Yarn

Yarn can be crafted of natural or synthetic fibers, in a variety of styles for a myriad of uses — from elegant clothing and accessories to cuddly baby wear and sturdy home decor.

The yarn a knitter or weaver chooses depends upon the qualities they are seeking. A synthetic fiber may be strong and resilient, but it doesn't breathe and isn’t always soft, so it may be a poor choice for clothing.

A protein fiber like cashmere is luxuriously soft, but it’s a delicate fiber that needs special care, so it might not be a good choice for socks which require durability.

Yarns can be plied, cabled or textured. Many traditional yarns are manufactured in tightly spun plies for better stitch definition while novelty yarns may be fuzzy eyelash yarns, ribbons, puffs – or a combination of textures.

Ultimately, the fibers and the construction determine the quality and major attributes of the yarn. The most expensive yarn in the world is Vicuna, from a small and rare camelid in the Andes. For more information about yarn, you can check out blogs including The Yarn Harlot and Shear Bagatelle.

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “Yarn”

• Swallowtail Shawl

  
  The Little Red Hen — Authority: 123
  After finishing the Ishbel shawl I still had a large ball of the lace weight alpaca left. I pulled out the Fall 2006 issue of Interweave Knits to knit the Swallowtail Shawl designed by Evelyn Clark .   The first part of the shawl knit up very quickly. Then, I got to those nupps in the edge lace pattern. ...
  5 hours ago

• Easy Christmas Tree Craft

  
  Craft Gossip — Authority: 163
  Cathie Filian came up with a great Easy Christmas Tree Craft using yarn, tissue paper and styrofoam trees. I think the toddlers could even help out with this one! They look so chic too!
  11 hours ago

• Absolutely DeVine

  
  Twisted — Authority: 124
  Hazel is superduper excited, crafty folk, because we just received TWO BOXES of Blue Moon yarns! No Socks that Rock just yet, butbutbut…We’ve got Geisha (a lace-to-fingering mohair-silk-nylon blend, 995 hand-dyed yards for $48.50), we’ve got Peru (a light-worsted silk-alpaca-merino blend 500 hand-dyed yards for ...
  15 hours ago

• 28/30 seven busy days

  
  quelle erqsome... — Authority: 123
  Its been more than just Woebie reporting in the World of Emmms. This week I returned to my Ramona Quimby roots: ate an amazingly authentically Canadian grilled cheese sandwich with home-made tomato soup: discovered tiny sunflower shoots growing in my onions: and finished a pair of perfectly ...
  18 hours ago

• In Which Things Happen

  
  the Lady Knits — Authority: 118
  Yesterday I got myself out of the house (dragged my depressed ass out of bed at 10 oclock) and to my Uncles house after a drive through the traffic-laden and beautifully rolling hills that make up the landscape going through Vallejo, Vacaville (empty and dull-looking ghost town) , and the I-5 North. I made good ...
  1 day ago

• Indian exports decline for 13th straight month

  
  Thaindian News — Authority: 729
  New Delhi, Nov 27 (IANS) India’s merchandise exports fell 6.6 percent for the 13th straight month in October to $13.19 billion, from $14.13 billion in the corresponding month last fiscal, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said Friday.“The stabilisation in the exports needs to be viewed in the context of projections ...
  1 day ago

• Shop Update 29.11.09 - Part II

  
  Posh Yarn — Authority: 123
  Elinor Cwtch Elinor Mentor Martha 4 A.M. Sylvia Aran Adieu Sylvia Aran Croesus Sylvia Aran Appalachia (this week’s cover shot) Elinor Aran Annie Hall Elinor Aran Siesta This week’s update is an hour later than usual, at 8pm on Sunday. See you then!
  1 day ago

• Spinning Friday: Kung Fu! Sock Yarn

  
  How The West Was Spun — Authority: 123
  I actually finished up the Kung Fu! yarn this week. Woot! Youll maybe remember, the original batts looked like this: I divided the fiber into 3 mostly even sections by weight, using my postal scale, and prepped the batts by...
  1 day ago

• Yarn on Sale!

  
  Sunnyside Ellen — Authority: 104
  from today until Monday Dec. 30th
  2 days ago

• Twinkle twinkle...

