Finding yarn on Yarndex?

[chiricahuagal]

I've seen people recommend Yarndex as a good resource for learning about yarns and potential substitutes - maybe someone can help me figure out how to use it??

I am looking at a pattern in Vogueknitting Spring/Summer 2007:

http://www.vogueknitting.com/200703/...-preview.shtml

It's the striped cardigan in the middle under "The Easy Life" (scroll down). The yarn is Rowan Summer Tweed - it's a 70% silk/30% cotton blend. I looked at the yarn on Yarndex, and thought I'd look to see what other brand yarns in the silk/cotton blend are listed. Doing a search on Silk Blend returns NOTHING, not even the Rowan Summer Blend. In fact, doing a search on Cotton Blend also returns NOTHING.

Doing a search on Cotton - I can click in the Cotton Blends button, and get 496 choices, not listed in any particular order that I can figure out (so how do I find cotton/silk?) I can do the same on Silk - Silk only, click on Blends, get over 200 listings. It will take me a looong time to go through all those listings.

So, how can I search for a cotton/silk blend on Yarndex? I'm completely baffled.

tia for any help!

[dustinac]

I have trouble with yarndex as well .. a lot of yarns are not listed.. maybe they are new yarns

I did a google for subs of this yarn and found where one was using debbie bliss cotton cashmere.. you might try googling it and then going through all the links it provides for a sub.. it looks like a lot are trying to find a sub...

[debb]

Put a few more characteristics of the yarn in the search feature. By putting in 'worsted' and 'silk' the choices go down to 70. For whatever reason, their search doesn't seem to recognize the 'silk blend' option.

If you have a favorite online store, you might try their search and see what they have available.

[suzeeq]

Another way to search yarndex is by gauge. In the specifications for the yarn at top right, there's a link by the Gauge for sts/4". Click on it and it will take you to other yarns with the same gauge. They don't happen to list Rowan Summer Tweed but you can go to the gauge search itself and put in the sts/4" that you need.

I got silk blends by going to silk, then checking silk blends. It took me to these choices - http://www.yarndex.com/yarn_by_fiber...y=0&show=blend

sue

[candicane]

Noro Lily is 30silk/70 cotton. It is discontinued by sometimes available on ebay. I don't usually have any luck with Yarndex either.



candice

[brendajos]

has yarndex even been updated since 2005? i do use it for a reference sometimes but i can never find anything newer than 2005 on it. I generally have better luck googling.

[chiricahuagal]

Another way to search yarndex is by gauge. In the specifications for the yarn at top right, there's a link by the Gauge for sts/4". Click on it and it will take you to other yarns with the same gauge. They don't happen to list Rowan Summer Tweed but you can go to the gauge search itself and put in the sts/4" that you need.

I got silk blends by going to silk, then checking silk blends. It took me to these choices - http://www.yarndex.com/yarn_by_fiber...y=0&show=blend

sue

thanks for everyone's input! I really appreciate the help, especially knowing others have the same issue (so it isn't just me).

The above silk blend search narrowed it down to 132 choices... still a lot of clicking. And if the gauge search doesn't list Rowan Summer Tweed, it makes me wonder what else isn't listed?

The sweater in question has sooo many colors in it that I may not be able to do it with a substitute anyway unless I really sit down and figure out the colors. Even changing the colors - it uses a 1 row - 6 row - 1 row (where each of the 1 rows is one color, and the 6 row is another) pattern with about 8 colors/striped mixed up. I guess I could just use the knitting pattern and make up my own color scheme altogether (and hope it looks as good).

I guess when you want a nice garment, you pay the going price for a nice yarn! I was just hoping to find something similar that wouldn't cost me $150 for the yarn alone. I did manage to find a lot of the colors on ebay for a little less than the going retail. And I searched Knitter's Review for Summer Tweed reviews and it's about 50/50 those who hated it and those who liked it.

Thanks again for all the help and feedback!