Hello! Happy spring and welcome back to the blog. Today, we're going to start a new section of posts, looking at different ways of learning how to craft and getting inspiration. This week, I'll particularly focus on websites that I recommend, though I will be excluding social media sites for now as we're going to look at that more closely later on. For now though, here are a few websites that I recommend.

In the past, we have posted a few guides, patterns and knitathons on this site. These are great if you like learning from verbal instructions and pictures, though I wouldn't recommend the patterns until you have a basic grasp of knit and crochet stitches (something that we will cover later in this series of posts). Here are some links to different pages on this website that you can use to learn:

• ​Fingerless mitten knitalong - starts here then ends here (at the bottom of the page - scroll down to the post titled "Fingerless Mitten Knit-Along Part Two" then up to "Fingerless Mitten Knit-Along Part Three").
• Fingerless mitten variation - click here, starts at the post titled "A Variation to the Mitten Pattern (Part One)" then ends with the post above it.
• Upcycling and Yarn stars - click here and scroll past the first post.
• Knitted poppies, crochet poppies and Christmas bauble patterns - click here.

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Sometimes, knitted things don't work as well with the rest of my shop-bought clothes in my wardrobe, so I often find that it is good to get inspiration for colours and shapes by looking at non-knitted clothing. By doing this, I can get the styles of popular clothing but I can also add a bit of personality to them and I have more control. For example, here is a photo of a jumper that I made inspired by a non-knitted garment I saw online. Even though I have made mistakes on it, I wear it a lot more than the other jumper I have made as it works really well with other garments I own.

Personally, I have not used WikiHow to learn a lot of things; however, I have read some of the guides on this website and I recommend it because I find that they are really clear, using a range of photos, drawings and videos to explain. Some of the guides on this site also quiz you throughout, which can be a little cheesy but it very useful as crafters have a language of their own, so it is good to learn what we are talking about! These don't get in the way, so you can still enjoy the website even if you don't want to use this part. The only problem with it is a lot of the terms they use are American (such as "single crochet" which we would call a double crochet, or "binding off" which we would call casting off), so it may be good to find something online that shows the meanings of American and British craft terms before starting!

When it comes to Ravelry, I am not writing from experience as I do not have an account but I know that many crafters love it. With Ravelry, you can find both free and paid patterns and yarn as well as digital tools that allow you to organise the projects that you have on the go. Also, you can socialise with other like-minded crafters by reading and writing reviews of yarns and patterns, connecting via the blog or messaging on the chat section. It's a great way of getting not just inspiration but also motivation to start crafting or organising.

If you want to learn to crochet, Attic24 is a great way to get into it. This website has a range of blog posts and guides, going through both the key, basic skills of crochet and some intricate patterns designed by the author of the site herself. Not only is this website good for learning but it is also great for getting inspiration because she uses many photos and in my opinion, all of them are incredibly colourful and beautiful, making me feel really inspired to craft and be creative!

There we have it - 5 websites or types of site that I recommend using when learning how to craft. Next week, I'll be looking at books and authors that we recommend, but until then, happy crafting!

Caiti 

Hello! Today's post is our last post about shopping before we start looking at ways of learning and getting inspiration, so I thought a good way to end would be by looking at the questions we often get about yarn shopping.

A: We do, particularly on our eBay sites. One that we recommend is Adriafil Regina, which we stock in a wide range of colours. You can order this via eBay, by telephone (leaving an answerphone message) or by emailing us (avicraftwool@gmail.com). Here are some photos of a few of the colours in this range that I love. They aren't the clearest photos as I was trying to take them from a distance, but I do love the colours so much.

A: Some people are allergic to pure wool, or find acrylic uncomfortable to wear (myself included - my skin is very sensitive!). If you are one of these people, I would recommend bamboo or cotton. Almost all of the clothes I own are cotton, which is great because they are both affordable and really comfortable. However, bamboo is more environmentally friendly and whilst I don't have many things made of bamboo, it is becoming more widely available and more popular. It's also super light, making it perfect for summer in a few months time!

A: We do! We have a wide range of kits, particularly sewing kits, for all ages and abilities. We can also make up presents containing a pattern, the wool required and needles or hook in the appropriate size. Just email us or leave an answerphone message to tell us what colours, thicknesses, yarn fibres and types of garment you think the person would like as well as a few measurements if appropriate. With this, we can make up packages for a range of budgets depending on the yarn you want.

