Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns

pictish

I am finding that quite a few of the garments I've made have pilled or are starting to pill Sad

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 Wink

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 Cool

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 Confused

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 Evil or Very Mad

), DB Cashmerino Astrakhan (just a bit), DB Cotton Angora (sheds rather than pills really).

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Ali xxx

malteser · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 1339 Location: Derbyshire

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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Anne

melody yarns · Site Admin Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 8688 Location: UK

Don't. You're scaring me. Shocked

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 Shocked

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 · Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 4097 Location: East Sussex

Rowan 4 ply soft doesnt pill - sadly discontinued Sad

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 Laughing

Artesano Inca Mist looks even better after it has been washed.

Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend - pills slightly but not enough to ruin it.

pictish · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 3:42 pm Post subject:

Debs so many of these very soft yarns pill Sad

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 Cool

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 Razz

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Ali xxx

pictish · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject:

melody yarns · Site Admin Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 8688 Location: UK

Well it's actually quite enlightening to hear that expensive yarns pill just as much as the cheapo ones do Wink

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Ravelry name ~ melodyyarns
22 out of 24 completed in 2009 - only 3 to go!

pictish · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 4:21 pm Post subject:

It's a bit much though isn't it Evil or Very Mad

I seem to remember Rialto for instance being promoted as 'resistant to pilling' when it first came out Twisted Evil

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Ali xxx

melody yarns · Site Admin Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 8688 Location: UK

Mmmm yes you're right about expecting better performance from expensive yarns Evil or Very Mad

I like the feel of Rialto but haven't got any at all in stash Sad

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Melody's blog
Ravelry name ~ melodyyarns
22 out of 24 completed in 2009 - only 3 to go!

CJ · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 3:08 pm Post subject:

I agree re DB aran cashmerino, after one or two wears only, my tree jacket jumper was pilling really badly. Sad

I still wear it though. Laughing

The baby cashmerino wore much better on DD's cardigan. the bulky weight also pilled.

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Ravelry ID ~ ChristinaJL