Behind the Line Gathering Materials: What Kind of Yarn do I Need?

 

    I don't know about you, but grocery shopping can be so overwhelming sometimes.  This is especially true when trying a new recipe and looking for an ingredient I never even heard of before!  The same goes when it comes to shopping for yarn.  Okay, so I have my new pattern (recipe) with the cute picture or a picture in my head of what I want to make, what's next?

Now I have to find what yarn to use.

     Well first, I have to figure out where to find it.  Just like grocery stores carry different brands and specialties of food, so to do craft stores and the like carry different brands and specialties of yarn.  One store may have the brand of yarn I am looking for, but not the color or weight.  Another store that used to carry the yarn may have decided not to sell it anymore.  Also, it is possible that it is an old pattern and the yarn has been discontinued. While I sometimes order yarn online, I do prefer to purchase it from a brick and mortar. Other things that factor into finding yarn are price, if it is machine washable, and at least partly made in the USA. Once I do find the yarn I want, I check the dye lot a number on the label, that tells me these skeins came from the same batch of yarn and therefore match in shade. There are many types of yarn and which one I choose depends upon what I am making.

What do I plan to crochet?

    There are fuzzy yarns, thick yarns, soft yarns, thin yarns, it is mind boggling!  Walking into the yarn aisle or a yarn store for me is so exciting.  The balls of yarn are like candy calling me from the candy jar in the kitchen. Sometimes I just stand and stare in awe for awhile letting my eyes soak it in.
    Then I get into touch and feel mode.  If I am making a blanket, then I want something soft and cuddly.  If I am making a place mat, I head for the cotton yarn.  If I am making a light weight Spring hat, then I'll look at the baby yarn.  The fuzzy and bumpy yarns I tend to reserve for trim.  The lighter weight yarns have a better drape factor where the heavier yarns make a product stiff.  I could experiment with a small pattern, making it in various types of yarn and each would look different! Each yarn weight - ranging from 0 or lace to 7 or jumbo - has a recommended hook size. How the product looks also depends on what size hook I use.  I will discuss crochet hooks in my next post!

Shop LiLphanie's Line for fun holiday hats and accessories.

 

Christmas in July Arts and Crafts Show Review

   

LiLphanie's Line table: booth set up day.

 

I hope you enjoyed Our Lady of the Cove's 

Christmas in July Arts and Crafts Show as much as I did! 

     Craft shows remind me of Christmas. There is a feeling of togetherness; a sense of joyful anticipation in the air.  And what is Christmas without friends and yummy food? This craft show had both! I met some new friendly faces and caught up with some familiar ones. I had the opportunity to chat with another vendor over a delicious chicken salad lunch. The tea room was festively decorated in red, green and white. The volunteers were all wonderfully nice. Thank you so much to those who took time out of their schedules to set up this event!
     I hope this joyfulness was passed on to all the shoppers. Were you one of the lucky ones to win a door prize? I donated a gray hat with wine colored trim for a door prize - I hope the winner loves it! I hope the secret Santa's in the crowd were able to find that perfect gift! Most of all, thank you to those who stopped by my booth. You made my day!
     My first craft show of the season has come and gone. It is always good to get the first one under my belt.  As I said in my last post, craft shows are very inspiring places to be. Now I have some new tools in my belt for the next one. If you were not able to attend this year, keep your eyes open for next year's event.

Shop LiLphanie's Line for fun holiday hats and accessories.