Yarn Preference?

[Montana Mommy]

Still being rather new to the whole fiber crafting experience, I didn't realize until just very recently how many people absolutely despise acrylic yarn!

 

One of my dear friends will go as far to call herself a "yarn snob" and is diligently and patiently instructing me on much finer yarns and those, according to her, do not include "Anything made by Red Heart!"

 

Well!

 

Thing is, is that if I'm going to make a rough and tumble afghan that will be used by my child while he plays on the floor or outside on the grass, I'd rather it was made out of the sturdy and not as soft Red Heart yarn.

 

It's only been very recently that more brands of yarn have come into my area of the world, and like I said, I'm still learning!

 

Still, I'd like to know more about this strong aversion for Red Heart and acrylic yarn that I occassionally hear about and get your opinions on your favorite yarns!

[RachelG]

I'm not rich enough to be a yarn snob. I use Red Heart (when I use yarn at all...I'm a threadie) because it comes in plenty of colors, can be used for a variety of projects, and face it, it's cheap! If I were a millionaire...yes I would get the nicer yarns, but I would have absolutely nothing against using acrylic. There's my :twocents ) Isn't Lionbrand's Homespun 98% acrylic? I adore it. It's soooo soft, and comes in so many pretty colors. (It is a little hard to work with see the stitches, but I certainly don't mind that it is acrylic.)

[srmc]

<span style="font-family:comic sans ms; color:navy;">Pretty much everything I have ever made for someone (baby blankets mostly) has been using the Red Heart Acrylic yarn. I never really bought anything else as I like the colors and the price.

 

It was not until this Christmas where I actually branched out and bought different kinds of yarn (cotton, wool etc.). I really liked using something different. Of course I still bought my yarn at the larger stores as I really cannot afford almost $30.00 a hank at the local yarn store.

 

After working with the different yarns I must say that I really enjoyed my experience but I honestly do not think there is anything wrong with the acrylic (majority of yarn by other companies is partly acrylic too) or with Red Heart specifically and will continue to use them especially when it comes to something a child may be using.</span>

[Julie]

Some people don't like Red Heart because it isn't as soft as other yarns. I solve that problem while throwing it in the washing machine and dryer a couple of times. The colors are great, you rarely have to worry about knots or dyelot issues (provided you buy enough of the same one for your project) and the price is excellent. It is acrylic, but so what? I buy it because of those reasons I listed, plus it's easy to get and lasts a lifetime. I'd love to play with some of those fancier yarns and sometimes I get the chance though not often. I still Red Heart.

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

I started crocheting w/ red heart and still use it all the time. I also use alot of baby yarns because they're softer but they're still acrylic and a good price.

[antara]

I started out with Red Heart, too, and still use it a lot. But after several years of crocheting, I started to get kind of bored with it, and began to branch out to other kinds of yarn as well.

[mc_crochets]

I <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/heartpump.gif" /> My <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/heartpump.gif" /> Super Saver <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/rowofhearts.gif" /> it allows me to crochet on what is basically a non existant budget for extras!! I'm not brave enough to use the bulky or the Lionbrand HOmespun yet though <img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/blush.gif" />

[Guest Yarnentangled]

I love the price and the ease in which I can crochet with the regular worsted yarn. )

 

However, as I have whined in another post, I usually find one or two knots in the yarn in the middle of a project.:mad

 

The rough texture is annoying too.

 

I'd love to be able to afford natural yarns but its too much money for my skills. I stick to Red Heart type stuff simply to hone my craft. When I am a master crocheter I'll prolly move on up.

[mc_crochets]

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>However, as I have whined in another post, I usually find one or two knots in the yarn in the middle of a project<hr></blockquote>

 

I too have had this problem, and being as i'm a little lazy sometimes, in my daughters afghan, i just kept right on going...but in the poncho i made, i cliped the knot out and rejoined the yarn.<img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/iamsmiling.gif" />

[mythunderbird]

i love red heart. i have used alot of different yarns. (not wool as i am allergic to it) and i think the red heart is by far the best. they have a variety of yarns now, although they are all acrylic(so what) they have some different textures too. i made a scarf and hat set last night using the new red heart foxy yarn(which is like a eyelash) and also used the plush in a cream color. finished project is wonderful, so for all of those people who think they are to good for red heart:nana :nana :nana i have been crocheting for over 41 years and will always use my favorite yarn:sun vicki

[natalie058]

Ummm... I use red heart and the 'nicer' stuff like wool/cotton/alpaca etc, too. I like it all, it just depends on what I'm making. When I want an afghan to be washable and sturdy I use rh or wal-mart mainstays which is even cheaper... i like to make scarves with nicer stuff cuz they're small and you don't have to spend a lot, or this nice shawl i'm planning to make with ribbon will cost a bundle but i'm keeping it, so it's worth it!! I think there is nothing wrong with acrylic at all, although lately i'm loving LB Wool-Ease for afghans cuz it's lots softer, and there've been good sales so I've stocked up...

[buggaboosmommy]

I use Red Heart for 90% of my projects, just because that is what I can buy in my area.

 

However, I do order yarn from time to time. I love the Lion Brand Boucle, Incredible, and Chunky. I enjoy using yarns of different textures..adds some flair :danc

 

Donna

[ladywyntir]

my husband's vegan and we only use acrylic yarns. Sometimes blends (nylon and polyester) but mostly acrylic. If someone requests wool, however, i will purchase it to make it for them.

 

Haven't tried cotton yet, but it's SO Expensive!

