Feelin' Hot, Hot, Hot!
It's Hot, Hot, Hot! (to quote the Merrymen of Barbados)
Many of us don't stop crafting just because it's hot outside. However, we're more inclined to work with thinner yarns made from plant fibers, because they're lighter and feel cool to the touch.
Here are some things to keep in mind when working with plant fibers:
1. Plant fibers are inelastic. This doesn't mean that they don't stretch - anyone who's ever worn a 100% cotton sweater can tell you that it grows several inches over the course of the day. Inelastic means that it doesn't bounce back. If you need some hug in your cotton/linen/rayon project, you'll want to either use one with a bit of elastic built in, like Cascade Fixation or CoBaSi, or add some elastic after the fact, using elastic thread or narrow elastic cording.
2. Heavy weights of cotton are as hot as - or hotter than - wool! If you want to stay cool, use DK weight or less and knit/crochet/weave loosely! Rayon is the coolest-to-the-touch of all plant-based fibers (rayons include tencel, modal, viscose, and silky-feeling bamboo). Linen (from the flax plant) and other bast fibers (banana, and cotton-feeling bamboo) are cooler than both cotton and wool, but not as cool as rayon.
3. Drape is your friend! If you want to stay cool, make and wear garments that don't sit too close to your skin. Loose garments let air flow better and help keep your body cool.
If you're looking for a way to use these fibers, Nancy M. found the Pastel Gemstones Shawl by AbbyeKnits ($7 in-store, on Ravelry, or on Abbyeknits website). We like it with Theodora's Pearls Cotton Candy, Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy, and Universal Yarn Unity.
The Pastel Gemstones Shawl is a great way to learn new skills, too. It has some beginner-friendly sections (stockinette or garter with simply yarn overs) and ends in bobble and lace sections. Need help with this pattern? Schedule a private lesson with Nancy and she'll share her handouts for each section. They'll help you keep track of stitch counts and break down the more complicated steps into easier, repeatable stitches.
Be well, be safe, be kind!
-Caryn & the Yarnivore crew
Shop News
Featured Yarns and Pattern
Let's talk about non-wool sock yarn!
Making socks but don't want to use a wool yarn? If wool bothers your hands (or the eventual recipient's feet), then you'll want a non-wool sock yarn. Yarnivore carries several non-wool sock yarns, including Berroco Comfort Sock (acrylic/nylon), HiKoo CoBaSi (cotton/bamboo/silk/nylon), and Universal Bamboo Pop Sock (cotton/bamboo/polyester). While they don't have quite the elasticity and wicking ability of wool sock yarns, they do still work just fine!
If you're wanting a thicker boot-type sock, try Cascade Fixation (cotton/elastic)! It's DK weight and makes fabulous thicker socks!
Want a pattern? Try some toe-up socks from Knitty.com (shown at right)!
Hours this week
11-5 Monday-Saturday
Noon-5 Sunday
Private Lessons can be scheduled outside of regular hours at the discretion of the teacher.
As always, online and curbside sales and online lessons remain available.
Private Lessons
In-store and online private lessons are available! Please call us at 210-979-8255 to schedule a lesson! Wendy and Nancy M. are both available to help you with your projects!
The Tip Jar
What it means if you find wool itchy (sometimes it's an allergy, sometimes not)
Lots of us have experienced scratchy wool sweaters that we can't WAIT to get off our bodies, but that isn't usually due to an actual allergy. Some wool is coarse and scratchy (just like some people's hair is coarse) and some is so fine and soft it can be confused with cotton. For most people, switching to a finer, softer wool (like Merino, Romney, or BFL) takes the itch completely away.
HOWEVER! If you still itch, even with the finest wool, and especially if you also get a rash (acne-like or even oozing) or if you have breathing difficulty around wool, then you may have an actual allergy either to the wool itself or to the cleansers, dyes, and finishes used to process the wool. In that case, we highly recommend seeing an allergist to make sure and avoiding wool afterwards.
All classes are currently on hold, due to the San Antonio & Bexar County joint Stay Home/Work Safe order.
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Contact Us: https://www.yarnivoresa.net/ yarnivoresa@gmail.com 2357 NW Military, 78231 (210)979-8255