BIG BOX BARGAINS: WORKHORSE YARNS
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2024
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This week's video features nine "workhorse" yarns that you can purchase at your local big box craft stores, including cotton, acrylic, and wool. I review the characteristics of each yarn, summarize the online reviews, show examples of projects made with them, and give my opinions. What are your favorite workhorse yarns? Leave your comments below.
LINKS TO PRODUCTS AND OTHER THINGS:
Peaches & Creme yarn: available in-store at Walmart
Red Heart Scrubby yarn: goo.gl/o7Cbz2
Cotton Fair yarn: goo.gl/bpKgtj
Dyeworks yarn: goo.gl/VHGgn5
Urban Chic yarn: goo.gl/vqRJdj
Deborah Norville Everyday yarn: goo.gl/BsVjWt
Soft & Sleek yarn: goo.gl/f63p7q
Wool Ease yarn: goo.gl/VwUxdw
Paton's Classic Wool Worsted yarn: goo.gl/jpBRVr
Lace-Edged Women's Hat (pattern): goo.gl/TujiLV
Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth (pattern): goo.gl/GDyVtY
Ravelry: goo.gl/M2z96P
(If you are not already a member, you should definitely join--it's free.)
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Kristine Kelly
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If you are passionately curious and never get tired of learning new things, new skills, new ideas...I hope you enjoy watching my videos and learn something. Have a sparkly day!
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The reason you don't sometimes find negative reviews is because some companies screen them out. I just found that out. I posted an honest but negative review on a major big box yarn company's site two days ago but it has not been posted. There are no other negative reviews either, only positive ones. I contacted the company and will give them a chance to respond. But if they do really screen reviews (which is deceptive to the consumer), I do feel I have to inform our community about it.
Thanks for doing all the "heavy lifting" of research for the fiber artists of the world! You must spend countless hours of prep time for each segment. I know from being a teacher myself that the tip of the iceberg is the lesson itself. The majority of time is spent on prep. Thanks for all you do, and ❤️ Happy Valentines Day to you too!
Excellent comment
I often hear people say they use these big box yarns because they can't afford indie died yarns. I actually like both and often choose to use yarn from craft stores (even though I could afford the more expensive type). There are several reasons for this - I like the accessibility of it (no need to wait for a 'shop update'), the known quality (colors are less likely to vary between skeins and I can read reviews of durability) and I can get it on one trip to the store, no need to wait for a shipment to arrive. Also, there is much less pressure on the usage of an item if it didn't cost an arm and a leg. To me it doesn't make sense to make a baby blanket or child's sweater that cost $100, then be all resentful when I find the item on the floor or stained. Knit, use, enjoy. Yay for big box yarn!
Thank you so much for what you do. I don’t knit-I crochet, but I’ve learned so much about yarn from your videos. Your reviews on box store yarns is exceptional. Thanks again.
Hi Terri -- thank you so much. I'm glad that you enjoyed this series. Thanks for watching. XO
Another wonderful show. So grateful for you taking on this big box topic. So excited for your next podcast on knitting machines.
Thank you for another great episode! I was always hesitant to put my projects on Ravelry because of the yarn I used. When I would look at all the other projects everyone was using high end yarn; and even though I thought my project was just as nice I was always a little embarrassed to list an acrylic from a big box store. Watching these episodes and reading about and also seeing that other people do use these yarns makes me feel less intimidated to include those projects on Ravelry.
Yes this Illinois weather. Spring please spring!
Hi, I love your videos and have learned a lot from them. I'm concerned about one yarn you mention today due to bad experiences with it. I've spent a small fortune on Wool -Ease yarn over the years and, sadly, I've come to regret it. About ten years ago I crocheted a beautiful afghan for my home, but after about three washings the wool fibers began to pull away from the acrylic fibers. The acrylic fibers had been dyed a chestnut brown and the wool was black so you can imagine how it looked as the black wool began to ball up on the stitches. That afghan was donated to a thrift store recently so I couldn't share any pictures of it, but I have a pair of socks that I made for my husband to wear in his farm boots, and that same thing as happened to them. They're a sight... and not a good one.
Thanks for a great video, Dr. Kelly. I'm a crocheter, not a knitter, but I love watching all your videos; I'm learning so much about yarn, which applies to crochet as well. This Big Box Yarns video was so helpful and informative. I read every one of the comments and learned a lot about additional yarn from them! Also LOVE your book reviews! Thanks for all the research and preparation you put into making your videos actual learning tools. I love that about them! 😻💓
Thanks, Char -- I appreciate your kind comment. 💜
Red Heart's scrubby is great for dishes, but their scrubby cotton is wonderful for the body. It has a softer feel. I do find knitting and crocheting them hard on my hands,though. I'd say half of the yarns you showcased I have used. I really have enjoyed them. Thank you for the 20 stitch 5x10 soap cloth idea. I have leftover scrubby cotton from a cloth I made available for this project.