A: This varies, as sometimes we will put things on clearance or have oddments of yarn on offer for reduced prices. However, as a general rule of thumb, acrylic is the cheapest. One budget option I recommend is Stylecraft Special DK, which we stock in over a hundred colours for £2.20 per ball. There are other thickness in this range as well, which are of similar prices. In addition, I recommend checking out our eBay sites to find cheaper alternatives. To learn how to do this, click here and scroll down to our post about ways of shopping with us.

A: To find out whether or not something can be machine washed or tumble dried, look at the ball band as this will show you a range of symbols. Then, look up different machine washing symbols to find out the washing instructions. This post from August last year gives an overview of common washing symbols - click on the link and scroll down to the post with the title "A Guide to Ball Bands."

A: We do not sell stuffing, but what we recommend is that you buy a plain pillow for a cheap price (you can usually find them online for about £1) then cut into it to get the stuffing inside. Stuffing from pillows has to meet certain legal standards regardless of the price, meaning that it is very high quality and great for toys for children. Also, not only do you then get stuffing but you also get a reusable case to keep it in!

A: At the moment, we can! To do this, just send us an email, voice message to our telephone or message via the "Contact Us" section of this website, telling us what you want and giving us your number if you have called us. Then, we will get in touch with you to arrange payment and collection.
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That's all from me for now so until next time, happy crafting!

Caiti

Hello again! Isn't it strange to think that it's March already? For the past couple of months we have focused a lot on wool and buying it. However, there is more to being a crafter than just wool - if you want to be a knitter (or crocheter, if that is a word!), there are also a few pieces of haberdashery that I would definitely recommend getting before you start a new project, and today I will be ranking my personal top ten items.

If you already know your knit and purl stitches or your crochet stitches, getting a pattern to make a jumper or cardigan is a great next step as it allows you to learn different ways to use these stitches as well as how to do shaping. However, I would argue that a pattern is not essential, particularly not if you are knitting for the first time. Instead, once you know how to cast on and do the basic knit stitch, it is easy to make something such as a scarf without a pattern. Also, there are many other ways of learning apart from patterns, which is something that I will be looking at later in this series of posts. 

You may be wondering why I have grouped these three. Mainly, I did it so that it made more sense, as they are all used for a technique known as blocking, where you wash wool in warm water and wool wash (a type of soap for wool), pin it out on foam to the shape that you want and leave it to dry overnight. It is very effective but only necessary for some projects, such as lace projects so that they curl less.

This piece is absolutely essential; the only reason I put it quite this low down on the list was because very few crafters enjoy sewing up their ends at the end of a project! Also, before you get one, I recommend finding a safe place to put your needles so you don't end up losing them and later finding them as they prick you when you least expect!

As I mentioned earlier, very few people enjoy sewing in ends, so scissors often come in handy if you have a long end. This means that instead of having to weave the whole end in, you can weave it a little, double knot it and then chop the rest off. Also, you need scissors when casting off your projects, or else you will end up having all your projects still attached to the rest of the ball!

Row counters are always great fun, because whilst you can tally the amount of rows you do, it is much more fun to twist a knob or click a button and see the number change as you finish a row. You can also get row counter apps, which are very satisfying as some tell you how many stitches you have done in your time using that app.

I have to say, considering that I have put this in my top three, I really don't use project bags enough! So many of my projects are chaotically shoved on shelves, in baskets and across the floor. However, the projects that I do put in bags are so much more organised, meaning I don't end up losing or breaking things. It also makes it more portable - whenever I go on holiday I always have a project bag full to the brim, even if I'm only going away for a couple days!

Having a tape measure is vital - it's important to to measure yourself up, measure your knitting up and make slipknots in your tape measure when you're too tired to knit (or maybe that's just me). Make sure you put it in your project bag though, because despite the size, they are quite easy to lose!

The project notebook had to come out on top. They are so useful - you can write down measurements and numbers of rows as well as to-do lists and deadlines if you are crafting a gift. If you keep your notebook for a long time, it can also be something for you to look back at when you are older with pride and happy memories. 

You can buy all of of these things from us apart from foam mats, which you can easily get online (just search for "play mats for children" and you should find packs of foam blocks that look a little like puzzle pieces).

That's all for today! Next week, I'll be rounding off this section and doing a Q&A on yarn shopping and shopping with us, so do send your questions in either as a comment or an email to avicraftwool@gmail.com. Until then, happy crafting!

Caiti 

Hello and welcome back to the blog! Today we are going to look a little more into the experience of face-to-face shopping. Some people love going shopping and are looking forward to going to the high street after this lockdown; however, this is not the case for everyone. For some people, particularly those with anxiety, shopping can be a stressful and even painful experience. Whilst there is no miracle cure for this, there are many ways to make the experience a little more manageable, and today I will be looking at just a few of these. But first, it's important to remember that different techniques work for different people. Of course, trying new things can be a daunting prospect so if any of these suggestions don't quite work, stop, reward yourself for trying and try again or try something else when you feel ready.

When I was preparing to write this post, I talked to a few of my friends who have anxiety about what they do to make shopping less stressful. Knowing that quite a lot of people like structure and recommend planning in other scenarios, I was expecting at least one person to say something such as "write a list." Instead, many of my friends suggested that you shouldn't pick time slots or have precise plans as doing this can give you less room for change and less time, leaving you feeling more anxious about things not going a set way. If you do find it hard to make decisions without plans, maybe be a little less specific on your plans by not constraining yourself on time and not trying to do tons at once.

For example, instead of thinking "I must go to Tesco at 4:00pm to buy this specific list of ingredients for dinner," perhaps try and think "At some point today, I will try to go to the local supermarket to look for dinner options." That way, you can go wherever and whenever it is best, for as long or as short a time as you want and you can pick whatever things take your fancy - there is no way of "failing" or "messing up" with this plan. Also, by thinking of it as "trying to get ideas" rather than "having to get things", it means that there is no problem if you are unable to get out and unable to buy anything that day as you can always order something in if going out feels like too much pressure.

Whilst people didn't recommend planning, one did suggest getting a little background information about the shop or area you plan on going to. For example, it can be good to look on a map and make sure you know your route as this can reduce fears of getting lost or being unable to get to the right place. Also, I particularly recommend looking at a shop on Google as this gives you opening hours (though with some shops being shut or running differently because of COVID, this is not always accurate) as well as contact details, links to shop websites and photos of the shops (though it is important to note that some photos of shops online are a few years old and shop layout may have changed since then). For some shops, you can even get 360 degree photos inside or outside, which is both helpful and fun to explore! Another thing you can find out when searching larger shops is their busier and quieter times, which can be very valuable if you have social anxiety or you struggle with loud noises. But as a general rule of thumb, the least busy times to go in a shop are early in the morning or late at night on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

One thing that nearly all of the people I talked to suggested was going shopping with a friend who you trust. This person can be there just for moral support, be a distraction from the stressful aspects of shopping or can help you doing things that you find harder, such as asking for directions or paying at the till. At the moment this can be harder as you do have to socially distance from friends outside of your household or bubble, and some shops (including us when we open) only have space for one household at a time. However, it is possible for you to go in whilst your friend stands by the door to give you moral support, or for your friend to go in and pay whilst you make sure they have got the right thing. Also, if you or your friend live alone or one of you is a single parent, you are able to form a bubble with each other as long as neither of you are in bubbles already. This means the two of you can meet both indoors and outside without social distancing, which can help if you need support with shopping. However, I would recommend that you check the Government website before doing this to make sure that you are being legal and safe.

This is less about social anxiety and more to do with other types of anxiety and hypersensitivity, though it can work for people with social anxiety too. If you find shopping hard because of the bright lights, strong smells, loud noises or uncomfortable textures of some items, you may want to try wearing sunglasses, ear defenders and gloves, or using perfumes in preferred scents that can block out overwhelming smells. Also, I really recommend having something to fidget with in your pocket, such as a small knitted toy, a fidget cube or a fidget spinner as these can be really useful and healthy ways of reducing negative energy and adrenaline caused by anxiety.

Whilst I do think shopping face-to-face is good, I think that it is more important to do what works for you. If it is going to be too daunting to go out shopping that day, you can always buy online. Just because you don't feel able to go out on a certain day (or week, or month, or however long!), it does not mean that you are weak; in fact, doing what you need to do to cope and listening to yourself is a sign of great strength!

One of the ironic things about anxiety is that it is one of the most common health conditions in the world, yet when you have it, it is hard to believe that anyone understands what you are going through. When you next go into a shop, remember that many of the customers or even the staff around you either are going through or have been through something similar to what you are going through. For example, I get very anxious when on the phone to people and find it really hard to know what to say in certain situations, so I was very proud of myself when I processed a telephone order of wool this week! If you do feel comfortable telling the person serving you how you are feeling, that can really help, but if not, do not worry as staff members will usually treat all of their customers with patience and work hard to give you the best help possible.

So, those are all of my tips for making shopping less stressful - don't plan too much; try and get a little background knowledge before shopping; go with a friend; have some items that can keep you relaxed; shop online if you need to and remember that you are not alone. I hope that these suggestions help. However, please do not use these instead of professional advice. I cannot stress enough how important it is to talk about how you feel and seek help if you need.

