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marfa
Permanent Resident
USA
1879 Posts |
 Posted - 12/20/2001 : 1:46:00 PM
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How do.
The pointers, advice & suggestions I have received so far to my ??s have been so awesome & helpful that I'm back w/another: in January I'm taking a "Polar Sweater" class @ our LYS, 3 evening for 2 hours each. When I signed up for the class, there were no instructions or directions yet available. The nice sales clerk thinks we will be using size 13 or 15 needles & the sweater most likely will be a pullover w/a roll style neck. Sometimes folks wait, she said, until the evening of the 1st class to buy their yarn but that seems like a waste of valuable class time to me  as I want to put the pedal to the metal. Plus, I like the lack of pressure in planning ahead for the class - i.e. time to mull over my choices & options.
What thoughts do you have? I do like wooden & bamboo needles & I prefer a natural yarn, cotton or wool.Thanks in advance for any ideas or experiences you can share.
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e_looped
Seriously Hooked
USA
712 Posts |
Posted - 12/20/2001 : 1:58:14 PM
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Martha-
I made a sweater out of the Rowan Polar in an orange. I loved working with it! It went so fast. I have a photo of it on my website. http://erica-lee.org/crafts.html One of my students used the same pattern and yarn for her first sweater. It turned out great. I used aluminum needles for this sweater, mainly because I didn't own size 11's in bamboo. I did like using the aluminum needles for this project because there wasn't any chance of the needles getting caught on the yarn. If you want to use the Rowan Polar, which is wool and some alpaca, you should go to the Rowan website to check out their colors. I have yet to find a color in the Polar that I don't like. Have they chosen the pattern for you?
Good luck!
erica :)
Life is like knitting sometimes it's smooth, sometimes it's bumpy and sometimes it's the ultimate frustration. |
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Admin
Forum Admin
USA
151 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2001 : 10:08:48 AM
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Mey Marfa!
I just went through my entire box of review swatches (smiling and talking to myself, as Erica confessed to doing!) to refresh my memory and get some ideas.
I agree with Erica that Rowan Polar would be a great bulky option. Another one I liked was Tahki Baby, which knits up quickly on US 15 needles. It's a yummy pure merino wool.
A faster, less-expensive wool with some mohair (and, alas, some synthetic fibers as well) is Cleckheaton Gusto.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend a polar yarn with much complexity in it, at least not for your first sweater. For example, I loved GGH Alaska, but God help you if you drop a stitch and have to see what you're doing.
If you want to go slightly finer and with less stitch definition (with truly bulky yarns, the stitch definition can make them look somewhat clunky), you could also try Rowanspun Chunky. I'm not sure if that gauge would fall within the guidelines for the class.
Those would be my top recommendations.
Do tell us what you decide!
Clara
Your friendly Knitter's Review publisher |
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marfa
Permanent Resident
USA
1879 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2002 : 2:20:27 PM
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How do.
Our LYS owner, Mary, called a few days ago to say the pattern & information about the class were ready. They encourage folks to buy all supplies before the class. Great news!
The pattern, a cabled pullover, is one they have used for a while & some of the suggested yarns are either unavailable or scarce which was a bit discouraging. Because I want to support the LYS & especially for this class, my 1st in a long time, I decided to go w/the suggestions from the staff person. She knows her stuff & I'll be seeing her when I shop. As a former retail purchaser & staff sales clerk, I know there is a time to listen to the voice of experience & knowledge.
It's somewhat embarrassing to say what I bought but what's a little  self-consciousness among friends  ? Her recommendation was what I purchased: an acrylic-wool mixture, Plymough Encore Chunky, in a pale creamy yellow. The Rowan is gorgeous & more $ than I felt I could - or perhaps ought to - spend for a 1st sweater. The 13 & 15 needles I purchased are bamboo - they feel good to use & my hands react well to them.
Erica, I will check out the Rowan web site for a future purchase. Clara, your suggestions were/are most welcome. I have printed them so I'll have a record of your ideas.
Thank you, folks!
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BessH
Permanent Resident
3095 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2002 : 04:43:21 AM
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"It's somewhat embarrassing to say what I bought but..."
Dear Marfa
Please don't ever be embarassed about your yarn purchases - at least, so long as you can pay for them  . There are many good reasons to buy different sorts of yarns. I am often amazed at my own prejudices about acrilic when I have no compunction about buying acrilic ready-mades, and i adore soft silky synthetic novelty yarns like the fluffs and furz and eyelashes!
