Although you could spend hours, even years, learning about yarns, here are some resources about yarn that I think are helpful.
1) Understanding yarn “Weight”
CLICK HERE for the downloadable PDF comparing yarn sizing systems.
Knit Better, Live Simpler.
Hi Cheryl,I’m wondering if you could help me with finding out what is Guernsey knitting and more importantly what is 5 ply wool.This is an article I read about traditional gansey style knitting.Where might I find that weight(5 ply or an equivalent)Thanks so much Geri
Hello Geri,
Another reader here. If you want traditional gansey yarn, then this is the stuff to get:
https://guernseywool.co.uk/
It is a 5ply or sportweight with a tight twist. Very hardwearing.
Alternatively, you can use a 100% wool sportweight non-superwash worsted-spun yarn. It won’t be quite the same, but it will have a similar look.
Regards,
Sarah
Thanks for posting this Sarah.
Do you continue to do any machine knitting anymore
Not lately, though I still have my machines packed away. I may at some point in the future take them down if there’s a project I want to do. I hand knit every day.
I had responded that the biggest knitting issue for me was being afraid that after all the time and expense put into a project could possibly be a waste. So it really hits home when you end your video segments with “be brave.” Thank you for your dedication.
You are so welcome Barbara. And thank you for commenting so kindly.
Hello Cheryl! Guilty! I found you because you gave me so much confidence in not getting upset because I had difficulty with gauging. I joined your group and watched all 4 yarn video’s this evening and was happy to see some of your “primitive” techniques are ones I have used. Like wounding yarn from the backs of 2 chairs and lying wet yarn in a towel and walking on it. I also buy yarn from consignment and giving it new purpose. Looking forward to learning more.
So very convenient to see the videos categorised. Earlier I had created bookmark folders and saved the YouTube videos.
the video on yarn weights is a demystifier.
Thanks Cheryl
You are so welcome prashanti. I hope to organize all my online resources even better in the future.
This is the first time I received your email after joining and I am very happy I did. The reclaiming of yarn is what really taught me. I remember my Mom pulling apart old garnments and winding the yarn tightly over a flat board, wetting it and then let it dry. This was in the 40th in Germany when it was almost impossible to buy yarn. It worked alright but your method is much easier on the yarn.
Thank you and I am looking forward to your next email.
Cheers, Vera
Thank you for your lovely comment Vera. The fact that your mother saved yarn, whatever her method, was a valuable thing.
Just came across this site I’ve bought the book sweater 101 my Carer and I are Knitting the child size 1 sweater at the moment and we’re having great fun.
We wondered if you could do a video or direct us to one where we could be taught or explained to about how to increase or decrease in a pattern and maintain the integrity of the pattern. We already know if it’s just stockingnet or garter stitch but we love raglan sweaters or cardigans in lace and cable stitches but we can only knit those type of patterns in a straight line like a scarf. It would be much appreciated if you could teach us.
Many thanks in advance
Kim and Carla
Hi Kim and Carla. Welcome and thank you for joining us. The problem with trying to make one or 2 videos on this subject is that every different lace and cable stitch needs to be treated differently. It really just requires “on your feet” decision making and your goal is always “What looks best.” Where do you want to put the decreases or increases? Right at the edge? 1 stitch in? How is that going to affect the look? How will it affect your seaming? I’ll think about this a bit . . . maybe I can think of some general guidelines? And thanks for asking.
I live in the UK and have a different vocabulary for knitting than American knitters as well as different yarn descriptions and more.
Anyway, I have been lucky finding a Norwegian wool and pattern supplier. All their patterns are free whether or not you purchase their yarns … that happen to be lovely and very attractively priced with regular offers. They also have a great many videos for knitting and crochet techniques connected to their patterns that are great. Not a word is spoken, you just watch and there is a written explanation too. They are such a help. I know from experience that they have a number on increased and decreases at the ends of items and also in the centre so you just need to hunt a little for what you need.
I hope this helps:. Their website is garnstudio.com
Hi Lorna,
I know this website and I think it’s a wealth of information. Thanks for pointing it out here.
I’m trying to download your spreadsheet on yarn thickness etc after watching your video. Can you let me know where it is on the site and how to download it please.
thanks
Tina
Hi Tina. Try pasting this into your browser: https://www.cherylbrunette.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Yarn-sizes-Vertical.pdf
I just watched your video on “Understanding Yarn Weight.” Very interesting and now I understand an English pattern that called for 4 ply yarn. It’s their weight not the number of “plys.”
However, I didn’t quite understand “worsted.” I’ve always thought it was a weight of yarn as in fingering, dk, worsted, etc. How does your explanation differ?
Thank you.
Hi Dianne. Worsted has 2 definitions which is one of the things that leads to confusion.
1) As you say, it is a weight or thickness of yarn . . . between dk and aran weight and sometimes we call dk “light worsted,” and aran weight “heavy worsted.”
