Hello. I have a question about yarn. I am going to be knitting a sweater and it calls for Botany Kwiltee yarn which is 50/50 wool/nylon.
Here is what the pattern says:
MATERIALS: BOTANY KWILTEE, 2 oz. skeins.
skeins
KNITTING NEEDLES: 1 pair “Boye” Non-Inflammable Needles, Size 10 – OR SIZE YOU REQUIRE TO KNIT TO GAUGE GIVEN BELOW.
1 pair “Boye” Non-Inflammable Needles, Size 8.
GAUGE: 4 sts = 1 inch
Would that mean that this is a number 5 yarn/ bulky?? ANd would any number 5 yarn work??
That could be a ‘4’ medium weight or worsted yarn. I don’t think you’d have trouble getting 4 sts/inch on 10s with worsted.
Anything you could get 4 sts =1inch. Probably a bulky, but I’d pay attention to the ball bands and see what the suggested gauge is for the yarns you are considering and get one that works up to 16st=4inches or 4st= 1in. or very close so that it can be worked to that gauge if it is not the exact one specified.
If I went with a number 5 yarn do you think I would be able to still get 4 st to the inch?? Thanks
It really depends on the yarn, not all 5’s and 4’s are the same. I have a number of skeins sitting here that say they are #4:
Vanna’s Choice 16st=4inches (what you want) on a 9
TLC Essentials (a Red Heart yarn)17st=4inches on an 8
Patons Classic Wool 20st=4inches on a 7
And 2 #5
Bernat Softee Chunky 15sts=4inches on a 10
Lamb’s Pride Bulky 12sts=4inches on a 10 1/2
So they vary a lot. It depends on the type of denseness you want on your finished object. You can get a bulky and knit it a bit tighter or get a worsted and knit looser. Personally I would not want to push something that says 20st=4inches to 16st=4inches. It might be okay for a scarf, but not a sweater type thing.
You really need to look at the ones you are thinking about and not hypothetically speaking because they can be so different.
You might be able to match the gauge with a bulky yarn. If you have some, just try it on the 10s and see how it comes out. Personally, I think 4 sts/inch on 10s with bulky is too dense, but other people think that’s about right. I like a looser gauge especially in sweaters because I get too warm in them at the more usual gauge.