New to weaving

rhndy1031 wrote

on 1 Sep 2010 7:04 PM

How do I decide what yarn is best for a project? Including which yarn to use for warp/

I have a 36' 4 shaft, 6 tradle gilmore. i want to make 2 baby blankets. i would also like to make placemats and kitchen towels for christmas. In the past I have bought kits or my instructor told me what to use.

Thanks

Su Butler wrote

on 2 Sep 2010 7:38 AM

HI rhndy.......to choose yarns, consider the product you are making.  You said you want to make baby blankets.  That means an item that can be frequently laundered, is soft next to the skin, isn't too flammable and will hold up to repeated use.  Now think of the properties of the fibers you are considering.  Acrylic, while sturdy, is not a very good choice because in the case of a fire, it could melt and stick to the baby's skin.  It is also not  very breathable, and while it will keep a baby warm, it will not allow air flow to reach baby.  Cotton is a good choice, because it is readily launderable, sturdy, soft and self extinguishes if near flame.  Wool, the superwash kind that won't felt or shrink with repeated washing, is another good choice if baby is in a cold environment.  Both cotton and wool are pretty forgiving on the loom so dressing the loom and weaving is usually a painless experience.  For mats and kitchen towels, absorbancy, heat protection, ability to lie flat, lauderability etc, are some of the considerations.  Mats should probably be heavier so they will lie flat and true and protect the table from heat and dishes, while towels need to be very absorbant, able to dry quickly and without mildew, and more flexible than mats.  So a heavier yarn might be appropriate for a mat and a finer, more absorbant yarn for a towel. 

The natural fiber yarns will usually serve your purposes well.  Those spun for weaving are best as they can withstand the rigors of handweaving.  Cotton, cottolin and linen are excellent choices for towels and mats.  Cotton and wool or blends for baby blankets.  Study the different yarns and their properties and you can make educated choices about which to use for any given project.  Then list out the properties necessary in the item you are to weave and choose yarns that are most appropriate for your chosen item.  With time and experience you will learn which yarns are most suitable. 

Hope that helps.

Su