2) A way a yarn is spun. I copied this from the Jamieson and Smith website (my emphasis):
“In relation to the fibre preparation before spinning – Woollen spun fibre is carded and this means the fibres are still overlapping having been carded back and forth over each other, this creates a very airy fibre which when spun is warm and springy.
Worsted spun however is combed so all the fibres are lying relatively parallel to each other which creates a smoother and stronger yarn, the combing process also removes many of the shorter fibres, one aspect which can be found itchy by the wearer.”
I hope this clarifies it for you. Ch
Dear Cheryl,
Thank you so very much for the chart and its explanation.
I wanted to share a little tip with you that my adoptive Grandmother taught me back in 1979 about. With the needle size/gauge card she gave me from “Red Heart”; “Tayliegh my love, fold the end of your yarn piece in half; put the folded piece in the hole size that it easily will go into. Eyeball it carefully, that will give you about the hook or needle size you need to work your project. And for goodness sakes! Don’t forget to knit up your swatch to check your rows and stitches measure up correctly.”
I haven’t been too far off in making some simple projects using this method from Ethel Painter-Williamson formerly of Gooding Idaho.
Thank you for sharing this Tayleigh! I’ve heard of this tip before and have never shared it.
Cheryl,
Thanks for the vinegar tip when reclaiming yarn.
Question: how many times one realistically reclaim yarn. I reclaimed avyarn that is part wool and part mohair. When I knit the reclaimed yarn, I made a zillion mistakes. So if it is still in good shape, can I reclaim it again?
Re: towels, I use microfiber towels because they absorb water much faster. I buy mine in the automotive section at Walmart or on Amazon.
Again thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.
BTW have you ever used FaceTime. I think you could work one- on-one with knitters. It is still face-to-face sans the travel or lunch with you.
Ann! Of course you can reclaim it again! You can keep reclaiming your yarn until it looks too ratty to go on to another incarnation. You wash sweaters, right? It’s the same principle.
I am looking into FaceTime and other ways to connect with knitters without physical travel. My “business consultant” who is half my age and a doll and who knows about all of this stuff is coming up here for the last week in October. She always inspires me and pushes me in a good way.
I just watched the first video on yarn size….weight, ply, worsted. MARVELOUS! Now I know why I have been so confused some times. Thank you for this.
If it is ok with you, I would like to show the video and print the spreadsheet for a knitting group I am in, giving you credit of course. We are just a group of people who knit (or crochet or whatever with fiber). Money is collected to pay the facility where we meet, otherwise it is free. Let me know if it would be ok to share.
I would be delighted for you to share it with your kitting group. And thank you for asking.
Cheryl, I love your fireside chat – I’m riveted. New knitter and you inspire me to be brave, which I am not.
A fan,
Ellen
Thank you Ellen, and welcome to this very fine craft.
Dear Cheryl, I’ve learnt so much from your videos and books! I have a wonderful sweater in my wardrobe but I made it too long and too large and it would take too long to fix all the mistakes I made (it is my “number one”); now I know that I can unravel it and reuse the wool and knit it again! Thank you so much!
You are so welcome Dina. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Wow! Awesome! Things I wanted to know now all in one spot! Thanks Cheryl Burnette for your time in presenting this material.
You are so welcome Annette. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Wow!Awesome! Things i wanted to know now all in one spot! Thanks Cheryl Burnette for your time in prresenting this material.
So glad I found you on YouTube,,,so very helpful in every area. I knit a lot years ago only learning from mother,,,past down through generations. Recently, I have gotten back into sweaters etc and enjoying it very much. Wool is not easy to come by in my neck of the woods. I have been looking for 100% organic cotton to knit a sweater. Is there a link you can send me ,,is there a wool that would be compatible ?
I am not very aware of resources for cotton yarns mostly because I’m a diehard wool and other animal fiber gal. I live where it seldom gets really hot and find cotton to be sort of cold unless it has a layer of wool over it. Aha! As I was typing this I remembered a dealer (for my original BOND VHS tapes) almost 30 years ago. Cotton Clouds. They were lovely people. Don’t know if it’s owned by the same folks but worth a look. http://www.cottonclouds.com/index.asp
A quick edit: I looked online and indeed, the lovely Irene Schmoller still owns it.
Great info on all! I have burned my mystery yarn, but never knew about the bleach trick! I’m also finding that commercial sweaters are not always made of what the tag says. And I’m thinking that there might be different levels of feltability in merino yarn. Have you found this? I’m guessing some merino sheep might have smoother fleece than others? Either that, or again, mislabeled manufactured clothing.
Dye, since it combines chemically with the fiber, can affect the feltability. I know it changed the hand of some lightweight cashmere pashminas I was trying to dye darker. Interesting that they might be mislabeled, but I also know that different colors felt differently. I made a dozen small moebius baskets as rewards for my Kickstarter campaign and used various colors of classic Manos del Uruguay yarn. They came out different sizes even though everything else about them was the same.
