True or False: Knitting something tight= warmth?
I’d say that yes, a denser fabric would be warmer but knitting too tightly can also make a fabric that’s stiff and doesn’t drape and winds up uncomfortable. Tightly knit socks are a good thing, tightly knit garments I’m not so sure. And you need to go on the gauge of the pattern to get the right # of sts/inch.
I’m knitting a hat on US3’s. And I’m not really following a pattern. This one is my inspiration: http://www.wrights.com/wrights/products/catalog/boyeline/7353_lg.htm
But I have different yarn and chose a smaller needle to make it righter, so I’m not able to follow the pattern exactly.
I’ve got a shawl I bought at a craft fair. It’s a very intricate but very open sttich. In other words it’s full of holes but because it’s drapes so nicely it’s really really warm.
It also depends greatly on what fiber you’re using. Wool, alpaca, etc. can be VERY warm, even if not knit super tightly, but other things like synthetics such as acrylic aren’t super warm, even if knit tightly.
Must be my body because my acrylic sweaters are too hot unless its very cold, and I was like that long before menopause. I knit on larger needles partly because of this, but they’re still quite warm. And for lacier patterns, seems like they have a thermal effect, the holes trap the warmth.
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=DarkOrchid]I’d have agree that acrylic is very warm. :hot: Wool seems to have a thermostat and it will keep you warm without being too warm. IOW, with wool, if you start to sweat, it’ll wick the moisture away to help regulate the temperature as evaporating moisture is cooling.
Acrylic just keeps you warm and doesn’t allow for getting too warm…
So with that said, I like to knit acrylic just a bit looser so air can get in and help regulate temperature.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
Yarn with a lot of “loft,” eg, mohair, angora, loosely spun wool or anything fluffy and airy can be very warm even if knit loosely. Body heat gets trapped between the fluffy fibers and keeps you cozy. So you can have it both ways: lightweight and warm.
I find that many acrylics feel warm and cuddly when you first put them on, but after a while seem clammy. That’s why I prefer superwash wool or acrylic-wool blends for baby clothes and blankets that must be both warm and washable.
Wool is a particularly good insulator. Woolen mittens will help keep a kid’s hands warm even when they’re wet with snow; in this case, knitting tightly does add both warmth and water-resistance.
Well, I’m knitting a blend of Wool, Cashmere, and Silk, and I couldn’t bare to knit it on size 8’s or even 4’s looked loosey goosey. Knitting it on 3’s, will it make the wearer uncomfortable? Too hot?
What you do guys think?
I think you’ll have to make a large swatch so you cn see how it drapes. If it is knit too tightly it will be somewhat stiff.
If it is knit too tightly it will be somewhat stiff.
And maybe not so soft, either.
Hmmm. Good points my friends. Here’s a pic, what do you think? 
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