So until next time, happy crafting and happy shopping (if that's your thing!),

Caiti

Hello again! Now, I know what some of you may be thinking after having read the title for today's post - right now, online shopping is the only way that is even legal. That may be true at the moment but it may not be long before we can go back into shops again; we just don't know. Today, I will talk about both online and face to face shopping and decide which I think is better. Should we rush to the shops as soon as this is all over or should we continue with our online lives?

I have to admit, I am not the most active person and do not always have a lot of get-up-and-go, so sometimes getting ready to go shopping can be a chore. However, with online shopping, there is no need to worry about that as you can shop from the comfort of your bed, your garden, your sofa or even the loo! There is no need to get out of your pyjamas, no need to find things like your purse or shopping bags and no need to move at all (though you may need to get up and go to the other end of the room to get your computer or phone - how tiresome!). Overall, if you are the sort of person who wants to shop in a way that is a little more... relaxed, online shopping is perfect for you.

Whilst online shopping may be quite a relaxed way when it comes to environment, the same cannot be said about the technology side of things! It can be easy to miss things or add the wrong things to your cart and sometimes online shopping can be very difficult to navigate, particularly if you have less experience online. Sometimes, it's hard to know exactly what you are buying (particularly with yarn and other craft materials) as it is really hard to truly capture size, colour and texture in a 2d photo. Also, even if the tech works well, there is always the worry that something will go missing in the post or may get dropped off to the neighbours, particularly if you live in a block of flats or a housing estate. With shopping in-store, this is not an issue.

With face-to-face shopping, you can only come in on some days and the opening hours are not 24/7, but the Internet never "closes" so you can order wool online any time of day. With work, even if you are working from home at the moment, this can be much more convenient. Also, some people prefer shopping late at night or early in the morning. Whilst that's not my cup of tea, who am I to judge or tell you otherwise?

Being an incredibly impatient person, this is very valuable to me; I want my goods as soon as I buy them! With online shopping, you have to wait 2-3 working days, though this time can end up being extended if post offices are busy. With face-to-face shopping, you can have what you want instantly. Personally, I think this is a great perk but to other people, waiting times are far less important than opening times and availability - it's all down to your own preference.

If you suffer with anxiety, face-to-face shopping can be really difficult for a range of reasons, whether that's to do with the social aspects, the journey to a shop or just not knowing what is going to happen. With online shopping you can avoid all of these things and generally have more control, so I do recommend it in some cases. However, next week, I will be looking at ways to make shopping face-to face less stressful.

On the other hand, if you are a sociable person, face-to-face shopping is great. Not only can you have a chat with friends but you can also learn a lot from other crafters about the yarns and colours that are popular or what is best for certain types of craft. This is something we at Avicraft Wool are really looking forward to at some point in the (hopefully near) future.

It's a close call but, whilst online shopping is great for times like these, I personally prefer face-to-face shopping as I think it's great to get extra advice from people in the know and not have to deal with waiting times and tech problems. However, it is important to remember that everyone is unique and different modes of shopping are suited to different people.

That's all from me, so until next time, happy crafting!

Caiti

Hello and welcome back! Today we start a new section of the blog, where I look at different ways to buy craft materials and how to make shopping a better experience.

But first, it's time to announce the winner of last week's vote - which colour scheme was your favourite? 

It was a very close one (to the point where I ended up having to run a vote on Instagram between the two that were in joint place). However, the colour scheme that came out on top was Drift, which you can buy for a discounted price of £10.00. Below is a photo to remind you of the colours.

Now, for today's post. I planned all these posts at the end of 2020 (before this lockdown had been announced), thinking that by now, we would be open and I could give you a virtual tour of our shop. However, unfortunately, we still can't open just yet. Things are improving though as many more people are getting vaccinated and COVID cases are starting to fall again. In addition, as ever, you can still buy wool from us, so today I will be explaining how you can do that.

I often suggest this because I love the range of yarns on our online shop; however, I feel like I should explain exactly how to do this and also when I do and don't recommend buying from our online shop.

Firstly, to get to it, either click the "online store" button directly above (if you are looking at this on a computer), or click on the three horizontal lines in the top left corner and then click the "online store" button (if you are looking at this on a phone). Once you have done that, you will find a list of categories. Click on the one you wish to look at then click on specific items to look at the yarn fibres, colours available and other details. Once you have found what you want, click "add to cart" and when you have found everything that you want to buy, click "checkout." This will take you to a list of all the things that you have added and give you the option to pay via PayPal. Once you have paid, we will post it to you!