I also read (and once in a while contribute to) KnitU and in Digest #1814 there is a wonderful letter from someone named Sheree about this very subject. they archive these digests and this one should be up in a week or so. (http://www.knittinguniverse.com)
I love the slightly wicked luxurious sensation I get when I purchase some expensive silky yarn - often it takes me a while to get around to knitting it up because it is so much fun to enjoy just having it around. But I would hope nobody would feel obliged to purchase expensive yarn. It sounds to me as if you followed your own wise counsel after gathering all the information you could. What could have been a better choice?
Good knitting to you
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Clara
queen bee
USA
4364 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2002 : 12:10:11 PM
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I totally second Bess' comments - please please please don't ever feel under pressure to conceal any non-$90/skein yarn purchases. Plymouth Encore Chunky is actually a great yarn choice, especially for a first sweater. Imagine if you had $120 worth of yarn riding on your performance in that class? The pressure alone would probably make me quit...
But the real excitement here is that you're taking a class! You're embarking on a sweater!
Please do keep us posted as you progress. For every one of you, there are 10 people daydreaming about taking a class who may be inspired by you to do it.
Clara
Your friendly Knitter's Review publisher
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marfa
Permanent Resident
USA
1879 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2002 : 4:19:00 PM
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How do.
Bess & Clara, You two are such dear hearts!! Thank you for the encouragement & feedback. I appreciate your fine thoughts & the nudge to let go of my chagrin &  feelings. Hope I can do it for another beginner knitter in the years to come. (I have done this w/quilters before so I guess I could have done it w/my own knitting!)
In a few weeks I'll let you know how things went w/my class. Again many thanks!
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RoseByAny
Permanent Resident
USA
12598 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2002 : 5:46:21 PM
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Marfa- the yarn for my first sweater (I'm only about 3 inches in to it) only cost me about $40 - I got some 100% merino wool for $2 a ball off of smileysyarns.com because most of the knitters I spoke with loved merino wool, and at that price, I figured I wouldn't have heart palpitations if the sweater went horribly wrong and ended up with no neck and three arm holes or something equally yucky.
And frankly, I don't have a whole lot of extra money anyway! I think the most important thing to look at is overall cost - that is, how much is the entire garment going to cost you? Compare that to what you'd be willing to pay for a ready-made - well,the math is your own call, but I figure if I can't afford a $150 sweater that someone else made, I certainly can't afford to spend that money and time worrying how it's going to turn out. Not at this stage in the game!
Happy knitting!
"Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable."
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Lissa
Permanent Resident
USA
4942 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2002 : 7:00:16 PM
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I've been offline for a while, but I'm back now, and full of....responses!
You may have read my...displeasure... with WoolEase on the "never again" forum, but I'm ALL about inexpensive yarns that work. I made my first sweater out of 50 cents-a-skein Sayelle! While I wouldn't do it again, I completely admire someone who does a quick risk/benefit analysis when they buy yarn. I fell in love with yarn that would have cost me $85 to knit a sweater for my 2-year-old neice - which will fit her for about a minute and a half. Reason prevailed, and I chose a much less expensive option. And, I only knit with acrylic, because I'm allergic to wool. So, you go, girl - enjoy your acrylic yarn and make a lovely, INEXPENSIVE treasure!
Lissa
Edited by - Lissa on 01/10/2002 19:02:48 |
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e_looped
Seriously Hooked
USA
712 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2002 : 11:03:24 AM
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Sales are also a knitting girl's best friend. They are a great way to get that yarn you've had your eye on for a while, but didn't want to pay full price for it. As I've become more confident in my knitting, I'm willing to buy some of the more expensive stuff, but I haven't paid more than $15/skein. I also have yet to knit a sweater that cost me over $125 in yarn. I prefer to buy the more expensive yarns when they are a bigger gauge, so I use fewer skeins.
erica :)
Life is like knitting sometimes it's smooth, sometimes it's bumpy and sometimes it's the ultimate frustration. |
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storiesr
Sustaining Member
692 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2002 : 08:08:48 AM
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I am trying my first sweater. I am not embarrassed to admit that I purchased Lion Brand Wool ease...acrylic wool blend....will move up the yarn chain if I am successful. So far the two piedces I have completed look real nice.
