# Say, Yarn-y Dopers, I'm now one of you! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561 "2009-02-26T21:08:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/21 "2009-02-27T14:57:34Z")
I’m working on the Twinkleberry socks from [this site](http://www.knitzi.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=80&zenid=2g1u46821ep5fmkh34afonadm7). I wanted to dip into something with a little cabling w/o committing myself to too much. I thought it was going to be a huge PITA to do the cable part but it’s not so bad. I’m going to do a heel flap and normal toe though. I made the Nutkin pattern from the same page and tried a short row heel and there was no way anyone I know would be able to get that sock on with a short row heel. I can Kitchener pretty well but I’m going to give [three needle grafting](http://fionawinning.blogspot.com/2008/04/three-needle-grafting-how-to-do-it.html) a try on this current pair. Now I have to dig into my stash for a nice solid color to do a real pair of cabled socks with. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/22 "2009-02-27T15:48:57Z")
> [@Eureka](#): > > **Hello Again** , > I clicked your link expecting to see a rug like my mother has made and instead I see a bunch of yarn for sale. I was much more dissappointed than I was tempted–yarn I can touch calls my name much more loudly. Sorry to disappoint – here’s a pic of a completed rug [http://phatlewt.wedge.net/bbs/download/file.php?id=68](http://phatlewt.wedge.net/bbs/download/file.php?id=68) ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/23 "2009-02-27T16:14:46Z")
I’m working on the [Cozy](http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTcozy.html) shawl, in [this delicious yarn](http://www.purlsoho.com/product_detail.php?type=yarncolor&id=6710&url_path=/products/yarndetail/3626), but I accidentally left my knitting bag at my in-laws’ over the weekend and haven’t gotten back up there to get it. I’ve also got a cabled hat in process, but it’s one of those complicated patterns that needs my complete focus. I have a toddler, so complete focus is not readily available to me, so I have basically been project-less this week! ☹ Last time I checked, there wasn’t an SDMB group on Ravelry – if I make one, would youall join it? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/24 "2009-02-27T16:39:46Z")
So is Ravelry the place to be? Both times I’ve been to the yarn store, they asked me if I was on Ravelry, and it seems everyone here is on it. What’s a decent low-cost yarn? I started with the Vanna’s Choice, Wool-Ease, etc. I like the look of Wool-Ease, but it frays like a $%@#. I had some super chunky I was knitting with yesterday, and in the middle of my ball there was a huge “puff” in the yarn that, when knitted through, doubled the size of my stitches for about six stitches. (Actually, there was a second “puff” that I was able to trim earlier in the skein.) The project wasn’t working out, anyway, so I frogged it, but, crap, would I have been pissed if I spent all that time working on something that looked good. ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/25 "2009-02-27T16:49:12Z")
I haven’t used it personally, but I know lots of people who LOVE KnitPicks’ yarn. It’s definitely low-cost, and I’ve heard that the quality is good. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/26 "2009-02-27T16:49:18Z")
Wool-ease is just absolute shite with the splitting & fraying - I have a grudge against it, really. For machine washable wool, I’d always go for Knitpicks, maybe something like this: > **[Swish Worsted Superwash Merino Wool | KnitPicks.com](https://www.knitpicks.com/yarn/swish-worsted/c/5420153)** > > Ideal for sensitive skin and children's clothes, Swish's worsted high-grade Merino wool is soft & machine washable. Get free shipping on all orders over $65! ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/27 "2009-02-27T16:52:04Z")
> [@stargazer](#): > > Last time I checked, there wasn’t an SDMB group on Ravelry – if I make one, would youall join it? Totally! Oh, man, this is my new obsession. I LOVE looking at patterns and yarn, and I’m itching to start something new this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/28 "2009-02-27T17:04:26Z")
> [@stargazer](#): > > Last time I checked, there wasn’t an SDMB group on Ravelry – if I make one, would youall join it? I hope I’m not too meddling in saying this, but my wife **tygre** (aka, uh, “tygre” on Ravelry) would probably join as well. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/29 "2009-02-27T17:24:44Z")