Cotton fair yarn is one of my faves!
Michael's had them on sale around Thanksgiving and I bought about thirty balls for various projects that I have in my library.
As you mentioned, they are mostly earmarked for shawls and summerweight open cardigans.
I also noticed another theme, if you will. Knots! I have noticed more and more knots in yarn as the years go by. I have heard that in order to not have knots in the yarn we purchase, they would have to have a lot of waste at the factory, which would, in turn, drive the prices up. As far as the Loops and Threads yarn, I made a blanket from that last year. It had more knots than I had seen in any other yarn, I think. Maybe it was just the skeins I purchased -- I did make a blanket which required a few skeins. It is soft, though, and nice otherwise.
I like Patons for knitting and felting. I love Thick-n-quick for hats and mittens!
love your videos...fun and informative.
I wish my teachers back at school were like you...
Wow! So much info-amazing! Looking forward to seeing you next week-thank you again for all of your time and effort that goes into each broadcast!
I've used both of the Woolease, the original, and the thick and quick. I made a lapgan from the original Woolease, and a triangle shawl with the thick and quick version. I've used both the Sugar and Cream and the Peaches and Cream for dishcloths. I've used the Paton's Original Wool for some Christmas ornaments, and also for teapot cossies.
Peaches and Cream, the Dish cloth king!
I have used Patons wool for felting and hat making and enjoyed it very much. I've also used the Sugar and Cream cotton many years ago, but don't knit with cotton anymore. A workhouse yarn I enjoy is the Lion Brand Fisherman's yarn. Thanks!
Thanks for another informative program! I didn't notice if you mentioned hooks and threads by Michaels. But, I made a throw for myself to use over me in my wheelchair when it is cold out. I was disappointed in the 10 skeins I used as they had so many knots, or more like ends tied together all through the yarn. I don't mean like 10 times in a skein, but enough that I would want to be sure and notice them coming up if I ever use that yarn again so I can cut them out and then add it on like a new skein. It would not be so noticeable, I don't believe. Red Heart has been my "work horse" yarn for a good many years, but after I was introduced to Hobby Lobby yarns, I have to say they are so much softer and I just LOVE them! They do cost a little more, but still I buy them. Sometimes Red Heart will have something that I want that I can't find in Hobby Lobby and I will buy RH then. I have used Lion Brand yarns. As for what I have made with these yarns, it would be too numerous to put here! But, I have made baby blankets, baby clothing items, afghans, among many other things. I am trying to use up my old stash of yarn and trying not to buy any more for a while. I am not promising I will stick to that, but I am trying! :)
Hi! I just wanted to say I love your videos and I enjoy your big box series. I also wanted to brag a little bit and say that the picture you found on ravelry of the lady that made the little hula skirt for the her daughters doll, is actually a very good friend of mine in my knitting group. It was her granddaughters doll she made it for and we got to see it being done. She is a fantastic knitter and crocheter and I shared this with our group.
Thank you for yet another in depth video on more affordable yarns. I really appreciate the research you put into it!
Happy Valentine's Day! 💖
Ditto what Sue Lowther said. I also appreciate all the time spent to research these subjects for us. I'm a sock knitter so any information on sock knitting is welcome. Also, would you consider discussing arm knitting or using jumbo yarn? I'd like to make a bath rug from jumbo yarn but have no experience using it. Your videos encourage me to knit more than just socks.
Wow all your videos are always packed with amazing information 🙏💖 love love love learning from you your awesome 😎💖💖💖
I have used the Paton's classic worsted for hats, my baa hat. The Lion Brand , thick and quick for three True North Toque. I liked working with both of these brands.
Deborah Norville everyday is wonderful to work with!
Joann puts it on a great sale (half off or better) from time to time and I've stocked up each time!
I've made shawls with it that are very lovely and they have a nice sheen to them. In particular, the Northern Lights colorway is nothing short of spectacular. I've also made a baby lovey with it, among other things.
It is so easy to work with.
The Hobby Lobby soft and sleek is much more plush feeling and doesn't have the same sheen and drape as the DN everyday. They work up very differently so I would use them for very different purposes. The everyday feels on the thin side of worsted whereas the soft and sleek is on the thicker side of worsted.
