Ever notice how....

UruzPhoenix · 10-10-2009, 04:31 PM

after working with wool for a while it starts feeling softer and softer.... then you go to knit with arcryllic (I'm making a top down raglan baby sweater using Caron Simply Soft) it feels really plasticy and almost makes you want to grind your teeth???

The only reasons I'm using the Caron Simply Soft is 1. i already have it in my stash (trying to weed the arcryllics out), 2. It's a baby sweater, meaning lots of spitting up on it, lots of washing it out, and 3. I'm going to be selling it (and a few other things... going to get them made first then set up an etsy account and have a stock pile to go for the craft fairs next fall).

I can't wait to have this sweater done, this stuff's awful (which is funny since i used to love it, i've even made sweaters before using red heart super saver!) but I don't know which wool would be good to use in the future.... the reviews i've read said that the lion brand wool-ease pills pretty badly after a few washes (any second opinions??)

Phoenix

Mike · 10-10-2009, 09:52 PM

No, not really. Especially not with Simply Soft which I think feels softer than wool.

I just went from a Simply Soft sweater to a Red Heart Super Saver afghan and while the Red Heart is rougher it's nothing major.

Jan in CA · 10-10-2009, 10:12 PM

No, never noticed that.

I hate RHSS as I find it hurts my hands after awhile...like they've been sandpapered, but I never noticed the plasticy feel.

globaltraveler · 10-10-2009, 10:28 PM

What I particularly dislike about it is the way it squeaks when you knit with it. Puts my teeth on edge.

suzeeq · 10-11-2009, 12:48 AM

I agree with Mike, there's a lot of acrylics that feel softer than most wools. Merino is softer than other wools, but still, some acrylics are softer than it is. And I've never had acrylic yarn 'squeak'; could be that happens when it's knit at a tight gauge.

UruzPhoenix · 10-11-2009, 01:02 AM

the simply soft is softer than the red heart, but i'm finding the simply soft to feel plasticy (and it's splitting to no end right now... size 7 needles)...

i've spent the last few months working with nothing but wool... and i love the feel of wool (which is funny because I hated it growing up, it always felt scratchy and made me itch).

oh well, sweater's 1/2 done, thinking about returning whatever simply soft i have in my stash that's never been used (i have a bunch of the simply soft shadows) with the labels on that's still new and then whatever i have for partials i'm giving to my sister who works with project linus.

suzeeq · 10-11-2009, 01:27 AM

Soft yarns, even wools, are soft because they're twisted looser and so are more prone to splitting. I've found with using a larger needle that it doesn't split as badly as using the conventional size needles, 7-9.