I’ve knitted a bit with synthetics, and I don’t mind them. Wool itself itches me like I’m a woman possessed by a hive of wasps but some wools are ok - I once had a merino wool sweater from Gap that was just dreamily soft. Sadly, I expanded in size (including what felt like an overnight explosion in the chest department) and it no longer fits (it does make a nice comfort thing to have around to hug when I’m sick though!).
I like cotton a lot, my very first sweater many years ago was in cotton and I remember loving how it felt on the needles and then the finished project looked great. It was a washable fabric, just on a gentle cycle and a half speed spin, then dried flat on an airer. No more hassle than the rest of my “woolies” to wash.
Now I’ve taken a liking to Ice yarns. I recently posted some pre-sequined yarn which has daisy shaped sequins in the yarn. It is claimed to be mohair but I’m assuming its a synthetic as its soft. It was hard to knit with and I have 12 balls of it waiting on a project. I later bought the Ice yarn pre-beaded yarn. I have to say… almost at the end of the first ball of it and I am loving how it is coming up.
Might be worth a peek at the Ice Yarns, they have lots of textures in various synthetics and sell direct from the factory in Turkey.
I use acrylic primarily when I do knit. I have used cotton and wool before, but I am broke as a bloke on a rope…uh…yea… lol
There are AWESOMELY soft acrylics and there are HORRIBLE scratchy acrylics. If you go to a place like Hobby Lobby or Joann’s (my typical spots for yarn), feel the yarn and look at the content. You might be surprised.
I am another acrylic user. I too am unable to wear wool due to the itch and breaking out in hives factor!
Caron Simply Soft is my favorite. It is a bit splitty, but has a nice softness and washes beautifully. It does get a bit fuzzy if I have to unknit.
I also like cotton blends, though they are harder to find (especially since Lion Brand disontinued Cotton Ease).
I do like blends like silk/cotton/rayon and other yarns like that, though they are not available at the Hobby Lobby type shops. Finding sock yarn that has no wool is a real challenge!
I mostly seem to knit with acrylics because I HAVE to!! I can’t afford MOST of the yarns I hear about here and on the blogs I read. I’ve seen a stash on Flickr (mlweaving’s) that would just impress ANYONE, I think!! If I knew how to link, I would, because she had all the popular names, and some I’d never heard of. She did the Lady E and it is beautiful, and her pictures are amazing…she sews too.) SO I “splurge” on wool or cotton blends for socks. I hate to think of my loved ones having sweatier feet than neccesary!
I did my first pair of socks with acrylic, and my grandson wore them and he said he liked the fit but they were so HOT that his feet “couldn’t breathe”!! My favorite sock yarn so far has been Shepherd sock yarn by Lorna’s Laces–it was SOFT and knit like a dream!! My DIL loves them–so much more than the Sock It TO ME socks I’d done for her before. I’d love to try some of the bamboo, the Noro, the SWTP, the cashmeres, the Koigu, and the other wonderful yarns I hear about–but not yet----too many other things we NEED to save for!! I still have right much acrylic yarn that I picked up on sale to knit, so I’m satsfied because I have yarn to knit with, and that’s the important thing!!
I still have right much acrylic yarn that I picked up on sale to knit, so I’m satsfied because I have yarn to knit with, and that’s the important thing!! 