I've made slipper socks with the soft and sleek it and it was very easy to work.
Michael's - just this past week - released a brand new yarn called Joy DK. It's another anti-pill yarn. It looks and feels a LOT like the DN everyday. It comes in beautiful, coordinating solids and ombres. I've already got two balls ready to become a lightweight, cabled cowl.
The wool-ease is another fave. It's so easy to work with. It practically leaps off the hook (but I DO have gloriously smooth tulip hooks so that helps).
I've made slipper socks and hats and several other items with it. It is so wonderful to work with.
Frogging can be tricky but no more so than with many wool yarns. I think it is very soft. I've never noticed an odor and don't find knots to be any more prevalent than in any other random skein of yarn.
Along with the thick and quick version, which I have a lot of (think: thick winter cowls and chunky blankets that work up quickly) and have used, they have a less well-known chunky style, in a no. 5 weight. Sadly, the chunky has very limited colors.
The Paton's classic wool is also wonderful to work with. It comes in some beautiful colors and is really easy to work with. I've made several hats and a large scarf with it and want to make more.
Paton's classic also comes in a chunky weight (which I got on clearance recently so I don't know if it is discontinued or if Joann is just clearing it out) and a superwash dk (also sadly in a limited color selection)!
As for cotton: my favorite basic "household, utility and washcloth" cotton yarn is Hobby Lobby's I Love This Cotton. It is gorgeous and so very soft! It's a touch thinner than the peaches n cream so I tend to go down a hook size (although the label suggests one size larger). It drapes well and feels amazing. And it holds its color better than the sugar n cream and is much less "splitty."
But....one of my very favorites (which I bought a TON of a couple months ago when Michael's had an amazing sale on it), is Paton's Grace. It's a dk weight but works up more like a sport weight. It's mercerized, has a lovely sheen and comes in a limited but lovely color selection.
With it, I've made the most beautiful yarmulke ever. And the most beautiful small clutch bag ever, with a matching button I crocheted for it.
It is just stunning and so wonderful to work with.
I've got the rest of mine earmarked for open cardigans and shawls and maybe a baby bib or two.
Have I mentioned that I love the Grace yarn? I love it.
When they had the mega sale, I pretty much demolished the Michael's stock of it in several colors. It was almost shameful. Almost. ;)
Thank you for sharing your knowledge on this topic. Retired teacher here and know the work behind it Keep up the good work!
Great video Dr Kelley. The Patons classic wool is my go to workhorse. Sometime in the last decade the label changed by removing Merino, so you might be right. You said it feels scratchy which I agree with until it's blocked. Post blocking the stitch definition pops and it becomes very soft, making it great for any hat and sweater I want to knit, especially pullovers. Craftsy always has the lowest price for Patons, even when it's not on sale. My go to cotton is usually Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (generous yardage) and Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton.
You inspired me to try the wool yarn you mentioned at the end, I am also in Illinois and while I know it is winter am tiring of the snow. Great show and topic and as always prayers to you and yours for a fantastic February.
I like Patons for felting. I enjoy your videos.
You are amazing! The amount of work you clearly put into this is so much appreciated. Thank you! Thank you!
I have used a lot of Michaels Loops & Threads Impeccable (acrylic). I cannot say I love it but I like it and the buy price of less than $2 for 285 yards can be had at least once per month. Makes for inexpensive afghans and great charity hats or Christmas gifts for coworkers etc. I have used it a lot for Christmas stocking wine bags for holiday hostess gifts. It gets “furry” but not pilled after several wash and dry cycles but for an everyday sofa surfer blanket or in the car blanket (he is always warm and I am always cold)...the yarn works splendidly.
Another stash staple I have is Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool. It is a light worsted with MSRP of ~$12. I can find it online from time to time in the $7 range or from JoAnns on sale combined with $ off total purchase coupons and come in between $6 & $8 per skein. It has generous yardage (~465?), the natural color takes dye well and most of lineup is 100% wool...some tweeds are ~80% wool. They maintain lanolin in the wool so it is great for sweaters that one wears out of doors.
I agree that Patons Classic Wool Worsted is another great stash choice. I use it for fair isle colorwork. Sticky enough for steeking without having to stabilize before the steek gets cut. I prefer more rustic wool for a better wearing garment...fine merino and alpaca pills too much with wear.
Enjoyed the review of yarns. Novice Knitters and crocheters typically do not realize that 100% cotton, has no memory. It does not hold it's shape. Adding another fiber to it gives it stability and shape , such as nylon or acrylic .
Thanks Chris! Another great and informative podcast. Very thorough and interesting!