I really recommend this, particularly for when you are lacking inspiration on colours or if you are looking for a specific brand. However, I wouldn't recommend this when looking for a specific colour or texture as it is so hard to capture yarn colours on camera and of course, impossible to show texture. 

Our eBay sites work very similarly and have similar pros and cons too, but it is also a little cheaper so it's perfect if lockdown and changes in work have tightened your budget. However, one of the problems with buying from us via eBay is that we are selling on clearance and will not get that yarn in again, whereas with this site, we may reorder the yarn and even if we don't, what we sell here is more widely available in general. As you may have seen on our homepage, our eBay sites are "avicraftwool2015" and "caitlnew0." To find what we are selling on these pages, put one of these names into Google or any other search engine followed by the word "eBay."

You can also leave an answerphone message on the number 020 8290 1238 telling us your name, telephone number and what you would like to buy. We will then find it and ring you back to organise payment and posting. This is a great way of buying from us if you know what you need, but if you don't then this can be a lengthy process. Also, you will need a credit/debit card so that you can pay over the phone. Why not order our new Stylecraft colour scheme this way?

Finally, you can order from us is by sending an email to avicraftwool@gmail.com explaining what you are looking for. With emailing, you don't necessarily need to know exactly what you want, though it would be a good to have an idea on colour, fibre and thickness preferences. Another bonus of both telephone and email is that you can buy haberdashery this way too!

So there we have it. Next week I'll be looking more broadly at the pros and cons of online and face-to-face yarn shopping. But until then, happy crafting!
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Caiti

Hello! Welcome back to the blog! We've now finished our little style section, having looked at colour, texture, thickness and aesthetic. So, today's post will just be a little summary of it all as well as a few final tips and an exciting announcement - more on that soon.

Based on what we have looked at in the past month, I have decided to rank the best things that I have learnt from looking into style more - here are my top ten lessons.

10: A plain white bedroom isn't always best - whilst people often expect this to be a great option because it is plain and therefore doesn't keep you up all night, it actually is believed to evoke stress because of the fact that it is under stimulating. Instead of just plain white or cream, why not combine it with cool, pastel colours such as mint green and lilac?

9: Thin yarn comes with both troubles and joys - before I looked into it more and started using it more frequently, I always thought that thinner yarn was a no-go as it is so fiddly and mistakes are much easier to see in it. Whilst that is true, it can be quite important, as it can be used to make intricate details and lace patterns.

8: If you want to spark your creativity, you NEED colour - remember in the first post of this section, where I shared survey results about the impacts of colour on people? Well, most of the people that described themselves as creative had a lot more colour in their lives. It didn't mean that they had no monochrome at all - in fact, all the participants of the survey said that they often wear black. It just proved that it is great to have a bit of vibrancy in your day-to-day. In the post about aesthetic, I learnt even more about the importance of colour for inspiration. Now, I try to go outside, look out my window or even look at pictures of natural landscapes whenever I can.

7: All crafters have different opinions on yarn thickness - this may sound like a weird one, but when I was a bit younger, I thought that people universally loved thicker yarns but hated thinner yarns, but from talking to people and researching for this blog, I can confirm that that is just not true. Everybody is different - some people want a quick project, whilst some people want to take their time making something delicate.

6: Researching your yarn fibre is key - All yarn fibres have different qualities, so knowing what you're working with is an absolute must before any project. If you want to know a little more about the material you have got, check out our post from three weeks ago, which explains the pros and cons of some popular fibres.

5: My personal taste - I have learnt tons about the kinds of colours and patterns I like through doing this. For example, until I started this, I never realised quite how much I like green! I'm also particularly drawn to pastels but I do like vibrant things too. However, the thing I've noticed the most is how much I'm drawn to gradients - I don't know why but I just love them.

4: The environmental impact of knitting - I knew that knitting and fashion did impact the environment but I didn't know all the details and for that reason, I'm very grateful that I've had the chance to learn so much about it. The most popular fibres, acrylic and cotton, are not the best for the environment; however, bamboo and natural wool are great alternatives to these. Also, in general, knitting is great for the planet as it's not like fast fashion; you're unlikely to throw away a homemade and heartfelt jumper after just a couple wears.

3. Aesthetic is more than just "pretty" - I'll be honest here, before I actually did any research on aesthetic, I had only ever heard it being used by teenagers or in PE when they talked about dance or gymnastic movements that looked good. When you hear about it in these contexts, it's easy to forget that aesthetic is not about society's ideas on beauty; it's about your ideas on beauty.

