As you probably know, there are so many different yarns and wools on the market that it's hard to know where to start! A ball or a skein of natural or synthetic fibres? To make a scarf, a hat or a jumper? For an adult, a child or a baby? Today, in this article, we're going to try to help you ask yourself the right questions so you know which wool to choose for your future project.
First of all, you need to decide on a project to make: a scarf, jumper, hat, blanket or even a cushion... Whether it's for clothing, accessories or home decoration, the possibilities are endless, whether you're knitting or crocheting! That's why it's so important to choose your yarn according to the project you want to knit or crochet. If you're planning to knit socks, you won't use silk, for example. Certain materials are better suited to certain projects, and the choice of wool you use will greatly influence the final result of your work. For example, homemade decorations made from macrame yarn are very popular with those who want to add a touch of bohemian chic to their home.
You also need to know in advance whether you plan to knit or crochet your project. Some yarns and wools, such as cotton yarns, are particularly suitable for crochet, while others, such as baby wear yarns, are more suitable for knitting.
As well as the type of work you want to knit or crochet, you also need to think about the style you want to give it in order to choose the most suitable ball of wool or yarn. Are you looking for a velvet effect for your cushion? Do you prefer a furry mohair effect for your jumper? To answer these questions, we strongly advise you to look for inspiration or a model on websites such as Pinterest or even Instagram to get as precise an idea as possible of the final result you want. Do you prefer lightweight projects? Fluffy wools? On trend? Chunky knits? You'll need to choose a type of yarn and needles or hook accordingly.
Once you've decided on the type of work you want to make, you need to know who you're going to knit/crochet for, or who you want to give your work as a present. You won't choose the same yarn or wool to make a decorative item, a warm winter scarf for an adult, a jumper for a child or a cardigan for a baby.
When it comes to baby clothes, accessories and layette, there are certain yarns and wools to avoid: those that could irritate the skin, such as mohair, for example. Hairy, fluffy or plush wools should also be avoided. We advise you to choose wools specially designed for layette in synthetic materials such as acrylic with RAPIDO FINE or BABY SOFT, which can be knitted with n°2.5/3 needles, or polyester with MANGO, which can be knitted with larger needles. They are suitable for babies' soft, sensitive skin. You can also opt for wools that are usually used to knit socks, with a mixture of wool and synthetic materials, such as NEW RUNNING or SUPER EXTRA. We also strongly recommend choosing yarns certified to Oeko-Tex® Standard 100, which guarantees that the yarns and wools are free from substances that are harmful to health or the environment. To find out more about the Oeko-Tex® label, read our article "What is the Oeko-Tex® label?".
For adults, the choice is very wide, as there are no particular contraindications (except for allergies to wool or other particular fibres). You'll need to choose the wool according to your preferences and the look you want your work to have. You can opt for noble wools such as alpaca, merino wool and cashmere, or synthetic yarns such as acrylic.
Finally, if your aim is to knit or crochet a decorative accessory, you'll need to choose which ball of wool is best suited to it, depending on your desires and your interior. You could opt for a wool with a very thick yarn to make a great plaid, or a fairly stiff wool with cotton or acrylic fibre to make a basket, for example. You can also read our article on the different types of interior decorations you can make using macrame.
Your level of knitting/crochet skills is a factor to be taken into account when choosing your yarn. We don't recommend the same yarns for beginners and experts. In our article on yarns and wools to start knitting, we even recommend starting with acrylic yarns and other synthetic materials, which are easier to handle than fancy, sequined or hairy yarns. What's more, noble materials are not recommended if you're just starting out. They are more expensive, and you risk damaging them by making and unmaking your work. And don't forget: a synthetic ball doesn't necessarily mean poor quality - quite the opposite, in fact - and can also provide a very soft yarn. It's not for nothing that we always recommend acrylic yarns for baby and children's projects in general.
Depending on the weight of the ball, the yardage of the yarn, the size of needles recommended for knitting the yarn, the way you knit or crochet (loose or tight), etc., the number of balls you need to complete your project will vary significantly. At La Lainière de Wazemmes, on our website, we provide a ball calculator on most of our product sheets. This tool allows you to estimate the quantity of balls needed for your project. You can find it at the bottom of the product sheet you have chosen on our website.
For example, you'll need 10 balls of CASHWOOL from Textiles de la Marque, knitted with n°3.5 or 4 needles, to knit a size 40 jumper in stockinette stitch. You won't have to worry about the calculations, La Lainière de Wazemmes does it for you! If the ball you've chosen doesn't have this calculator, we can give you more information by phone 03.20.57.09.46, by email lainieredewazemmes@gmail.com or by private message on Instagram or Facebook.
Your choice of needles or crochet hook should also be adapted to the wool you have chosen (its size, its material...) as well as your level of knitting or crochet experience. You can find all our advice in our article on the different types of knitting needles! So it's perfectly possible to choose your wool according to the size of needles or hooks you like or want to work with for a future project.
Now that you have all this essential information, you know all the secrets to knitting or crocheting the perfect project!
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See you soon, for new knitting tips, with La Lainière de Wazemmes !
