pictish
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Yarns that do and don't pill - recommendations!!I am finding that quite a few of the garments I've made have pilled or are starting to pill  but there are others that are looking as good as new so I thought it would be a good idea if we shared some of our experiences of what has worked or not worked for us - bearing in mind that sometimes it's the way we wash things or the way we've knit them that can be the problem I know 
I would recommend Rowan Scottish Tweed DK - very expensive I know but I have worn my jacket a lot in the last 18 months and it still looks immaculate  Also Rowan Summer Tweed (stretches and softens but springs back when washed), Rowan 4 Ply Cotton, Jaeger Alpaca 4 Ply - amazing stuff, Kilcarra Aran Tweed (pilled a little bit but seems to have settled down and has been worn a lot). I have a DB Alpaca Silk Aran scarf that has been worn daily for 2 years nearly and is still looking lovely - my DB Alpaca Silk DK wrap cardi has pilled a bit though 
The following are lovely yarns but have all shown signs of pilling after only a few wears - RYC Cashsoft DK (looked dreadful after wearing twice  ), DB Cashmerino Astrakhan (just a bit), DB Cotton Angora (sheds rather than pills really).
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malteser
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What a great thread.
Rowan Denim is great, so is All Seasons cotton. I also liked a disconued Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed is also excellent (but discontinued). Twilley Freedom Spirit and Noro Kureyon pill a bit but are not really a problem.
I agree with RYC Cashsoft DK. It was the first yarn I spent quite a bit on when I returned to knitting and the cardi looked like something out of the ragbag after a couple of wears.
I also had a problem with Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk Aran which pilled badly after the first time on. I bought this just after it was launched so don't know if it is any better now.
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melody yarns
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Don't. You're scaring me. 
Seriously, it's dreadful that a yarn pills so badly after one or two wearings isn't it?
I'm the last one to recommend anything that doesn't pill because I'm so dreadful at getting pulls and pills in my knitteds, whether shop bought or handknitted, although since I've been handwashing only it's calmed down a bit
Probably the best yarn for me is 100% cotton, the one I would highly recommend is Patons 100% Cotton DK; the 4ply is the same but thinner. It does pill under the arms after a LOT of wearings, but washes and wears brilliantly.
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Jobo
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Rowan 4 ply soft doesnt pill - sadly discontinued
Its funny with the Debbie Bliss yarns, I used the cashmerino aran and it pilled dreadfully, but the Baby Cashmerino doesnt seem to.
Rialto pills.
Debbie Bliss Cathay (discontinued) was the best one - I washed and washed my cardi and it even went in the tumble dryer and still looked good as new. I wore it so much it fell apart 
Artesano Inca Mist looks even better after it has been washed.
Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend - pills slightly but not enough to ruin it.
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pictish
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Debs so many of these very soft yarns pill All the 'cash' ones just about to some degree though I must say my DB Cashmerino DK has done better than the Rowan Cashsoft!! And the Alpaca Silk which is buttery soft is pretty good too
I haven't finished anything in pure merino so not sure how that fares - that would interesting to know!!
I am still going to knit up these yarns but I wouldn't buy any more of anything I found pilled so I think it's a good thing to know and you can choose something that is longer lasting 
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pictish
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| Jobo wrote: | Rowan 4 ply soft doesnt pill - sadly discontinued
Its funny with the Debbie Bliss yarns, I used the cashmerino aran and it pilled dreadfully, but the Baby Cashmerino doesnt seem to.
Rialto pills.
Debbie Bliss Cathay (discontinued) was the best one - I washed and washed my cardi and it even went in the tumble dryer and still looked good as new. I wore it so much it fell apart
Artesano Inca Mist looks even better after it has been washed.
Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend - pills slightly but not enough to ruin it. |
You know I started something in Rialto and it was pilling at the bottom as I was knitting it - even the cashmerino doesn't do that
Alpaca is definitely more robust then despite being very soft. I wondered about the Manos so that's good to hear!!!
And good about the 4 Ply Soft too though obviously bad it's gone
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melody yarns
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Well it's actually quite enlightening to hear that expensive yarns pill just as much as the cheapo ones do
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pictish
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It's a bit much though isn't it I seem to remember Rialto for instance being promoted as 'resistant to pilling' when it first came out 
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melody yarns
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Mmmm yes you're right about expecting better performance from expensive yarns I like the feel of Rialto but haven't got any at all in stash
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CJ
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I agree re DB aran cashmerino, after one or two wears only, my tree jacket jumper was pilling really badly. I still wear it though. The baby cashmerino wore much better on DD's cardigan. the bulky weight also pilled.
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Anna
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I've used both Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk Aran and Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK and oddly the aran pills really badly but the DK doesn't
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Jo028
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I'm going to speak up for a cheaper yarn. Stylecraft life both the dk & the chunky, are fab. Also their special aran with 20% wool.
Sirdar denim range. All of them, dk/chunky & ultra all pill quite badly.
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pictish
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I was thinking of sticking to only natural and mainly British wool in future and then I just read on Ravelry that Bluefaced Leicester pills quite badly too I'd planned to make a very complicated aran with some.
But I'm just going to not worry about it and get a sweater shaver I don't want to knit with sturdy tweed all the time And I've seen cardis people have made with handspun yarn that looked more pilled than cashsoft so you really can't tell can you!!
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murdo
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To be honest, we had more trouble with pilling when we had our last washing machine...no idea if a coincidence......
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pictish
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I'm sure it's sometimes the way people wash certain things.
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lillybee
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Do any of you use the spinner when you handwash. I tend to dry things flat but they do take ages sometimes. I thought of doing the lightest spin to try it
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melody yarns
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I always spin my stuff on 1600 rpm and then dry flat or over ther airer depending on what it is
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Glynis
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After hand washing my woollens I put them inside a pillowcase (one item per pillowcase) and then use the spinner before flat drying them.
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pictish
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I do the same as Glynis.
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lillybee
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thank you I was bothered the spinner might pull them out of shape. I have loads of net wash bags I do socks in etc, will give it a go
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murdo
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I find that putting in a pillowase stops stretching....really delicate stuff I roll a leg of old pair of tights up it then shove in spnner/washer
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FatCat
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Great thread!  I've not used many expensive yarns, or at least not got around to finishing, wearing or washing any full-sized garments yet using them   so can't really comment, but it's really interesting to know others' experiences of them - thank you
I'm going to put in a word for my trusty cheapos Stylecraft and Robin Arans (wool and acrylic mix that come in 400g balls) and Sirdar/Hayfield Bonus. Machine washable and no pilling at all However I can't say such good things about Twilleys Freedom Spirit .... That pills very easily, and from something as simple as carrying a handbag on my shoulder with my coat on over it
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lillybee
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I like the 400gm arans too, have used a couple of them. I am disappointed to hear about Twilleys freedom I just bought the pattern book and a pack of 10 balls of yarn. Oh well at least I know in advance
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