2. The beauty of the world - I know this sounds incredibly cheesy but it is true! As I started going on more walks both to boost my fitness and to get colour inspiration, I started to realise how pretty the outside world is. Also, being stuck indoors again, I'm trying to pay more attention to my indoor surroundings too and, being a very messy person, there's a lot for me to see! Whilst it is a mess, I still love everything about my little space (most of the time).

1. The importance of being yourself - I never realised quite how few people wear their favourite colours on a regular basis, something which I found out in the survey I carried out last month. Come to think of it, I don't really either. So, from now on, I'm going to try and incorporate my favourite colours into as many of my knitting and crochet projects as I can! 

Now it's time for my special announcement, which I'm super excited about! 

Based on everything I've learnt over the course of this section, I've decided to create four colour schemes in Stylecraft Special - three in double knit and one in chunky. Today, I will be revealing these to you and will give you the opportunity to vote on which is your favourite. Then, next week, I will announce the palette that has triumphed and we will be selling this at a discounted price of £10. Here are the options:

My first colour scheme, which I have called skies, is inspired by my nature photography that I mentioned in last week's post. The colours in this selection are:

• Shrimp
• Candyfloss 
• Saffron
• Aster
• Lobelia

My next colour scheme, Joy, is based on a flag (see if you can guess which one!) and I decided to name it Joy because of the happiness that the colours gave me. I also gave it that name because of the joy I felt after being able to find all the colours that I needed, as I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be able to find the right ones! The colours in this scheme are:

• Copper
• Spice
• White
• Magenta
• Violet

Remember in the first blog post of this section, where I looked at what colours were best for sleeping? Well, Drift is based on that post, containing a range of neutrals and cool pastels that are proven to increase relaxation and lead to better sleep. The colours in this set are:

• Cream
• Silver
• Lincoln
• Storm Blue
• Lavender

Finally, we have our chunky option (I thought it would be wrong to stick to just one thickness after having done a whole post rating different thicknesses). I decided to call this one Basics because I had picked simple primary colours - though the red is a little more of a brick shade - and black and white. Here are the precise colour names:

• Black
• White
• Copper
• Gold
• Empire

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Can't wait until next week to announce the winning colour scheme, but until then, happy crafting!

Caiti

Hello again and welcome back to the blog! Today we'll be looking at the different thicknesses of yarn and I will be ranking my favourites (by which I mean I will rank them in order of general popularity and throw in the odd controversial yarn opinion here and there!). My rankings will be based on how easy the thickness is to work with, how useful it is (because let's face it, nobody needs a single ply vest with the UK's cold, cold weather) and also how much choice there is within the thickness. So let's start with the worst.

I've decided to group these all together because they are the thinner options, so they are equally fiddly. They're also not very widely available - we have a fair range of sock weight yarn and some 3ply but very little that's thinner than that just because very few people choose to work with 2ply, let alone 1ply! Some people like thinner yarns though, which I understand as they can be used to make very dainty and intricate lace garments or crochet doilies. But for me, the main problem is that with thin yarn, you are not only more likely to make mistakes but they're also much more obvious. So, for that reason, I'm not saying that you should never use these thicknesses but I am saying that you should have full focus when using these and should never, under any circumstances, do your first project in 3ply or below! Here is a photo of a sock I tried to do whilst distracted - bad idea (I was doing magic circle and somehow managed to knit the wrong way)!

Again, I've put 4ply low on the list because it can be fiddly; having said that, it's much more pleasant than other skinny options. It's the standard baby garment thickness, so there are lot of 4ply options on the market. Whilst I'm yet to work with it, I particularly recommend West Yorkshire Spinners Bo Peep as it is a wool mix, making it that little bit better for the environment, and there's a great range of baby colours (click here to see).  Alternatively, if you want to use 4ply for adult garments, Jarol Heritage 4ply has a great range of more adult colours - click here to take a look.

I have to admit, I have a bit of a controversial view on aran - I've just never seen the point of having a thickness that is thicker than 4ply and double knit but thinner than chunky. Then again, I am a little biased because I'm always either too cold and desperate for a thick jumper of too hot and trying to find the lightest thing in my wardrobe - I'm never anywhere in between so I rarely find a purpose for aran. Having said that, It's good for hats and scarves when you need something that's warm but not too bulky and tight around your neck (I know I like tight scarves but not many people do, so it's perfect if you need something more roomy). Also, there are some great colour ranges available in certain aran brands - just look at Sirdar Jewelspun Aran and see how pretty some of them are (click here)! Also with aran, you can get balls with 400g on, which are super cool!