[Plymouth Encore](http://www.yarn.com/webs-knitting-crochet-yarns-plymouth/webs-knitting-yarns-plymouth-encore/) (75% acrylic, 25% wool) is a great Wool-Ease substitute - it feels much nicer and isn’t splitty or as prone to pilling. [Yarn.com](http://www.yarn.com/) (aka Webs, a store in Massachusetts) is a good yarn source in addition to [Knitpicks](http://www.knitpicks.com/), as is [Elann](http://www.elann.com/). All of those have good deals. Double check the yardage on the Knitpicks items before you buy, though; sometimes they have smaller balls of yarn than expected and it might not be quite the deal you were hoping for. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/30 "2009-02-27T18:07:43Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > [Plymouth Encore](http://www.yarn.com/webs-knitting-crochet-yarns-plymouth/webs-knitting-yarns-plymouth-encore/) (75% acrylic, 25% wool) is a great Wool-Ease substitute - it feels much nicer and isn’t splitty or as prone to pilling. > > [Yarn.com](http://www.yarn.com/) (aka Webs, a store in Massachusetts) is a good yarn source in addition to [Knitpicks](http://www.knitpicks.com/), as is [Elann](http://www.elann.com/). All of those have good deals. Double check the yardage on the Knitpicks items before you buy, though; sometimes they have smaller balls of yarn than expected and it might not be quite the deal you were hoping for. Thanks for the tips! Since I’ve never bought yarn online before, do they already come pre-balled, or do I have to ball it myself? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/31 "2009-02-27T18:13:56Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Thanks for the tips! Since I’ve never bought yarn online before, do they already come pre-balled, or do I have to ball it myself? I haven’t seen yarn sold in balls online. You sometimes find it in hanks, which are big loops of yarn tied together in the middle, or skeins, which are fairly common for yarn sold in yarn stores too. You can work directly from a skein, but you’ll want to ball it up or something if you get a hank. I ended up buying a [ball winder and swift](http://www.yarn.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/categoryID/7913AFF7-4B2C-42A7-B6E0-4648E98E46A5/productID/12F5F4E8-7CB8-454C-98F2-1CFF664D4B85/) because I ended up buying so many hanks online. If you have a local yarn store that sells hanks (that’s not a “big box” craft store) you can have them use theirs to ball any yarn you buy there, but you don’t get that service if buying online. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/32 "2009-02-27T18:15:21Z")
> [@wunderkammer](#): > > Good. There can never be enough man-hookers in this world. > > _waits for the rest of the knitting and crocheting Doper men to come out of the woodwork._ Hey, wassup my knitter! ---
**Author:** ![chrissysissystar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5e9695/32.png) [@chrissysissystar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrissysissystar)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/33 "2009-02-27T19:28:44Z")
Another crocheter on Ravelry here (ChrissyChris). Been wielding the hook since the late 60’s and have a poop-load of scarves and cowls backed up just WAITING for someone to fall in love with them. [Here’s](http://www.flickr.com/photos/30711539@N07/sets/72157610331930577/) what I’ve got up on Ravelry - just a drop in the proverbial bucket but, like another poster said, just sitting in front of the TV makes me twitchy, I need something to keep my hands busy. ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/34 "2009-02-27T19:41:34Z")
Okay - I’m starting a group on Ravelry, but I need to invite 3 other Ravelry members to the group. So gimme yer usernames and we’ll get this group started! (feel free to PM me if you don’t want it out there for the world to see.) ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/35 "2009-02-27T19:58:14Z")
Eurekas is my name on Ravelry ---
**Author:** ![chrissysissystar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5e9695/32.png) [@chrissysissystar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrissysissystar)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/36 "2009-02-27T20:00:40Z")
See above… ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/37 "2009-02-27T20:06:01Z")
> [@stargazer](#): > > I’m working on the [Cozy](http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTcozy.html) shawl, in [this delicious yarn](http://www.purlsoho.com/product_detail.php?type=yarncolor&id=6710&url_path=/products/yarndetail/3626), but I accidentally left my knitting bag at my in-laws’ over the weekend and haven’t gotten back up there to get it. I’ve also got a cabled hat in process, but it’s one of those complicated patterns that needs my complete focus. I have a toddler, so complete focus is not readily available to me, so I have basically been project-less this week! ☹ > > Last time I checked, there wasn’t an SDMB group on Ravelry – if I make one, would youall join it? YES! I’m TheFaerie there, too. ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/38 "2009-02-27T20:07:21Z")
> [@stargazer](#): > > I haven’t used it personally, but I know lots of people who LOVE KnitPicks’ yarn. It’s definitely low-cost, and I’ve heard that the quality is good. I really like Knit Picks yarns so far. Plus, get the Harmony wood needles. Knitting bliss! ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/39 "2009-02-27T21:03:46Z")
> [@stargazer](#): > > Okay - I’m starting a group on Ravelry, but I need to invite 3 other Ravelry members to the group. So gimme yer usernames and we’ll get this group started! (feel free to PM me if you don’t want it out there for the world to see.) Same name there! Invite me, please! ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561/40 "2009-02-27T21:16:08Z")
Okey-dokey! [Here’s](http://www.ravelry.com/groups/sdmb-yarnies) our newly-minted Ravelry group! I’m annsy on there – come say hi! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-yarn-y-dopers-im-now-one-of-you/487561.md?page=3)