Yarn

2008-07-20T20:47:00.001-07:00

Hand Dyed Yarn - Using Grape Juice To Make Your Own Dye

Hand Dyed Yarn - Using Grape Juice To Make Your Own Dye
By Robin O'Brien

Creating your own hand dyed yarn isn't difficult and can be fun. With a little practice, you'll making yarn that is beautiful and unique. Here's a recipe using grape juice. With wool get a dusty-rose color, on cotton you'll get soft lavender.

The following yarn dye is made from frozen juice which you can buy at your local supermarket. You'll also need some salt.

First off you should select your yarn that is to be hand dyed. Different fibers take dye differently. All-wool yarn, like Lion Wool, takes on color much more easily than other fibers. Cotton takes on very subtle, pastel shades when hand dyed. In fact, you'll find that using the same dye on a wool fiber and a cotton fiber can produce fibers of differing colors.

All the equipment you need to dye yarn is in the kitchen. Until quite recently hand dyeing yarn was a quite common activity in most kitchens. The following items are what you'll need.

1. One good knife and chopping board.

2. Stainless steel or enamel pots. Don't use those coated with anti-stick materials.

3. A stove - of course.

4. A timer - not an egg timer but something that lasts a period of time; a clock will suffice.

5. You need tongs or spoons to handle the yarn. If you doing more than one color at a time you should use different utensils.

6. You need a clothes horse or somewhere else to allow your yarn to dry.

7. Takes notes. If you make a color you like you'll want to repeat it; detailed notes about quantities and timing will help you to repeat the process.

Making the grape juice dye

This quantity is enough to make 2 skeins of wool or cotton: 2 large cans of frozen grape juice; you can use fresh grape; 4 tbsp salt; 4 cans water.

Bring the above to the boil, stirring occasionally.

Bundle the yarn for dying into a hank. It should be looped loosely so that the dye will be able to circulate freely but also needs to be secured so it does not tangle; you don't want to be spending a lot of time untangling it when it's wet. Bundling is particularly important for wool yarn, which will felt together if allowed to move during dying. Here is how to make the bundles:

Wind the yarn into a large loop. You can do this on a swift; by wrapping it around the back of a chair; by wrapping it around your forearm from your fingers; under your elbow and back up again.

Secure the wound yarn by tying it loosely in two places using short sections.

If your pot is small, double the loop, twisting it into a smaller circle and securing it with two more short pieces of yarn.

You help to spread the dye evenly but first dampening the yarn.

Carefully put the yarn in to the dye bath.

Cook the yarn for 1 hour. If the liquid evaporates below the height of the yarn you can add more water.

Test the color by taking a small section and rinsing it. If you like the color you can remove the yarn or else leave it longer to take on more color.

After one hour, remove the yarn from the bath and rinse it in cool water. Rinse the yarn until the water runs clear. Do NOT throw away the dye bath until the yarn has dried completely and you know you are satisfied with the color. Find out whether your yarn is color-fast by rinsing with soap as well as water. It's better to find out now before you've made the yarn into something.

Wring out the yarn.

Cut the second set of ties on the yarn, but leave the first ones in so that the yarn is in a big loop.
When dying wool, put it back on the swift or chair or whatever you used when you first wound it. Rewind the yarn into a ball and then rewind it back into its loop. This will help to unfelt some of the strands that may have felted together slightly. It's much easier to unfelt yarn when it's damp.

Hang up the yarn to dry naturally.

Follow the links for more information about hand dyed yarn like Artyarns Yarn as well as other beautiful yarns like Filaro Yarn.

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2008-07-20T20:43:00.000-07:00

After Using Sirdar Yarn A Yarn Snob No More

After Using Sirdar Yarn A Yarn Snob No More
By Robin O'Brien

I didn't really notice it at first; it just sort of crept up on me. But, I'd turned into a yarn snob. I found myself only using hand dyed yarn for all my projects and refusing to knit with anything 'down market'. Sirdar yarn showed me the error of my ways.

I've knitted ever since I can remember. When I was a child, my mother would give me odds and ends from her knitting projects, and I'd make do with these yarn remnants; just so long as I had yarn. I think back now to my early knitting days; the sweaters, scarves and mittens knitted together with a mixture of yarn types in a multitude of colors. It never bothered me that I had to use whatever I could get my hands on but as I grew up I could afford to buy my own balls and shanks of yarn, and I would finally knit something that someone else, apart from me, would wear.

