Knitting and Crocheting for Beginners: A Comprehensive Guide to Yarn
Knitting and crocheting are fun hobbies one can take up to keep the mind and hands busy. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many people have been stuck indoors with nothing to do all day. This sudden change of environment has had many negative effects on persons, such as increased stress, anxiety, depression and more.
Knitting and crocheting helps to ease some of these negative effects. It is also a very useful craft. People can use it to create various items such as clothes, cute stuffed animals and toys, hats, scarves and more.
While there are many benefits to knitting and crocheting, some people might feel intimidated by the wide variety of materials they can use. “Where do I even start?”, some might ask. This article provides a detailed overview of the most important material used for knitting and crocheting, so keep reading to find out more!
Types of Yarn
Yarn is the primary material used for knitting and crocheting crafts. However, due to the many types of yarn available, it may be a bit confusing for beginners to decide on where to start. To help with that, we will take a deep dive into the different types of yarn. At the end, there will be a summary detailing which types of yarn are best for beginners.
Acrylic Yarn
Acrylic yarn is a very popular choice of yarn because of its wide availability and varieties of colours. This type of yarn is also very affordable. Additionally, is lightweight, so it is very good for warmer weather. While it is a very standard yarn, many suggest trying natural yarn fibres after you get used to knitting or crocheting.
Alpaca Yarn
Alpaca yarn is an extremely soft yarn. While it is much softer than wool yarn, wool yarn is much better at keeping its shape. Alpaca wool is much warmer than many other yarn types, so it is most suitable for colder weather. It is also a bit more expensive than other yarns.
Cotton Yarn
Cotton yarn is a slightly more difficult yarn to work with. It does not hold its shape and other types of yarn because of its rigidness, resulting in untidy stitches being more visible. However, it is very lightweight, so it is very suitable for warm temperatures and it is also very water absorbent.
Linen Yarn
Linen is one of the more pricey yarns. It is a lightweight, water absorbent yarn. It is especially good for creating lace pieces. Because of how lightweight it is, it is good for creating summer projects. Linen is often used to create more delicate and intricate crochet and knitting pieces.
Merino Yarn
This type of yarn is a soft yarn. It does not cause allergies, so it is very good to use for those allergic to wool yarn. Merino wool is on the warmer side, so it is very suitable for cooler weather. While this yarn holds its shape well, it is prone to creating little fuzz balls called “pilling”.
Silk Yarn
Silk yarn is a top quality yarn. It has an incredibly smooth texture and is lightweight, so someone can comfortably wear it in warm temperatures. It may be more on the expensive side depending on where you buy it. They often blend silk yarns with other yarns, like wool. Many knitters and crocheters value silk yarn highly because of its lustrous sheen.
Wool Yarn
Wool yarn is an excellent type of yarn and it is very common in the market. It is a good choice of material because of its durability. Wool is also fire resistant and very insulating, so it stays cool during warm weather. However, it is not suitable for those with wool allergies.
Best Yarns for Beginners
There are many types of yarn with pros and cons. However, some types of yarns are more manageable for beginners. These yarns are usually less expensive than other yarns. They are also less likely to impede a beginner’s learning process. The three most common beginner friendly yarns are:
- Acrylic Yarn
- Wool Yarn
- Cotton Yarn
Where do I Find Yarn in Barbados?
While there are a variety of places one could find yarn in Barbados, some persons may have difficulties finding them. Below is a list of four places you can find yarn for knitting and crocheting in Barbados.
Laurie Dash & Sons Inc.
Laurie Dash is the first place to look for yarn in Barbados. Laurie Dash has a wide variety of yarn in an array of colours. This store offers different yarn, such as acrylic, cotton and polyester yarns.
Woolworth
Woolworth is the place to go if you want a simpler selection. The yarns sold at Woolworth are standard yarns, perfect for those just starting out. Woolworth sells acrylic yarns, one of the best yarns for beginners.
Sewing World
Sewing World also sells standard yarns. If you are looking for affordable yarn, Sewing World is where it’s at. You can get a variety of coloured yarns here. This store also primarily sells acrylic yarn.
Didiers
Didiers has quite the selection of yarn to choose from. Besides the regular medium sized yarns, Didiers sells chunky yarns. If you are interested in heavier projects, you should definitely visit Didiers to purchase their chunky yarn.
With this comprehensive guide to yarn, knitting and crocheting should be a less daunting hobby to get into. Remember, having fun is key!
Happy knitting and crocheting everyone!
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