Selecting a yarn is very important in knitting as this decides the success of your knitting project. There are different types of yarns and these fibres have different characteristics. So depending on your project, one type of fibre can be better than the others.
The weight of the yarn has an impact on your project. You need to select a yarn type that has the right weight for what you are knitting. For example, if you are knitting a lightweight scarf, you have to select something that is lightweight and flowy. A bulky yarn will not be right for the project.
Thicker yarns are great for knitting winter blankets, throws etc. The final look of the product is also impacted by the weight. There are also different brands of yarns as well such as Ashford yarn and Ada Fibres. A very lightweight yarn is lace yarn and it is very delicate. You can create intricate work with this yarn. Superfine yarn is slightly heavier than lace yarn and you can use it for shawls. When knitting any clothes, you can use fine yarn. Light worsted yarn can be used for lightweight sweaters and scarves. Worsted can be used for outdoor garments as they are much thicker. You also have bulky and super bulky yarn for blankets and heavy scarves.
The cost of the project is something that you have to calculate at the beginning. You need to understand how much yarn will be required for the full project. High-quality yarn can be quite expensive so you have to think about the use of the product as well. You can go for high-quality yarn when it comes to blankets and other personal use items. But a standard yarn will be just fine for dish towels and produce bags.
The knitting pattern you use will determine the type of yarn that can be used. If you want to have a textured appearance for the stitches, then you will need a yarn that has more plies. This is basically a yarn that has more individual strands that are twisted together. If you are a beginner, you can start with a medium-thickness yarn that is worsted-weight yarn. For a softer appearance, you will need to go with a single-ply yarn.
Think about the availability of the yarn. There are some yarns that are hard to find and some brands tend to discontinue certain types. So if you have a big knitting project, then it is best to go with yarn that is in good supply at any time. This way, even if you run out of it in the middle of the project, you will be able to find and purchase it easily enough. There are natural and synthetic fibre yarns that you can choose from.
Natural fibres consist of plant and animal fibres. Examples of animal fibre are alpaca, angora, cashmere, Shetland and merino wool. If you are looking for plant fibres you can go for cotton and bamboo. Then there are synthetic fibres like acrylic and polyester. You can also find semi-synthetic fibre such as rayon.
