Yarn question

[Deleted]

Hello

What kind of yarn should I be using if I want it to be distinct "lines" as part of a pattern? I don't want it to felt right into the fabric.

Should it be 100% wool or must it be a blend? How much of a blend?

Should it be chunky? Or super chunky?

Advice will be appreciated :-)

Regards

Linn

[MTRuth]

You can use almost any kind of yarn. Even 100 percent acrylic will work if you add little wisps of wool to hold it down. I would suggest starting with small samples and try different types of yarn on each sample so you can see the effect. Plus you can check your shrinkage amount too.

[Shepherdess]

You do need to try some different yarns. remember tat many yarns do not shrink like the rest of the scarf so you end up with wiggly lines not nice solid strait ones. If you look at this picture all they yarns were laid down smoothly but they didn't stay that way as they felted less than the background.   The different yarns shrank differently.

[Deleted]

Thank you Ruth - I thought so too (that acrylic would work on condition that the I add the wisps of wool to hold it down).

Thank you Ann - your sample was a great help!

Regards
Linn

[elizabeth]

Linn,
I tend to look for yarns that are whispy. That seems to give the wool something to grab to.
Beware of plied yarns. I thought I'd be smart and felt a scarf out of wool warn alone. What a mess!! It was tightly plied and did not felt at all.
One yarn that I love to use is called Moonlight Mohair. Unfortunately it's discontinued, but I found some on Amazon. It's mohair (fuzzy) loosely plied with 'blingy' acrylic. It gives a nice sparkle.
Another yarn that I had knocking around the house for decades proved wonderful also. It was a ladder/ribbon yarn. I'm pretty sure it was 100% synthetic, but the open 'ladders' gave enough space for the wool to migrate thru.

[Shepherdess]

Yes when you are looking at yarn worsted yarn( it is spun tight and smooth)is not great you need woolen spun yarn it is looser and fuzzier.

[Deleted]

Elizabeth & Ann .. thank you for the tips.

Regards
Linn

[elizabeth]

BTW, the wool yarn I used that didn't work was Cascade. It was leftover from a sweater project.
Hope that helps for comparison.

[zed]

Yarns are great, and I agree with trying them all, from 100% synthetic to 100% wool, try with wisps, try almost covering, try without anything or just a few anchor points, the more variation, the more results!

One thing I wondered though, it might just be your wording " I don't want it to felt right into the fabric."

Are you wanting to use just yarn on a fabric to create nuno? Or maybe use yarn on top of wool and under fabric?

[Deleted]

Hi Zed

What I meant was that I don't want to use roving wool that will felt "flat" and right into the fabric. I want it make distinct "lines" to make patterns on the felted fabric. So I guess I will use just very very thin wisps to felt it down.

Regards
Linn