Wizarding Times

Like I said in my first article, I am a new knitter. I taught myself to knit over a year ago and am still finding out lots of things not to do while knitting. Here is the second bit of 'wisdom' about what not to do when first encountering the exciting world of knitting.

Yarns

The world of all different kinds of yarns can be so very enticing and tempting and I say GO FOR IT if you see a yarn that you just MUST have! Purchase it! However, for your first knitted piece (or pieces) be sure to use a yarn that is easy for you to grasp and work with. Preferably use a yarn that is relatively inexpensive, too. Why? Well, in your first creations you might discover that you are undoing the knitting many times or even eventually discarding the yarn you've used because you undid it (ripped it out or unwoven it) so many times. I found out that undoing the cast on (the part that is the initial making of anything when knitting — putting the yarn on the knitting needles) several times can, and will, eventually cause that yarn to look like a cat has been playing with it.

This is okay — but kind of sad if you are starting out with some really great sort of (expensive) alpaca/silk yarn and end up having to discard it because it is in tatters.... So, when shopping for yarn, expecially for initial projects, be aware of the price of the yarn. Look for colours that you like but remember that this is a learning experience for you, too. Make it easy on yourself and your pocketbook.

Then, when you find a yarn that you like the colour of and it's a good price for you, be sure to touch it. Use your fingers and feel the yarn, the whole ball of it and also individual strands. Is it coarse? Does it scratch you? Does it itch? Does it feel smooth and wonderful? These are indications of what you will encounter while actually knitting. Something that feels coarse to you now will not feel better after knitting with it for a few hours! (About the more coarse yarns — washing the finished product will actually, many times, soften it. A couple of washings later, you have something that is really kind of soft to the touch. So if you absolutely LOVE that colour, even if the yarn is harsh to touch, get it. My experience is that it's worth the harshness to end up with a rainbow scarf of many colours even if it was not so great to actually knit.)

Another thing to remember to ask when purchasing your yarn is: What kind of care will the finished product require? Can the yarn be washed in a machine? Does it need to be hand-washed only? Does it need to be dry-cleaned? (I am aware that many many books and guides say to always hand-wash your knitted works of art but I've found out that if you get a small garment bag, made for use in washing machines, that certain items can be washed just fine in a mechanical washing machine.) Many times the labels on less-expensive yarns will say that they can be machine-washed. This is something wonderful!

So, that's what not to do!

Remember, do not start out with a really expensive and hard-to-handle yarn! Stick to something that is a pleasure to handle and something that doesn't break your budget.

See you next month with an expose of yet another "What not to do"!