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Dear Internet, I need yarn advice, plus here is a photo of a knitted elephant as an incentive.
November 30, 2006
Hello! Sorry to be so boring, but I've not really got anything to show. I've been studying and when I've been knitting, it's something I can't really show (I decided to knit up a new design to maybe submit somewhere), but I promise it is very stripy and I'm enjoying it!
Here's my yarn question:
I need a dk weight wool yarn, which isn't superwash or anything like that, just a regular wool, that comes in nice colours and is soft.
That doesn't sound hard does it, but apparently Rowan don't do one of those. They seem to do plenty of crazy yarns these days (like that new winter one which looks like fibre optic tubes up close), but not so many basics. I thought I'd be ok with the new pure wool dk but it's superwash apparently. I also checked out Debbie Bliss, and she has the lovely looking Merino DK. That says you can machine wash it, so does that mean it's superwash, or just that you can machine wash it on a certain setting? I need it to be able to felt, definitely. Does anyone know if Debbie Bliss Merino DK will do the job?
Thank you!
As a "reward" for your patience, look at this gorgeous elephant on the cover of the Guardian G2 today!
They had tons of green xmas presents, which got me very excited since I want ALL OF THEM, or at least to buy them for other people! There was a lot of stuff sewn or knitted from old things or scraps, and that's what this elephant is made from - little scraps of yarn. I think he's adoreable! OK well I seriously have to do some more study, if anyone can help with the wool situation I'd be very grateful :)
Posted by jen at November 30, 2006 08:47 PM
Comments
Cascade 220 (not the superwash) is very nice, inexpensive, and comes in a ton of colors.
Posted by: Miss T at December 1, 2006 12:53 AM
The Debbie Bliss is definitely superwash. :-( How about Brown Sheep Naturespun Sport? That felts wonderfully and can be knit at DK weight. Oooh, or Dale of Norway Heilo... that would be a great one as well. The Dale is probably easier for you to get also. Good luck, and I'll keep thinking for you!
Posted by: Johanna at December 1, 2006 01:34 AM
How about Garnstudio yarns - Camelia looks like it might work, and as they label machine washable yarns as superwash, it should be feltable... They do a nice good value soft alpaca yarn too :D
Posted by: Bryony at December 1, 2006 07:04 AM
Oh that's a great elephant! I got to buy the Guardian later. I'm currently knitting a monkey (http://www.save-on-crafts.com/motoymoknpru.html, not with that fluffy yarn though) for my friend's little son, it's his first christmas! Starting to think it's not a great idea to knit all my Christmas presents, I'll never finish them all in time!
Posted by: Johanna (not the one from above) at December 1, 2006 01:01 PM
Oh that's a great elephant! I got to buy the Guardian later. I'm currently knitting a monkey (http://www.save-on-crafts.com/motoymoknpru.html, not with that fluffy yarn though) for my friend's little son, it's his first christmas! Starting to think it's not a great idea to knit all my Christmas presents, I'll never finish them all in time!
Posted by: Johanna (not the one from above) at December 1, 2006 01:03 PM
Hello!
I have some bluefaced leicester superwash in my collection, and can dye you some, its brill for felting. Let me know if ur interested
Posted by: Jeni at December 1, 2006 03:03 PM
Obviously I mean that its not superwash sorry, just normal dk (stupid me). If its machine washable that it'll have had the scales taken of it, then that makes it a superwash.
Posted by: Jeni at December 1, 2006 03:06 PM
Ps if its for a design to submmit somewhere, you can have it free.
J x
Posted by: Jeni at December 1, 2006 03:07 PM
I would love to try cascade 220 myself but not living in the US somewhat prohibits that! You might try www.textere.co.uk, they do a bluefaced leicester which they say will felt really well, it's aran though, and they do a pure lambswool you can dye yourself, and a guernsey 5 ply that might do you, all very reasonably priced! No affiliation, just a satisfied customer.
Posted by: weeza at December 1, 2006 03:58 PM
Rowan has a new one called Pure Wool DK http://www.theknittinggarden.com/ro-purewool.htm - but it also says it's machine washable so it's probably superwash.
Posted by: Robin at December 1, 2006 07:52 PM
www.texere.co.uk have a fantastic feltable chunky but it looks as if their DK is superwash. It'd be worth ringing them as they often have stock which isn't on the website & they're a lovely company.
Posted by: blueadt at December 1, 2006 11:26 PM
If you don't mind a bit of silk content, Rowan Yarns puts out a great DK Silk Wool yarn. It's not superwash, the colors are gorgeous and it's very very soft.
Posted by: connie at December 2, 2006 12:02 AM
Cascade 220 definitely has nice colors. You can get it shipped to you from the US, if you buy it from Webs (www.yarn.com). Then, there's Brown Sheep, which has a huge array of colors. Both are sold by Webs. It may be worth having a little look on their site. And, notice that if you buy a certain $ amount of yarn, they give you a discount.
Posted by: Krista at December 2, 2006 11:05 AM
OMGosh That elephant is just to cute.. Where do I get the pattern well the G2?
Posted by: Michelle at December 2, 2006 06:43 PM
How about Freedom Wool? They make a stripey dk that is called Freedom Spirit. It is 100% wool. I am knitting a cardigan with it now and it is quite soft and knits up nicely. I have not tried felting this wool but the Freedom pattern booklet has a pattern for a felted purse, so it must felt well. There are only half a dozen or so colorways but they are nice. I don't know whether this yarn is well known in Britain (it's a UK company). I happened upon in it a fabric store here in Portland in the US but have not previously heard of it. The price is right at $4.99/ball! In any case, I think it's available on-line.
Posted by: Karen at December 3, 2006 04:57 PM
Can you get Jo Sharp DK wool in the UK? That's a feltable wool.
Posted by: monica at December 4, 2006 06:25 AM