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KnitRedSox
Chatty Knitter
170 Posts |
 Posted - 06/20/2004 : 8:32:13 PM
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I think it just might be the consistency of the chenille, but it was VERY difficult to knit with. I made an afghan for my grandmother in a really rich red color (Scarlett). It's lush and beautiful, but the yarn kept getting stuck so there are random loops coming out of the blanket. My LYS said there was nothing I could do (except to not buy "crap yarn" anymore). Also, the thing sheds like a german shepherd! Red stuff everywhere...the nursing home workers are constantly running a lint brush over her bed to get it all! Don't be tempted...at seven fifty a skein it's pretty pricey. But I have to admit it's very soft.  I wish I had a forum like this so I could have found out ahead of time and saved myself the sixty bucks! Hopefully this will help someone. |
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cats
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
503 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2004 : 06:13:49 AM
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| I think a lot of chenille is just really difficult to knit with, at least at first. I'm working on a chenille scarf for myself with some yarn I got from the sale basket at my LYS at that stuff is just the devil to knit without some weird loops that I have no idea how they got there. I love the feel of the yarn but it truly is a devil to knit with. |
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KnitRedSox
Chatty Knitter
170 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2004 : 2:54:30 PM
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| You're probably right. The very nature of chenille doesn't lend itself to knitting. I don't think I'll use it again, though. |
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Lissa
Permanent Resident
USA
4942 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2004 : 3:26:32 PM
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LB specifically does NOT sell this yarn for knitting - only for crocheting. There's a good reason for that.
Lissa
Hey - I MEANT to do that! |
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KnitRedSox
Chatty Knitter
170 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2004 : 3:47:51 PM
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Mmmm...that's interesting and would make sense considering how frustrating it was.
But I just looked at the label and it offers a gauge for knitting and a vest pattern in knit. Also, I got the pattern for the afghan from the LB website (if I recall correctly). Maybe they just started doing it.  |
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kestrel02
Warming Up
USA
95 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2004 : 05:30:58 AM
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Lissa - Maybe I'm just really stupid, but what difference would it make if a yarn is meant for knitting or crocheting? It's still the same yarn - I just don't see what difference it would make how it was used?
Linda |
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knittykat
Seriously Hooked
USA
710 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2004 : 06:51:24 AM
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Although I think LB does market the yarn in question for both knitting and crocheting, certain things are more suited to one craft or the other. Crocheting usually makes a thicker fabric and it drapes better---in the case of this yarn it might be easier to crochet than knit because it doesn't stretch. Cotton can be the same way. I've never known someone to have difficulty crocheting it but knitting it can be a challenge at first.
Kat in Illinois |
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cats
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
503 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2004 : 08:35:50 AM
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| LB would seem to market this for knitting since the sample swatch hanging up in Hobby Lobby's yarn aisle is knitted, not crocheted. Of course, who knows if those swatches are done by hand or by machine. |
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Chequamegon
Chatty Knitter
231 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2004 : 08:56:47 AM
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I believe it is Lion Brands Chenille Sensations that is marketed as a crochet yarn. The Chenille Think n' Quick is marketed for both knitting and crocheting. If you have ever seen the Sensations, you would note that it is very delicate.
When you crochet, each stitch is complete on its own (unlike knitting where every thing is interconnected). Individual crochet stitches are connected but are not interlinked as in knitting where stiches share each others tension (suddenly this doesn't looke like it makes sense)
Think of it this way, knitting is like the strand of a spider's web and plucking one strand will send vibrations to the rest.
The chenille works against itself because of all those little fibers sticking out (like rubbing two pieces of sand paper together) plus there is that web tension thing happening. I think the shedding will eventually subside. You could handwash the afghan to see if that tames it down.
It was really sweet of you to choose a soft bright yarn and make your grandma and afghan. I bet despite all of your anguish with it, she really loves it. No matter how old we get, a soft "blankie" is always a comfort.
Mary |
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KnitRedSox
Chatty Knitter
170 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2004 : 2:09:37 PM
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| Yup, it is beautiful, and red is her favorite color. She has alzheimers so each time I show it to her it's like it's brand new! That's about the only advantage to her illness...she thinks she gets a new blanket every day! And that's bound to make anyone happy! :) |
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Lissa
Permanent Resident
USA
4942 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2004 : 11:12:13 PM
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Linda, the resultant fabric of crochet is much tighter and much more...knotted...than knit fabric. When you crochet, you bring the yarn through several loops, sometimes in several steps for one stitch, the "knotting" (sorry, can't think of a better term at the moment) secures the yarn much more than knitting does.
