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The Making Life Yarn Stash: Different Type of Yarn and What to

The Making Life Yarn Stash: Different Type of Yarn and What to

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Walk into the craft store. Take a stroll through the yarn store. Peruse the big bags of yarn at the thrift store. Search through the tote of yarn given to you from your great Aunt Ethel who no longer crochets. You don’t really need more yarn, but the colors and the textures are just too appealing to pass by. Is this you? Do you feel the need to get one more skein of yarn every time you go to the store? Well, even if you don’t, that’s my tendency. So much so that over the years I’ve acquired quite the yarn stash. The only problem is, I haven’t used and don’t plan on using some of the yarn I’ve accumulated. The other day I decided to winnow down my yarn stash and make some hard choices concerning which yarns I will actually use and which ones I won’t. In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to show you the yarns I have sitting in my home and give you some information about each kind in case you had some or were considering purchasing one. Without further ado, take a visual tour with me through my extensive yarn stash. Once you’re done, comment at the bottom about your favorite types of yarn and the projects you’ve finished or plan on making with them one day. Disclosure: As an Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We also have additional affiliate links through Share-A-Sale. Purchases made through affiliate links will be at no additional cost to you. Different Weights of Yarn Just in case you were curious about the weight of each type of yarn, I’ve included a graphic I made for my Crochet Basics guide. 1. Wool Ease Thick and Quick From Lion Brand Number one on my list is Wool Ease Thick and Quick from Lion Brand. I’ve used this type of yarn quite a few times to make a number of crochet projects. Most recently I purchased this color which is called kale, and I’m in love with it. I want to make a new blanket for our living room that we can cuddle under during movie night or while reading a good book. In the past, I’ve also used this yarn to make hats, hoods, and a little toy basket for my daughter’s pegdolls. I like the way that it works up as it states “thick and quick.” It’s a super bulky yarn which is listed as a number 6. The recommended crochet hook size is an N-13 or 9MM. The yarn is called Wool Ease, but it is actually only 20% wool. Wool Ease Thick and Quick mixes natural and synthetic fibers including acrylic (77%) and viscose (3%). Even though it is partially made from wool, it’s still machine washable and dryable which is nice if you plan on making an item that may need washed from time to time. What I Like About Wool Ease Thick and Quick Here’s a rundown of what I like about this yarn: Easy to crochet with Works up fast Looks great Holds its form well Comes in a fun and attractive variety of colors and patterns Can be purchased in a number of venues Not too rough in texture Holds its shape very well when worked up What I Don’t Like About Wool Ease Thick and Quick One thing I noticed that I don’t like about this yarn is that it becomes a bit pilly over time. However, I’ve had the same problem with every type of super bulky yarn I’ve purchased so it isn’t unique in this way. Not completely made of wool for those looking for a completely natural product. Project Ideas for Wool Ease Thick and Quick I personally chose this product because I wanted to make a new throw for our living room. Other ideas for this yarn include: Hats Hoods Cowls Mittens Basket Stuffed animals Ravelry.com is a really great resource for finding free and premium crochet patterns. I went there to find some crochet patterns using Wool Ease Thick and Quick, and I will share some of the ones that caught my eye below. Keep in mind that in order to use this website, you will need to register. It’s free to register but it’s a small hurdle you’ll need to do in order to search their database or view my suggestions. Jessie Stash Basket – a cute basket you can use to house your yarn stash or any number of items. Waistcoat Basket – This is the same basket I used for my daughter’s pegdolls. The creator Stephanie Jessica Lau makes a lot of really beautiful patterns. Faux Knit Twisted Ear Warmer – This head warmer pattern looks knit but is actually crochet. Very pretty and looks warm too. Where to Purchase Wool Ease Thick and Quick From Lion Brand You can purchase this yarn directly from the Lion Brand website. They offer a LOT of color options and often run sales that allow you to purchase their yarn at a chapter price. This yarn can also be found online on , or in retail stores like Walmart, Michaels, and JoAnn Fabrics. 