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Smock7
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
491 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2002 : 1:55:47 PM
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Hi All. The first sweater that I actually made when I learned to knit was a kit from SWAK Knits. It was Tahki cotton and made with intarsia designs, Americana. It turned out beautiful (despite the small mistakes I learned through experienc to recognize)! But, the reason I wrote is to say I would not choose 100% cotton as a first project. I never realized how easy it was to knit until I went to a wool (or wool blend) yarn! Cotton is by far my favorite yarn to wear but harder to keep perfect stitches because it does not have much give. So, despite the cost or yarn you buy I would recommend a yarn with more give, even if it is 100% acrylic!
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KanDeeLee
New Pal
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2002 : 6:02:04 PM
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The yarn you choose, be it costly or not can make your first sweater a struggle or a great joy! For example, fun novelty yarns and bulky mohair are visually very interesting but they can be the hardest to work with, as are yarns in very dark colors if you are knitting mostly at night. Should cost of your yarn be a primary consideration for a first knitting project? I say no! Mastering the skill of knitting a sweater is only half of the process of learning to knit. The other half is learning about fibers. Knitting is a sensual experience. It is the color, the texture and the feel of working with the yarn. If you find that special yarn with compelling color and texture that is a dream to work, you will finish your first sweater, increase your knitting interest and come back for more!
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Cheffie
New Pal
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2002 : 8:33:38 PM
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Greetings, all!
I have to admit that sometimes I am turned off by yarns that cost a fortune, and the attitude that often prevails at the stores that sell them. The persnickety types that feel if a garment (or yarn) didn't cost more that it does to feed a family of four for a month, it's not worth being seen in, have fairly shallow values, and I would be willing to bet that they are not even semi-serious crafters, merely bored hausfraus. Where I don't believe that cost=value, I do make the distinction between good and poor products. My feeling about spending money is that you should strive to get the best quality available for the most reasonable sum of money, whether you are buying yarn, a musical instrument, or a car.Sometimes, when looking for yarn, nothing will appeal to you. I was in that state when I learned to spin. Fleece is often very inexpensive, you have total control over the finished product, and you get that much more tactile satisfaction over the course of the creative process! Of course, it can be a slow go!
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Janet
New Pal
Canada
1 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2002 : 09:04:53 AM
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Hi Marfa,
I thought your questions regarding what how much to spend on a first project interesting. My rule of thumb has always been, if it's worth spending the time making something, it's worth spending the money on the materials. Buying good quality materials will make a difference in how the project looks when finished, especially a garment.
All the best of luck to you!
Janet
How do.
The pointers, advice & suggestions I have received so far to my ??s have been so awesome & helpful that I'm back w/another: in January I'm taking a "Polar Sweater" class @ our LYS, 3 evening for 2 hours each. When I signed up for the class, there were no instructions or directions yet available. The nice sales clerk thinks we will be using size 13 or 15 needles & the sweater most likely will be a pullover w/a roll style neck. Sometimes folks wait, she said, until the evening of the 1st class to buy their yarn but that seems like a waste of valuable class time to me as I want to put the pedal to the metal. Plus, I like the lack of pressure in planning ahead for the class - i.e. time to mull over my choices & options.
What thoughts do you have? I do like wooden & bamboo needles & I prefer a natural yarn, cotton or wool.Thanks in advance for any ideas or experiences you can share.
[/quote]
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jmmcca
New Pal
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2002 : 09:58:56 AM
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You might want to consider an economically priced yarn (allowing you to enjoy the joy of knitting without fretting about the cost). I just finished a sweater for my grandaughter (child's sz. 4) made out of an acrylic chunky weight yarn for a total cost of $8.00. It worked up beautifully. Basic 4-ply knitting worsted weight yarns (using size 9 aluminum needles) or chunky weight yarns (using size 10 aluminum needles) are easier to handle and work up fairly quickly. Choosing a lighter pastel color will make it easier to see and work with the stitches on the needle.
