I had a quick couple of questions. I was planning on making a blanket for my hubby and me and I do not have allot of money. I was wondering if anyone knew how warm acrylic yarn would be? Also was wondering if anyone could suggest an easy pattern( but one that would keep me interested). Thanks for your time and co-operation!
~Ayla
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Yes, acrylic can be warm. You could choose a fluffy yarn like Homespun, but be aware it needs to be knit with size 11s. Using a smaller needle can be very frustrating to say the least! That yarn needs a very simple garter st pattern, or stockinette with borders. I have an afghan I bought at the thrift store thatâs make from Caronâs Simply soft; very soft, inexpensive and nice and warm. There are tons of blanket patterns around, check the http://www.dailyknitter.com/patterns.html or http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory.php
I just finished an afghan with Red Heart Supersaver (bought on sale for 2-7oz skeins for $5) that cost about $13 with sales tax. It washed up nice and soft and is now on my sisterâs bed. Knit on size 10 needles. I also just finished 2 afghans made with Carons Simply Soft also bought on sale 2 for $5 at Michaels. They were knit one on a size 17 as per pattern and the other I dropped down to a 13. Those 2 were knit using 2 strands of yarn together. They used 6 skeins for a cost of $15 per afghan. They are nice and warm.
I would choose a pattern that is not open weave if warmth is primary. I did one for myself that is just k4p4 for 4 rows, then p4k4 for 4 rows and alternate. I think itâs pretty and makes for mindless knitting while watching TV or listening to music. Itâs also easy to figure width desired for casting on.
I like Caronâs Simply Soft the best. Besides being soft, it has a great luster/soft sheenâŚand great colors.
I have had horrible experiences with Homespun. After washing a few times, it has HUGE âpillingâ issues. Not everyone has had the same issues though. Homespun looks so pretty in the skein, and when first knit! But this is what happened to my blankie after multiple washings. I just donât have time to trim pills everytime I launder it. It is still warm though! Oh, and the fringe? Frayed and falling apart wispy ends!
Iâm a fan of Simply Soft too. I really enjoy working with it, itâs inexpensive, and is warm.
I love Simply Soft.
Caronâs Simply Soft, Hobby Lobbyâs âI Love This Yarnâ, and Vannaâs Choice.
As for patterns, www.lionbrand.com lists a lot of patterns and designates a skill level for each. Also try www.knittingpatterncentral.com. You should be able to find something between those. 
Happy knitting! :knitting:
Laura
âI Love This Yarnâ or Bernat Super Saver. Caron Simply Soft is good, but I like BIG skeins of yarn!
I love simply soft! Depending on the pattern it can be nice and warm. I have a super saver aghan my Grams knit me about 5 years ago. It is warm and after it had been washed a few times it really softened up. She made a reversible cable afghan the looks exactly like Silverâs palindrome scarf (only wider of course:teehee:).
Check out coatsandclark.com When you get to their homepage, click on âfree patternsâ. The next page will give you choices of knit, crochet, sewing, etc. When you click on âknittingâ it takes you to another page where you can choose the type of project you want. Thereâs one afghan made with âLight and Loftyâ which is rated easy, and should work up real well. The âLight and Loftyâ also washes up to be nice and soft - itâs a bit rough to work with at the beginning because of all the sizing in it, but once through the washer and dryer, the difference is amazing. Itâs a super bulky yarn, so it should also knit up faster - it uses size 15 needles if I remember right.
Have fun!!! Thereâs nothing like snuggling up under an afghan youâve made yourself.
I am a new convert to Simply Soft. I also like Red Heartâs Soft but it is a bit pricier.
Yeah, I caught the extra âlâ and went in and edited itâŚbut for some reason the edited post didnât show up. Wonder what happened there? Apparently I donât have the editing thing down. LOL!
When you go in to edit a post, click Save and it should change it.
Iâm planning on doing an afghan in âI Love This Yarnâ. One of the ladies at my local knit night brought some last week and sheâs knitting a sweater out of it. She said itâs very soft (which it is because she passed it around and we all got to touch it), and she also said it holds up well in the wash, too. I went up to Hobby Lobby the next night to get some, and the shelves that held this yarn were pretty much bare.
Now if Hobby Lobby would get some more inâŚ
I like the feel of lionâs homespun, but it does pill, and you cannot do fringe with it. I also have a problem with it shrinking a lot the first time it get washed. Donât know whatâs up with that. A regular plyed acrylic (not a boucle like Homespun) holds up a bit better. Also remember that after first wash it will usually soften a bit. I made a baby blanket for my son, that I wasnât too sure about because it felt a bit stiff, but a run through the wash and it was super soft.
Hi
Hmm - not sure which side of the âpondâ youâre on. If youâre in the UK, just hop down to your local market hall and theyâll have a selection of acrylics in DK that wonât break the bank.
Some local shops also sell discontinued shades and sometimes you can pick up 400g for about ÂŁ3.00. Bradford-based Woolcraft are particularly good for selling discontinued stock - I picked up 800g of Aran weight for ÂŁ6.50.
http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com is a good source of patterns and Iâm sure other knitters could point you in the right direction. Thereâs always someone knitting an Afghan round here.
All the Best
Ellie
http://www.countonknit.com
I love the Simply Soft, too. Iâm making my first afghan with it right now and as I progress I put it over me and itâs soo warm. Iâd like to keep it for myself. :whistle:
Iâve made some smaller afghans with the Red Heart Super Saver, and itâs ok, but the simply soft is so much nicer.
Hope this helps.
Homespun is soft, but you canât see any stitch definition and if Iâm going to all that hard work to knit I want to see it!
Caron Simply Soft is very soft and shows your hard work. 
A few others that are niceâŚ
Red Heart SOFT
Bernat Softee yarns
Vannaâs Choice
Red Heart Super Saver is cheap, but be careful. It does get softer after washing, but still not as soft as others are even before washing. It also hurts my hands after knitting with it for awhile. IMO if youâre going to make something big go for one of the others. :shrug: