There really is a difference between yarns. I am not a yarn snob, though. I believe each yarn has it's place. And some yarns work quite well for knitting, but not crocheting. Remember, this is just my opinion. I recently added a row of Bernat Disco to a scarf I crocheted, and decided that I did NOT like to work with it. But when I used it in a knit project I was much happier with it. And I think yarns are like people. You shouldn't stereotype them. Some people will tell you acrylics aren't soft enough for babies, but I have met some acrylics that I just love! I like working with natural fibers, too, but the fact is that if I was only willing to work with natural fibers I wouldn't get to knit or crochet as much as I would like, because as a rule, they cost more. When it comes to stitches splitting, there can be several reasons for that happening. It can be the yarn itself. I love microspun, but it splits like crazy. I have to tie a knot in the end of it before I start. Homespun too. But I love how they feel, so I just put up with it. If you are crocheting with a yarn that tends to split, what type of hook you use can make a difference. If you are knitting with it and it splits, you just have to be more careful about where you stick your needle. If you tend to knit a tight guage, you might have to force your needle into a stitch, thereby making it split. See the difference for yourself. Buy a good yarn on sale, or at Michael's with a 40% coupon (every week). I made a couple of scarves with some yarn that was given to me that was a blend of silk, wool, and acrylic and I just love the way it feels next to my skin. And I've made scarves using Carmen, which is completely acrylic, and I love the way they feel, too. And what you are making will help determine what types of yarn to use. If you are making a baby blanket that is going to be spit up on, etc., I still say acrylic is your best bet. Just try to find a nice soft, drapey one. Good luck!

I agree with Donna. I think the man-made yarns are less expensive sometimes than the natural fibers like wool, alpaca, cashmere. Often the natural fibers itch or require special cleaning. Acrylic yarns are very popular because they wash and dry well, are usually easy to work with and are reasonably priced.

I usually use Lion Brand yarns from Michaels and have been pretty happy with them. The high end yarns can make a $25 project into a $125 project! However, some of the more expensive yarns I see in the yarn shops are incredibly beautiful. My splurge recently was for 2 skeins of baby alpaca yarn to make a scarf (ok, it was on sale!).

Here's a link from Lion Brand with a little info about yarns.

Here is a link that might be useful: Yarn

I buy inexpensive acrylics only. Our family is allergic to wools so I just use synthetic. And all baby things need to be easy care. I think I like the looks of Caron Simply Soft best, but I am not as fond of the colors available for baby items. So I use other kinds of yarn too. I always wash the item before giving it away and I use fabric softener too. It makes a huge difference in how soft the item will be.

I am knitting my first thing with Lamb's Pride (by Brown Sheep), bulky weight, 85% wool and 15% mohair. I am trying to make mittens (ugh). But I have to say this is the most fantastic yarn I have ever worked with in my limited experience. It is much easier and looks beautiful. It was about $6.25 per skein (about a skein and a half for the pair of mittens). The yarn is cold water hand washable. It is from a yarn shop and much easier to work with than the yarn that I got from Michaels (Lion's Pride bulky chenille), which was about the same price. I suggest trying the Lamb's Pride and seeing what you think of it. It really doesn't seem to be much (if any) more $.

Hi Deb, welcome to the world of knitting! I'm sure I posted to this thread earlier today, but it seems to be missing. Look in the phone book for Fiber Naturell. It's a wonderful knit shop in your area that DD and I found when I stayed with her in Cinci. That was 2 years ago, so I can't tell you more than the name of the shop. Amber did say when I asked if she could remember, that she thought we went back up 77N a short distance. But we went to several knit shops and rubber stamp stores, so neither of us can remember! They carry a nice variety of yarns, some that can be bought at Micheals or Hobby Lobby, and many natural fibers or blends. It was like walking into my local yarn shop, talking to new friends like they were old friends. Very helpfull. I'm sure that if you buy something from them, they will be happy to help with any questions.

Tami

Thanks so much everyone! I appreciate the tips and examples of yarn use. And Tami, thanks for the heads up on the shops. I happen to go to Michaels all the time - in fact, that is where I took the knitting class. I also go to Hobby Lobby. I have just not bought enough yarn to know the difference. The mulicolor I used for working on the scarf seemed easy to work with but the red yarn I am using to work on a Christmas craft does not seem as nice. I will look closer at what I am buying next time.

Thanks again all.

deb