best yarn for sweaters?

[bookaholic]

This is going to be my first time making one, so I don't want to use any of those fancy yarns. I'm thinking of ordering from Lion Brand online, but I don't know what kind to get.  

[centaury]

it depends on what type of sweater you want to make... confused

my most recent sweater involves a wool-cotton blend, size 6 needles, and some ribbon.

 

[Blue-eyes-green]

I'd just suggest using something that's at least 90% a natural fiber- they breathe better, making a sweater more wearable. Also, cotton sweaters tend to be very heavy, so wool or wool and cotton blends tend to work better.  

[bookaholic]

Hm... I want to be able to wash it in the machine, but it's not essential... If I did, I'm supposing it would shrink, right?

The pattern that I got uses acrylic yarn.... I didn't want to use the yarn that they did, though, because it's rather scratchy.

Also, what's the best place to buy yarn online? I already looked at Lion brand, but I'd like to know other people's opinions.  

[centaury]

i dont like lion brand yarns. just a personal opinion. i like kpixie.com for buying yarn online. but i think its best to go to your LYS for yarn. then you can see the yarn in person, and see if it will be right for your pattern.

 

[bookaholic]

The only store around here that isn't specialty yarn (as in hand-dyed and outrageously expensive) is Michaels, and it sucks... it only carries 3 brands.  

[DecemberFlower]

I'd recommend Webs for sweater quantity yarn. Orders over $60 are 20% off. I don't know if that's more than you're looking to spend. Elann.com is also a really good source for discount yarns, and they have a really big selection of yarns. You could probably find something there in whatever fiber type you're looking for.  

[centaury]

DecemberFlower

I'd recommend Webs for sweater quantity yarn. Orders over $60 are 20% off. I don't know if that's more than you're looking to spend. Elann.com is also a really good source for discount yarns, and they have a really big selection of yarns. You could probably find something there in whatever fiber type you're looking for.

i LOVE webs. its about an hour away from my house, so i go there all the time. they have the most amazing selection EVER and affordable prices too, and all the best brands like noro (okay, so i'm biased. noro is my favorite brand), brown sheep, blue sky alpacas, etc. etc.

p.s. to the author of this thread: other things to take into consideration are yarn weight, color, fiber, etc. acyrlic tends to be itchy and squeaky, if it is cheaply made, because it is made out of plastic. animal fibers are my personal favorite. experiment a bit to find out which works best for you. what sort of sweater do you want to make? (cardigan, pullover, short sleeved, cropped, scoopneck, turtleneck, vee-neck, etc.)

 

[DecemberFlower]

centaury

DecemberFlower

I'd recommend Webs for sweater quantity yarn. Orders over $60 are 20% off. I don't know if that's more than you're looking to spend. Elann.com is also a really good source for discount yarns, and they have a really big selection of yarns. You could probably find something there in whatever fiber type you're looking for.

i LOVE webs. its about an hour away from my house, so i go there all the time. they have the most amazing selection EVER and affordable prices too, and all the best brands like noro (okay, so i'm biased. noro is my favorite brand), brown sheep, blue sky alpacas, etc. etc.

p.s. to the author of this thread: other things to take into consideration are yarn weight, color, fiber, etc. acyrlic tends to be itchy and squeaky, if it is cheaply made, because it is made out of plastic. animal fibers are my personal favorite. experiment a bit to find out which works best for you. what sort of sweater do you want to make? (cardigan, pullover, short sleeved, cropped, scoopneck, turtleneck, vee-neck, etc.)

Someday, I hope to make a pilgrimage to Webs. xp For now, I'll content myself with just ordering online and enjoying the discount.



And to the OP, if you're looking for some recommendations for fiber types, if it's a cold weather sweater, I'd recommend something with wool or alpaca. Alpaca especially, for it is heart .  

[Silver Mist]

...I used to live 30 minutes from webs and never once went....

I know, I know! Dumb move. But- I always thought of it on sundays and their closed sundays.  

[centaury]

Silver Mist

...I used to live 30 minutes from webs and never once went....

I know, I know! Dumb move. But- I always thought of it on sundays and their closed sundays.

lol yeah... by "all the time" i meant more like "once every few months." usually i just go to my LYS.

 

[bookaholic]

centaury

DecemberFlower

I'd recommend Webs for sweater quantity yarn. Orders over $60 are 20% off. I don't know if that's more than you're looking to spend. Elann.com is also a really good source for discount yarns, and they have a really big selection of yarns. You could probably find something there in whatever fiber type you're looking for.

i LOVE webs. its about an hour away from my house, so i go there all the time. they have the most amazing selection EVER and affordable prices too, and all the best brands like noro (okay, so i'm biased. noro is my favorite brand), brown sheep, blue sky alpacas, etc. etc.

p.s. to the author of this thread: other things to take into consideration are yarn weight, color, fiber, etc. acyrlic tends to be itchy and squeaky, if it is cheaply made, because it is made out of plastic. animal fibers are my personal favorite. experiment a bit to find out which works best for you. what sort of sweater do you want to make? (cardigan, pullover, short sleeved, cropped, scoopneck, turtleneck, vee-neck, etc.)

the pattern is a longish cardigan, kind of like a trenchcoat (but not)  

[centaury]

bookaholic

centaury

DecemberFlower

I'd recommend Webs for sweater quantity yarn. Orders over $60 are 20% off. I don't know if that's more than you're looking to spend. Elann.com is also a really good source for discount yarns, and they have a really big selection of yarns. You could probably find something there in whatever fiber type you're looking for.

i LOVE webs. its about an hour away from my house, so i go there all the time. they have the most amazing selection EVER and affordable prices too, and all the best brands like noro (okay, so i'm biased. noro is my favorite brand), brown sheep, blue sky alpacas, etc. etc.

p.s. to the author of this thread: other things to take into consideration are yarn weight, color, fiber, etc. acyrlic tends to be itchy and squeaky, if it is cheaply made, because it is made out of plastic. animal fibers are my personal favorite. experiment a bit to find out which works best for you. what sort of sweater do you want to make? (cardigan, pullover, short sleeved, cropped, scoopneck, turtleneck, vee-neck, etc.)

the pattern is a longish cardigan, kind of like a trenchcoat (but not)

do you know what size needles and yarn weight the pattern calls for? that could help...