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Yarn standards
3528 views   4 replies   Latest reply: July 18, 2013 at 9:36:56 PM

 
Member since:
Jul 3, 2013
Posts: 575
BetwixtTheStitch message #1
Yarn standards
July 17, 2013 at 8:44:22 AM
 
I was trying to post a link to the Craft Yarn Council standards page, however firefox won't allow it Undecided.
I'd like to see a discussion about yarn in general and thought the labeling standards would be a good place to start.
Of course the standards are interpreted loosely by manufacturers, so a place to talk about it and post what we have learned from experience seems very appropriate.


Sherry


 
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Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4610
Stitchboard Admin message #2
Re: Yarn standards
July 17, 2013 at 3:24:27 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #1)
 
Thank you for starting this discussion!  Smile  It's one I've wanted to have for a long time.

Here's the link to the CYC standards page:
http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/weight.html

My take on it is this: these are supposed to be standards, but sadly, I find they're all over the place.  I wrote about it some time ago in my (sorely neglected) blog:
/stitchgoddess/?p=17

Until manufacturers and publishers are held to exactly the same standards, it's going to be dicey.  Some manufacturers still don't use these numbers, either!

I don't mind looking at a yarn label and seeing a gauge, rather than the craft yarn council "standards," but I mind when the gauge is, say, knitted with a lightweight yarn on ridiculously large needles, because then I can't really tell a single thing about the yarn.

As long as a yarn can be given any one of a number of designations, the system is pretty unhelpful to me.  While it works fine for a known knitting worsted or a known sport weight, it doesn't really work when a sport and a baby yarn can be similarly classified with a #2 rating, though the baby weight may be far thinner.  Yet with the "old" way of doing things, I would know that if I was looking for a thinner yarn, I'd look for baby weight, and a sport weight would do if I wanted something a bit thicker, yet not as thick as a worsted.

LOL, you can probably tell I've known this kind of frustration from painful experience!  Undecided

How have your experiences been with the "new" standards?  Smile


Melanie  (cat slave and Official Feline Can Opener) =^.^=
~~~~~
I'm a beading, knitting and crochet addict.  If that means I'm admitting I have a problem, then I admit to nothing. Please refrain from helping me.


 
Member since:
Jul 3, 2013
Posts: 575
BetwixtTheStitch message #3
Re: Yarn standards
July 18, 2013 at 8:18:23 AM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #1)
 
This is exactly why I wanted to have this discussion! I have known this frustration as well and I would like to make sure that newbies understand that it may not be them, maybe it's the yarn or the "designations".
The gauge should be taken with a grain of salt, I do a test swatch and count the stitches myself when gauge is important.


Sherry


 
Member since:
Jul 3, 2013
Posts: 575
BetwixtTheStitch message #4
Re: Yarn standards
July 18, 2013 at 8:33:57 AM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #1)
 
I've thought about blogging as well Smiley, however my back won't allow me to sit at the computer for the amount of time required so a forum such as this is a perfect place for me to contribute a little and learn some too.


Sherry


 
Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)
 
Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4610
Stitchboard Admin message #5
Re: Yarn standards
July 18, 2013 at 9:36:56 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #3)
 
I'm so glad you've wanted to have this discussion, too!  Smile  Gauge is such an important issue!

I definitely agree...anyone who is new to crochet or knitting needs to know there can be a huge difference between a "standard" and what works for them.  Everything must be swatched first.

IMO, it's a big disappointment that the standards aren't purely across the board.  Or that going with the new standards has replaced the old standards in some cases.  If the new standards worked, it would be a different story, but they're too nebulous and open to interpretation.

Like honesty, swatching and blocking are always the best policy.  I hate swatching for so many reasons...it's time consuming and (unlike what I was incorrectly told years ago) you really can't simply undo the swatch after you've blocked it and reuse the yarn.  OTOH, what's a little swatching compared to finding a garment is much too big or much too small?  Starting something over from scratch (unless you're talking about small doll clothes) is even more time consuming than swatching.  I'd much rather make a sweater once than make it twice.

As for blogs, I'm afraid I'm quite long-winded.  Tongue Out  Feel free to use our blogs here to write a simple sentence or two about what you're doing, should the mood strike.  The software should be improving, but for now, if you'd merely like to discuss your project du jour or thoughts on whatever, we'd love to hear, even if it's only a couple of lines!  Smile





Melanie  (cat slave and Official Feline Can Opener) =^.^=
~~~~~
I'm a beading, knitting and crochet addict.  If that means I'm admitting I have a problem, then I admit to nothing. Please refrain from helping me.

 
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