Knit & Chat: All About SYNTHETIC Yarns

Everything you need to know about synthetic yarns and when and why you should use them!
Thank you to ‪@knitpicksOfficial‬ for providing the yarn for the video!
shrsl.com/3a83m
🧶 LINKS:
Oceana yarn from Knit Pics
shrsl.com/4lh0z
SEAQUAL Initiative
www.seaqual.org/seaqual-yarn/
Yarn 101: Knitting with Synthetic Yarns
toniaknits.com/knitting-with-...
The blanket: Lily Pond by Janie Crow
www.janiecrow.com/lily-pond.html
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📌 CHAPTER LINKS:
00:00 Knitting with synthetic yarns
2:09 Fiber categories
5:59 Pros & cons of synthetics
8:50 Why water resistance matters
11:31 Caring and blocking tips
14:01 Yarn blends
25:07 Q&A
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Disclaimer: Some links shared above or in the video may be affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Nerdy Knitting is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
#nerdyknitting #knittingtips #sweaterknitting

[@crys6375]

A few years ago I learned that I prefer knitting with softer yarns. So whether it is acrylic, wool, or some sort of blend, it all boils down to how the yarn feels. It’s a total sensory/texture thing for me. Once I realized the types of yarns I enjoy knitting with I started knitting way more than I previously did.

[@judyreel1544]

I agree, it ia all about texture for me as well.

[@sleepydrJ]

That’s a great point. But in my experience, the soft fluffy acrylics get “tougher” with use and washing (and I hand wash, air dry). Have you noticed this in the yarns you’ve selected?

[@crys6375]

@@sleepydrJI haven’t done much knitting with acrylic yarns once I discovered super wash merino. I just love the feel of it so I knit with it a lot! I’m currently knitting a blanket with a yarn from Berroco that is 50/50 acrylic and nylon, but the yarn isn’t fluffy. It’s smooth and soft. I will have a better idea when the blanket is done but that won’t be for several months still (it’s a monthly subscription club). My other acrylic or nylon yarns and blended with super wash merino. I haven’t made anything with them yet so I’m not sure how they will hold up with washing.

[@maryannbergeron9531]

I look forward to your videos as they really help me become a more knowledgeable knitter. I am very sensitive to wool so I need the information you provide. Thank you.

[@NerdyKnitting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@karenalbery2773]

Great info. I dont buy 100% synthetic yarns much any more but I am happy to keep using what's in my stash esp for items I know will get beat up a lot like kids hats and mittens

[@kaylemoine1571]

Good info. Of recent years, I have avoided synthetic yarns but they have their place. Choosing the correct yarn is really important.

[@bethliebman8169]

My preference is for natural fibers. A lot of my yarn comes from the donated stashes at my charity knitting group. The acrylic yarn is sometimes the best for donated items because they are easy care, I must say that acrylic has come a long way in the past 20 years. There used to be a terrible plastic-y feel to acrylic. Thanks to the march of science most acrylics now are pretty indistinguishable from wool. I've used Knit Picks Brava for many projects and didn't get that plastic vibe. Good discussion of manmade yarns. Interested to hear that you like blown yarn--haven't tried that yet.

[@valeriehowden471]

Great summary and answers. I have some acrylic in my stash ... using it primarily for blankets because of how easy it is for care.

[@carolynlambert6989]

G’day that was really helpful Tonia 👍🏻🇦🇺

[@Wrendymion]

Great info - I'd love to know more about the different environmental impacts of all the different yarns. I try to avoid synthetics these days, and am currently trying to turn my remaining acrylic yarn into a large basket, but I'm not so worried about blends that use it to add structure or softness, nor novelty yarns since those are fun 😄I normally find that acrylic doesn't last as well or feel as warm as wool with wearables, so I want my jumpers and cardigans to be more woolly than not. I just wish there were more colourful and ombre yarns that were pure/mostly wool, so many are acrylic but the colours are so cool 😢

[@lindseywhite3371]

I use synthetic fibres when knitting gifts or for my partner, he has a wool allergy.

[@sheilaabayateye1558]

Thank you so helpful.