A few years back I discovered hand spun and hand dyed yarns. It was love at first sight. Using these beautiful yarns brought so much enjoyment. I would scour every local yarn store and yarn festival looking for rare and unusual yarns. Without really realizing it, I was only using these exotic hand dyed yarns. I would dismiss yarns that I had used years before as being well, rather boring and 'commercial'. In all honesty I'd turned into a yarn snob.

The wake up call when I was asked to crochet slippers for a friend of a friend's wedding. The bride's dress was pure white, and none of the natural fibers I found were 'white enough'. With the sound of wedding bells rapidly approaching I sought, in desperation, a yarn to match. I scurried down to my local yarn store and it was there that it was suggested to me that I try a Sirdar yarn called 'Snuggly Bubbly'. I didn't really know very much about Sirdar yarn, but I learned that the company is English and has been producing yarn for eons.

The color of the yarn matched the wedding dress perfectly. The name of the Sirdar yarn was very apt; it's incredibly soft, easy to handle, and is perfect for making baby hats, blankets, mittens, and booties. It's also a very hypo allergenic yarn that is washable.

Just, so you know, the Sirdar Snuggly Bubbly yarn is 100% nylon and has a DK weight, though you can treat it as a sport weight for crochet work. It comes in a 50 gram ball with a length of 140 yards.

This Sirdar yarn was great fun. There's enough texture to the yarn that it is not as slippery as it could be. It's also slubbed, but unlike handspun slubs, these nubs/bumps are evenly spaced. It was easy to work with - I found it to be a very 'bouncy' yarn, so it was easy on my hands and wrists - and I finished the bridal slippers in no time.

I'll definitely be using Sirdar yarn again sometime in the future and I'll be using other yarns that aren't hand spun and hand dyed. Me, a yarn snob? Never.

Follow the links for more information about Sirdar Yarn as well as hand dyed yarn like Margaret Stove Yarn.

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2008-07-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

Make Yarn Balls for a Kid Rainy Day Activity

Make Yarn Balls for a Kid Rainy Day Activity
By Nancy Johnson

Rainy days can become boring for children, especially when they cannot go outside to play for quite a while. Have them make their own fluffy yarn balls that they can use indoors. All you need is four ounces of yarn, cardboard, 12” piece of string, and scissors.

The first thing you’ll need to do is have kids draw a circle 8” in diameter with a compass or protractor. An 8” plate or pie pan will work for a circle pattern also. Draw a 3” circle in the center of the 8” circle. Make two of these circle patterns. For both patterns, cut out the outer circle, cut a slit across one side to the inner 3” circle, and cut the 3” circle out. The pattern will look like a ring.

Roll the yarn into small balls that will fit through the 3” center circle. Place the two patterns on top of each other with the slits on opposite sides from each other. Wrap the yarn around the outside of the cardboard and through the center hole. Continually wrap the yarn around the cardboard ring, keeping the yarn at the center straight. Wrap several layers of yarn around the cardboard.

Holding the yarn through the center hole with one hand, locate the outer edge of the cardboard through the yarn with the other hand. Once you locate the outer edge of the cardboard, carefully cut the outer rim of yarn. Slip the piece of string down between the two cardboard pieces and encircle the cut yarn. Pull the string tightly and tie the ends. This is the most difficult step for kids, so have the pair with a friend to assist with this process of tying the yarn ball.

Carefully remove the cardboard, cut off the long ends of the string, and trim the yarn ball if necessary. Now the kids have their own indoor ball to play with. These yarn balls can be used like beanbags to play indoor basket throw, toss and catch games, and indoor relay games. This kid rainy day activity will keep them busy for hours.

As a mother, grandmother, and child development professional, Nancy Johnson, shares over 20 years experience working with children and planning activities on her website, Creative-Child-Activity-Notebook.com. Check it out for more school age child activity ideas including party, outdoor, summer, nature, and child learning activity ideas.

