Moxie Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I was knitting away last night with some cheap Red Heart yarn and about half-way through the skein was a knot where they had put two pieces together! I'm so annoyed! Is this why people ball their yarn?? I wish I could afford to only use the really good stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 They do that in good stuff too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Yup, the good stuff is allowed 2 knots per skein. If there are more than that you can switch it out for another skein. Of course that only helps if you're winding at the yarn store. Whatcha making? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Yup, the good stuff is allowed 2 knots per skein. If there are more than that you can switch it out for another skein. Of course that only helps if you're winding at the yarn store. Whatcha making? I was making an afghan, so many balls of the same brand. 2 - 3 of them had way more than 2 knots in them, but yes, are you going to wind it in the store to figure that out? By the time you do, you have already dealt with the first two knots and moved on. Serious flaw in that policy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I talk to the trees Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I was knitting away last night with some cheap Red Heart yarn and about half-way through the skein was a knot where they had put two pieces together! I'm so annoyed! Is this why people ball their yarn?? I wish I could afford to only use the really good stuff. Ugh! That stinks! If it makes you feel better, It's not just the cheaper yarns that do that. I was knitting a scarf with Noro ($17/skein- ouch!) and was almost finished with a row, when I came to a knot. Fortunately, I was able to tink back far enough to untie the knot and re-join the yarn. (Yes, I know this story doesn't really make you feel better, but at least you know you're not alone.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moxie Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Allowed by whom?? Because, when I buy the good stuff on Etsy, it NEVER has knots. At least that I've come across. Maybe I've just been lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn- Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I hate knots in yarn balls! Hate them! I wish there was better quality control amongst all the brands out there. I've never run into a single brand I have used that didn't have a knot somewhere (individual knot free balls, yes, but not consistently within the brand). Luckily with crocheting it isn't quite the same problem as I assume knitting is, but it is still a royal PIA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I just had to say the “yarn content†in the subject line made me laugh. Was that to warn off all the *gasp* cross-stitchers? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I was making an afghan, so many balls of the same brand. 2 - 3 of them had way more than 2 knots in them, but yes, are you going to wind it in the store to figure that out? By the time you do, you have already dealt with the first two knots and moved on. Serious flaw in that policy. The yarn store will wind for free if it is in a twisted hank but I haven't had them offer when the yarn was in a center pull ball already. I don't really mind knots. I just figure that one leaves a flaw to keep the devil out. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Allowed by whom?? Because, when I buy the good stuff on Etsy, it NEVER has knots. At least that I've come across. Maybe I've just been lucky. Can I get some links to the shops you like on etsy? I haven't bought yarn on etsy, I just keep window shopping because I am not sure whose looks the nicest/softest. My LYS closed *sob* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Yes, I ball the yarn by hand to discover the knots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Craft stores like Joanne's has coupons for 40-50% off pretty often. I used one of those coupons and bought a yarn winder. I love my yarn winder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I was knitting away last night with some cheap Red Heart yarn and about half-way through the skein was a knot where they had put two pieces together! I'm so annoyed! Is this why people ball their yarn?? I wish I could afford to only use the really good stuff. Bah! I have the good stuff and I STILL knit with Red Heart because there are projects it is perfect for. But if you want good stuff on the cheap check out your local thrift shop. Unravel a merino sweater and then knit it up again as something else! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I also use red heart for some things. Who can afford to make an afghan out of fancy yarn? yipes! I cannot imagine how expensive that would be! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 Can I get some links to the shops you like on etsy? I haven't bought yarn on etsy, I just keep window shopping because I am not sure whose looks the nicest/softest. My LYS closed *sob* I had a good experience buying sock yarn from Unwind Yarn Company. (She used to be on Etsy but now has her own store front.) I got the Journey Sock and it's really soft and squishy. And so far it's held up in the washer though I do air dry as recommended. I haven't tried her other yarns. I've also bought from Gynx Yarns but haven't actually knit this up yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 I also use red heart for some things. Who can afford to make an afghan out of fancy yarn? yipes! I cannot imagine how expensive that would be! And boy, the first time it was mistakenly tossed in the dryer. Yikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanier.1765 Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 Two of my boys are going to NH this month so I was crocheting some nice cozy warm scarves for them out of Bernat Softee Chunky when if found two knots in several skeins. It really wasn't a big deal since I only had to cut the knot out except that I hate changing yarn. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it. :glare: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 Bah! I have the good stuff and I STILL knit with Red Heart because there are projects it is perfect for. But if you want good stuff on the cheap check out your local thrift shop. Unravel a merino sweater and then knit it up again as something else! I know a gal who does this. She is amazing! She makes some beautiful things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieB Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 Some of the cheap stuff has a lot of knots and some doesn't. Recently I crocheted up three skeins of Caron One Pound (800-ish yards per skein). Two skeins were knot-free; one skein had one knot. Compare that to Loops & Threads Charisma (Michaels store brand). I knit five scarves which used two skeins each (100-ish yards per skein). A couple of the skeins had no knots. The rest had one or two knots. The yarn knit up into stripes with a good long distance before the stripe pattern started over, and it was a PITA to try to get the stripes to work out right. I have resolved NEVER to use this yarn again. Deborah Norville Serenity Chunky is similar to Loops & Threads Charisma and is close in price. I knit three scarves with Serenity Chunky, each of which used two skeins (100-ish yards per skein). Of the six skeins, one had one knot. The rest were knot-free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 I never knew there was an allowed number of knots. My yarn store will also wind twisted yarn, but I don't think they'd rewind it if it's already in a ball. I don't like Red Heart because it's itchy. For most of my projects Caron Simply Soft works just fine. However, I live where winter clothes are a novelty rather than a necessity, so I can afford to use yarn that might not keep you warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 I never knew there was an allowed number of knots. My yarn store will also wind twisted yarn, but I don't think they'd rewind it if it's already in a ball. I don't like Red Heart because it's itchy. For most of my projects Caron Simply Soft works just fine. However, I live where winter clothes are a novelty rather than a necessity, so I can afford to use yarn that might not keep you warm. Do you find it itchy even after washing? It changes character completely after being thrown in the washer and dryer. Of course you'd have to knit a while thing first to get to that point.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomatHWTK Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 I have some Red Heart because it is really inexpensive to whip together a child's sweater and does soften up after washing. But I can't stand the feel of it in my hands while I knit so I've moved away from using it. (I have also moved away from trying to knit sweaters. ;) ) I like Knit Picks basic worsted wool, but buy most of my yarn from Jimmy Beans online when they are having a sale. I also like Webs online for sales and find a few good deals at Noble Knits and Hot Yarns. I tend to stick with Jimmy Beans though because I like their processing and reviews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Do you find it itchy even after washing? It changes character completely after being thrown in the washer and dryer. Of course you'd have to knit a while thing first to get to that point.... I haven't tried that, so I don't know. Thanks for that though. I do have some Red Heart, so I might make a decent size swatch to wash. Then I'll know without having wasted a lot of yarn (even if it is cheap) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I talk to the trees Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 This has nothing to do with knots. I'm thread-jacking (yarn-jacking?) here. I was 1/2 inch from the toe decreases of a sock - with real sock yarn, mind you, not the cheap junk I usually use- when I dropped a stitch. I tried not to panic. I tired to pick it back up. But it just kept going. And the more I tried to fix it, the worse it became. I couldn't get it back in the right place. And so, here I sit, having frogged almost an entire sock. :crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 This has nothing to do with knots. I'm thread-jacking (yarn-jacking?) here. I was 1/2 inch from the toe decreases of a sock - with real sock yarn, mind you, not the cheap junk I usually use- when I dropped a stitch. I tried not to panic. I tired to pick it back up. But it just kept going. And the more I tried to fix it, the worse it became. I couldn't get it back in the right place. And so, here I sit, having frogged almost an entire sock. :crying: I feel your pain! :grouphug: I had a similar experience recently with a hat. There were yarn-over parts and I had the hardest time figuring it out so I ended up ripping the whole thing out and starting over. Then on the second try I got the decreases wrong. And I had to rip back. Again. This time I was able to salvage most of the hat. I figured out that I could rip back to a certain point where it gets a little easier to release one stitch at a time and put it back on the needle. At least it worked with this pattern as there were rows that were all knit stitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn- Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 And those are the reasons I crochet. At least when I make a tiny mistake, I just have to go back to it and start over from there. Oh, and I hit a stupid knot in an "I Love this Yarn" ball at the beginning of a baby blanket, this could be a long blanket at this rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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