In my opinion, super chunky is the best thickness; however, I know it has its flaws and is not as great in some people's eyes. As a person with little patience, it's great for me as it knits/crochets up very quickly (though having said that, I've never crocheted with super chunky before, so I'm not sure whether it's something I would recommend). Also, I often find that mistakes in super chunky are harder to spot but easier to solve, which is something that is particularly important to me as I often do knitting whilst watching TV, listening to music, even when watching school assemblies and Q&As from home! However, I do get that some people find it far too bulky and it definitely isn't a good one to work with in the summer or even late spring as it is just too hot on your lap. At the moment, as I have been for what feels like forever, I'm working with Creative Smile Super Chunky, which has a great range of colours and is so, so soft, but I also really like the colours in Stylecraft Special XL and Creative Glow Worm (which also contains glass fibre - great for walking in the dark!). I would love to work with them some time.

I put regular chunky in second because it has the perfect balance of being quick to knit/crochet up and being nice and light in comparison with super chunky. Also, it's very widely available in a range of colours and yarn fibres. My favourite chunky yarns include Hayfield Spirit Chunky, Stylecraft Cosy Delight and Number One Chunky - you can find all of these (and more) here. Chunky is  probably the thickness that I have worked most with; I used it when making my first scarf, my first jumper and my first crochet granny square - though I forgot to check the materials in my yarn first so did end up making a series of curling, oddly stretched squares. On that note, here is a picture of the first jumper that I made for myself - I still love it to this day

In first place is double knit; it's the thickness that most people first learn to knit with (almost all kids needles are 4mm, the size used for most double knits) and the thickness that arguably has the largest ranges in colours and textures. Double knit is not only great for beginner items and spring/summer clothes, it is also great for toys as the stitches are smaller, meaning that the gaps between the stitches that could allow for stuffing to seep out are also much smaller. Whilst I'm not normally a fan of thinner yarn, even I know that sometimes it is important. Below is a photo a DK scarf that I did when I was younger using a basic lace pattern. It's gone a little fuzzy over the years but to me, the photo really show that only thin yarns can truly show certain patterns - it wouldn't have looked right at all in a chunky.

​Last week, I mentioned Stylecraft Special DK, one of the most popular double knit yarns, but I also need to give a bit of recognition to a few other brands I love, including Sirdar Number One DK, Sirdar Snuggly Replay, Rico Dream DK Uni and Stylecraft Batik Swirl (in fact I love all of Stylecraft's DK yarn cakes). Click here to go and explore the wonderful world of DK yarn, or here to have a look at all our web shop options. And don't forget to check out our Ebay Shops or to drop us an email - go to the home page of our website for more info!

I hope that you enjoyed this post and that it gives you the inspiration you need to start a new project, whether that's something warm and woolly or something a little cooler for summer! Until next time, happy crafting!

​Caiti

*Note - the links in this post only take you to one shade of yarn for each brand of wool described. To find more colours click here.

Hello and welcome back to the blog! Today we will be looking at different textures, exploring the pros and cons of different yarn fibres. Until recently, I rarely looked at what was actually in my yarn and when I started to understand more about yarn materials, I was surprised by how important it was and how much impact your fabric choice can have on your garment. I hope this guide gives you a good insight into your yarn.

Now, there are a lot of different types of yarn fibres and it would take a long time to cover them all. Frankly, I'm very busy lazing about and avoiding social interaction, so I don't have time to cover them all. Instead, I'll look at the pros and cons of these five types of yarn fibres:

• Acrylic
• Cotton
• Bamboo
• Sheep wool
• Alpaca wool

Acrylic is probably the most common yarn fibre, probably because it is very practical. For starters, it is quite cheap so if you're a knitter on a budget, it is definitely a go-to. Another reason that many people choose acrylic is because unlike pure wool, it does not contain common allergens. It's also machine washable, with colours much less likely to leak from acrylic than another fabrics, so it's a very good choice for a garment that you plan on using a lot. Because colours don't leak out of acrylic much, you can often get quite a wide variety of colours in acrylic yarns; for example, Stylecraft Special DK, a pure acrylic yarn that we stock and love, has nearly a hundred colours in the range and is slowly expanding their colour ranges in other thicknesses as well. Here are some photos of our Stylecraft Special colours.