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2008-07-20T20:39:00.000-07:00

Educating Yourself About Yarns

Educating Yourself About Yarns
By Mike Selvon

Go into a knitting shop and you will find a kaleidoscope of yarns. The task of choosing a yarn can be one of the best parts of the knitting process. All of the beautiful colors of yarn can actually be captivating. Only people who work with knitting materials on a regular basis can appreciate the attributes of the different ones, as they can vary in texture and color.

Before choosing a color, a knitter first needs to decide the type of fiber that is appropriate for their project. Natural fibers come in cashmere, mohair, alpaca, cotton and wool. There is also a long list of hand dyed products available for those who choose not to use the natural fibers.

Many knitters who are knowledgeable about their yarns know that it is important to use the highest quality yarn they can and choose to only use skeins produced in Australia, as they have a reputation for good quality and selection. This decision is far more important than color or texture.

A tension square is a good place to start because it will help you to determine how much knitting yarn you will need. Look at your pattern and use it to determine what ply you will need. Be sure that your knitting pattern is appropriate to the garment you are designing.

The best place to see patterns is on the yarn skein. The yarn skeins are wrapped in paper and most have free printed crochet patterns on them. The good part about using a suggested pattern is that they generally match the yarn they came with.

Other pattern resources are books, which will provide you with detailed instructions for the pattern, as well as different stitches to be used. The internet is quickly becoming more and more common as a resource for knitters. Not only can they find many resources for the purchase of their yarns, but it also provides them with a forum for discussion with other knitters.

A knitter does not need to purchase expensive materials to produce an attractive garment that is of a high quality. Yarns range in price from very cheap to incredibly expensive. Basic, low cost types are "Double Knit" and "Aran," in two, three or four ply. Apache, Amore, Gypsy, Milan and Sirocco are made of eighty percent cotton. Hats, scarves, and sweaters can be made from a high quality yarn such as Tuscany, a fuzzy yarn like Eskimo DK, or a ladder yarn like Illusion or Firefly. Wool blends make warm winter garments.

Browse to Mike Selvon portal to find out more about yarns. We greatly appreciate your feedback at our sewing blog.

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2008-07-20T20:37:00.000-07:00

Best Summer Yarns for Knitting

Best Summer Yarns for Knitting
By Alice Seidel

It seems like last week we were taking down our Christmas trees, and now winter is over and the warm weather is already upon us.

As our knitting thoughts turn to lighter patterns and more open-weave designs, the question that pops into my mind more than any other is.. just which yarn do I use for these summer patterns? So often I see many different types of yarn in those wonderful knitting magazines and newer books, so, just which ones are the best for summer knitting?

After knitting with many different types of yarns, over the years, I can recommend some fibers which definitely fit the bill, much more so than others, when it comes to knitting anything you might wear or use in the warmer weather.

And remember, with the warm weather come special occasions such as weddings, proms, even graduations, as well as outdoor events where you go from day into evening. In the most sultry night there is nothing like a beautiful shawl or unique shrug or afghan which not only protects but looks gorgeous as well.

The first type of yarn, which is almost a "given" is cotton yarn. Cotton is very easy to knit with and comes in so many colors nowadays; most bigger brand names come in a cotton variety. In fact, some of the simple open-air shawls or shrugs look fabulous when knitted in a cotton yarn. Don't forget all the pretty placemats and bath items you can also knit using cotton yarn.

Then, there are cotton blends. Examples of these yarns would be cotton and merino, or cotton and worsted weight yarn. Another great yarn mix is cotton and linen. Any type of summer pattern can be knitted with these yarns; I especially like cool sweaters and loose vests for these yarns.

As always, worsted weight yarn is as popular as ever. Every name brand carries worsted weight; and the color selection is wonderful. Worsted weight can be used for anything and everything; vests, shawls, shells, sweaters, summer afghans and every kind of accessory, as well.

DK weight yarn is another great choice for summer projects. This type of yarn is very popular with shawls and vests. This yarn is a light-worsted-weight yarn between worsted and sport yarn, and knits quickly for any project you can think up!

Buttery-soft, smooth to the touch silk yarns are always a big hit for lighter knit patterns. They knit up into feathery creations, fun to wear close to your skin and with graceful curves and drape effects that give you the edge every time! Another yarn, soft as silk, is bamboo yarn. It, too, comes in a variety of colors and is a great summer yarn.