Your videos are invaluable, thanks!
I have really enjoyed your series reviewing box store yarns. I too appreciate your research.
What a fantastic, detailed and useful job! thanks
Wow- I'm drooling at the yarns behind you!! Blessings from NYC! 😄💜
Thank you for all the amazing reviews you do. What a lot of work you put into it! Shopping for the yarn, knitting up a swatch, going to Ravelry to get information about projects and putting up the photos. You are the workhorse of the Yarn Community! I like the Premier Worsted Yarns for making wool dryer balls and I made my son some felted cozies for his Chemex coffee pot. For workhorse yarns, I have turned to mostly Brava from Knit Picks and also the Felici worsted weight for little baby hats. I also like Berrocco acrylic for charity blankets (I"m making 12" x 12" blankets for stillborn and miscarried babies). I think Dishie is a good yarn for making dishcloths, the Peaches and Cream hurts my hands to knit with. Great show. Thanks again.
That was a wonderful review of a variety of yarns! I learned so much. I recently was in Hobby Lobby and I came across their Yarn Bee selection. I liked the feel of so many of their yarns.
Thanks for another great class.
I'm hoping to maybe one day trying the 100% wool yarn & felting something.
As always, I love your Classroom! I have used Woolease a lot in my past. Now I am a dyer and love Merino and its many forms and blends. Have you done a Classroom on Merino blends and superwash and how they hold up in washing? For some reason your broadcast hasn't been popping up in my list. Glad this one did and I did subscribe so I don't know why it didn't pop up. Thank you for doing the great statistics! AND the pictures of projects in the yarn you just described! ~ Marie
I’ve really enjoyed this series. This was wonderful. 😊
Thanks for this video. You show so many wonderful projects!
I have decided to reject petroleum products much as possible. Every time we wash these fabrics, bits of polyester, acrylic, etc gets into your water, winding up in our taps, as well as our lakes and oceans. They are endrocrine disrupters (causing cancer & other health problems when ingested.) These micro bits have been found in every corner of our planet, including Antarctica!
Kristine, I've enjoyed another interesting and informative Ewe video. This one is very timely as I just finished my first 100% cotton dish cloth.
Thank you Dr. Kelly, another great segment. Bought a 14 oz. cone of Peaches & Creme in Ocean Stripes from Walmart. Plan to practice knitting dishcloths. I'll be making a lot of them, ha
Thank you for your videos. Always so informative. Oh, and that doll was really creepy. I wasn't expecting that, it surprised me.
I have used the Red Heart scrubby yarn and love the dish clothes I have made....they do scrub things well and hold up great (even when you accidentally put it in the white laundry and bleach it) It also gets rid of soap scum well. My brother even uses one to clean his grill and I figured that would ruin it for sure, but it has held up to that kind of abuse for almost a year and it still is doing a good job.
Really appreciate the information you share on so many yarn related topics.
I was,suorised ggat Caron One Pound acrylic, medium weight yarn was not among your selected items.
It is my go-to yarn for afghans, many shawls, baby items... pretty much any and all payterns calling for Worsted weight. I also love Caron Simply Soft.
Thanks again for your great shows! Always looking forward to your next video. (I crochet)
As always, I just love your podcasts
Just found you. Thanks for the information, since I am starting to do needlecrafts again.
Thanks again for another informative podcast. I might try some of the options you presented sometime this year. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for your reviews, Kristine! I use Lionbrand Fisherman’s Wool as one of my workhorse yarns. I like the big skeins, and it’s really fun to dye with food coloring. I apologize if you’ve already done an episode on this topic, but would you consider doing an episode on tweed yarns and another on the different sparkle yarns, like stellina vs. lurex? I would love to know which yarn you think sparkles the most. :)
I am always amazed at how much information you pack into your videos! I can’t wait for your take on circular knitting machines! I just bought the one from Michaels and I had a 60% off coupon!
This was very helpful. I’ve made several scarves for donation from Yarn Bee Soft & Sleek. I really like this yarn. I usually machine wash and dry these before I donate. I’ll have to remember now that these scarves cannot be tossed into the dryer. Thank you.
Thanks for this video. I will use the Patons classic wool. Now I just need to see some felting videos. Happy Valentine's Day to you also.
Awesome series!! Really appreciate it. The nicer indie dyed and luxury yarns are wonderful but most of the time out of my budget except for a splurge!! It’s great to get some exposure to a variety of more affordable yarns.
