Guest Author - Kate Pullen

There is a wealth of yarns available, from low cost economy yarns through to very expensive luxury yarns. Going into a yarn store can present a wealth of potential yarns in every color and type, however knowing which yarn to choose can sometimes be a tricky task!

Knowing which yarns to pick is particularly important if you are creating your own projects or looking to substitute yarns. A wonderful project can be ruined by the wrong choice of yarn, or rendered unwearable because the yarn isn't 'fit for purpose'. When picking yarns there are a few key features to bear in mind.

Budget

Some crochet projects use a huge amount of yarn, and while a single ball of your favorite yarn might not cost much, the cost soon adds up when buying perhaps a couple of dozen or so. It is often possible to find good deals on yarn, perhaps a retailer or manufacturer is selling off an end of line or a discontinued color. Yarn stores often sell of single or mismatched balls of yarn. This can be useful for projects that use several colors or types of yarn. If you know how to dye yarns, or know someone who can then odd balls can be died a uniform color.

Type of Fiber

Yarns nowadays can be made from a whole variety of fibers. Whereas at one time the choice might have been simply cotton or wool, now the choice extends to super easy-wash manmade yarns, organic vegetable fibers, the finest silks or exotic animal fiber. The choice of fiber type will largely depend on the type of project. A garment for a baby, for instance, might look lovely crocheted in pure new wool, however having to handwash this to keep it looking good just might not be practical and a manmade yarn such as an acrylic might be a better choice.

Thickness and Weight

It is important to pick yarns that are the right thickness and weight for a project. This information will be given when you are following a pattern, however when you are creating your own work then this might not be so apparent. Sometimes it is possible to create your own unique yarns by crocheting several strands of thin yarns together. This can be an ideal way to use up odds and ends. Information about different weight yarns can be found at the Yarn Council Standards website.

Picking the perfect yarn for a project can ensure great results every time!