And, don't forget the summer colors. That may be the hardest thing of all; choosing between all those luscious shades and tints. Colors like 'cotton candy', 'mint leaf', 'peaches and cream', 'sweet orchid', 'lemonade', 'breeze', 'popsicle', and 'white sparkle' are just a very few of the versatile and irresistible yarns to knit with!

No matter which ones you choose, you just can't lose! So, if you are like me, you will be out to the yarn store just as soon as you can!

Keep YOUR knitting on the "Cutting Edge" with FREE patterns. The place where smart knitters gather resources and share stories.

FREE Details ==> http://www.theknitstitch.com

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2008-07-20T20:36:00.001-07:00

Crochet Yarn

Crochet Yarn
By Steve Valentino

Crochet is derived from the French word croc or croche, meaning hook. It describes the process of creating fabric from a length of cord, yarn, or thread with a specific type of a hook known as the crochet hook.

Crochet yarn is a special kind of yarn which is used specifically for the purpose of crocheting. Crochet yarns are by nature very soft. Although different kinds of yarn are used by different people for crocheting, a very popular and widely appreciated variety used for crocheting is Cebelia, a 100% cotton crochet yarn. Cebelia is a superior 100% cotton, three-cord, tightly twisted thread. It is designed to be used wherever sized cotton is recommended. Generally, it is wound on a small core resulting in a compact ball with high yardage. This kind of yarn is mercerized twice, giving it strength as well as shine. Cebelia yarn is designed for making tablecloths, napkins, table runners, cushion covers, curtains and many other items.

Cebelia yarn is popular all over the world with crochet lovers for its texture, sheen and high quality. It is also quite economical for those who are involved with making crocheted things regularly. A ball of cebelia yarn of about 282 yards is available for as little as $4 to $6. The price varies with the color. The white colored yarn is generally more expensive than the colored yarn. Cebelia yarn is widely available in art and craft shops as well as many departmental stores. In many shops, it is available in different sizes, ranging from 50g balls to 250g balls, in three different thicknesses and in a range of about twenty six colors.

Other popular brands of crochet yarn include Baroque, Senso, Cordonnet, Manuel and Flora threads, among others. These are also quite popular and have relatively similar prices.

Yarn provides detailed information on Yarn, Knitting Yarn, Discount Yarn, Yarn Shops and more. Yarn is affiliated with Wholesale Soy Candles.

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2008-07-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

Buy Yarn Online

Buy Yarn Online
By Steve Valentino

Nowadays, there are numerous online stores and popular shopping websites, which offer a wide variety of yarn, of all colors, types as well as from all companies. There are the largely popular shopping sites which offer various products and there are specific yarn websites which sell only yarn and other related items. These sites offer various options to their customers. One can choose which brand of yarn they want to purchase, the color of yarn, the size, as well as the quantity.

There are many advantages of buying yarn online. One can access yarn from many different companies and can obtain even rare kinds of yarn, in the comfort of their own homes, without any difficulties. The hassle of traveling long distances for a particular kind of yarn is spared. They can also compare the prices of yarn from different websites and buy yarn from the site or online store which they feel is offering them the best deal. Many websites also offer links to other sites and online stores which sell other kinds of yarn and other related items. The price of yarn bought online is not drastically higher than yarn bought from actual shops. The marginally higher price is due to the transport and shipping costs. Another advantage is that the yarn is delivered to the customer within 72 hours of making the purchase. This time frame may differ depending on the area where the customer stays.

However, buying yarn online is not without its disadvantages. Like all other online purchases, the experience of feeling the product, seeing it and touching it is lost in this online transaction. For many people who have traditional mindsets, this is a major deterrent. Also the customers need to exercise extreme caution before making any payments online. Before buying yarn from the internet, one should always verify the credibility of the particular e-store.

There are many options which are available to those who use yarn frequently or even occasionally, as to the variety of yarn available and the places from which they can purchase yarn as well as other related items.

Yarn provides detailed information on Yarn, Knitting Yarn, Discount Yarn, Yarn Shops and more. Yarn is affiliated with Wholesale Soy Candles.

