What is everyone's favorite yarn type??? > Likes and Comments

So, I'm about to start another crochet project but dont know what type of yarn to use. What's everyone on here's favorite?

Hey Leilah,

I tend to go for acrylic DK yarn. I know some people don't like acrylic but I find it's really affordable, easy to wash and comes in every colour imaginable!

I would love to use the really expensive pure wools but they are beyond my price range. I've used cotton before but find it a bit hard and stringy. I suppose it depends on what type of project you're doing.

What's your favourite?

I personally love chenille yarns, but I wanted to maybe try something different

My favorite yarn is a very personal one, the wool came from sheep (I forgot which breed) that my best friend knew and her friends sheared, and then she washed, carded, spun on a Navajo drop spindle and shared the resultant yarn with me.
There was white, black and a sort of pale smoky grey color. The sheep were from around the Two Grey Hills area on the Diné (Navajo) rez.

At that time I was working on a small rug about 6'×4'. I still have a little bit of that yarn left.

Did you guys know there's a secret woven into every authentic Navajo rug?
It's a "ghost line", a piece of white yarn woven unobtrusively into part of the design and leading out to the edge, so that any Spirits that may have accidently gotten trapped inside the weaving have an exit line to get out. (true)

Oh, I should mention that's in New Mexico, USA.

Leilah wrote: "I personally love chenille yarns, but I wanted to maybe try something different"

I love the feel of chenille but find once you've crocheted it up, it's hard to frog back without tearing/snapping. 😢

Choyang wrote: "My favorite yarn is a very personal one, the wool came from sheep (I forgot which breed) that my best friend knew and her friends sheared, and then she washed, carded, spun on a Navajo drop spindle..."

Hey Choyang!

That's so cool that your wool was so personal to you, from your friend's sheep and spun by her personally. I bet it's beautiful wool. The colours sound lovely.

I love your information about the ghost line. I've read similar within old Irish and North European folklore about people purposely dropping a stitch/making a mistake in the pattern to allow spirits to escape.

And in some tapestry making (I think even in the Bayeux Tapestry), the weavers would purposely make a mistake as they believe that only whatever god they worship is perfect so to make the tapestry perfect would be insulting to their god. It's known as the Persian Flaw.

I love that your rug is made with such locally sourced wool. The wool you have left over, have you ever considered making anything else with it?

Sophy 🤓

Hi Sophy, sadly there's not enough left to even make a hat! I keep it to remember my friend who crossed over a few years ago from cancer.

What you said about not making a project perfect, I think that applies to the tribal weavings, too.

When I left New Mexico to move here (Hawaii) I gave my loom and tools to her first grandbaby, who my friend was just starting to teach to weave; she was five. My friend wasn't that old when she started having kids at 15, which is fairly common in her particular family.

I like your info on the European weavings.

Thanks for sharing these observations about Navajo culture, as well as Irish and broader Western European folklore — it’s really interesting to read.

It seems like this is a recurring motif across different cultures. For example, in traditional Balkan embroidery, people also deliberately “break” the pattern — adding a small asymmetry or a slight omission to protect against the evil eye or malicious forces.

As I understand it, this reflects a broader belief: that too much beauty or perfection “draws attention” and can end up bringing something undesirable.

Choyang wrote: "Hi Sophy, sadly there's not enough left to even make a hat! I keep it to remember my friend who crossed over a few years ago from cancer.

What you said about not making a project perfect, I think..."

Aww Choyang, sorry to hear about your friend, that's lovely that you have kept the wool as a reminder of her.

I love that you gifted your crafting tools to a friend; passing on these things helps us keep crafts alive and encourage the next generation to take up the baton.

Thank you, I love your information on native American folklore too.

New Mexico to Hawaii, I bet that was a big change. Both beautiful places in their own right. I was going to ask you actually, if you had any recommendations for non-fiction books about New Mexico. I'm quite intrigued by that part of the US for its affiliation with artists and its attractive quality to the artistic temperament.

Krasi wrote: "Thanks for sharing these observations about Navajo culture, as well as Irish and broader Western European folklore — it’s really interesting to read.

It seems like this is a recurring motif across..."

Hey Krasi,

Isn't it interesting? I love the similarities between such different cultures in different parts of the world.

Imperfection seems to be a recurring motif. Which is great really as if I make a mistake in my crochet by accident, I can just say I was doing in on purpose! He he! 😂

Sophie H, I don't really have any recs for non-fiction books about New Mexico, other than cookbooks. I know there a lot out there but I can't recall what's good.
(sorry, my brain is on holiday) if I think of something, I'll post it.

Choyang wrote: "Sophie H, I don't really have any recs for non-fiction books about New Mexico, other than cookbooks. I know there a lot out there but I can't recall what's good.
(sorry, my brain is on holiday) i..."

Hey Choyang, no worries, he he, my brain is always on holiday! 😂😂