Lissa
Hey - I MEANT to do that! |
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shannontate
New Pal
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2004 : 11:25:25 AM
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My grandmother has Alzheimer's and I never thought about that aspect of it. I know this is a knitting forum, but I have to say that your comment made my day, even if you just said it offhandedly. I hope it makes you smile to know that you made someone else smile. Thanks.
quote:
Originally posted by KnitRedSox
Yup, it is beautiful, and red is her favorite color. She has alzheimers so each time I show it to her it's like it's brand new! That's about the only advantage to her illness...she thinks she gets a new blanket every day! And that's bound to make anyone happy! :)
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shannontate
New Pal
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2004 : 11:28:43 AM
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The only thing I have to add about the chenille is that LB says that yarn "worms" and therefore isn't a good yarn to knit with. I'm new to knitting, I have been crocheting for a number of years, so I'm not really sure what "worming" is. But if anyone wants to look at this, you can go to www.lionbrand.com and go under FAQs. They have a page just about Thick and Quick and why it's not a good yarn to knit with. The more experienced knitters will probably get more out of this than I did.
quote:
Originally posted by KnitRedSox
I think it just might be the consistency of the chenille, but it was VERY difficult to knit with. I made an afghan for my grandmother in a really rich red color (Scarlett). It's lush and beautiful, but the yarn kept getting stuck so there are random loops coming out of the blanket. My LYS said there was nothing I could do (except to not buy "crap yarn" anymore). Also, the thing sheds like a german shepherd! Red stuff everywhere...the nursing home workers are constantly running a lint brush over her bed to get it all! Don't be tempted...at seven fifty a skein it's pretty pricey. But I have to admit it's very soft. I wish I had a forum like this so I could have found out ahead of time and saved myself the sixty bucks! Hopefully this will help someone.
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RoseByAny
Permanent Resident
USA
12598 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2004 : 11:29:33 AM
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One of my grandmothers has Alzheimers as well. She was a nasty, mean woman my whole life.
Now she can't remember she was upset, so she's much more pleasant.
Again, small miracles of a miserable disease.
"Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable."
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cats
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
503 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2004 : 12:58:59 PM
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"Now she can't remember she was upset, so she's much more pleasant.
Again, small miracles of a miserable disease."
i remember a saying (but not where it cam from) that goes something like there's no great loss without some small gain. |
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SerMom
Permanent Resident
Canada
6412 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2004 : 9:52:31 PM
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Chenille in general 'worms', it's inherent in the yarn. I made a scarf out of Meunch TouchMe, which is not a cheap yarn, and it wormed like mad. Using smaller needles haelps a little, and the TouchMe became amazing after being thrown in the washer and dryer. Sally Melville discovered this when she was working on The Knit Stitch (which is where the scarf came from). I don't know if this works on other chenilles, though. The TouchMe has some wool content.
Barbara
Remember, we're self-selecting!
My photos:
http://photos.yahoo.com/sermomca
My new blog:
http://sermomknits.blog-city.com/ |
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KnitRedSox
Chatty Knitter
170 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2004 : 7:39:00 PM
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| With a disease like Alzheimer's you have to look for the good stuff. Another (small, tiny) advantage is that she didn't care about the worming in the chenille as much as I did, that's for sure!!!! Talk about putting things in perspective!!!! |
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Apple Cider
Chatty Knitter
USA
292 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2004 : 9:01:32 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by SerMom
Chenille in general 'worms', it's inherent in the yarn. I made a scarf out of Meunch TouchMe, which is not a cheap yarn, and it wormed like mad. Using smaller needles haelps a little, and the TouchMe became amazing after being thrown in the washer and dryer. Sally Melville discovered this when she was working on The Knit Stitch (which is where the scarf came from). I don't know if this works on other chenilles, though. The TouchMe has some wool content.
Barbara
Remember, we're self-selecting!
My photos:
http://photos.yahoo.com/sermomca
My new blog:
http://sermomknits.blog-city.com/
Exactly why I didn't buy TouchMe, although it looks and feels delicious. I have enough problems without fighting yarn (especially expensive yarn!) Although I take Sally's thoughts about how to work it, once it's actually knitted. (Actually, I avoid all chenelle like the plague.)
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~The Other Julie
Curiosity is the very basis of education and if you tell me that curiosity killed the cat, I say only the cat died nobly. - Arnold Edinboroh |
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GaiaDea
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
516 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2004 : 10:49:09 PM
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I have found that all chenille yarn is a bit twitchy to knit with. My very first project was in T & Q chenille, and I found it a friendlier chenille than the 100% cotton chenille I am using now for washcloths. The trick is to slow down and make sure that every stitch forms completely, so the tension in each stitch is the same. Otherwise, some stitches will be tighter than others, and the stitch below will make a loop that sticks out. This is because of the friction of the fluffy fibers against each other that causes them to sort of "lock" together. I have noticed that some of the "locked" stitches will make a sort of "popping" motion when you tug them fully through while knitting. When that happens do check them for excessive looseness before finishing the motion to the right needle to prevent uneven tension from that side.
Hope that helps some!
Trish |
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knittingkitten
New Pal
Canada
39 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2004 : 9:48:57 PM
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I'm knitting the throw using LB Chenille Thick n' Quick that's on the website. I haven't really experienced any shedding or "worming". Maybe it's because I knit tightly? I looove the feel of this yarn and I'd like to make a big huge blanket out of this someday.
http://www.craftology.net/knitblog - The Mis-adventures of knitting |
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knitlethab
Seriously Hooked
Canada
604 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2004 : 10:01:59 PM
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I found that acrylic chenilles seem to stretch in places and relax and therefore makes like a pull (worming). Suggestions have been to knit only on the points of the needles. I have knitted chenille on the knitting machine....it still wormed. My solution was to tear it apart and knit, a knit and purl pattern and a lace pattern into it. I understand looking through the new selections of chenilles the manufactures have solved this problem.. When I get my fall yarns...I will be doing some testing. I even have seen manufactured chenille sweaters that have wormed. Definitely don't wash them in a machine. I think that aggravates the problem. Hand wash gently or possible dry clean.
www.knittingtime.com |
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