First Trip to a Yarn Store?
Knitting is becoming more and more popular, which is great! But, sometimes it is overwhelming for the beginner. So much to consider…yarn, needles, patterns–there’s a whole new language, and charts too.
Beginners out there, bring a knitter friend to the yarn store the first time to show you around. It can be quite overwhelming if you go on your own.
Things to consider when planning your first project (make a list BEFORE you go to the yarn store).
What are your skills?
Can you knit and purl, increase and decrease, cast on and cast off? These are good things to practice BEFORE you dive in and start a big project.
Check youtube for knitting videos. You’d be surprised what you can learn!
Can you knit in the round? That’s when you use circular needles or a set of 4 double pointed needles to knit a tube.
What are you hoping to make?
Projects increase both in difficulty of technique and length of time to complete it.
Scarves, bags, hats, armwarmers, mitts and socks are good places to start. Sweaters and blankets will take significantly longer to complete. Consider your knitting stamina. Choose something that is easy enough for you to do, but not so tedious that you will get bored.
Who is it for?
What size is the recipient? Is the recipient allergic to wool?
Finding a pattern
I always check Ravelry first for free patterns to download. They will be stored in your computer for ever, and in your Ravelry pattern library too. I often lose paper copies of patterns, so I enjoy knowing that I have an online backup. There will be pattern leaflets for sale at any yarn store. Often patterns are sold in booklets-choose a booklet that has more than one good pattern in it if possible.
If you are having trouble with finding a good simple pattern, try some of mine. I’ve linked to some great visual tutorials in the toe up socks pattern.
Yarn thickness
lace, fingering, sport, worsted, bulky
lace weight (not for beginners)
fingering-socks and gloves/baby clothes
sport weight-heavy socks/mittens
worsted weight/aran weight-mittens/hats/sweaters
bulky weight-thick hats/sweaters
Needles
Pay CLOSE attention to your pattern. There are three different standards for needle sizes.
Generally thin wool is knit with thin needles, and thick wool with thicker needles.
Socks: 2.5mm or 2.75mm needles are good with fingering weight yarn
Mittens/hats: 4mm needles with sport or worsted weight yarn
Do you need circulars, or double pointed needles, or single pointed needles? Read the pattern to find out.
How much yarn?
Before you go crazy buying everything in sight…check your pattern. It should give you an idea of yarn quantity required.
For a pair of socks you need 100g of fingering weight yarn. If you want knee socks, you’ll need up to 200g.
For a pair of adult mittens you will need 100g of worsted weight yarn.
Be sure if you are making a big project that you get enough of the same dye lot (check the tag on the wool to check the numbers). If the wool was dyed in a different batch, the colours may not be the same.
Fiber content
Any yarn that will go against your skin should be tested on your skin to see how it feels. Don’t just pat the yarn. Pick up the ball of wool and rub it on your neck, or the small of your back (if you are daring)–this skin is sensitive, and you will know almost instantly how you feel about that yarn. Remember, hands are less sensitive than necks, so mittens can be made from more scratchy wool without a problem.
Wool from Topsy Farm Amherst Island Ontario--I use it to make mittens all the time. It softens a bit when washed
Don’t assume that just because something is made of wool that it will be scratchy. There are different kinds of sheep that produce different kinds of wool. Some wool is so soft–but it is also probably so expensive!
Superwash wool is more easy to care for than regular wool. Wool is elastic, and will keep its shape better than other fibers. Wool is also very warm.
alpaca yarn from Silver Cloud Alpacas. I met Nancy and the alpacas a few years ago, this is top quality stuff!
Alpaca is warmer than wool. It feels extra soft, and is luscious for scarves or for lining mittens. It is not as hard wearing as socks, and not elastic. Not all alpaca is equal…try it on your skin before you buy it.
organic cotton yarn
Cotton is not very elastic, and not very warm. I personally don’t enjoy knitting with cotton because of how it feels on my hands. Some people have told me that I just haven’t found the right cotton yet. Who knows…I live in Canada, in my mind knitting should keep me warm.
I've used this bamboo yarn to make a lovely soft hat for a friend who had cancer.
Bamboo is such a soft yarn that apparently has antibacterial properties. I bought some bamboo sock yarn which is sitting in the stash just waiting for the perfect project.
A baby hat I made from acrylic yarn
Acrylic is a synthetic fiber. It is very easy to care for, so it’s great for baby clothes. It comes in bright colours, and I’ve found it is often less expensive than other materials. Any of the “novelty” yarn choices like what I used in “hippo’s ugly hat” are made of different synthetic fibers.
Hippo's Ugly hat made from a variety of novelty yarns
When you are at the Yarn Store
Spend some time looking around and patting the yarn, but remember to keep yourself focused on your current project (or else you might get into stash problems). Be sure to check for a “discount” section in the store, sometimes there are great deals to be found!
Ask about refund/exchange policy. If you go home and realize you bought twice as much sock wool as you really need, they might trade the unused wool for something else next time you go back.
There might be a customer loyalty card for you to get stamped. I’m almost done my third card at Wool-Tyme.
Before you leave, check for lessons or a social “knit-night” where you can get advice from your friendly neighbourhood knitters. Sometimes the local shopkeepers will be happy to help you solve a knitting related problem if the store isn’t too busy at the time.
Pretty soon you’ll be making “wool-runs” like a professional!