However, these good qualities do come at a bit of a cost, particularly for the environment. One of the reasons why acrylic is so cheap is because it's made of plastic, which is made of crude oil. Not only is this problematic because it takes a long time to degrade (around four hundred and fifty years!) but because it is made of fossil fuels (which we are running low on as a planet), it will melt at high temperatures! It also is not very breathable either, meaning it can make you pretty hot. So, I would suggest that acrylic is great for anything that you want to be colourful but should be avoided if you don't plan on keeping what you make for long. Personally, I would choose to use acrylic yarn in toys and blankets rather than jumpers. Alternatively, if you want something as colourful as acrylic but would like to reduce your environmental impact slightly, you could try a yarn that contains a mixture of acrylic and another fibre such as wool. One that I recommend is Stylecraft Batik Elements, which you can find on our Ebay page or buy via Email or Telephone (for more guidance on how to buy from us, go to the home page of this website).

Another popular choice is cotton, which is often chosen as a more environmentally friendly alternative. This is because it is a natural fibre and takes around half a year to decompose after it has been disposed of. Also, similarly to acrylic, there are many colours available and it is often machine washable. What's more, it is much more breathable than acrylic meaning that it is better in the summer. At the moment, we are selling James C Brett It's Pure Cotton DK on this website, so do take a look.

However, cotton is not always the most environmentally friendly choice as is often grown with pesticides, which have a negative impact on the land that its grown on. It also requires large amounts of water to dye it, which some companies are better at disposing of correctly (i.e., not putting it in the sea or any other natural habitat) than others. Also, when exposed to rain or not fully dried after washing, cotton clothes will sag and stretch. Having said that, cotton wool otherwise lacks stretch completely, meaning that it can be a bit harder to keep an even tension with cotton, particularly if you are a newbie knitter. For these reasons, I would recommend cotton for summer tops but perhaps would advise that you steer away from cotton if - like me - you struggle with your tension.

If you're looking for the most environmentally friendly choice, look no further than bamboo. Being natural, renewable and biodegradable, it's a great option for looking after the planet. Also, there are a couple extra bonuses too. Unlike most fibres, bamboo helps to reduce bacterial growth, meaning that it reduces sweat and body odours. It's a breathable fibre too, helping to reduce heat and sweat even further. Moreover, it's the perfect option for anyone with sensitive skin as it is super soft and does not contain the allergens that wool contains. Whilst this is not a pure bamboo (it contains some wool), I have to recommend Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo (don't get it confused with regular snuggly please!). I have never worked with it but have felt it many times and desperately want to. There are also a ton of great colours too - click here and on the link at the top of this post to have a look.
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Of course, no yarn fibre is perfect; bamboo is perhaps not the best option if you are a beginner or need a yarn that is particularly strong as it can split and break quite easily. Also, it's not the most widely accessible option; however, do keep your eyes peeled as, with the fact that it is much better for our planet, we are likely to see a lot more bamboo wool and clothing on the market very soon.

I decided to group both sheep and alpaca wool as they have quite similar qualities. For example, they are both very durable and retain their shape easily but, at the same time, are slightly elastic, meaning that it is easier to maintain and control your tension on wool garments. Another thing about wool is that it is both warm and breathable, something which not ma​ny other yarn fibres manage to achieve. Moreover, wool is another great option for the environment because, just like bamboo, it is natural and renewable. There are many different pure wools on offer and I am pleased to say that one of my favourite yarns of all time is a pure sheep wool - click here to have a look (and don't forget to look at our profile to see all the shades)! Alternatively, if you want to try alpaca wool, here is a good place to find some - this yarn is not 100% alpaca but it is very close to it, meaning that it should have all the benefits. On the other hand, I understand why some people are not as keen on sheep or alpaca wool as it requires a lot of care (you have to avoid washing it in hot water and must do EVERYTHING you can to protect it from moths!)  and it can be quite expensive. Also, be careful if you have sensitive skin and allergies as sheep wool contains some natural chemicals that can cause reactions; if you have any concerns about this, I would suggest going for alpaca wool only, as it does not contain these allergens.

So, what is the best wool? Well, it completely depends on what you are making. Here's my little summary of when I would use each type of wool.

• Acrylic - I would probably use this when making colourful blankets or toys.
• Cotton - this is something that I would be most likely to use for summer clothes.
• Bamboo - again, this is something that I would recommend for summer clothes, though now, having done a bit more research about the environmental impacts (and the benefits that bamboo can have in reducing BO!) I think I'll be a bit more inclined to choose bamboo over cotton in the future.
• Wool - I'd probably choose wool for warmer winter clothes.

I hope that this has helped you in deciding what material to use - I know that I learnt something new from this!

That's all from me, so until next time, happy crafting!
Caiti