Gram for gram (which is how most non-acrylic yarn is sold) lace weight yarn is your best buy. It is generally quite fine (think about the width of a thread used for sewing or embroidery thread), but it is also categorized by its ability to hold a shape. Lace weight yarn is best for creating delicate, web-like items with openwork and is usually knitted or crocheted on larger needles and hooks. Therefore, a gauge range is difficult to determine for lace weight yarn. Buy 50 grams (1.76 ounces) of this yarn and you can knit for hours and hours; thus getting your yarn's worth in one rather tiny ball.
This post had its beginning in mid-March when my friend Jami and I decided to venture out to the many interesting shops found in the South Vancouver neighborhood of Main Street. We had planned an afternoon that contained lunch and then leisurely shopping at clothing thrift and consignment shops as well as antique shops in the area. Our first stop was thwarted by a break-in the night before, but we're resourceful. We checked out other shops in the area and had a great time of it. And I had planned ahead and knew there was a yarn shop, Three Bags Full, within easy walking distance. So poor Jami joined me as I do what I always do in yarn shops, look to see if I can find new or bargain yarns. It is there Jami found this (yes I know I showed it before but it was hard to see it is also a shawl):
This post had its beginning in mid-March when my friend Jami and I decided to venture out to the many interesting shops found in the South Vancouver neighborhood of Main Street. We had planned an afternoon that contained lunch and then leisurely shopping at clothing thrift and consignment shops as well as antique shops in the area. Our first stop was thwarted by a break-in the night before, but we're resourceful. We checked out other shops in the area and had a great time of it. And I had planned ahead and knew there was a yarn shop, Three Bags Full, within easy walking distance. So poor Jami joined me as I do what I always do in yarn shops, look to see if I can find new or bargain yarns. It is there Jami found this (yes I know I showed it before but it was hard to see it is also a shawl):
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| Churchmouse - Crochetted Moebius scarf/shawl |
The sample at Three Bags Full was done in a lacy green mohair yarn. Jami immediately fell in love with the light-weight ethereal qualities of the scarf/shawl but wasn't much enamored with the colour. We stood for a long time looking and talking about this thing. I knew at a glance it was made with a lace weight mohair, a lovely yarn but at times hard to work with.
These fibers cause the yarn to "stick" very well to itself. This means if you make a mistake and need to frog a lot of a project it is a slow process. Why you ask? Because you need to separate the free-floating strands from one another. So one should know what they are doing before starting a project with mohair OR be willing to devote a great deal of time taking mistakes apart. So that beautiful airiness of this yarn comes with consequences.
In addition to the stickiness issue mohair has a long list of very good qualities taken from Yarn Rhapsody:
Insulating capacity: mohair's hollow fibers do not conduct heat; like wool, mohair provides good insulation, even when wet.
Durability: mohair can be twisted or bent without damaging the fiber. This is due to its structure, supporting the claim that it is the most durable of all animal fibers.
Comfort: the smooth fibers of mohair do not irritate the skin, even for people who are sensitive to wool.
Strength: mohair is stronger than steel of the same diameter.
Shrink resistance: because its smooth fibers do not felt, mohair fabrics shrink much less than wool.
Elasticity: mohair will stretch an average 30% over its length and then will be able to spring back into shape. Due to this property, mohair garments resist wrinkling, stretching or sagging during wear.
Moisture transfer: mohair easily absorbs and releases moisture, moving perspiration away from the skin; it is comfortable to wear in cold and hot weather.
Luster: one of mohair's most important qualities is its ability to take dye and to display brilliant colors that resist fading by time or hard wear. The natural sheen of the fiber is caused by light being reflected more directly by the larger outer scales of the fiber.
Lightweight: mohair's smooth fibers can be made into fabrics that have a cooling effect; it is ideal for summer garments.
Non-Flammability: mohair is almost non-flammable. When placed under, or near, a naked flame, it tends to shrivel into a bead like ash. Once taken away from the flame, burning stops instantly. Early children’s Teddy Bears were made from mohair because of this property and because there is less allergic reaction to mohair than wool.
What I did not know that day in mid-March was the scarf/shawl is actually crocheted and not knit. Generally this is something I can figure out pretty quickly, but not that day. Items crocheted IMHO take on more airy openness than knitted items.
