ALL ABOUT WOOL! Yarn Amounts Chart For knitted wool And how to twist yarn into a Hank

[gorlitsa]

Since we have so many questions about the amount of yarn for various projects, I thought I'd post the chart I use on my customs page. These are may general guidelines for knitted items with worsted weight wool on size 6-8 needles. Your milage may vary! If you have any suggestions to improve the chart, please let me know! Thanks!

Originally Posted by Nique Making a hank... in 11 pictures! LOL Start with a circle of yarn L hand 3 fingers near top, R hand pencil across the bottom, pull snug: Start twisting the pencil: After you have it twisted very tight, start relaxing the tension between the ends and the yarn will begin to twist in on itself: Tuck the end with the pencil through the hole made by your 3 fingers: Remove the pencil and adjust a little as needed, VOILA!!! Hank!! Does that help?

BLOCKING WOOL

Originally Posted by Melmonkey It may be easier to show you pre-blocked and blocking and post-blocked pics. That way you can see what everything will look like. Pre-Blocking Notice how all the edges are curled. You must wash before blocking, your finished item must be damp to block...... Blocking I have used as many pins as I feel necessary, if you need more then use them, it will not hurt at all! After Blocking Now remember the curled edges, they are all laying flat, all your stitches are lined up and laying exactly the way they should. Blocking may be a extra step, but it is totally worth it in the end. I use one of those foam floor mats and a towel as my blocking board.

Courtesy of Abunchofus

this was compiled in a different thread but out of easy (to delete all the chatter) I'm pasting it in here! Could we please sticky this for new folks who are asking about wool types, etc...