As always thank you for the great video. I've tried some of the yarn you talked about today. My kitchen has a few dishcloths made with the peaches and cream and the scrubby. I've also used the lion brand wool ease and the thick and quick version, they are great go to yarns! I also have a few skeins of the Paton classic wool.
Funny thing one of he guys in my office mentioned that he wanted to try crochet so I offered to bring him some yarn and a couple hooks. My plan before watching your video today was to bring him skein of a medium blue that just happened to be lion brand wool ease.
Thank you again for your videos and I'll let you know how it goes.
Have a great day and Happy Valentine's Day!!
Terry
Loved this series! I've used most all of the yarns you showcased, another great cotton is Hobby Lobby's I Love This Cotton, it doesn't fade as much as the others and is softer too.
Great review! I am familiar with all the threads mentioned. Thanks...
Great series!
My go-to-workhorse yarn is Red Heart Yarn. I learned to crochet over 30 years ago on Red Hear and since then, they have improved on their fiber selections.
Glad to have the info just starting so needed to find out what's good for what. I have aquired several really soft and silky yarns almost to soft to work with what can I do with it. Thanks
I used Patons Classic wool to make a practice Icelandic yoke sweater. It turned out very nice and I wear it often. Now I am making the Lopi version.
Honestly, your reviews are the best.. I always look forward to them.
Peaches and Creme sells for under $2 here.. same for Sugar and Creme.. I use bith fir dishcloths, but I prefer a size 8 needle..
I
I also love Wool-Ease.. The Thick & Quick version is so soft... Both feel good in the hands.. Actually, I really do like the acrylic/wool blends, because they look and feel good,,,, They are usually a good value buy..
Thanks for doing this series.. I think most everyday Knitters... who love to knit, love beautiful colors , and are looking fir a good value shop in big box stores...
As always, just love your fun and informative podcasts. Last year I knit a ton of dish cloth/dish towel sets so I could learn new stitches and practice using patterns. Almost all of them were Lily's Sugar & Cream, and Premier Home Cotton. I was getting them from Amazon (I have prime, so no shipping) and our local Walmart. I also bought some scrunchy yarn from Joann's, one skein of Debra Norville yarn too. I had some of the Norvlle yarn left over which is a really gorgeous home cotton called Water Lilies and I'm going to knit a cotton sweater for myself out this summer, the Friendship Road Sweater by Cori Eichelberger. It's not the yarn she recommends, but I love the way Water Lilies feel and I think it would be pretty nifty for a summer sweater. I banged my head a couple of years ago and my neurologist said I should knit (because I don't like meditating) at least an hour a day. It really keeps the headaches at bay and is helping with all kinds of things like hand/eye and keeping the old short term memory intact, plus it's really calming. I'm an Italian/Irish American and have had quite a temper in the past, so it helps with that too ... :-) Great episode. I love these workhorse yarns, and now I'm even stalking yarn sales on eBay because you can get great quantities of stuff for not so much if you're careful about adding the cost of the yarn to the cost of shipping and dividing by the skeins. My husband, thank goodness, loves to go to Joann's and Michael's so he can pick up yarn for me to knit him something, so he only ceremoniously groans when I suggest it. Well, sorry for the length of this, can you tell I have papers to grade?
it's so nice to read this comment, not that you banged your head.....but I am recovering from a concussion from car crash in January. It put my knitting mojo behind. I'm having delayed speech problems along with headaches. I don't go to the brain health center until 2 more weeks, they can't get me in. Speech actually worsening. But I'm going to pull out my needles and do something simple. I'm concerned about the speech, stutter, lisp now and short term memory issues. I hope you are much better. I guess this Center will help me. I had a mild TBI. Depressing because I'm supposed to start a new job in a couple of weeks, don't know how yet. My husband is always busy and I don't have anyone to talk to about it.
I know what you're going through. I started to transpose my words and one of my hands would only stay closed if I was holding something if I stayed mindful of its position, so I lost a couple of straight knitting needles and my favorite pen. It too a few weeks of knittng an hour every day (or a bit more) for those things to start cleaning up, and it certainly helped with the headaches. I started out just doing garter dishcloths with a yarn over on every other edge (one of those Granny's Favorite Dishclothes) and switched to circulate needs because if I dropped a needle it didn't go far. It's really helped my recovery I think. I'm a year out from it, and will still stop what I'm doing to knit if I'm feeling anxious or the headache is coming back, and it's really great with that. Hang n there. Wishing you the best.
sorry circular needles I meant. Don't worry, the doctors will help and time heals for sure!
I love the Lion Brand and Paton's brand for charity projects such as hats and mittens. I use the Deborah Norville yarn to make pet beds and mats also for charity. Thank you for all of your research Dr. Kelly!