At the time I knew Jami loved the scarf/shawl and decided to do something about it. Here's my first attempt in replicating it:
There was in my stash Patons Lace yarn in the variegated colour of Woodrose. It contains mohair and what I thought was enough yarn to create the moeibus. But as you see it ended up being a cowl, a lovely one from my POV, but it is missing the breezy openness of the original because my stash yarn, although labeled lace weight, is too thick or put another way, not thin enough. (I refuse to look at this attempt as a failure, the Woodrose coloured yarn is simply too pretty and the stickiness of that mohair is not going to cause me to take the whole thing out. I'll just keep it until the right person for it comes along.)
So a second yarn was found. This one is Toria by Plymouth Yarns in the colour of Preppy. (I love the blue and orange combination.) It is much thinner than the first and is creating the look I want. Here it is so far.
As you can see the yarn is very thin, the pencil is of average size. Also note the size of the crochet hook; it is big, size N/15 or 9 mm. You can also see how light and open or web-like it is working up. The look is quite different from the first attempt and that look is closer to the original Finally, I think I have a winner.
Two 50 grams of lace weight yarn = approximately 30 hours of crocheting. And remember it is just 1.76 ounces so it really does feel light and with it's strength and ability to wick, it will be the perfect small shawl or scarf for summer. That's what I call getting your yarn's worth.
These fibers cause the yarn to "stick" very well to itself. This means if you make a mistake and need to frog a lot of a project it is a slow process. Why you ask? Because you need to separate the free-floating strands from one another. So one should know what they are doing before starting a project with mohair OR be willing to devote a great deal of time taking mistakes apart. So that beautiful airiness of this yarn comes with consequences.
In addition to the stickiness issue mohair has a long list of very good qualities taken from Yarn Rhapsody:
Insulating capacity: mohair's hollow fibers do not conduct heat; like wool, mohair provides good insulation, even when wet.
Durability: mohair can be twisted or bent without damaging the fiber. This is due to its structure, supporting the claim that it is the most durable of all animal fibers.
Comfort: the smooth fibers of mohair do not irritate the skin, even for people who are sensitive to wool.
Strength: mohair is stronger than steel of the same diameter.
Shrink resistance: because its smooth fibers do not felt, mohair fabrics shrink much less than wool.
Elasticity: mohair will stretch an average 30% over its length and then will be able to spring back into shape. Due to this property, mohair garments resist wrinkling, stretching or sagging during wear.
Moisture transfer: mohair easily absorbs and releases moisture, moving perspiration away from the skin; it is comfortable to wear in cold and hot weather.
Luster: one of mohair's most important qualities is its ability to take dye and to display brilliant colors that resist fading by time or hard wear. The natural sheen of the fiber is caused by light being reflected more directly by the larger outer scales of the fiber.
Lightweight: mohair's smooth fibers can be made into fabrics that have a cooling effect; it is ideal for summer garments.
Non-Flammability: mohair is almost non-flammable. When placed under, or near, a naked flame, it tends to shrivel into a bead like ash. Once taken away from the flame, burning stops instantly. Early children’s Teddy Bears were made from mohair because of this property and because there is less allergic reaction to mohair than wool.
What I did not know that day in mid-March was the scarf/shawl is actually crocheted and not knit. Generally this is something I can figure out pretty quickly, but not that day. Items crocheted IMHO take on more airy openness than knitted items.
At the time I knew Jami loved the scarf/shawl and decided to do something about it. Here's my first attempt in replicating it:
 |
| A selfie with the first version |
There was in my stash Patons Lace yarn in the variegated colour of Woodrose. It contains mohair and what I thought was enough yarn to create the moeibus. But as you see it ended up being a cowl, a lovely one from my POV, but it is missing the breezy openness of the original because my stash yarn, although labeled lace weight, is too thick or put another way, not thin enough. (I refuse to look at this attempt as a failure, the Woodrose coloured yarn is simply too pretty and the stickiness of that mohair is not going to cause me to take the whole thing out. I'll just keep it until the right person for it comes along.)
So a second yarn was found. This one is Toria by Plymouth Yarns in the colour of Preppy. (I love the blue and orange combination.) It is much thinner than the first and is creating the look I want. Here it is so far.
As you can see the yarn is very thin, the pencil is of average size. Also note the size of the crochet hook; it is big, size N/15 or 9 mm. You can also see how light and open or web-like it is working up. The look is quite different from the first attempt and that look is closer to the original Finally, I think I have a winner.
Two 50 grams of lace weight yarn = approximately 30 hours of crocheting. And remember it is just 1.76 ounces so it really does feel light and with it's strength and ability to wick, it will be the perfect small shawl or scarf for summer. That's what I call getting your yarn's worth.
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