tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post7929228004849051144..comments2023-07-30T07:14:54.632-05:00Comments on FiberLife: Fiber for KnittersPJ Kitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835001952770913494noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post-36061065924371762692008-04-08T04:24:00.000-05:002008-04-08T04:24:00.000-05:00I too believe the tendency of the general public/n...I too believe the tendency of the general public/new knitters in choosing acrylics is simply one of finances. They have a misconception, too, of wool being coarse and itchy, as many of the retail garments are. I believe that as they progress in the craft, their curiosity will bring them around to the natural fibers, as I have. Now I can't bring myself to buying a yarn containing any acrylic, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post-42621410127921850572007-09-25T19:06:00.000-05:002007-09-25T19:06:00.000-05:00For a long time I used the yarn from Wal Mart, JoA...For a long time I used the yarn from Wal Mart, JoAnn's, and Michaels that is mostly acrylic. But I was given some nice wool and made a lovely cardigan sweater with it. Then I spent 6 month in Lufkin Texas in the fall and winter and it was cold and wet and the only thing that kept me warm and comfortable was that wool cardigan. So much for acrylic........ I have learned that natural fibers haveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post-79244917052372243582007-06-20T16:36:00.000-05:002007-06-20T16:36:00.000-05:00The next time you are asked why acrylic is more af...The next time you are asked why acrylic is more affordable than natural fibers don't forget to tell them that it is because there are government subsidies that prop up that industry were as most of us "mom and pop" fiber places are on our own. The cost of our fiber and yarns includes the very good care (along with hugs and one on one attention) of our animals along with the sustainable productionDancingfarmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02542161200214992918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post-69192301706308762062007-05-27T02:16:00.000-05:002007-05-27T02:16:00.000-05:00Much like many people, I started knitting with acr...Much like many people, I started knitting with acrylics because they were affordable and relatively easy to find. Also, I was living in southern CA and wool was too hot. However, the wool I encountered back then was also scratchy, so it didn't appeal to me much at all. I didn't get it until I started talking with spinners and the softer wool yarns became more reasonably priced and easier to Annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06894634899498238351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post-53142666549922150752007-05-23T08:50:00.000-05:002007-05-23T08:50:00.000-05:00That's extremely strange to me. I'm 54, and even ...That's extremely strange to me. I'm 54, and even before I started knitting, living through the "mini-ice age" of the late 70s in a poorly-heated house I quickly learned to value the superior warmth and insulation qualities of wool compared to acrylic (not to mention the incredible contribution that a little layer of silk longjohns can make to keeping warm), and I've "always" known that cotton T-Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post-78643662255965238522007-05-08T22:51:00.000-05:002007-05-08T22:51:00.000-05:00I imagine they think acrylic is good because it's ...I imagine they think acrylic is good because it's machine washable and cheap in their local chain store. But if you describe the wearability, long life, insulating properties and softness, they might catch on. Letting them handle and compare some acrylic and some fine wool might help, but if they are thinking about knitting for children you'll have a hard sell on natural fibers unless they ski.Swanknitterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06801796808525538417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post-17110423848511139282007-05-04T21:54:00.000-05:002007-05-04T21:54:00.000-05:00Hey, tnwvr, haven't seen you at SAFF in years. Wh...Hey, tnwvr, haven't seen you at SAFF in years. When were you there last? When did you demo? Wish I had known you were teaching a class at a local knitting shop.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post-6284999922698765052007-04-29T18:45:00.000-05:002007-04-29T18:45:00.000-05:00I became a knitter two years ago when my step-gran...I became a knitter two years ago when my step-granddaughter asked me to help her with a knitting project her grandma had helped her start. Since grandma and I are actually quite friendly, I gave her a call to find out where she hoped this project would go. It was to be a washcloth and little one had dropped a stitch. I was able to "unknit" back to the dropped stitch and then pick it up and start Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14504489123681184991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post-32191638505194868392007-04-26T15:38:00.000-05:002007-04-26T15:38:00.000-05:00You know, you're kind of in a sticky situation. I...You know, you're kind of in a sticky situation. If these new knitters think acrylic is superior to natural fibers because of the price, teaching at a yarn shop isn't really the best place to promote affordable wool/alpaca, like that sold through KnitPicks. I'm sure the LYS owner would LOVE that! I haven't been to my LYS much since I started spinning, but the most affordable wool I recall them Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post-58729070889851366072007-04-26T12:01:00.000-05:002007-04-26T12:01:00.000-05:00Thank you all! I was beginning to think I was a c...Thank you all! I was beginning to think I was a confirmed candidate for old-fogeyhood. These were indeed all relatively new knitters - the most experienced had only been knitting for about six months. But the 'lecture' was hosted by a yarn shop that carries a wide selection of natural fibers, these were students of the owner, and I know that owner loves natural fibers. So I was flummoxed! PJ Kitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02835001952770913494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post-74438064892045319942007-04-26T11:39:00.000-05:002007-04-26T11:39:00.000-05:00Very strange. The tactile sensation of knitting an...Very strange. The tactile sensation of knitting and spinning is so important to me (and always has been) that it's hard for me to imagine even a new knitter wanting to feel that junk passing through their hands. Maybe these people were taught by people who only use the junk. Maybe they don't realize that the Lion stuff is actually not cheap, and that you can find natural fibers that are more Frithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10430665735827913545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post-55847637711466700832007-04-26T08:53:00.000-05:002007-04-26T08:53:00.000-05:00My guess would be that they generally buy yarn in ...My guess would be that they generally buy yarn in the craft department of the local "big box store", where acrylic is overwhelmingly available, and relatively cheap. They haven't tried wool, so they don't know how much nicer it is to work with. They're afraid it will be hard to care for (washing, storing, etc.). They think of wool as itchy & too warm and heavy. Maybe you could have 2 similar Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18443682747370299287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post-70722774025663945492007-04-25T17:21:00.000-05:002007-04-25T17:21:00.000-05:00Agreed--you were probably talking to a class of be...Agreed--you were probably talking to a class of beginners. There were probably a couple of more experienced knitters sitting in the back, horribly embarassed by their fellows!<BR/><BR/>I started out on acrylic and didn't really know there was another option until I'd been knitting (off and on, because, OW) for about six years, believe it or not. The good part is that when I found the good stuff (Mollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03120165937428117931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624177.post-72590266889847879922007-04-25T16:19:00.000-05:002007-04-25T16:19:00.000-05:00I'm as perplexed as you. The only thing that make...I'm as perplexed as you. The only thing that makes sense is that these were relatively new knitters. When I was a new knitter (last year!), I of course knew the difference between plants and animals but not necessarily the characteristics of the two. The more I knit, the more I appreciate and understand the benefits of animal fibers. I still knit with cotton and soy and even corn, because I Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com