Saturday, August 25, 2007

Hopefully you all can bear with me and help me out some...

I know that for a good yarn I'm going to pay, but I don't want to break the bank. I have been looking for yarns in the same gauge and found some on Elann... This one and this one... anyone ever used either? In your opinions, do you think they would be an ok substitute?

Also, I see mention of some of you knitting this in the round. Is there an easy way to calculate cast on stitches I would need?

Thanks, and I'm glad to be here!

Karen LG

6 comments:

Rhonda said...

I have never used either but they both look beautiful. My concern in picking that the yarn feel nice against my skin.

Robin said...

Either would work. The Peruvian Highland Wool will be a little bit scratchy, the alpaca will be softer but warmer. It all depends on which you'd rather have.

On the knitting in the round question, cast on the total number of stitches from the front and back (s/b the same number.) I don't have the magazine handy, but if the back said to cast on 100 stitches for your size, and work the front same as back, you would cast on 100+100 = 200 and repeat each row twice for each round.

Nicole said...

I agree with Rhonda & Robin and I think the most important thing to consider is how the yarn will feel against the skin. That's hard to know when you're ordering yarn online. You can order a sample card of each, and that may help you decide.

I don't have experience with either yarn so I can't comment. You could do a google search and see how others felt about these yarns.

I do suggest that if you have access to a yarn store, to consider Cascade 220 if you can wear it against your skin. It's about $7 per skein at 220 yards, and you would need 7 skeins for the largest size.

I hope this helps.

Knittymuggins said...

Great advice everyone! I've never worked with any Elann yarns, so I'm afraid I can't comment on those, but I do agree that it's best to pick a yarn that feels good against your skin. Can't wait to see what you choose....

Karen said...

Ok, so I've been knitting for a year, have 2 sorta close LYS and have never been to either one... Well, they both sell the Cascade 220, so I might just have to go look and pet... who knows, I might be struck by something completely different.

Thanks for the advice ladies! I'm rearing to get swatching!

Jenna Rain said...

I'm not personally a fan of elann.com's peruvian highland wool, whose fibers are much too loose... it's great for felting but otherwise tends to shed a little.