Fluffy (mohair and similar) yarn

[aedifica]

I've done a couple of shawls in sockweight yarn now, and I'm thinking I'd like to make one with laceweight yarn next. It turns out my mental image of laceweight yarn is the fluffy stuff, mohair and the like (for example this stuff), because when I looked at non-fluffy laceweight yarn something inside me was saying "that's not right!"

I've never worked with that kind of yarn before. Is it easy or hard to work with? Does it require special care?

Comments

[apis_mellifera]

If you're prone to making mistakes and need to un-knit or rip back to fix mistakes, you will find that fluffy laceweights (which usually are knit at a fairly large gauge) are very difficult to do that with. I also find it more difficult to see the pattern when I'm using those kinds of yarns, due to both the fuzziness and the larger needle size needed to show these yarns off to their proper advantage.

[hugh_mannity]

This.

Fluffy yarns are always a PITA to tink or frog, and laceweight ones are worse because they're fine and thus breakable.

While they can produce very nice FOs, they're best suited to simple lace patterns as they obscure the stitch definition. If you want to do complex lace, and show off the result, use a smooth yarn.

[hugh_mannity]

Also, you might want to buy one ball as a test. Make a short skinny lace scarf or a doily you can frame to see whether you like that type of yarn or not.

[aedifica]

That's a good thought! I'm normally resistant to the idea of making test objects (for example, I hate making gauge swatches although I do make them), but I remembered an auction I can donate the finished test object to. Good outcome all around!

[aedifica]

Oh, that's very good to know! I don't *usually* have to go back to fix mistakes, but I'd be extra exasperated to suddenly discover it was harder to do than I expected.

Freeze fluffy yarn

[jazzypom]

Yarn with a mohair content you want to throw in the freezer for a bit before ripping back. It cuts down on the static. I'm not a fan of the silk /mohair blends (like Rowan kid silk haze) because of the bother. I've knitted a scarf (lace) out of it and hated it. LOL.