Splitty yarns!

DehbiK

Some of the newer yarns, especially a lot of the gradients, are comprised of multiple strands the thinness of thread almost.  

Id like to have a conversation about splittiness in yarns.  I have seen much criticism by many different knitters of yarns that they condemn for being splitty.  I have been knitting for my entire life (Im now a grandmother!), and although I will acknowledge that there is such a thing as a splitty yarn, I think this is more of a user error problem than it is one that cannot be overcome by control (taking care), how the yarn is handled, the type of needles used (sharper versus more blunt), and sometimes the fiber content.

Im using a yarn now that is somewhat splitty, but Ive had very little trouble with it.

Id love to hear what others think about splittiness and if anyone else has a similar view of how to deal with yarns like this.   

TheKnitter

The only gradients Ive found to be "splitty" are the cheap ones from AC Moore, Michaels and some of the on-line retailers.  The ones Ive purchased from Indy Dyers, although more expensive, have been wonderful to knit with.  I use Signature Needles with Stiletto points and havent had a problem.  

I do find Bamboo to be "splitty" which is probably why I dont enjoy working with it :-(

If the gradient had colors I was absolutely in love with Id find a way to knit with it - perhaps by using wooden needles (Takumi is a brand that seems to have a blunt point).  

I buy most of my yarn at yarn stores or events (Rhinebeck in NY State, Maryland Sheep and Wool, and Garden State Sheep and Wool).  My local yarn store will take the yarn back if Im not happy.  If its something I cant return, frankly, I just dont buy it again and struggle through knitting the project I bought it for.

Just my opinion.

DehbiK

TheKnitter 2017-10-5 20:31
The only gradients Ive found to be "splitty" are the cheap ones from AC Moore, Michaels and some o ...

I dont normally use bamboo....I think it can be a problem with stretching and shape changing, but I have to use something really soft and I wanted a really deep and rich purple for a friend who is allergic to wool in any form.  I dont know how she is with alpaca or any other animal fibers, but this bamboo/cotton blend is really beautiful and very soft. It is a little bit splitty, but as I said, I dont normally have a problem even with splitty yarns.  They just have to be handled differently and with the right tools.

For this yarn, Im using Karbonz short tips (well, I use short tipped interchangeables for almost everything).  There seems to be less catching than with wood or bamboo needles.  I was using Nova tips recently and liked those even better, but took them off of the cables for some reason and now cant find them!

Thanks for responding.  Is is always interesting to learn about the experiences of others.  

maryknitter65

Cheap gradients are splitty because the color change happens one strand at a time and the strands are not twisted, its like working with 4 thin strands held together.

DehbiK

maryknitter65 2017-10-8 13:43
Cheap gradients are splitty because the color change happens one strand at a time and the strands ar ...

Thats interesting.  I am not sure Ive seen any cheap gradients.  All of the ones Ive seen, or of which Im aware, are not really cheap.  I can think of one inexpensive yarn that might be considered to be a gradient but it is plied and twisted.

Can you give an example of a brand of yarn that is like what you are describing?

maryknitter65

Katia Spring rainbow, for instance. Its acrylic and cotton. It comes in 150g cakes DK weight.

What do you mean with "might be considered gradient"? Something like Caron cakes, maybe? In my opinion that is self striping, with very long stripes, not gradient.

DehbiK

maryknitter65 2017-10-18 09:31
Katia Spring rainbow, for instance. Its acrylic and cotton. It comes in 150g cakes DK weight.

What ...

Yes.  I was thinking of a particular color of Caron Cakes that is all purples. I am considering that a gradient because all of the colors are in the same family.  But I see what you mean now.  Ive not seen Katia.  

Ive seen comments about several yarns that are not multi-stranded, though, in the sense of what you described and that some thought were very splitty.  I could understand what was meant, sort of, but I had not had problems with those yarns.  Ill see if I can find an example.

maryknitter65

I see, when they make all shades of purple its similar to a gradient.

I think some plied and twisted yarns are more splitty than others. Im not sure it has to do with the color. Also, give two people the same yarn one tells you its splitty the other says its not!

DehbiK

maryknitter65 2017-10-18 18:56
I see, when they make all shades of purple its similar to a gradient.

I think some plied and twis ...

Yes. Thats how I was thinking of some of those cake yarns, like Caron, but really only in those monchromatic colorways.    It is all very subjective.  For example, Ive knitted for my entire life and can do just about anything, but I really dont like entrelac.  I like the way it looks, but I dont enjoy knitting it.  And lace is o.k., but some of those insanely complicated lace patterns are very unforgiving when it comes to distractions, which I always seem to have.  Not yarns, I know.

And with regard to yarns:  there is this thick chenille yarn...it might be called "Baby Blanket."  It comes in these great colors and is nice and soft, but it is HORRIBLE to knit with.  I made a baby blanket out of it for some people and they and the baby loved that blanket, but I was kicking myself the entire time I was knitting it! Being chenille it had no elasticity at all.  Ugh!

I am not really a purist when it comes to fiber content and I work with everything from nice acrylics (I know...some people think thats an oxymoron!) to some of the nicer, and pricier, natural fiber yarns.  I also like a lot of different blends.  It just depends on the project and the intended recipient. No way will I make anything out of nice fibers for my daughter and her family.  They will listen very patiently to instructions about washing or cleaning and then whatever it is goes into the washing machine.  There are some decent synthetics and blends and I just stick with those when knitting for them.  

Oh, my.  Ive jacked the thread I started!  

DehbiK

TheKnitter 2017-10-5 20:31
The only gradients Ive found to be "splitty" are the cheap ones from AC Moore, Michaels and some o ...

I used to do quite a bit of yarn dyeing myself and loved it.  I used mostly cotton/rayon blends as my base yarns. I have a lot of really nice hand dyed yarns by others stashed in various storage cubes, etc. around the house.  I forget what I have!  Those I have bought at yarn shops and sometimes at yarn showings a knitting guild meetings.  

I live in Southern California and all of the good yarn shops here carry Baah! yarns that are dyed locally.  So I have that, Malabrigo, Manos, Koigu, and some other less well-known but still very nice hand dyed yarns.  I have not been to any fiber festivals in a long time.  I did go to a few Stitches conventions but have not done that in a long time, either.  One of my favorite yarns is Cascade Venezia.  Its a silk wool blend. More commercial but really lovely.  I made one stole of some of it and have a bunch for something else in another color.