I'm making textured bed socks out of Patons, and I really like it. I bought it at Michael's, and the price was good.
Hi Sharon -- that's awesome. Thanks for sharing and for watching. XO
Thank you for another great video! I've played around with the Patons worsted yarn to try my hand at dying wool yarn. Its a great deal since you can use coupons and the sales they have. Btw I LOVED all the elephants! lol
Informative episode. I give Patons Classic Wool a thumbs up. Sturdy, reliable, pleasant enough to make a hat or mitts, and some of the colors are really beautiful and have more depth than you might expect. Also great for sculptural or felted projects. No issues with knots. Thanks for your research and “classroom “ style of sharing info. (Loved the elephants 🐘)
Can you do a video on notions and which ones you have found to be most helpful? I love your videos. Thank you for making them.
I make lots of wash cloths thank you for the information.
Great podcast. Thanks
Great video! Very informative! I use the Sugar n Cream, the Peaches n Cream and the Cotton Fair. I made dishcloths and soap holders with the 100% cotton. Premier also has a 100% that I use. I am currently making a gift bag that can be used as a spa cloth with the Cotton Fair. I like ve that yarn. I have a couple of skeins of higher priced cotton that I’m not sure what to do with yet. I have made socks and a hat out of the Patons wool. I’ve made hats and a Christmas Throw out of the Wool Ease Thick n Quick. I’ve never used the worsted weight. I’ve seen Deborah Norville yarn but can’t remember if I’ve used it. I have used a lot of Vanna’s Choice and Caron Simply Soft as well as Red Heart Soft and Unforgettable. And a bunch of others I can’t think of right now. Lol. Thanks for a great series Kristine. I still like to treat myself to higher end yarns. Valentines Day is coming up so you never know! 😀
Hey, I was surprised to see my afghan (Yarn Bee's Soft and Sleek) on your podcast!!
Love your podcast. Very interesting and helpful. I enjoy u very much. Pattyj
Great show! I put my retirement papers in for July 2919! I am thinking one of your knitting retreats is just the perfect send offs! I would love to meet you! Be well! !!
Scruby yarn is great to crochet with.
Thank you, Kristine-I have been toying with purchasing yarn for dish cloths and have heard of some that you mentioned. Off to Walmart Or Amazon!
Looking forward to knitting machine story..
thank you for so much information. One I really like the best for cotton at the store is from Hobby Lobby, I Love This Cotton, the name of it. It's still 100% cotton but it feels so much softer to me and easier on the hands. When I first started knitting I went crazy about the Sugar and Cream, and the other one and have loads of these in my stash in all colors. I want to knit a sweater, I haven't done this yet and I am going to choose one of those with acrylic for my first one. I know it pills but I didn't realize the antipilling ones available. The Patons worsted I have not seen but interested in touching this one in the store. I know its all wool so its not as soft but boy did those cables pop on the sweater you showed.
Thank you so much for your podcast and your reviews. The reviews of big box yarns are great. I was very excited when Premier yarns introduced their anti pilling yarns. I give a lot of blankets as gifts, and easy care is key! In fact, I am using it right now. This time, unfortunately, the red has a lot of uneven spots and knots. Annoying! But this seems unusual, confirmed by you. I will continue to use it and happily they seem to add new colors all the time. It must be popular yarn. I also use a lot of Sugar ‘n Cream, and did not realize it was a different company from Peaches ‘n Cream! I will look for Peaches now 💕💕
I have made many projects using Wool Ease. I find it delightful to work with and the finished items hold up well over time. I have also knit dishcloths out of Sugar and Cream. I am always disappointed at how quickly the colors fade to an ugly, muddy color.
Thanks for another great review- As usual, you did a great job of gathering good information..
I just ordered my first skein of Peaches & Cream, from Amazon, to see if I like working with i...
First heard of Scrubby from the Yarn Hoarder... Dhe made a ton of scrubbiest..
The Cozy-Up Stitcib’ Sisters use Will-Ease Thick & Quick fir the hats they sell at a local market... They look so warm... Just what they need in Canada...
I like to make chemo caps...some with a simple rolled brim..fir comfort...from Caron’s Simply Soft.. It comes in soludsm stripes, and “paints”.. and is easy to work with. And..it lives up to its name, by being quite sift...
Mi like the will/acrylic blends... although there is only 20-25 % wool in these yarns, you can tell the difference...
I think Red Heart gets a bum rap.. I love the long, subtle color changes in the Super Saver Stripes... Each hat isi Knit looks different...and washing..with a fabric softener soak...softens the yarn..
