Choosing wool - help

sammyjammy

I have found a pattern I want to knit (beginner!) and it tells me to use the wool in the link https://www.berroco.com/yarns/berroco-ultra-alpaca, its very expensive so I was wondering if someone might be able to give me an idea what type of wool to replace it with - Aran? Double knit? Chunky?

Would I need to use a different needle size do you think?

this is the pattern if it helps http://www.berroco.com/sites/default/files/downloads/patterns/avocet_b.pdf

Grateful for any advice

Sam

Silvertabby

5mm needles usually equate to aran weight yarn. If you go for pure wool, then you'll probably need the same amount of wool as per the pattern - but note that the skeins are 100gm, whereas most balls of aran wool in the UK are 50gm. If you go for a lighter wool/synthetic mix, then you'll probably need slightly less as the yardage per 100gms will be more than the skeins.

Cheapest would be a 100% acrylic yarn - but that makes my hands sweat. A wool mix is far nicer to work with.

Do a tension square using 5mm needles - the pattern instructions will tell you what size x number of stitches/rows should come out as. If your tension square is too big, then try again with 4.5mm needles.

If it comes out too small, then your tension is too tight - loosen up or you'll end up with cramp!

sammyjammy

You are such a star! Thank you so much for your extensive advice, I've noticed that Aldi have Aran wool in from Sunday which is 400g a ball and 25% wool so that might be suitable, love the idea of doing a tension square!

Silvertabby

sammyjammy wrote: »

You are such a star! Thank you so much for your extensive advice, I've noticed that Aldi have Aran wool in from Sunday which is 400g a ball and 25% wool so that might be suitable, love the idea of doing a tension square!

Yes, that'll be fine for a first go at a garment. When you say that you are a beginner, have you knitted anything before? If not, then I'd start with a simple scarf rather than launch straight into a jacket (although the pattern does look nice and easy). Hint: Buy a crochet hook when you buy your knitting needles - much easier to pick up any dropped stitches with a hook !

sammyjammy

I have knitted a couple of cardigans before, just have to stick to fairly basic patterns and am very poor at unpicking and getting it back on the needle if I make a mistake (or more likely get carried away and knit too many rows):D

Love the crochet hook idea!