[@Tatsuemin]

One thing I do when my polyester thread/yarn splits too much (fail me can't count to save my life so I will be constantly frogging it) is to use some wax (old piece of candle or beeswax whatever I have on hand) so the fiber will kind of get together again. I just run the thread along the edge of the wax piece, it helps to straighten the crinkle and the fuzziness and also keep the split of smaller threads together. BUT, warning, it can make it harder to slide the needle if you are a tighter knitter/crocheter. Pay attention to the color of the wax too, beeswax can turn a white thread yellow-y. I usually just have plain white candle leftovers from my mom's praying candleholders that I melt into a small block to repurpose. It is petrol base so you're basically using petrol on petrol, just be mindful that it will melt down using warm water so if you mind the water contamination lightly apply with a little water and use blotter paper/kitchen towels to absorb the first batch of water, I don't have a steamer so I warm the surface of the piece with a hair blow dryer and use kitchen towel/paper to absorb it. Way back in the day I used wax to dye fabric (or not dye it to be precise) making lines/outlines and then melt it down with heat (blow dryer or iron) onto newspaper or kitchen towels to take it off so I know it can be done with no problems. The wax on thread I learnt from Bernadette Banner as she did use it on thread to sew so I just put the two together when my polyester thread was almost lost due to constant frogging. If you want to block a crochet doily after using wax on the thread just put under a towel and lightly iron it, it will be blocked without water, just be careful with the temperature. If you don't have an iron, put a bit of water on a pan, heat it (NOT boil) and use the bottom over the towel, the weight of the water/pan and the heat will work fine, almost like an iron.

[@NerdyKnitting]

Thank you for sharing so much useful information!

[@jingojango1900]

Wow! Thank you!

[@dorothydishman4664]

Nice explanation, thanks for all your research.

[@sallythibodeaux7992]

Great review! Thanks ☺️

[@NerdyKnitting]

Thanks for watching!

[@adiegiese23]

I used the knitpicks wonderfluff for a scarf. I absolutely loved it

[@NerdyKnitting]

I bet that's a lovely warm scarf!

[@joanmachado9063]

Another great video thank you

[@NerdyKnitting]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@HannaVilkman]

Please note @nerdyKnitting and other fellow-knitters! Baby blankets or baby garments and acrylic is quite a big no-no when it comes to fire safety. Acrylic is plastic as said on the video and if it catches fire, it will melt causing severe burns and can even stick to the skin when melting. For example, wool most likely self-extinguishes if it catches fire and doesn't melt as it's a natural fibre.

[@gabriellejacobs1192]

Really useful video, thank you.

[@NerdyKnitting]

You're welcome!

[@barbaramcewen]

I use synthetics for some things but usually for cost purposes. I prefer natural fibres or blends. It does bother me a bit that synthetics are the go to, or even required, for donations now since actual wool allergies are so rare.

[@michmash7888]

Another thing that sometimes helps with splitty yarn (question at around 26:30) is to try using the other end…i.e., use the end from inside the skein versus the end on the outside…or vice-versa. And using a yarn bowl sometimes helps make things go smoother. But some yarns are just persnickety and no amount of coaxing will make them behave!

[@NerdyKnitting]

Good advice!

[@lizholzer4930]

Great video, as always! You really are my kind of nerd! I mostly use 100% non-superwash wool for garments, but I’ve made exceptions. Exception #1: Using acrylics for things like baby blankets makes sense. They aren’t the softest things, but the colors are great, and you can machine wash and dry them 10,000 times before they wear out. Exception #2: Last year, I accidentally ordered some Berroco Remix Light (30% Nylon, 27% Cotton, 24% Acrylic, 10% Silk, 9% Linen). I made a top out of it last year, and i feel the yarn has some merit! It’s nice and light for summer garments, stands up great to the washer and dryer, and doesn’t have a plasticky feel. Unfortunately, the design I made has a wide neckline that instantly stretches out even wider within an hour of my putting it on. Must be that the acrylic can’t control the natural sagginess of all that cotton, silk, and linen, huh? But I’m using the Remix Light again to knit a top with a much smaller neckline in a much tighter gauge, so I have hope!

[@KatyB-GryffindorChaser]

Have you considered sewing elastic around the neckline to give it better structure? Elizabeth Zimmerman recommended that as being an excellent and easy fix in a video I watched of her awhile ago. It's stuck in my head as a backup option if a cuff or neck really needed it.

