 This is what your favorite fibers look like under a microscope. Our second meeting at Fremont United Methodist Church was packed with inspiration. April Tip First, Nele Redweik shared a tip for stranded knitting: working with three colors in one row. Knitting thimbles are great notions that help keep strands from tangling and enable efficient stitching. Nele’s custom-made Norwegian thimble from Etsy helped her, but you can experiment with different brands and types to suit you. Her finished Orkney cardigan by Marie Wallin shows the intricate colorwork. Check out Nele in her three-color stranded glory! April Program Next, Chelsea Fuller walked us through the Physics of Yarn. If you want to pick the right yarn for your project, and ensure it will live a long time, an understanding of fiber characteristics will help. Fiber Content From rustic wools to fuzzy angoras, the natural shape, crimp, texture, and behavior of the animal or plant fibers greatly influence your final project. Chelsea, passed around samples of fleece from sheep like Merino and Shetland, as well as from the surprisingly, incredibly soft and lofty camel. While super luxurious cashmere is a favorite, it’s only beginning to be farmed sustainably. You can learn more about cashmere farming here. Yarn Structure A seasoned spinner, Chelsea explained twist, ply, and prep. These actions hold fibers together with varying results of strength and resilience. A key takeaway: high ply equals less pilling! Choosing between worsted and woolen yarns can make a huge difference in your final project. In terms of how fibers are arranged, worsted yarns are fabulous for cables and lace for their stitch definition. For colorwork, the lofty, airy woolen yarns are ideal. The Right Yarn for Your Project Ask yourself lots of questions about what you want to make and how you will use it. Consider the friction between sweater sleeves and the body, if you’ll get caught in the rain with this garment, or if it matters whether or not the fabric will stretch over the course of the day. And, though the many colorful singles options out there are irresistible, try to avoid knitting high-wear items out of these single ply yarns. Remember: pilling! Chelsea’s knowledge and experience is valuable for any level of knitter. It complements Annette Caughman's January program on the sweater knitting process perfectly. April Raffles and Door Prizes We had some of the best door prizes and raffles yet. One lucky member took home a handspun skein by Chelsea herself. Another won a 3-month subscription to Knit Crate, the service that sends a different bundle of yarn to your door. And, 16 super lucky people were picked to attend April 20th’s Brooklyn Tweed HQ Tour. We hope you’ll join us next month, May 10th, for Dave Zandberg of ZZ Alpacas!  What's the difference between worsted and woolen yarns? Chelsea explains it all.
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