I firmly believe that charity hats...which I knit a lot if...should look bright and pretty... They should not be made if ugly keftover yarns... Same goes for charity quilts... I see red when people turn in baby quilts that are made with ugly, inferior fabrics... If I would’t give whatever I make to someone I love, I won’t donate it...
Sorry to ramble... Whrn you live alone, and can no longer drive (vision) you talk whrn you get the chance!
Thanks for all the hard work I know you put into your podcast..
Sandy from Cincinnati
❤️❤️😎👍👍
I am currently making an afghan with WoolEase. Yes, it tangles easily and has knots in the skein. I bought it based on color and weight. Disappointed that you didn't include Caron Simply Soft acrylic.
I enjoyed this video. My favorite yarn is caron one pound. I am totally blind but find your descriptions informative and with enough detail that I can understand what you are talking about.
Thanks, Vickie -- I'm glad to hear that. XO
Thanks for another very informative show on workhorse yarns. I have worked with Peaches and Cream and Sugar and Cream. I feel Peaches and Cream is a cheaper version of Sugar and Cream. I rather spend a little more and do dishcloths with Sugar and Cream. Due to your prior show, I purchased Hobby Lobby's I Love This Cotton. I have not knitted with it yet but can tell that Hobby Lobby's I Love this Cotton is even better than Sugar and Cream. As for Paton yarn wool, it is great for felting, wonderful to make stuffed animal, but too scratchy to make a sweater out of for my sensitive skin, it would work wonderful for hats and mittens.
Thank you so much for the box store series..not everyone can afford upwards of 30 dollars for a 100 grams of yarn.. and some of us have no local yarn stores so big box is it..plus I am a toucher and I can’t do that online...so thanks again
Another great podcast! Now I know what to use for dishcloths! Thank you so much!
One idea for a show that I have is to test indie and other hand dyed yarns for knitting objects that might stretch, like sweaters. For example, Superwash Merino is considered too stretchy for some sweaters-it won’t hold its shape. (i had an awful experience, months of knitting an Aran sweater wasted, because I didn’t know Superwash won’t hold its shape.) But what about a Superwash Merino/cashmere blend, or a yak/Superwash blend, or a silk Superwash blend? Do these keep their shape for garments? Thanks Again, Randi
Hi Kristine. I have used the Paton's wool. I made a poncho with it so didn't notice it being too scratchy. I am most interested in the Yarn Bee Urban Chic yarn. I'm going over to Hobby Lobby this morning to check it out. It looks like it will make a beautiful shawl.
Thank you for all of the information about the various yarns. It is very helpful, especially when looking for low-priced yarns to make things for my grandchildren. They outgrow things too fast to use expensive yarns.
I live in Nebraska and we have been getting a lot of snow too. I'm ready for spring to arrive. Have a great week.
I love Yarn Bee.
Hi Barbara -- thanks for sharing your experiences with this yarn. I hope you enjoy the Urban Chic yarn when you try it. I'm glad to hear you found my video to be useful. Thank you for watching. XO
one more thought is that Carron Simply Soft is one of my go to's as well from the big brands. I knitted some fingerless gloves at the holidays in a Grape/purple varigated and got rave reviews like it was luxury yarn. Seriously. It's acrylic but whatever they do to it, it knits well. I'm sure it will pill, but I'm looking into a Gleaner, one day to help with that.
Based on your recommendation I am reading,The Pearl Sisters, and it is a great book. I have only started, on page 60 but I can tell it is going to be an awesome series.
Hi Vonda -- I'm happy you are enjoying that book. XO
Me gusta esta marca de lanas me parece facil de manejar. Muchas gracias
Great class teacher! I've used the Hobby Lobby yarns you mentioned and they are great! No knots, the color is consistent and the price is just right (plus 40% off coupons and sale offers!). I also used the scrubby yarn and my eyes were so tired because I couldn't see the crochet stitches. I see a lot of European yarns on trend right now, especially Scheepjes. What do you think of this brand? I used the Stonewashed yarn and it is lovely, soft and warm. I wish I could go to the store and buy it because they seem to have a great variety of yarns. Thanks!!! And Happy Valentine's Day!
Asking about your take on monthly yarn subscriptions for the different projects in pattern and weight for, such as sock yarns and other fun projects?
Thanks for all the time and effort you put into your creative, delightful and informative videos! You also remind me of my dear sister in law (who lives much too far away!) I love the idea of using cotton/acrylic blend for chemo caps. Is that yarn on the knitted knockers list of approved yarns too?