Originally Posted by abunchofus 100Purewool Merino 218 (merino single ply) there are some 2 & 3 ply's also . . approx $6.50 per skein . . pills the most but very soft BBR (Black Berry Ridge / merino & some corriedale) http://www.blackberry-ridge.com/ . . approx $16 for kaleidascope multicolor-dyed worsted weight 4oz/230 yards . . approx $9 for solid traditional color 250 yards . . Very soft . . can sometimes be a mohair blend . . doesn’t pill hardly at all . . can get it undyed http://www.blackberry-ridge.com/specwool.htm approx $8 per 4oz/250 yards BFL (blue faced Leicester) . . Very soft (is called poor man’s cashmere) . . Pills some but not as much as single ply merinos do Blue Merino (BFL & Merino blend) . . has the softness of merino but the sturdiness of BFL . . dyes up nicely Briggs & Little Wool . . Nice alternative to the higher end wools . . softens up amazingly after washing Cascade 200 . . Doesn’t pill much at all . . comes in regular - regular is in skeins with a black tag and should say 100% wool . . also comes in superwash - superwash is in balls with a burgandy tag and should say 100% superwash wool Cascade Quatro Corriedale 50 . . Pills less than merino Handpainted Yarn Merino . . soft like purewool but a bit sturdier Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool . . softens a bit after washing . . a good yarn for learning/starting out for dying, knitting or crocheting Malabrigo (single ply merino like purewool) . . One of softest wools – but it pills heavily since it is single ply . . Soft like purewol but sturdier Nature Wool . . Thinner than some of the other wools Patons Classic Wool - 100% Merino . . can be found at JoAnns, Hobby Lobby & Michaels - approx $5 per 3/3.5/4 oz skein . . A sturdier merino but still quite soft Peace Fleece [url]http://peacefleece.com/webyarn.htm[/url\ . . approx $7.50 per skein . . 30% Mohair/70% wool, 2-ply. Approx. 200 yds/4oz skein . . Pills the least and felts the least . . more scratchy / not near as soft as merino but it does soften after a few washings or a conditioner soak Plymouth Galway Targhee or Targhee/mohair blends (Mosaic Moon) . . Almost NO pilling . . plain targhee is possibly similar to peacefleece in feel . . targhee/mohair blends are a bit softer Zenstring – type of yarn varies but all is handpainted http://www.zenstring.com/ . . Nirvana - 50% BFL/50% Merino; available in worsted (218 yards), soft spun aran weight (164 yards), and bulky 3 ply (137 yards) per 100 gram (appx. 3.5 oz) skein . . Bliss - 100% BFL; available in DK (246 yards), aran (183 yards), and bulky (109 yards) per 100 gram skein . . Lotus Toes - 100% super wash BFL wool; available in sport weight (370 yards) per 100 gram skein . . Serendipity - 100% super wash merino; available in fingering (375 yards), sport (246 yards), worsted (200 yards), and chunky (118 yards) per 4 oz skein . . Harmony - 50% super wash merino/50% Tencel fiber; available in fingering weight (367 yards per 4 oz skein) and DK weight (255 yards per 100 gram skein) GENERAL NOTES: . . Merino does not hold it's shape as well as some of the other yarns such as BFL and Targhee. If you use Merino for a waistband you will eventually probably need either a drawstring or an elastic waistband. here they are for anyone that wants them. Wool Yarn types/brands & descriptions Knit takes less wool than crochet does. Bamboo Wonderful naturally antibacterial yarn. Luciously soft and silky! Makes wonderful sweaters! Alpaca Very warm yarn! Wool: Wool is the choice for cloth diaper covers. A slight mix may be acceptable but it is preferred to have at least 80% wool in any yarn you use for a cloth diaper cover. Less than that you will find that you will have to lanolize (if using part wool) and wash more often as you do with any other type of cloth diaper cover such as fleece or PUL Merino Merino is one of the softest wool type available. It is quite often a favorite for newborn and other young baby items. Because of it’s softness, it does pill more easily than other wools. It also does not hold it shape as well as some of the other more durable yarns. Multiple ply merinos will hold their shape better than single ply merinos will. Cestari Fine, or Superfine, Merino yarn is a wonderful Merino yarn that does not pill as badly as many other merino yarns. BFL (blue faced Leicester) Very soft but far more durable than merinos. Is often called poor man’s cashmere. Pills some but not as much as merinos do Has a very nice drape and defines stitches well. Can be found undyed at www.wool2dye4.com Price Range: $9 - $20 for 3.5 - 4oz depending on where purchased Corriedale Pills less than merino Some corrie is very soft – others are not. Good durable wool – wears well. Another popular choice among cloth diapering moms. Range in price from approx $9 - $20 per 3.5 - 4oz skein depending on whether you purchase retail or in a coop. Targhee or Targhee/mohair blends http://www.sweetgrasswool.com/ Stronger yarn than merino. Stronger than some BFL yarns. It is sometimes mixed with mohair. Not as soft as BFL or Merinos but still softer than Peace Fleece. Almost NO pilling Some targhee has a more fuzzy appearance. Range in price $8-$14 per 3.5 - 4 oz skein BBR (Black Berry Ridge / merino & some corriedale) http://www.blackberry-ridge.com/ Approx $16 for kaleidoscope multicolor-dyed worsted weight 4oz/230 yards Approx $9 for solid traditional color 250 yards Very soft can sometimes be a mohair blend doesn’t pill hardly at all can get it undyed www.blackberry-ridge.com/specwool.htm approx $8 per 4oz/250 yards has a more textured appearance than the sheen/slickness of BFL Gaia Worsted & Bulky (Henry’s Attic Yarns) http://www.catnipyarns.com/niphen.htm 100% Organic Merino Yarn this is a bulkier yarn – more Aran weight than worsted Super soft and lofty Takes dye very nicely 4-5spi on US 7-9 for the worsted or 3-4spi on 10-11 for the bulky $16 - $21 for 8oz 305 yards Rambouilett http://www.beaverslide.com/ Good sturdy wool Pills little Takes dye very nicely Very thick yarn – possibly slightly thicker than 3ply targhee yarns. Approx $8.50 - $12.00 natural $8.50 approx per skein Rambouillet / Merino Blend by MarrHaven http://www.marrhaven.com/ Mule Spun Yarn Takes dye in more muted tones. has a more chenille appearance Some say that Marr Haven is softer than plain Rambouillet. Not as soft as BFL or Purewool but sort of a cottony soft yarn. Very lofty full yarn – very squishy. Has some vegetable matter in the yarns but is full of lanolin Licorice Twist (Henry’s Attic Yarns) http://www.catnipyarns.com/niphen.htm 100% Merino Yarn One of the plys of this yarn takes dye darker than the other three plys which creates a cool interesting twist effect. 8oz / 560 yards Gauge 4-5spi on US 7-9 lighter worsted weight yarn $15.20 - $26 for 8oz Cestari Fine & Cestari Superfine Merino http://www.cestariltd.com/ Super butter cottony squishy soft yarn! Does not feel as soft when knitting but softens considerably after washing! Pills almost none! Wears very well! Very durable! Fantastic yarn for over cloth diapers. Is more of an Aran/slightly bulky weight yarn than an actual worsted. $8- $12 per 3.5 – 4oz skein Cestari Worsted Yarn 100% Columbia yarn http://www.cestariltd.com/ This yarn is ideal for knitting, crocheting and weaving but not for felting. It is machine washable 100% Columbia wool. More like peace fleece on the softness scale. Durable yarn $5 - $8 per skein 100Purewool Merino 218 (merino single ply & merino 3 ply) http://www.100purewool.com approx $6.50 per 3.5oz skein through group buys single ply pills the most but very soft (basically the same yarn as Malabrigo at a much lower cost) 3 ply is still incredibly soft but far more durable! Malabrigo (single ply merino like single ply purewool) One of softest wools – but it pills heavily since it is single ply Butter soft Good for newborns but will felt with wear and pill terribly on older, mobile babes/children. $10.50 - $15 per skein Araucania Nature Wool The worsted weight is on the light worsted side. The bulky is almost more of a heavy Aran weight. Bulky seems softer than the worsted. Softens with washing & wear. 242 yards in 3.5oz Gauge 4.5spi on US7 (in my opinion this produces a loose knit and not as tight as what you would need for longies) Chunky/Bulky is 131 yards / 3.5oz Gauge 14spi on US 10.5 $6 - $14 per skein Patons Classic Wool 100% Merino Can be found easily at JoAnns, Hobby Lobby & Michaels Sturdier merino but still quite soft and softens more with wear & washing. Does pill considerably but lessens after wear. $6 per 3.5 - 4 oz skein approx 223 yards Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool Can be found easily at JoAnn’s, Michael’s, & Hobby Lobby Softens a bit after washing A good yarn for starting out learning to dye, knit or crochet Approx $8-$10 for 8oz Plymouth Galway Similar in softness & texture to Paton’s $4 to $6 per 3.5 – 4 oz skein 230 yards Cascade 200 A peruvian highland wool Doesn’t pill as much as many merino yarns. More scratchy than purewool or bfl initially but does soften with washing and wear. Approx $7 per skein 220 yards Peruvian Wool www.elan.com Can also be found at other sources Not as soft as merino but still a nice wool A good mid-priced wool. Peace Fleece http://peacefleece.com/webyarn.htm approx $7.50 per skein 30% Mohair/70% wool, 2-ply. Approx. 200 yds/4oz skein Most consider this to be too rough for babies. However, it does soften considerably after washing, conditioning, & lanolizing. Very sturdy and useful for mobile babies and toddlers. PF is considered a “workhorse” yarn. Pills the least and felts the least Blue Merino (BFL & Merino blend) Has the softness of merino but the sturdiness of BFL Dyes up nicely Briggs & Little Wool Nice alternative to the higher end wools Softens up amazingly after washing.

[Neptune]

that is amazing, it should be stickied!!!

[maría]

Awesome,thank you

[jenncatsmeow]

Be sure to inlcude that those are for KNIT items.....and remember, crochet takes more.

[NaturalMama]

I was just thinking about doing something like this today

[eandesmom]

subscribing so I don't lose this

[hackermd]

.

[bellsmom]

Awesome!!!

[flobee76]

you rock!! THANK YOU!!! I am going to print this out!!!

[Nique]

To the OP: I'll PM you about this too, but do you mind if I use this on my HC for the YYMN slots??? It'd be SO helpful to be able to tell people before they buy, how much yarn they'll need to send. I've been having trouble lately with running out because I wasn't REALLY sure how much to tell people to send. Thanks momma!!!