Know Your Yarn: Choose the Perfect Yarn Every Time
Clara Parkes
Class Preview
0:50
- In-depth Instruction; over 151 mins
- On-demand video access anytime
- Bonus downloadable PDF resources
- Access to class Q&A
Overview & Fiber Terms
20:38
Meet your instructor, Clara Parkes, and dive right into fiber terminology and the key qualities that affect how yarn looks, feels and reacts.
Four-Legged Fibers
20:23
Clara reviews the different types and qualities of fibers that come from mammals, including sheep, camels, alpacas, goats and more.
Plants, Caterpillars & Test Tubes
19:07
Learn about the many non-mammal fibers that can make yarn: plant-based fibers such as cotton; silk from silkworms; and synthetic fibers.
Considering Twist I
24:42
Wrap your mind around how fiber is carded and twisted to form yarn, from single ply to multiple-stranded plies. Each type has advantages and disadvantages.
Considering Twist II
21:33
Get Clara's spin on the more elaborate ways yarn can be plied, including cabled yarns, knitted tube yarns and brushed yarns. Then see how a simple hat pattern can produce vastly different results depending on the yarn you use. The pattern is included!
Yarn in the Wild
19:51
Yarn shops encourage you to handle their wares. Clara shows you what qualities you can evaluate in the wild when choosing yarn for your project. If you have some mystery yarns in your stash, Clara demonstrates how to narrow down what they might be using simple tests.
Final Thoughts
23:52
Get that yarn on your needles! Clara shares some great tips for swatching, including how to choose the right needle size and type, how to wash your swatches and how to test for pilling. You'll be all set to choose the best yarn for your projects!
Join acclaimed author Clara Parkes for comprehensive guidance on identifying and choosing the yarn you need for the project you want! Find out the meaning of fiber terms such as staple, crimp, luster, and micron. Then, discover the benefits and challenges of fiber from sheep, alpaca, goats, rabbits, and other animals. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of plant fibers: cotton, linen, hemp, and bamboo. Explore the strengths and weaknesses of different silks, as well as for synthetic fibers. Clara will even demystify the different types of twist and why they matter. Finally, get tips for identifying mystery stash yarns, evaluating yarn from your local shop, and much more. Match the right yarn to the right pattern with confidence and create projects you’re thrilled with every time!
Clara Parkes
More than a decade ago, Clara Parkes left San Francisco's high-tech hubbub to build a quieter, more creative life on the coast of Maine. Today, her best-selling books include The Knitter's Book of Yarn, The Knitter's Book of Wool and The Knitter's Book of Socks. Clara has been named a member of Vogue Knitting's "New Wave." She is the publisher of KnittersReview.com and is a frequent contributor to Twist Collective. She has appeared regularly as the "yarn expert" on Knitting Daily TV. Clara loves to help knitters improve their understanding of the materials they use every day.
Bonus materials available after purchase