Hi, and thanks for your nice comment. That is a great question -- I just checked their list, and it doesn't look like that yarn is on the list. They seem to be moving away from acrylic yarns and going to 100% cotton (except for the ones specially made for swimming). You can see the list here: file:///C:/Users/Kristine/Downloads/Knitted-Knockers-Approved-Yarns-1page-10-02-17.pdf
Kristine Kelly Thanks for checking on my question and for the link to the list : ) It really helps, since some of the yarns approved for crochet are different than those for knit.
I've tried Red Heart Scrubby and found it hard to crochet with by itself (a bit easier if used double-stranded with a kitchen cotton). Red Heart Scrubby Cotton looks like it has more of a tape construction, which would maybe make it easier to work with. (Haven't tried Scrubby Cotton yet, but I'd like to.) As to kitchen cotton yarns in general, Premier Yarns Home Cotton is a bit cheaper (at least via Herrschner's) than Lily Sugar 'n Cream or the Herrschner's house brand kitchen cotton; the one downside is that it's a cotton-polyester blend, so maybe not a good choice for potholders. The cotton-acrylic blend yarn I've used most is Lion Brand Cotton-Ease.
Haven't really used anti-pilling acrylic yarns yet, but the concept sounds very practical. (I'd just need to use up existing stash to make room for some!) I love how warm the granny-square bedspread I made 3 1/2 years ago for our bed at home is -- but it's gotten VERY pilled over that time, and I'm thinking about making a replacement (maybe with anti-pilling yarns?).
Some alternatives in workhorse acrylic & wool-blend/superwash wool yarns would be Patons Classic Wool DK Superwash, Plymouth Encore (an acrylic-wool blend) and Berroco Comfort (an acrylic-nylon blend, available in various weights). What I can get easily at Walmart or Shopko, though, are 100% acrylic yarns like Red Heart Super Saver (thankfully softer now than what it used to be like), Lion Brand Vanna's Choice, and Caron Simply Soft -- none of which are anti-pilling AFAIK, unfortunately.
Dr. Kelly - can you do a video on the different types of yarn? What does worsted mean? DK? Is there history behind these terms? Are these terms used universally in the world? Thanks for all your work on these informative videos!
Hello -- thanks for your suggestion. I've got that topic on my list, so look for a future video on that. :)
I know that this was a while ago but I would like to bring up something about the Scrubby if you'd like. I am both a crocheter and knitter, though I've only learned to knit in October of this year and learned to crochet a year before then so take what I say with a grain of salt. While it was easier for me to see the yarn on knitting needles it was easier to crochet it. I had to feel along the crochet to find the stitch but knitting it was a pain. I use the continental method to knit but with this yarn I just couldn't control my yarn that way. I actually crochet the soap sack you made-but crochet-and will be my holiday gifts to my family and friends coming the next Yule (Christmas)-yes, it isn't even 2019 and I already have two gifts made for Xmas of 2019-I did add a button to my soap sack, and I wanted to have something to use up the scrubby yarn and loved the idea of the combining the Peaches and Cream yarn to make a scubby corner and did that-that's the knitting project I did with the Grandma's favorite dishcloth. I have to say the scrubby corner was the big pain, it was really hard to get the needles in to do a stitch and I had the opposite problem that you did, I used metal needles and had a problem with the stitches moving at all so using wood would make it nearly impossible for me. Maybe I knit tight? If for any reason you are interested I tied in the scrubby yarn when there were only sixteen stitches left on the needles towards the end and gave up the yarn over.
Thank you so much for not only this video but a lot of them, I always look foreword to your videos. I love how informative it always is. I enjoy learning about almost anything, and this kind of series is a gods send because I love to craft for charity and the cheaper the yarn the more I can get but also need to have nice yarn for them as well as gifts for my loved ones. Though I have to say history is a passion of mine and so the one about pompoms, tassles and fringe is my favorite of your videos but I love how informative every episode is. It is very appreciated, thank you for everything you do.
Thank you so much for your videos. I always learn so much! Would you have the name of some of the patterns. I would really appreciate if you could give me the names of the patterns for the baby elephant made with peaches and cream, the beautiful boomerang shawl and the chevron baby blanket made with everyday yarn. Also, I am very allergic to all animal fibers. Could you do a video on higher end, hand dyed, indie, non-animal fiber yarns?
would to win this yarn thank you for the video xx
I think the people that said the wool smelled bad aren't true wool aficionados... otherwise they would love the smell of it!
Scrubby also comes as Scrubby Smooth.. It’s new..