I am currently working on a shawl out of Lion Brand Homespun. It’s looking too much like a piece of carpet for my liking. Do any of you have suggestions on a good substitution? I’m such a newbie that I am not brave enough to try a pattern with yarn different from what was recommended.
Thanks so much for your help!
Hi, 2sweetgirls38. I recently made a capelet from a pattern that was written for Homespun. I used Misti Alpaca Chunky, a completely different yarn in texture (not nubby like Homespun), but a similar weight, rated 3.5 stitches per inch on size 10 needles. That’s the thing that matters, weight (and maybe drapiness). Any bulky yarn should be able to give you the required stitches-per-inch, so go crazy.
Thanks! I’ll have to remember that. I also discovered that Lion Brand has a chart for yarn substitutions on their website. I don’t know why I’m worried about it. I could just use whatever I want and make it work. I’m a bit neurotic though.
I have substiuted Patons Shetland Chunky several times when Homespun was called for. The patterns always turn out great and I really like working with Patons.
I’ve double-stranded worsted weight yarn to sub for Homespun for a shawl, and it worked great–it showed off the stitches much better than the boucle texture of the Homespun would have.
You girls rock! I’m still a bit nervous about knitting with two strands. Any tips on that?
Keep each skein in a seperate baggy and keep the top closed other than a little space to feed the yarn. This will keep the yarn from twisting.
You can do it… don’t be afraid to try new things… the worst that can happen is that you have to take it out if you don’t like it!
Ok, I’ll have to give it a try. I can do it! I can do it!!!
You can do it- it’s really a lot easier than it sounds. When you’re using a chunky yarn, it’s easier to see the stitches. You’ll just have to remember that each stitch consists of more than one piece of yarn.