What Do You Look For When Shopping for Yarn?
Wednesday September 3, 2008
This week I'm wondering what motivates you when you go out shopping for yarn. I understand that you probably have different criteria in mind each time you go shopping, sometimes looking for the perfect shade of blue to finish of that blanket project, other times looking for easy-care fibers for a baby garment, and other times just letting your whim suit you.
So if you find this question too open-ended, think about what you were thinking about the last time you went shopping for yarn, or what you might be looking for next time. Remember, also, that you can pick as many choices as you like. If you have reasons I haven't mentioned (I could only give you 10 choices), please add them in the comments.
Comments
I always wish I could find out if this were a yarn that would pill. Absolutely hate to put in the work and have that happen!
If you’re a member of Ravelry, you can look up the yarn under the Yarns tab, and read others’ opinions, and get full info on the yarn itself. If you’re not a member yet, get thee over there and request an invite!
I was looking for *gasp* That One! A yarn that overwhelmed my discipline to not buy anything until I used up more of my stash. A yarn that I can’t find in the department store where I get most of my yarns. A yarn that would leave a resonance in my soul long after it was bought, something to warm me in the grey days of winter SAD.
I found bamboo, I found glow-in-the-dark, I found Winter, and I found jewel-rainbows-with-black-and-a-tease-of-silver. And just thinking about them, I smile again.
I find yarn everywhere, Thrift Stores, yard sales, remainder bins. Then I try to figure out what I am going to do with it.
I like yarn that is soft, colorfast, and tightly woven enough that I am not gonna skewer it with my knitting needles or hook. I also prefer yarn that doesn’t shed all over the place like some alpaca yarn does. I don’t like artsy yarn that is woven by hand and therefore TOO LOOSE and too easy to run through with needles. I also loathe eyelash yarn and other yarn that make knitting a chore rather than fun. I also never use recycled yarn. I prefer new store-bought yarn.