I spent a lot of time last spring trying to find the best pattern for leg warmers, and trying out various ideas. Here are some of the things I learned:
1. Leg warmers done in stockinette stitch can get rather baggy when you wear them, especially if they go above the knee. They will tend especially to bag at the knee. Stockinette isn't that strong or resilient under duress.
2. You have to take care in binding off your leg warmers, because as you know, the bind-off stitch can be rather tight. Use bigger needles (by at least a couple of sizes) when binding off so that you don't find out your foot can't squeeze through your leg warmer. Bind off stitches must be loose enough to stretch a little bit.
More discoveries next time. Signing off for now.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
how to determine fiber content of yarn
Do you have some unlabeled yarn, and are wondering how to tell what it is made of? Some of the new synthetic yarns are so good, that you simply can't tell if they are wool by feel or by sight. You might try the "match test" or trial by burning to determine the fiber content of your yarn.
Here's what Beth Drake explained to me. She said:
"You can always tell animal fiber vs synthetic or vegetable. Synthetic will melt, vegetable will burn, and animal fiber (wool) will smell like burning hair. That way you know what it is. Wool does not burn it just turns to ash and stops. If it is a blend you might have a little melt but primarily it will turn to ash."
You can see her cool stuff at:
http://www.elizabethdrakedesigns.ecrater.com/
Here's what Beth Drake explained to me. She said:
"You can always tell animal fiber vs synthetic or vegetable. Synthetic will melt, vegetable will burn, and animal fiber (wool) will smell like burning hair. That way you know what it is. Wool does not burn it just turns to ash and stops. If it is a blend you might have a little melt but primarily it will turn to ash."
You can see her cool stuff at:
http://www.elizabethdrakedesigns.ecrater.com/
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