Lionbrand Homespun or Jiffy for afghan?

[laeanee]

Hi, I'm going to knit a blanket for my husband and would like to know what holds up better Jiffy or Homespun? I'm going to be washing it in washing machine and would prefer to dry in dryer (instead of laying out, but will in necessary). I know homespun is a bit of a pain to work with, I've crocheted with it before. I just want it to turn out soft, warm & hold up over time. Thanks.

[Jan in CA]

They are both acrylic so they can be machine washed and dried.

I haven't used Jiffy, but I believe it's softly spun like Homespun. They both will be soft I, but I think they may get fuzzy over time. Not necessarily a bad thing though.

[Rie]

Have you considered Lion Brand's Wool-Ease Thick and Quick? I like the look and feel of it better than Jiffy and Homespun. It has about twenty percent superwash wool, but it's just as tough as the other two. Actually, I think it looks better over time and it dries quickly.
Also has great grays that guys will like!

[GrumpyGramma]

Have you considered Lion Brand's Wool-Ease Thick and Quick? I like the look and feel of it better than Jiffy and Homespun. It has about twenty percent superwash wool, but it's just as tough as the other two. Actually, I think it looks better over time and it dries quickly.
Also has great grays that guys will like!

Is it easier to work with than Home Spun? I'm one of those who doesn't care for Home Spun.

[Jan in CA]

Personally I don't think Wool-Ease is softer, but I'm sensitive skinned.

I don't like to knit with Homespun, but it's very soft. If you do use it choose a simple pattern. The yarn will kind of hide details of some stitches. If you want cables then the Jiffy might be better.

[suzeeq]

Yes, WE T&Q is a regular spun yarn, not at all like Homespun. It's a superbulky though, but there's WE Chunky which is a bulky. Lion also has another super bulky called Hometown which is all acrylic and also a smooth yarn.

[Antares]

From what I've read, Homespun doesn't stand up to repeated washings very well. It balls up and gets nappy and nasty looking.

Since you're wanting yarn for a blanket (which I assume you will want to wash), I would recommend making swatches from each type of yarn you like, washing the heck out of it, and seeing what the end result is!

If that seems like a pain in the you-know-whatty, consider that you're going to spend hours of time working on this, so you want it to last!

[crazykntter83]

Is it easier to work with than Home Spun? I'm one of those who doesn't care for Home Spun.

I just recently worked with it to make my brother a scarf. I just used a simple basket weave pattern for it, and I really liked the way it turned out. Plus not nearly as hard to work with as homespun.

[GrumpyGramma]

I just recently worked with it to make my brother a scarf. I just used a simple basket weave pattern for it, and I really liked the way it turned out. Plus not nearly as hard to work with as homespun.

I just realized I have 2 balls of the WE T&Q, it is not like Homespun or I wouldn't have bought it. Now if I could just remember what I had in mind when I picked it out. ????? I think it should work up nicely but will require large needles.

[Rie]

Yes, WE T&Q is a regular spun yarn, not at all like Homespun. It's a superbulky though, but there's WE Chunky which is a bulky. Lion also has another super bulky called Hometown which is all acrylic and also a smooth yarn.

This is very good to know! I think I need an online source as the local Michaels never has much stock.
My LYS stocks Encore for it's cheap acrylic, but lately I've been thinking I might be better off going back to Wool-Ease. Has anyone tried Knitpicks Brava? I feel like their Stroll yarns are really thin, but they are cheap. I also feel bad whenever I buy from them or Michaels and not my LYS.