Fiber Friday - The Good Stuff
July 10, 2009 | By
Most knitters cut their teeth on cheap acrylic from their grandmothers’ stash, it’s a great fiber to start on because it’s inexpensive, widely available and you don’t feel bad when you knit 27 scarves with dropped stitches and wonky edges out it and no one wears them. It’s almost a rite of passage for beginning knitters and crocheters; those horrible scarves and hats from squeaky acrylic that never really fit anyone. On this Fiber Friday I’m proposing a new rite of passage: start with the good stuff.
If you are considering take up any kind of fiber art, I strongly urge you to visit your local yarn shop (hence forth referred to as an LYS) and ask the owner/teacher/shop assistant to show you some good solid worsted weight wool.
A few things to consider when you’re getting started with this craft; your first project is probably going to be a rectangle of some kind, that’s basically a given but it doesn’t always have to be a scarf. There are lots of other wonderful beginner projects; wash cloths, simple bags/totes, a hat knit flat and seamed up or even a very simple baby sweater. With the exception of wash cloths, all of these items are best knit by a beginner in worsted weight wool, preferably in a color other than black or other dark hues. Dark yarns are hard to work with as a beginner because it makes it more difficult to see your stitches. Wash cloths require cotton or linen yarns and most LYS’s carry some dish cloth worthy cottons. 
If you are an existing fiber artist of any kind the chances are you’re going to be hit up for lessons by someone you know in the near future, if you haven’t already. I implore you, fellow fiberistas, GIVE THEM THE GOOD STUFF! You’ll be doing everyone a favor.
If your student is working with some really wonderful yarn, fantastic needles and a pattern that is going to be interesting and challenging to them they are far more likely to stick with the craft and continue on with it. When teaching a new knitter or crocheter remember to offer plenty of reassurance and let them know that everyone makes ugly wonky edged scarves in the beginning.
Handicrafts require care in the passing on and ought to be respected for the artistic endeavors they are. Everyone should use the highest quality supplies they can afford at the time. As the Yarn Harlot says ‘crap in, crap out’, you can only do as well as the supplies you’re using.
(Night Fire Worsted Wool image courtesy of DaniDo Crafty)
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