the form of embroidery floss.
Bamboo is a cellulose thread obtained from fibersbamboo It is light, soft, but quite durable. Ideal for making summer clothes. Suitable for knitting children's clothes because it perfectly absorbs moisture, has antimicrobial properties, and is not allergenic.
Artificial fiber Viscose, or artificialsilk. It is also made from wood fibers. Heavy, smooth and shiny, viscose like silk. These threads are not thick at all, they are good for knitting with knitting needles for a warm season (but not for heat), or in a mixture with other fibers to give them strength.

Acrylic, or artificial wool. Synthetic fiber, which is often added to other woolen threads to give them strength, durability. Sometimes acrylic is recommended even for making children's clothes. But it should be noted that acrylic is almost not "breathing", poorly absorbs moisture, but it is highly electrified.

Knitted yarn. Thick synthetic threads, for work with knitting needles are bad. But crochet of them knit bags, toys, decorative rugs.

Video: Yarn Review

Different knitting effects

In the range of artificial and mixed threads for knitting or crocheting, a large number of yarns with a wide variety of decorative effects are produced today:

With woven patches;
Bouquered yarn - with small "knots";
With pompons or "bumps";
With beads or beads;
Tape (for knitting with knitting needles scarves, cuffs or decorative border on the bottom of products);
Multicolored;
Napped ("grass");
With fringe (for knitting different products with knitting needles with the effect of artificial fur);
With lurex (with woven thin metallic thread, not necessarily color for gold or silver);
Shaped (consists of threads of different thickness, density, composition, torsion, color).

As you can see from the title, such threads for knittingAre suitable for giving things different effects. From such a yarn, elegant, exclusive things are produced for special occasions, most of which are not intended for everyday wear. Therefore hygienic and properties and thermal conductivity of such threads are not high, this should be taken into account. Their main virtue is not practicality, but beauty. Look at the various photos of products made of such threads, and you will understand everything yourself.

We will separately take out the yarn used for
.It can be made of either wool or blended. But its main distinguishing feature is that it is very thick, several times thicker than any other. If you think you haven’t seen threads like this on sale, look at their photos on the Internet and you’ll understand what we’re talking about.
In addition to all the listed types, there are also a great many shades and color options: plain yarn, melange, sectional dyeing.

What brand to choose

And of course, one more issue that is certainWill arise for beginner craftsmen: which producers of knitting yarns should be trusted for? Of course, we are talking about a good, high-quality yarn, from which even beginners knitters will get much more accurate and beautiful things than from the usual "tangles from the market." Probably one of the first names that emerges from experienced knitters is "Alise". This Turkish brand is extremely popular with us because of the pleasant ratio of price and quality. Of Russian producers, it is, first of all, "Pehorka", "Semenovskaya", "Troitskaya" yarn, as well as threads of the firm "Kamteks"; From Ukrainian - "Yaroslav" and "Vivchari". You can also note the Belarusian "Areola". They are trusted by thousands of knitters in our country.
Having decided to knit a beautiful, high-quality product,Pay your attention not only to the color, thickness, tips for caring for a particular yarn, but also to its composition, properties, purpose and manufacturer. All this will help you on your way to improving your knitting skills. And it is not just words. Even a very skillful and experienced craftswoman will not be able to create a chic item from low-quality material. This is the rule for any type of needlework.