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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Miette 5: Some more yarn notes

I've been getting a few questions about appropriate yarns, so I thought I'd go into it a little further.  I think in my first posts I just said, "Get some yarn!"

We're looking for worsted (10-ply) or DK (8-ply) yarns.  When I'm getting ready to start a project, there are several places I look for hints about what yarn to use.  My first stop is generally the pattern page on Ravelry.  These are public, so you don't have to be a member to view them.



Just above the pattern name is a series of tabs.  The pattern page opens to "Details" - this gives you all the information you need to shop for the pattern:  yarn, needles, gauge, yardage.

The second tab is "Yarn Ideas."  If you click it, you'll see a list of all the yarns that other Ravelers have used for this project:


Beneath any given yarn, it says how many times it has been used.  Clicking that number will take you to all the projects for this pattern that have been made in this yarn.  Nice, huh?

Going back to the pattern page, on the right side is a box called "About This Pattern" - at the bottom of the box it tells you how many projects have been done with this pattern.  When I'm starting a new pattern, I almost always spend some time looking at the finished ones already on Ravelry.  It gives me good ideas about yarns to use, changes to make and sizing.

If you have an idea about a yarn you'd like to use but want more information about it, you can enter its name in the "Yarn" section of Ravelry, following the tab in the top row of any page, to the right of the Ravelry logo.  I often find it helpful to read the comments on a certain yarn if I haven't used it before.  Another good place for information about specific yarns is Yarndex.com.  It's always important to find out the gauge and yardage when substituting!

I often like to shop for yarn from other Ravelers' stashes.  When you find a yarn you want, go to the page for that yarn.  Under the yarn name are tabs;  choose "stashes".  Once you're on the "Stashes" page, use the drop-down menu to set the status (all the way to the left) to "will trade or sell."  You can often get yarn from other Ravelers for a much lower price than anywhere else, if you're willing to be flexible about the color.



Many etailers have options that let you view yarns by weight:  KnitPicks and Webs are among these.  Even if you don't end up ordering from them, you can still often find good information on their websites!

I hope these resources are helpful.  Of course, I'm always happy to answer questions if I can!

10 comments:

  1. Oh, yarn. I've spent way too many hours obsessing about it and looking online. It's sometimes so hard to find what you want and then... do you take the plunge of buying it?

    Ooh so much information contained in your posts. I have a feeling I will have gone over them all many times by the end of this project!

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    1. Yes - I really meant for this information to be a reference to go back to. Not to digest all at once! WAY TMI!!

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  2. Yarn ideas! How did I miss that tab. D'oh! Good to know for next time.

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    1. I mentioned that because it took me a long time to find that button too! And Casey and Jess are constantly updating the site with new and better features, so things change over time as well.

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  3. Also, great to know that we can buy from fellow knitters. So much better than searching online or going to the shops.

    I am loving your knit-along posts!

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  4. Gail, some terrific info here.
    We appreciate all the input
    I've learned something each post
    hugs
    Gerry

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    1. Wow! Using your suggestion
      I just found someone has knit this in Cascade Ultra Pima, why it's the very same yarn I'm knitting my Gemini.
      Love that knitter's comments about the washability of the yarn.
      This Miette just might end up with Ultra Pima.
      Thanks heaps, Gail

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    2. Hehehe - I'm very glad to know that the excessive amount of time I spend looking at the internet is ending up being useful for someone!

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    3. Useful ! ! ! well, of course, it is. hehehe
      Love The Internet ! ! ! !
      Just google-translated 'Miette' heard it pronounced and found it to translate to 'Crumb'
      Isn't that cute. It's just a crumb of a cardi.
      I think it suits.
      hugs and back to The Internet

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