January 21, 2022

Start a blog for beginners.

初心者向けブログ始めます。

Hello everyone who wants to start knitting this year.
This is Hasuda, a beginner staff with a year and a half of knitting experience.

"Knitting seems fun. I would be happy if I could knit a fashionable knit by myself."

Even if you think so, isn't there a lot of people who don't know what to start with?
In particular, amirisu deals with imported yarns from overseas and text patterns that are not yet popular in Japan, so I feel that the hurdles to entry have become even higher.

So, in this new series, I asked Tokuko-sensei about all the doubts I had when I started knitting, and tried to clear them up. I plan to deliver it on my blog and Youtube.

Youtube is here!
https://youtu.be/Iykq0WEGBCE

I think it's too easy for experienced users, so feel free to skip it. (There may be hidden bits of knowledge that aren't known unexpectedly...!)

We also accept questions from beginners. If you want to get rid of the blur, please write to us.
↓ ↓
https://amirisu.typeform.com/to/IYyCTYFV

***

First time, about the thickness of the wool.

When I started knitting, my first reference was a Japanese knitting book. So, the first thing I learned was the Japanese notation for the thickness of yarn, such as medium thin and average thickness. However, when you visit a Walnut shop, there is no such notation. I didn't know which one to choose, so I took out my smartphone and searched the internet one by one in front of the shelf.

However, when I looked into it, it seems that the thickness of the thread is rather ambiguous.
Let's ask Tokuko.

Question 1: Is there a standard for thread thickness?

There is no standard for how many millimeters in diameter it should be called.
Then what determines the gauge is generally the gauge when knitting knitted knitting. It is decided that "If it is a gauge of what number of stages, let's use this thickness".

A gauge indicates how many stitches (horizontal) and how many rows (vertical) a square knitted fabric of a certain size is composed.
For example, "30 stitches and 40 rows in a 10 cm square" is written as "30 stitches & 40 rows = 10 cm".

It is also written on the thread tag like this. Dan is not even mentioned. Also, there are both cm and inch notation, so please be careful not to make a mistake. (1 inch = about 2.5 cm)

Also, although it is a little more specialized, there is also a method using a stick-like tool called WPI, which counts how many times the thread can be wrapped around a 1cm width. However, personally, I have never thought about thread thickness in WPI.

 

Question 2: Do you understand the correspondence between the Japanese notation and the English notation?

I've moved away from Japanese knitting, so I don't know (laughs).
However, if you search the Internet, you will find many correspondence tables.
Roughly speaking, the response is as follows.

Question 3: It seems that the notation is different depending on the country. Which English notation is used in amirisu?

I use the one on Ravelry .
Ravelry is an SNS where knitting enthusiasts from all over the world gather. Buy designer patterns, share your knitted creations, and store patterns you want to knit.

And Ravelry is also a yarn database. Make sure to check the thickness of the thread because it is always written.

This is amirisun's original yarn, Wanderlust Linen page.

 

circled in blue ? Press to display the thread classification table.

I think that the manufacturers put in the thickness by themselves.
However, when a lot of people who try knitting the thread say, "It says DK, but I definitely think it's a Sport," sometimes things change.

In addition, there are threads that can produce various gauges depending on the needle. It's the same with amirisu's Hike, and I'm having trouble figuring out how to write it. Gauges appear from DK to Aran.

In other words, there is no need to stick to the notation of thread thickness.
Since the amount of hands used when knitting differs from person to person, even with the same thread, the gauge will vary from person to person. It also depends on the material. If you want to knit something, first get a gauge .

 

Question 4: You can't try gauges without buying thread. When I buy yarn for the first time, I don't want to make a mistake, but what should I do?

Beginners who do not know the salt plums around here,

1. Buy the thread recommended by the shop staff 2. Buy the thread in the kit 3. Buy the specified thread for the pattern

I think choosing one of these is the easiest way and you won't make a big mistake. Even with the specified thread, you may not be able to get the specified gauge, but prepare a lot of needles and increase or decrease the size of the needle to get as close to the specified gauge as possible.
However, if you are new to knitting and you don't know if you will continue to knit, you may be reluctant to buy a set of needles. (It's also worth the price...)
In such a case, please start with scarves and shawls that can be used without problems even if the size is slightly different. With sweaters and socks, it would be sad if they didn't fit or were too big.

Knitting is an experience value. The more experience you gain, the more yarn options you can use. Isn't that the difficult part of knitting, and the interesting part?
Don't be afraid to fail and don't take yourself too seriously, just try.

 

Question 5: What does 1ply, 2ply mean?

Ply represents the number of twists. If it is 1ply, it means that it is not twisted. With 2ply, two strands are twisted together. However, just because a thread is twisted a lot does not mean that the thread is thick. Even 4ply is thin.

 

Question 6: Is it stronger if it is twisted a lot?

of course.
However, it depends on the number of turns of the twist (tightness, looseness), so it's hard to say for certain...

 

Question 7: What is Light in Light Fingering?

A little thinner than Fingering. Not as thin as lace, but thinner than Fingering. Conversely, Heavy means a little thicker.

 

Question 8: There are some fingerings that say sock yarn and others that don't. If you want to knit socks, should you choose sock yarn?

It is the manufacturer side that names it as sock yarn. The manufacturer simply recommends, "This thread is recommended for socks!"

So, you can knit socks with sock yarn according to the recommendations, knit sweaters with yarn that says sock yarn, or knit socks with yarn that doesn't.

In general, good socks are those that are twisted to some extent and are durable. Amirisu's Trek is highly recommended.

 

Question 9: Does mohair have thickness?

Mohair is the so-called animal hair. This is the hair that comes from the Angora goat, not from sheep. The thickness of the thread changes depending on how it is processed, so naturally there are variations in the thickness of mohair. There is no such thing as fat because it's a sheep or thin because it's a goat.
For example, DARUMA's wool mohair and silk mohair are completely different in thickness.

 

Question 10: What are solids and speckles?

A solid skein that is evenly dyed in a single color, or that looks like a single color.
Speckle is speckled in English, but it has a grainy pattern.

Danzome is a gradation.

By the way, when you knit yarn with different colors in half of the skein like this, the knitted fabric will be completely different depending on the width and size of what you are knitting, so you won't know until you try it.
Knitting a sweater and knitting socks are completely different in length. It is a good idea to try knitting and enjoy the fun of how the colors come out.

It's annoying and frustrating to try to solve a puzzle after failing, but don't be discouraged at first and try to solve it as many times as you like. Unlike sewing, you can start over again, so in a sense you can start at ease.

***

This is getting long, so I'll stop here for now.

Next time, we will talk about yarn processing.
What is Super Wash? What kind of yarn is less prone to pilling? What is lot? And so on, I will listen!

We are also accepting questions from everyone!
https://amirisu.typeform.com/to/IYyCTYFV