Downsides of acrylic?

cfaustino · 11-14-2008, 01:04 AM

Hi - Just wondering about acrylic. I'm starting a baby sweater and I think I want to use acrylic for it (the Vanna brand). All wool and alpaca itch me, so I assume that my DS would find them itchy as well. Acrylic is inespensive and non-itchy - so why do all the knitters that I talk to turn their nose up at it? Thanks!

Knitting_Guy · 11-14-2008, 06:09 AM

To be honest the Caron Simply Soft feels much better than the Vanna stuff. Don't get me wrong, I actually like the Vanna stuff but CSS feels much better.

There are a number of acrylics made in "baby" textures that I think are quite good. Even Lion Brand, which I normally hate, has a very nice baby acrylic.

I think acrylic is better for a baby. No allergy issues and it's washable.

cam90066 · 11-14-2008, 06:51 AM

I'm not a fan of Vanna's regular yarn for babies (haven't felt her new baby yarn line). But, as Mason noted, the CSS is super soft and there are many other acrylics that are great for babies.

feministmama · 11-14-2008, 06:54 AM

I think a lot of knitters turn their nose up at acrylic because it used to be real yucky, there weren't too many choices and it felt like asbestos. Now they are so many varieties of acrylics and they've made them softer so people turn thier nose less and less these days. I must admit to be a yarn snob once. But now there are all kinds of yummy acrylics. Just go to yarndex dot com and check it out. THere's lots of nice baby yarns that are acrylic with great colors.

Jan in CA · 11-14-2008, 07:37 AM

A lot of people are into natural fibers and as Femmy said the old acrylics were nasty. Acrylic also doesn't breathe so some some people get clammy in it. I've made lots of baby clothes from acrylic and think it's fine for that. They don't recommend it for sleepwear though because it melts.

anniep · 11-14-2008, 08:47 AM

When I was young and I first learned to knit I use a horrible acrylic. It was squeaky and sweaty to knit with. I soon began to prefer natural fibers.

I've seen lots of lovely sort baby acrylic yarns. I think they're great to us in children's projects as they're easier to care for if you need to wash things often!

zkimom · 11-14-2008, 01:01 PM

Hi -- Yarn Snob here

I think the beauty of today's acrylics are that some are lovely and you can use them if you find wool itchy.

I don't use them mostly because I can use wool and alpaca without the itch factor and wool is warmer than acrylic in a sweater.

Do you need to use something that is completely acrylic or would a little wool be ok? I like the Encore wool because it is a blend yet still has some of wool's nice warmth and feel for a decent price.

mwhite · 11-14-2008, 01:07 PM

Acrylic has greatly improved but I find that once it's been washed a few times, it pills. I've used the Vanna yarns. I love cotton for babies, cotton/acrylic blends are lighter weight and don't pill as much.

Jaxhil · 11-14-2008, 02:51 PM

I agree, Vanna's Choice, imho, is *not* soft enough for babies. I agree about Encore -it's a nice compromise if you want wool for warmth but want the ease of acrylic.

I really think Lion Brand Cotton Ease would be a lovely choice- it is *very* soft and washes very well, too~just throw it in with everything else! My DD has a beautiful sweater my DMom made for her from it and its soft and cooshy and WONDERFUL to the touch

In fact, I want one too

Doublereeder2 · 11-14-2008, 03:18 PM

I also like Caron Simply Soft. There are lots of nice acylics these days (I don't care for either Vanna's Choice OR I Love This Yarn).
Remember that you cannot really block acrylic well. If something curls, it will stay curled.