 

Reynold's has a wonderful 100% acrylic yarn that is SO SOFT! Once you wash it, it's like a cloud! However it's expensive, too ($4.50 a skein!).

 

I'm making a poncho now with the SuperSaver :)h and it's fun because i'm not afraid of running out!

 

I think acrylic is wonderful! It's sturdy and i agree with a few washings it will get very soft.

 

 

~Marj :cloud9

[Ambersafghans]

Red heart is what I use for the most part.

I am enjoying some other baby yarns though.

Amber

[Guest SamplerLady]

Everything has it's place. I use acrylics for charity work as it's easy to care of. Same with stuff for the kidlets and my own kids who are too lazy or don't care enough to take care of good wool. I use wool for my slippers, hats, etc., because it's so much better at climate control than acrylic.

 

Acrylic is less expensive and there fore I can make more stuff for each $ spent. So I think, for the most part, I buy stuff so I can crochet. I don't buy stuff and then crochet it. Make sense?

[Montana Mommy]

I feel so much better after reading all your responses!

 

I've dabbled with other yarns for specific projects, using the fun fur, and different Lion Brand yarns that I realized are mostly acrylic but definitely soft and work up nicely.

 

For Christmas I was given a lovely skein of handpainted fluffy mohair (I think that's what it is anyway) and am almost afraid to use it! I should post a photo, it's really a lovely yarn.

 

So I think, for the most part, I buy stuff so I can crochet. I don't buy stuff and then crochet it. Make sense?

 

That said it all, thanks for the perspective!

[ZingyZoid]

Being new to working with yarn myself I wondered too what everyone else liked. I started with Red Heart because I have no experience and wasn't buying the "good" stuff right off. I made a baby afghan from Red Heart and when I washed it (once) I was very surprised by how much softer I thought it felt.

 

Once in Michael's I was chatting with a woman who has been knitting and crocheting for years and she was raving about Red Heart. She was saying that at one point she couldn't find Red Heart in stores and would order it special (No idea where she lived). She loves it.

 

As far as the knots in the middle of the skein go I have experienced that a lot and I've only been crocheting for a few months. I was angry the first time and thought I'd gotten a bad skein, lol. But I've had it happen with Red Heart, Bernat, Wool-ease, Sugar 'n Cream... So I guess that's just a fact of yarn?

 

I don't think any of the yarn, except the cotton, that I've worked with DOESN'T have acrylic in it. And I like it all.

[deneen]

I am not crazy about RH, but have used it a lot because it is inexpensive and comes in tons of colors. I did buy two skeins of RH Supersaver no dye lot in the same color, but when I put them together they did not match, so you have to be careful.

 

I found Caron brand is much nicer. Softer, better feel. A 1 lb skein is about $5.00. However, there aren't as much color choices.

 

I use RH to make afghans, held together with boa and other novelty yarns, but if I were rich, I would avoid it!!

[threeolivemartini]

I am not afraid to admit.. I am a yarn snob..

 

i do use acrylic where there is a call for it.. say my nephews blanket that will need to go thru the wash many many times over.. however.. i would have used superwash wool if i could have found it because i like the feel of it better....but i couldnt so he got acrylic .. i do have to say .. i like caron simply soft way better than red heart super saver.. but you know each yarn has its use and place...

 

for something that doesnt need much care the acrylic is great and for my squares my sisters and I do we do them in acrylic..i use the simply soft more in that though than i do the RH.. anyway ..

 

to each his own.. variety is the spice of life .. if we all liked the same thing we would only need one hook and one yarn...

[Kathleen]

Okay, I too admit it, I am a yarn snob! I just hate the texture of "cheap" yarn. One of the pleasures I get from creating is the texture of a great yarn running through my fingers.

 

I have learned that some expensive yarns are VERY HARD to frog, so I do try to make a project out of froggable yarn first, before I graduate to a beautiful, textured, hand dyed, soft yarn I pay a buttload for. :hyper

[threeolivemartini]

One of the pleasures I get from creating is the texture of a great yarn running through my fingers.

 

 

i couldnt agree more !!

 

 

well said !

[mythunderbird]

LOL, there is room for everyone to like all the differnt kinds of yarn. right? :? vicki

[Stacey]

I loooove nice, soft, expensive yarn ) but I usually can't afford it, so I use a lot of less expensive acrylic. I don't have any problem with Red Heart super saver - once it's been washed it gets soft - but I like Caron Simply Soft better for a lot of things. (If I need a lot of yarn, the difference in price can really add up, though.)

 

And if something needs to stand up to a lot of wear, Red Heart super saver is my first choice. It's also what has the best color selection in my area (though if I go to Columbus or Parkersburg I can find other things in a better selection than here in Podunk :spina

[Ambersafghans]

I'm falling in love with Caron's Simply soft and Cuddle soft. And I just got some cha cha It's difficult to undo, and a little hard to get going but oh is it soft!

Amber

[Suebee42]

If I'm messing around, I often end up with RH... but if I am making a gift, I usually go with Caron Simply Soft. I have two wedding gift afghans to make, and I'll just suck up the extra expense and go for the softer yarn. I wish the Caron Pounders came in more colors... I really do prefer it over Red Heart in the "cheap acrylic" category.

 

I have very sensitive skin, so for items for myself, unless I am wearing the item over other clothes items, I simply -can't- use RH. It makes me itch like mad. I did make myself a poncho from black RH, but I always wear it over a long-sleeve turtleneck. I don't have a choice.