DS2 is growing like a weed, so I desperately need to get knitting and make him some more longies that actually cover both his nappy and his lower legs . Does anybody have a fave wool for knitting longies? Preferably aran (or even chunky?) weight so they knit up quick as I am lacking both time and patience at the moment! Available online as Roo is ill and I can’t face the shops! And ummmm…....cheap too!?....and pretty obviously!
Fyberspates I think. There are some colours reduced on ebay.
My hand-dye was cheaper even with buying dyes and a new pan and steamer for the day of playing lol, but I am guessing that dying your own is really really not an option with time and poorly-children constraints!!
Twilleys Freedom Spirit. It’s actually DK, but quite a thick one, but I don’t really like Arran, as it’s a bit too chunky. Artesano do an Alpaca in their Hummingbird range and that’s stunning, if you want something really soft!
Oh, and all the wools I use for my customs are available online as yarns as well, and I have a best price policy, so I doubt you’ll find it cheaper!
Really? Freedom Spirit is one of the thinnest dks ever! It works up like sock yarn! Spirit is aran weight, but more expensive relatively. Freedom Spirit is really thin (but gorgeous, admittedly, one of my favorite yarns). Totally agree with the Alpaca though, Hummingbird is gorgeously soft (and great for those with a wool allergy, you non-wool-using mamas). It’s about average in price for a good quality dk too.
Freedom spirit DK is considerably thicker than the Hummingbird DK. I knit with both regularly, sometimes in combination with each other, and the FS is definitely much thicker than the Hummingbird DK, and in fact than any other DK I’ve ever used I think.
Freedom Spirit has nerly 120m to 50g, Hummingbird has only 100m to 50g… They both knit up on the same needles, but alpaca has considerably more loft. *shrugs* They joy of yarn, it is a pretty subjective business. Am sitting here with both of them, and I reckon the lighter twist on the Freedom Spirit gives it less flexability so the Artesano certainly *can* be stretched thinner due to that elastcitiy. I really do use Freedom Spirit with a 2.5m hook for lace making though.
Fyberspates is much thicker - the only comparable dk IME is Colinette Art (though more expensive, I take no responsibility lol). Not terrible value for the bigger size skeins. And the minimal bamboo content make the colours shimmer.
PCC, have you used Lamb’s Pride? The last pair of shorties worked up very fast in that though it is a little on the expensive side. Am using a Falkland chunky from Bluefaced.com right now and that would totally fit the bill but I’m not sure if it only comes undyed. Nice and soft, and working up very fast (making a coat for Jenna).
Can I hi-jack this slightly? (Sorry Purplecavingcat!)
I haven’t experimented with longies or soakers yet but my mother-in-law is looking for something to knit so I thought I’d ask for a pair of longies or soakers for my wee girl. Any advice re: colours? and preferred wool for them? I’d like something pretty (but that doesn’t mean pink!) but am happy to pay for reasonable wool (but not really expensive, special wool until I know that we get on with them).
How are wool wraps in a sling? Do they wick?
I will check out all the wool recommended so far, thanks, but any other advice (like the best pattern to use, I’ve found a couple online already) and any handy hints for sizing would be greatly received.
For soakers, it’s well worth doing alpaca cuffs, with a cheaper wool for the main body. It just gives that gorgeous softness where it touches the skin, but you don’t really need that for anywhere which doesn’t touch. Having said that, Alpaca is absolutely gorgeous both to knit and to touch! Also, just make sure the yarn you use is NOT machine washable, so it will absorb lanolin.
Incidentally, I put a question on Revelry’s forum about the thickness of Twilleys Freedom Spirit, and everyone there agreed with me that it is quite a thick DK wool. Length of yarn to weight doesn’t really mean a lot, as different wools are different densities anyway - some fibres weigh heavier than others, so length of yarn produced per gram o=is not an accurate way of deciding how thick a yarn will be
I’m using this to knit shorties for Thom. I got 10 balls for £9 from our local wool shop a while ago. It’s lovely to work with and I love the way you get a pattern/stripey effect with no effort.
Has anyone used alpaca for wool nappy covers?
I ask bc i did a quick googled and saw that alpaca has no lanolin and therefore wouldn’t work for wraps….
i’ve just bought 2 skeins of Hummingbird dk so i hope you guys tell me alpaca CAN be used for wraps!!
Has anyone used alpaca for wool nappy covers?
I ask bc i did a quick googled and saw that alpaca has no lanolin and therefore wouldn’t work for wraps….
i’ve just bought 2 skeins of Hummingbird dk so i hope you guys tell me alpaca CAN be used for wraps!!
Yes you can use alpaca, although alpaca doesn’t have lanolin in it naturally you can just lanolise them yourself. They wash and lanolise brilliantly. Will be lovely through the Summer too as alpaca is lighter and less warm.
That looks like lovely wool Roof.
I think a trip to my local wool shop may be in order.
X
Yes you can. Hummingbird is one of the yarns I offer for my custom made nappy covers, and in fact prefer to use it for the cuffs of soakers, even if the rest of the soaker is made from ordinary wool, as it’s so soft against the skin . It accepts lanolin beautifully, and it is absolutely gorgeous for nappy covers.
. Does anybody have a fave wool for knitting longies? Preferably aran (or even chunky?) weight so they knit up quick as I am lacking both time and patience at the moment! Available online as Roo is ill and I can’t face the shops! And ummmm…....cheap too!?....and pretty obviously!
