yarns that last

[to_love_a_rose]

So, everyone loves yarn that's pretty and fun to knit with, but...

Last year I knit a hat using a very pretty thick and thin blue yarn. It was a single ply wool, and the finished project was lovely. (Pictures here on Ravelry.) However, before the winter was out, it had begun to pill pretty badly. I looked at it yesterday and while it's still wearable, it's pretty fuzzy. It also bled really badly when I washed it (cold water, hand wash, gentle detergent). I know that pilling and fuzz is a risk of using wool, and I'm willing to make the trade off to knit with natural fibers, but is there anyway to pick out natural fibers that wear well?

I've heard that multi-strand yarns wear better than single-ply? Anyone have any experience with that? Also, any suggestions for natural fiber yarns (specific brands or just general types of yarn) that seem to wear well?

(BTW, thanks to everyone for your help in planning my impromptu knitting class. I picked up a pair of size 8 bamboo needles and some Wool Ease in light pink for my friend. She'll either end up with a garter stitch scarf or a ribbed scarf for her first project depending on how quickly she picks it up. And, yes, I will be casting on for her. *g*)

Comments

[anodyna]

A friend gave me a skein of Madeleintosh sock (usually called 'tosh sock) and that's been a real pleasure to knit with. But I understand it's impossible to purchase.

They have some at Webs, but it's true, a lot of colors are backordered. I suppose their production runs must be pretty small? It does look beautiful, though!

[seryn]

I went on Friday morning to Stitches West, the first hour it was open to the public. The one booth that had advertised Madeleintosh was completely mobbed. They sold out before lunch. It's nice and all, but hardly worth the insanity.

None of those insanely popular places have exclusive yarn bases (what the yarn is called before it's dyed (in case someone else reads this later and wonders)) so you can buy it and dye it yourself with no competition (not sure where, but I know it exists). The nicest part about the 'tosh sock I have is not the color but how sproingy the yarn is. The color is nice, but it's the yarn itself that makes it special. (Mine is black with just a hint of irridescent green showing through... like insect eyes, but less creepy.)

[pinesandmaples]

I've actually heard that Wollmeise has an exclusive base yarn, which explains her unique position in the market.