Knitting machine yarn

[Olive Oil]

I was searching for yarn on ebay and found numberous cones of knitting machine yarn. Is this yarn generally lighter in wieght or what is the difference? Can this yarn be used for hand knitting?

I am new - can you tell??

Also, what does " Worsted" mean. I looked it up in the dictionary but I am still a little unsure.

[knitasha]

The quick answer is that yarn for machine knitting comes in many weights, the same as yarn for hand knitting.

But much of the machine yarn sold in cones on eBay was originally made for commercial knitting in factories. It tends to be very thin. You can use it for things like lightweight lace shawls; you can use several strands held together; or you can combine it with other yarns to make one thicker strand.

The eBay listing should tell you the gauge to which the yarn knits and the fiber content (eg, wool, cotton, viscose, etc.). If it doesn't, you really don't know what you're getting.

Here is my unbreakable rule for buying yarn on eBay:
the listing must contain gauge and fiber content, which indicates that the seller knows something his/her merchandise. If it doesn't, the yarn is probably being sold by someone who doesn't know anything about yarn or knitting -- not a reliable resource.

[knitasha]

Sorry - I forgot the second part of your question.

"Worsted" has two meanings.

• One refers to the way the yarn is spun: worsted yarn is spun of long fibers that lie parallel to each other and produces a firm, smooth, strong yarn. ("Woolen" yarn, on the other hand, is fuzzier and weaker, but very warm.)
• "Worsted" is also the an American term for medium-weight yarn. It's thinner than bulky weight yarn and thicker than DK.

Hope this isn't too confusing.

[Olive Oil]

That answers my questions perfectly!!!!!

Thankyou so much !!

[nuknitter]

Hi OO! Speaking of oil, I've also heard that the machine knitting yarn may be (very lightly) coated with an oil, perhaps to make it easier to machine knit? So it looks and feels a bit different to handknit with (perhaps coarser), but once you wash it it blooms and softens nicely.

This is secondhand f/what I've read - if you use it, please tell us your experiences with it