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2008-07-20T20:30:00.001-07:00

Handspun Yarn

Handspun Yarn
By Steve Valentino

Handspun yarn, as the name suggests, is yarn which is spun manually, as opposed to the yarn which is machine made. This is usually made in farms, although there are certain organizations which also make handspun yarn along with the other kinds of yarns. In addition to spinning the yarn, even the washing and dyeing of the yarn is done by the farms or by the makers of the yarn themselves. Handspun yarn is very diverse in nature, as the spinning fiber differs each time when the yarn is made. There are many different types of handspun yarn including traditional two ply handspun yarn, single ply handspun yarn, three ply yarn and novelty yarn, among others. Handspun yarn can be made from a variety of fibers, such as alpaca, angora, llama, mohair and even silk.

Handspun yarn is very popular with knitters, crochet lovers and others, due to its unique nature. Many people feel that handspun yarn is the best form of yarn to work with and such people use only handspun yarn for their projects. The price of handspun yarn cannot be generalized by saying whether it is generally expensive or economical. The price of a particular ball of yarn is set according to the fiber which is used to make that ball of yarn. Handspun yarn made from high quality fiber will be priced higher than the yarn made from average quality fiber. In addition to this, the yarn made from fiber which is easily available will be priced lower than the yarn made from fiber which is rare and not as easily available.

There are many shops which offer customers the advantage of choosing a fiber of their choice and having the yarn spun from that very fiber. Many websites also offer this facility and it has grown in popularity over the years.

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2008-07-20T20:24:00.000-07:00

Yarn Companies

Yarn Companies
By Steve Valentino

There are many different yarn companies all over the world which sell different kinds and qualities of yarn. There are some small yarn companies which sell only a few kinds of yarn, whereas other larger companies offer a wide variety of yarn to their customers. Large departmental stores, art and craft stores and even certain garment and clothing stores, stock and sell different kinds of yarn made by different companies.

One cannot say whether a particular company is better than another in producing yarns, but there are companies which specialize in certain kinds of yarns and are known for them. Regular users of certain kinds of yarn prefer to buy yarn from the same company, rather than changing the brands every time. Some of the popular and larger yarn companies include Alchemy Yarns, Alpaca yarn company, Bouton d'Or, Briggs and Little, Catalina Farms, Crystal Palace Yarns, Opal Yarn, Karabella Yarns, Fiesta Yarns, Unique Kolours, Jagger Spun, Custom Yarns, Muench Yarns and Prism Yarn among others. These companies offer a large variety of yarns, ranging from simple cotton yarn, to high quality, luxury yarn in a wide range of sizes and colors. Most of these companies retail from various yarn shops, art and craft stores, and many large departmental stores, thus, it is very easy to get hold of their products. Some companies may also take bulk orders from customers and are willing to offer their products at an economical rate. But this happens only during holiday season and other times when they have big sales.

Many of the larger yarn companies also sell other kinds of items which are of use for knitting, crocheting and other such activities. These items include a wide variety of buttons, different size and types of needles and button covers, among others.

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2008-07-20T20:19:00.000-07:00

Wholesale Yarn

Wholesale Yarn
By Steve Valentino

Wholesale yarn is a term used to refer to yarn which is sold and bought in bulk. The wholesale yarn suppliers sell particular quality of yarn in wholesale or in bulk. This is particularly of use to those people, who run small yarn shops and make large number of items made of yarn. In short, yarn in wholesale is purchased by people who use yarn frequently. When buying yarn in wholesale, the customer saves a lot of money, as the suppliers tend to give huge discounts when large amounts of yarns are purchased. Thus, buying wholesale yarn turns out to be fairly economical for frequent users of yarn.

In general, suppliers offer large discounts on most kinds of yarn when bought in wholesale. The amount of discounts varies with the kind of yarn which is bought. If the yarn is made of high quality fiber and is generally quite expensive, then the discount on the wholesale purchase will be quite low. In contrast, if the yarn which is bought in wholesale is of average quality and is generally not very expensive, then the discount can be quite large. Discounts are highest when the yarn to be bought is of mediocre quality. The amount of discount offered by the supplier also varies with the amount of yarn which is purchased. As the amount of yarn purchased increases, so does the discount.

There are many yarn suppliers who deal only in wholesale yarn and do not entertain small purchases by regular customers. They generally sell yarn in wholesale to retailers, departmental stores, art and craft stores and other shops which sell yarn. Generally, such suppliers stock only a few types of yarn made by single company, as opposed to the retailers, who stock a wide variety of yarn, from all companies and brands.

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