Knitting with cheap wool: evaluation of Friends Wool Medium from Hobbii

I followed through with my plan of experimenting knitting with inexpensive non superwash wool. I waited for black Friday to get a deal, but having visited Hobbii's website more often, I realise I needn't have bothered. This wool is almost always on some sort of sale, especially when you are buying pullover quantities. As of … Continue reading Knitting with cheap wool: evaluation of Friends Wool Medium from Hobbii

Knitting advice Nr. 12: Knit your superwash wool at a tighter gauge (your garment will be more durable)

Superwash wool is meant to be more "convenient": easily washable, and even, some claim, easily driable ! We all know this only partly true. We've seen what happens to our knits that we mistakenly put on an ordinary washing cycle. They don't turn out good. It never occurred to me to put the poor wrench … Continue reading Knitting advice Nr. 12: Knit your superwash wool at a tighter gauge (your garment will be more durable)

Knitting Advice Nr. 11: Don’t buy superwash wool (Part 2)

That's it. That's the advice. Don't buy superwash. It's bad for the environment, it's bad for people living near the plants that scour and superwash wool. Introduction The first superwash treatment: chlorination Chlorination and the structure of the wool fibre the fleece of sheep the wool fibre structure felt Research on chlorination Hercosett process : … Continue reading Knitting Advice Nr. 11: Don’t buy superwash wool (Part 2)

Knitting advice Nr.11: Don’t buy superwash wool (part 1)

That's it. That's the advice. Don't buy superwash. It's bad for the environment, it's bad for people living near the plants that scour and superwash wool. I am aware that these posts about superwash are likely to be the most unwanted and contentious ones I will ever write on this blog. But I have to. … Continue reading Knitting advice Nr.11: Don’t buy superwash wool (part 1)

Knitting Advice Nr. 4 : Seam your knits with single crochet (especially the cotton ones).

Many knitters like seams to be invisible and single crochet, for sure, doesn't produce an invisible seam. But here's the thing : invisible seams are not as sturdy as a single crochet seam and a sturdy will help your garment to keeps its shape. We're talking cardigan, sweaters, T-shirts, vests and tank tops here.( I'm … Continue reading Knitting Advice Nr. 4 : Seam your knits with single crochet (especially the cotton ones).