Thanks, Cheryl, for including me in your “gang” of knitters 🙂 I am always eager to learn more about knitting – love tips and techniques. I am self taught from books and youtube.
My pleasure Linda! Thanks for joining us.
Your videos are so informative and I always learn something. Would love to see this “stash” of yours. Quilters have a saying: “She who dies with the most fabric wins.” No doubt knitters have a similar expression.
My yarns are all tucked away in drawers to protect them from UV damage and I’ve been whittling down my stash. Last year I bought 3 skeins but knit up a lot more than that. Now that I’m approaching 70 (in August) I figure I had better get going on this. 😀 I still have yarns I inherited from my mom when she died in 1984. The yarns go back to the 60s but I have used most of them.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful knowledge and insight with us. Whether your a vintage knitter or beginner there is always something new to learn.
I’m always learning new things. 😀 About knitting and a lot of other stuff.
Hallo Cheryl
Thank you SO much for such an informative email. I’ve bookmarked it and will refer to it whenever needed! Your advice is always to the point and exact and that I loooove!! xx
Hello Kietie! You are so welcome and thank you for commenting.
I have been hooked on you and your lessons since I did your Sweater 101 class online. Because of your lessons I was able to knit a doll sized sweater based on your drop shoulder instructions. After that I signed up to follow you on You Tube and joined your email list. You are such a great teacher! So personable and happy to share your little mistakes – makes me feel better when I make mistakes knowing that even an experienced knitter can fail sometimes. I loved all your videos in this set and look forward to receiving many more. I like that you teach the theory or reasons behind things, not just do this, do that. It helps me to think out patterns and adapt them for my use.
Thank you Becky! I do love teaching and it’s good to know that it’s helping people. And thank you for being kind enough to comment.
This was a wonderful segment about yarn fiber. I especially appreciated the demonstration about regaining used yarn, as I have multiple kinky skeins that I haven’t been able to reuse. I can’t wait to try this out. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Your newsletters are always helpful and inspirational.
You are so welcome Susan and thank you for taking the time to comment. I’m delighted you’ll be able to reuse some skeins. That always makes me feel good.
Thank you for your “vinegar” alpaca suggestion. I have learned so much from your practical approach.
You’re very welcome Glenda. It’s even good for your hair (I use organic apple cider vinegar for that, about a 3 to 1 solution, water to vinegar, on wet hair. Then rinse it out a bit.)
Thanks tons Cheryl!great to stay connected!
You’re welcome tons Geri. I like it too.
Love, love, love these videos. Since I am a self taught knitter, self-trained with U Tube, there are many details I have never learned. So, every bit of informations are very interesting for me. I can knit sweaters and cables and almost anything, although I hate grid because of my eyesight (I am 65). I have done the reclaimed yarn and it worked great. Looking forward for more.
Good day to all of you knitters and thanks to you Mrs. Brunette.
You are so welcome Carole D. One of the things I love best about knitting is that I will never know everything there is to know about it. I am always learning new things after 65 years at it (although only 62 of them as a serious knitter.)
Wow, what a great email! Many thank you for taking the time to share your experience and teaching us so much!
Thank you Cheryl,
You are an inspiration! I always look forward to your valuable information.Sophie
Thank you so much Cheryl and Happy New Year! Wonderful to have all of this info about yarn in one place. I especially appreciate how to reclaim yarn that has been knitted and blocked as it tends to resemble my hair on very bad hair days…lol. Truly appreciate all of your tips and purls of wisdom.
I loved knitting your mitred square blanket. My group knits squares for making into blankets for refugees and after the first square gave up for several years! So boring! I completed a mitred square one in just a few weeks. I just couldn’t put it down!
I don’t have time for doing that at present, but I now knit squares between other projects but corner to corner. So much more interesting.
Thank you Cheryl, always a pleasure to receive your emails. You have certainly been the source of several knitting ‘Who knew?’ moments, always learning even after a lifetime of knitting. To have information all in one place will be be so helpful.
This is bang on Cheryl great information that is in one place!
Hi Cheryl,
I love all your exciting and creative ideas. Mostly, the form for us curious folks who cannot go beyond a few simple steps. I look forward to your emails and your knowledge. It is inspirational.
Thank you for this kind comment Marienella. I put a whole lot of work out there and I want people to be able to access it in an easy and organized way. I’m hoping to make this email series into a sort of year-long “Be a Better Knitter” class.
Love getting your emails! They always make me think! Will look forward to more! Ann
Thank you Ann! It must be that old high school English Teacher thing. I love to challenge people to think.
This is such a good idea – thank you Cheryl. You are right, I have your words of wisdom in various places on my computer and I will be looking for your coming updates with great interest.
Thanks for commenting Iris. It just seemed sensible since I can’t even find my own stuff sometimes.