2. Caron Simply Soft Let me introduce you to Caron Simply Soft. This is one of the first yarns that I ever purchased. I’ve made several afghan blankets with them as well as a few hats. There’s a wide range of colors and this brand is very soft and inexpensive. You can buy enough for a blanket without breaking the bank. This is size 4 medium yarn (worsted weight) although it’s a bit thinner than other worsted weight yarns. It’s recommended to use an H-8 5MM crochet hook. The yarn is very glossy and pretty when worked up. This yarn is completely synthetic and made from acrylic. The yarn can be machine washed and dried and is easy to care for. Caron Simply Soft is made in the United States. What I Like About Caron Simply Soft Yarn Some things I like about Caron Simply Soft are: Pretty colors A glossy look Holds up pretty well over time even after being washed Very soft Can be bought in most places where yarn is sold Made in the USA What I Don’t Like About Caron Simply Soft Yarn Doesn’t hold its shape well. If you want to make something that has structure this is not the yarn for you. The yarn can split apart as you’re working which can be a nuisance. Takes a while to work up. If you want a project that will work up quickly, try something with a bit more bulk. Even other worsted weight yarn like Red Heart Super Saver (will talk about this later) will work up faster than this yarn will. Project Ideas for Caron Simply Soft I think this yarn is good for things like: Blankets Baby blankets Sweaters or other clothing Ravelry projects you might enjoy include: Spectrum Afghan– a colorful blanket by the Caron Design Team. Fair Isle Mittens – I personally think fair isle patterns are very pretty and this design by Yarnspirations looks lovely. Friendship Shawl – A pretty shawl design by Kim Guzman. Where to Purchase Caron Simply Soft You can buy Caron Simply Soft Yarn on , or at other major stores like Michaels, JoAnn Fabrics, or Walmart. 3. Red Heart Super Saver Yarn Red Heart Super Saver yarn is like the workhouse of the yarn community. It’s the yarn your grandmother probably used. It’s consistent. It works up well. It holds its structure well. You can find it in almost any color or pattern you can imagine. It’s 100% made of acrylic and it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. This is a worsted weight yarn that can be washed, dried, set out in the elements, and keep on ticking. The only thing you shouldn’t do with it is iron it or try to use it as hot pads. It will melt and burn. It was not created for that. What I Like About Red Heart Super Saver Yarn Comes in a variety of colors and patterns Can be found almost anywhere (including your local thrift store) Very consistent yarn — you always know what to expect Can be used to make a wide variety of things Inexpensive What I Don’t Like About Red Heart Super Saver Yarn Although yarn has come a long way in this department, Red Heart Super Saver yarn is not as soft as some other choices Non-natural fibers if you’re looking for natural yarn Not sure how to describe this, but this yarn looks the most basic in my opinion for a finished product Project Ideas for Red Heart Super Saver Yarn You can make just about anything with this yarn including: Hats Gloves Scarves Sweaters Headbands Blankets Stuffed animals or amigurumi Toilet seat covers Some fun ideas on Ravelry for this yarn are: Yarn Yoshi – Do you have someone in your life who loves Mario? This pattern by Ami Amour is ADORable. Cici’s Ombre Super Scarf – Looking for an ombre scarf pattern that you can make while watching your favorite TV show? This one by Yarnspirations will make you feel beautiful. Corner-to-Corner Ombre Throw – Keeping on the ombre train, this pattern by Carolyn Calderon is a nice throw made in an ombre pattern. Where to Buy Red Heart Super Saver Yarn You can buy this yarn almost anywhere that sells yarn. It’s available on as well as other retailers like JoAnn Fabrics, Michaels, and Walmart. 4. Sugar’n Cream Yarn by Lily and Yarnspirations Sugar’n Cream by Lily and Yarnspirations is usually made into little bundles of yarn or larger cones of yarn. The yarn is made of 100% cotton grown in the United States and is made in Canada. It comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns and can be found online and in-store in many locations. This is a medium worsted weight yarn that works best with a 4 MM to 5MM crochet hook. It can be washed and dried, but do be careful the first time you wash it because sometimes the colors run. It’s not recommended to iron this yarn even though it is made of natural fibers. What I Like About Sugar’n Cream Yarn This is one of my favorite yarns. Here’s why: 100% natural fibers and grown in the US Comes in a variety of colors and patterns Looks very nice worked up Perfect for kitchen items like dish towels and washcloths What I Don’t Like About Sugar’n Cream Yarn Sometimes I have trouble with the yarn getting tangled although that may just be user error. Some colors bleed the first or second time you get them wet. I’ve noticed it most with the bright blue colors. Project Ideas for Sugar’n Cream Yarn I use this yarn to make dishcloths, and you can check out my free pattern here if you’re interested in making some of your own. Some other ideas for projects are: Dishtowels Amigurumi Placemats Dolls Rugs Baby blanket Baby booties Market bags On Ravelry, a few fun patterns include: Circle Rug. More of a hexagon than a rug, this rug is quite nice for a living room or a baby’s room. Pretty as a Picture Frames. Small little circle frames for little pictures. Easy, Breezy Carry-All. A bag you can take to the farmer’s market with you and pick up all the lovely flowers and vegetables. Where to Buy Sugar’n Cream Yarn You can buy this yarn online on , or in retail stores like Walmart, JoAnn Fabrics, or Michael’s. 5. Vanna’s Choice by Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Lion Brand Yarn is a 100% acrylic yarn that is similar to the Red Heart Super Saver. In my opinion, this yarn is a bit softer and looks a little nicer than Super Saver Yarn. Vanna’s Choice is a worsted 4 medium weight yarn and Lion Brand recommends you use a J-10 6MM crochet hook with this yarn. It can

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