[@lizholzer4930]

@@KatyB-GryffindorChaser Aha! Yes! That’s what I need to try! Thank you so much. ❤

[@HannaVilkman]

Using acrylic yarn for baby blankets and baby garments is quite dangerous as acrylic melts if it catches fire and that melting acrylic (plastic) can cause serious burns and even stick to skin when melting. So I recommend being very careful with acrylic yarn near fire and maybe use natural fibers for baby knits.

[@lizholzer4930]

@@HannaVilkman Yes, I see your point, but considering whether or not a baby’s clothes could catch fire would be secondary to keeping the baby away from fire altogether.

[@sleepydrJ]

That 30% merino would be sold in commercial socks as “wool-rich”…. When I started shopping for actual wool socks, I realized it’s more a matter of a little bit of wool vs no wool!

[@jeanette6396]

I don't wear synthetics, so I don't like to buy them in yarn. The exception is blankets and knitting for other people who often want the wash and wear quality of synthetics. I like a mix of acrylic/cotton for blankets as the cotton is better against the skin, but the acrylic keeps it lighter and easier to care for. Unfortunately acrylics usually have a larger variety of colors, so that is another reason to use them. I think not enough weight is given to the construction of a yarn- plied, chain, blown, etc, and how that affects the performance of the yarn. I think not enough info is out there about construction.

[@NerdyKnitting]

I agree with you - so much is affected by the yarn construction! Fiber is important but so is how the yarn is spun and plied.

[@EvieO1950]

Thanks for this info and discussion. I like learning and you often teach me new things!!

[@yarra352]

I avoid synthetic yarns, partly environment reasons, partly quality issues, mostly I don't like the feel of them and the clammy feeling when wearing them. Besides, by only buying more expensive yarns I force myself to make choices thereby buying less but I what I buy and make I truelt love. It keeps my stach from growing and it reduces impact on the environment.

[@paulafralick2905]

I don't like the feel of the older acrylic yarn on my hands. I inherited boxes of this yarn from both my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. I do use it for child and baby knits and for charity knits. I recently learned more about how superwash yarn is made and don't think it is a much better alternative for the environment than acrylic. Therefore I just use the yarn thst is easiest on my hands. Mostly 100% wool and wool blends. Haven't done much knitting with plant fibers. That will be my next exploration. Ps all this year I have knit only with stash yarn so the plant fibers will have to wait for next year.

[@cindymswyo]

Quick question: I have some beautiful pink 100% cotton that was gifted to me. If I held this yarn (DK) with a fingering sock yarn for a sweater, would this help the cotton stay in shape?

[@NerdyKnitting]

I don't know. You could swatch with both to see what happens.

[@bonneswartzfager4190]

I'm curious as to how long the polyester tube holds up. Will it deteriorate, and then allow the blown fibers to escape?

[@NerdyKnitting]

I don't think that would be an issue. Synthetics last a really long time!

[@Christine-zk6hk]

I've use these, and they do make nice scarves and hats, but what I couldn't figure out was to how to join the yarns. Most of the invisible joins that I know of just simply didn't work because there's no plies I did wind up having to just use knots, which I don't particularly like, but it was the only way I could figure out how to join them. If someone else knows of way, I'd appreciate Hearing it

[@NerdyKnitting]

I don't try to do any special joins, just drop the old yarn and start with the new then weave in both ends.

[@christinestankewitz6106]

What exactly do you mean by melt ?

[@NerdyKnitting]

Fuse together (and if you put the hot item directly in contact with the yarn it can stick to it).

[@ixtlanisabelle]

[@valeriebishop561]

no microwave use with acrylic yarns or polyester either! Bad Bad idea!

[@NerdyKnitting]

Oh my! I feel like there must be a story there! 😁

[@Sneakyfoxeh]

Why in the world would anyone microwave an acrylic item? 😂

[@maryfrank2175]

@Sneakyfoxeh Accident, I'd think...

[@Sneakyfoxeh]

You might want to actually research the item that you're talking about before making a video on it. Saying that this video is entirely on synthetic yarn and following up with "I don't know how it is made" is pretty awful. Also, your tone is a bit snobbish.

[@maryfrank2175]

This is a rather 'not nice' comment. There is no one who knows ALL about any subject. She gave us a great deal of information, for which most of us are appreciative and we'll use it as a jumping off place. Also...SWATCH for those questions that are better answered by doing YOUR OWN homework! \ Just sayin'...