  
  Laine de Bergre — Authority: 104
  I thought I would share with you how charming and cozy the shop looks in the evening...
  2 days ago

• Teaser

  
  Knitting on Impulse — Authority: 115
  A wee something to whet your appetite while I format the update.  The regular yarn will go up in a few minutes; I havent managed to photograph the samplers yet, and the kids are due home in half an hour, so that bit might have to wait for tomorrow.  FYI, if you want to grab something from today before it gets away, ...
  2 days ago

• Fibre Gone Wild?

  
  Stranded In Oz: original knitting designs, earth-friendly artwear, and artisan yarns and fibres — Authority: 108
  The shipment of fibre and yarns has arrived from overseas. All sorts of goodies to temp you this holiday season. The website continues to lag behind my design and painting schedule. Up to date? Port Market will be restocked this Sunday. Whats on offer? Gurdy Run fibre: a gorgeous blend of alpaca, wool, and silk in ...
  2 days ago

• how-to: wool roses

  
  whip up — Authority: 627
  Sweet! Link to tutorial . Similar Posts: how-to: wool felt applique in hoop frame | Tutorials | how-to: lavender heart on a string | how-to: chefs hat for your budding masterchef | how-to: sew a ruffle top | Share and Enjoy:
  2 days ago

• Shop Update 29.11.09 - Part I

  
  Posh Yarn — Authority: 123
  Thanks for all those lovely suggestions for the blog, I’ll start working my way through some of them next week. But for now, yarn time! Here are some of my favourites from this week - it was so hard to narrow it down this time…… Miranda 2ply Splish Splash Sylvia 2ply Foolish Things Sylvia 2ply ...
  2 days ago

• Could have cried

  
  Needles and Things — Authority: 125
  I love working in the yarn store. There are days when there is just nothing else like it if you love yarn. We got a Fleece Artist box yesterday. There just isnt anything like opening one of these boxes. The top layer was warm brown and melted colours of earth and every layer under that was riot of jewels. ...
  2 days ago

• Giving Thanks

  
  The Woo Woo Teacup Journal — Authority: 128
  There’s a Facebook challenge that’s been going on between Hubby and some of his friends. For each day in November, they’ve been posting something for which they are thankful. I’ve been thinking about this Facebook challenge, although I didn’t take part in it. I figured I’d give it a shot here on my blog ...
  3 days ago

• Oni Press Present an Online Exclusive The Sixth Gun Short Story, Them What Ails Ya: a Christmas Yarn

  
  Hypergeek — Authority: 446
  From the press release: THE SIXTH GUN SHORT STORY, THEM WHAT AILS YA: A CHRISTMAS YARN In celebration of the holiday season and in preparation for the release of their upcoming Oni Press series THE SIXTH GUN, creators Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt present an Oni Press Blog Exclusive, ‘Them What Ails Ya: A ...
  3 days ago

• Kate Spade Austin Small Coal Tote | Manmade Woven Plaid Handbag

  
  BagBunch - Bags, Handbags & Purses — Authority: 570
  It doesnt seem like quite the right season to be discussing woven fabric handbags, but its definitely appropriate to bring up plaid during the fall and winter. Well, thats what makes this Kate Spade Austin Small Coal Tote somewhat of an oddity because it actually combines the two elements. By weaving together ...
  3 days ago

• Wired/less

  
  Laine de Bergre — Authority: 104
  Man, blogging is hard since I opened up the shop! I finally broke down and bought a router and low and behold set it up myself. I am now wireless. The new printer is wireless too...I love it. Now I can sit anywhere in the shop with my laptop which really is practical. This is me smiling... And knitting ...
  3 days ago

• More new hand spun yarns!

  
  Kitty Grrlz Knits & Spins — Authority: 108
  More new hand spun yarns listed today in my etsy shop ! A variety today - a single ply, an art yarn, and even a two-ply. Here is a mosaic of the new skeins - Kitty Mixers - Barneys Midnight Blues - Hand Spun Two-Ply Yarn in merino wool 150 yards Kitty Mixers - Barneys Midnight Blues - Hand Spun Two-Ply Yarn ...
  3 days ago

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