Knitting Nana |
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run10k
New Pal
19 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2002 : 07:52:32 AM
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Enjoy your first project, whatever it might be! I think that if you receive the support and guidance you need during your first project, the yarn content won't matter. I hope this class will instill a lifetime love of a wonderful art. I do have to say that even though yarn purchased from a smaller retailer is often more expensive, the rewards of expertise is included in the price of the yarn. (I am not saying that the larger retailers don't employ experienced knitters on their staff, but with everything else they're expected to do, service sometimes takes a back seat to sales.) Go for it, enjoy it and wear that first sweater with pride. My first project was also a sweater. It was wool (Galway--not chunky and on size 8 needles). It took me nearly a year to make, simply because I could only get help on Saturdays, and I was persistent and patient in learning from my gaffes. Whatever you do, DON'T GIVE UP ON IT!
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run10k
New Pal
19 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2002 : 07:52:42 AM
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Enjoy your first project, whatever it might be! I think that if you receive the support and guidance you need during your first project, the yarn content won't matter. I hope this class will instill a lifetime love of a wonderful art. I do have to say that even though yarn purchased from a smaller retailer is often more expensive, the rewards of expertise is included in the price of the yarn. (I am not saying that the larger retailers don't employ experienced knitters on their staff, but with everything else they're expected to do, service sometimes takes a back seat to sales.) Go for it, enjoy it and wear that first sweater with pride. My first project was also a sweater. It was wool (Galway--not chunky and on size 8 needles). It took me nearly a year to make, simply because I could only get help on Saturdays, and I was persistent and patient in learning from my gaffes. Whatever you do, DON'T GIVE UP ON IT!
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run10k
New Pal
19 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2002 : 07:52:51 AM
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Enjoy your first project, whatever it might be! I think that if you receive the support and guidance you need during your first project, the yarn content won't matter. I hope this class will instill a lifetime love of a wonderful art. I do have to say that even though yarn purchased from a smaller retailer is often more expensive, the rewards of expertise is included in the price of the yarn. (I am not saying that the larger retailers don't employ experienced knitters on their staff, but with everything else they're expected to do, service sometimes takes a back seat to sales.) Go for it, enjoy it and wear that first sweater with pride. My first project was also a sweater. It was wool (Galway--not chunky and on size 8 needles). It took me nearly a year to make, simply because I could only get help on Saturdays, and I was persistent and patient in learning from my gaffes. Whatever you do, DON'T GIVE UP ON IT!
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run10k
New Pal
19 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2002 : 07:52:59 AM
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Enjoy your first project, whatever it might be! I think that if you receive the support and guidance you need during your first project, the yarn content won't matter. I hope this class will instill a lifetime love of a wonderful art. I do have to say that even though yarn purchased from a smaller retailer is often more expensive, the rewards of expertise is included in the price of the yarn. (I am not saying that the larger retailers don't employ experienced knitters on their staff, but with everything else they're expected to do, service sometimes takes a back seat to sales.) Go for it, enjoy it and wear that first sweater with pride. My first project was also a sweater. It was wool (Galway--not chunky and on size 8 needles). It took me nearly a year to make, simply because I could only get help on Saturdays, and I was persistent and patient in learning from my gaffes. Whatever you do, DON'T GIVE UP ON IT!
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mokumegane
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
558 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2002 : 05:19:43 AM
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Well, usually, adult sweaters take 8 skeins of yarn or more (depending on the yarn, size of needles, etc.) Sorry, this is already the middle of January but personally, I like a natural and acrylic mix of fibers in the yarn because it still has the nice feel and texture (etc.) of naturals (wool, cotton, alpaca, etc.) while also having the strength of acrylics. I must say that I like wooden, bamboo etc. needles compared to the metal ones (they're better for your hands, too, especially if you have arthritis or something). I think the instructor should have at least given a tip of how much yarn to buy, what size, etc. so that those who wanted to yarn shop could. Uh... if there's anything else...?
Amanda
How do.
The pointers, advice & suggestions I have received so far to my ??s have been so awesome & helpful that I'm back w/another: in January I'm taking a "Polar Sweater" class @ our LYS, 3 evening for 2 hours each. When I signed up for the class, there were no instructions or directions yet available. The nice sales clerk thinks we will be using size 13 or 15 needles & the sweater most likely will be a pullover w/a roll style neck. Sometimes folks wait, she said, until the evening of the 1st class to buy their yarn but that seems like a waste of valuable class time to me as I want to put the pedal to the metal. Plus, I like the lack of pressure in planning ahead for the class - i.e. time to mull over my choices & options.
What thoughts do you have? I do like wooden & bamboo needles & I prefer a natural yarn, cotton or wool.Thanks in advance for any ideas or experiences you can share.
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