Stylecraft and acrylic vs wool..... What's the difference for crochet? What do you use?

[Tobermory]

Unbeknownst to DH am about to increase my crocheting stash. [hgrin]

Am just finishing, well partway through a blanket made of Jenny Watson pure merino DK. The wool was on offer in my local shop so much less than that price. It's lovely, soft and snuggly, I think I lucked out and made a good wool choice.

I like the softness of wool but a bit [hshock] at the cost so what to buy instead? Or is it worth the extra and does MrTobermory have to take the hit?!

Am addicted to Attic24 and want to try lots of her lovely things, from what I've seen she often uses wool. If I were to buy something more acrylic based, I'm really thinking 'stylecraft dk' , would I notice the difference?

[Tobermory]

The yarn I'm thinking of is stylecraft special dk. The 'special' bit is probably important?!

All this wool business is new to me!

[ZombieArmsDragOnTheFloor]

Lucy from Attic24 also often uses Stylecraft DK :) it is nice... Not as nice as the expensive natural yarns but it is pretty damn good for everyday use.

[Tobermory]

Thanks Zombie. Have you used many of her patterns?

Deramores have a bundle of different colours and I've found a code for 10% off. Just trying to justify £30 on wool! [hblush]

[aJumpedUpPantryGhoul]

I've got two blanket projects on the go at the moment. One in Stylecraft DK (special) and one in Sublime Casmerino.

The Sublime is nicer to use but if you are making something large it is exorbitantly expensive. I'm making a blanket and I bought the yarn over about 18 months buying a couple of balls a month.

I just asked DH which blanket he thought felt nicest and he chose the Sylecraft.

When they are finished I hall have to see which washes and stands up to everyday use the best.

[ZombieArmsDragOnTheFloor]

I've done several of her ripples - it is my blanket of choice when I need to make a baby gift! I'va also made a granny stripe and one of her birdie decorations (not the new one)

I may also have ordered a whole "lucy pack" from Deramores plus many other colours from various places...

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

The stylecraft special dk is actually a nice yarn - it is soft and knits or crotchets up well, and there are some nice colours in their range.

I'm using it at the moment to crochet squares to make a MN mini-hug blanket, and I am enjoying working with it. I'm also planning to buy enough of it to knit myself a cardigan - when dh isn't looking and I can get away with buying more yarn I have finished my current projects hahahahahahaha and saved up to buy it.

[craftynclothy]

The Sylecraft is lovely. Obviously it's not going to be as nice as the more expensive wool (I really like Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK) but for the price it's good. I've made loads of blankets with it. I just wouldn't be able to do that with something that's £4-5 per 50g. The stylecraft can be bought for about £1.50 per 100g.

The other yarn I've used that was quite nice to work with and has some wool content is the Jarol Heritage DK, which is about £3.50-4 per 100g (so in the middle of the other two)

[Pleiades45]

I have used Stylecraft Life DK and it was fine to work with but it didn't take long for my knitted article to look terrible. I can no longer see the pattern. It has put me off using it because whilst I also try to get cheap yarn, it's not worth buying yarn that won't wash well after having spent so long making the item. I'm currently trying out the Drops yarn which others on here have told me is good whilst not breaking the bank. I'd check ravelry and see if anyone has commented on how the stylecraft special washes.

[craftynclothy]

I've not tried washing the Stylecraft Life (haven't finished the thing I'm making in it) but the Stylecraft Special seems to wash ok.

[Tobermory]

Well I've done it. Ordered a load of stylecraft special which should be here in a couple of days which just gives me time to finish my blanket and decide what to make next!!

[Tobermory]

Crafty, I winced a bit at the price of the Jarol that you're trying then realised it was for 100g balls. The Jenny Watson stuff I'm using was £2. Something n my wool shop but for 50g balls.
Expensive! But my excuse is that I didn't know what I was buying!

[zillyzilly]

Stylecraft Life DK is brilliant. I'm using it for a baby blanket and its lovely to work with.

[Zwitterion]

Stylecraft is pretty good. I find using a smaller hook gets better results though, so a 3.5 rather than a 4.

DM has made lots of clothes for my DC in stylecraft. It's great as washes and tumble dries well, although too hot a setting must relax the yarn as cardigans accidentally tumbled too high are now very big.

Ideally I like using wool. Currently making things with Wendy Merino which is very soft and washable. It's not as expensive as Rowan yarns.

[RubyCreakingGates]

I'm glad I stumbled on this thread! I was about to make us go bancrupt put in a big order from Texere but I'll try out the stylecraft instead.

Ta Muchly

[Bubsy12]

Style craft special dk is lovely .
Knits up very neat and washes well

[JojoHookawoolly]

Gosh this is an old thread!
Stylecraft Special DK is actually Stylecraft's value acrylic, but it's still a premium acrylic and made in Turkey rather than China which makes it better quality than most acrylics out there. They also do Stylecraft 'Life' but that has a small quantity of wool in it and is more expensive.
The Special DK is fab for crochet because of the range of colours for blankets etc, but personally......I prefer to use a nice British wool, Bluefaced Leicester in particular :)

[AndIfYouTolerateThis]

I love the range of colours with the Stylecraft special DK (and love the colour palettes Attic24 puts together), but I'd rather knit with wool than acrylic.

Does anyone know of a wool alternative that has a similar colour range?

[Marcipex]

I can't use wool and have made a few things in Stylecraft special DK.
I've made a crocheted square (just a stitch I was practising) and thrown it in the main wash several times now just to see what happens. It's come out fine, maybe would be nicer with some fabric conditioner, but I never use it.
It certainly hasn't shrunk, stretched or rubbed up at all.
They do recommend washing large heavy items in a pillowcase or laundry bag to prevent stretching, but my large blanket isn't finished yet.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Poltergoose - I think that is the best range of colours I have seen for any yarn!! I just wish I could wear wool/have it next to my skin - then I could have all the colours!!

[AndIfYouTolerateThis]

Oh yes, I use cascade 220 a lot and love it! However, it's aran / worsted and not DK! I'm looking for a wool version of stylecraft special DK. (I'm not experienced enough to alter patterns between different weights!)

It's a shame there doesn't seem to be anything out there with the same range of colours.

[Callmecordelia]

Andif I rate Patons extra fine merino DK. The colour range is very good, it's superwash, and knits up very well. I think it feels quite a lot like sublime, but cheaper.

www.loveknitting.com/patons-merino-extrafine-dk?gclid=CKmv_arLzMgCFQvhGwodwTkKpw&currency=GBP&utm_campaign=139804873&utm_term=patons%20merino%20extrafine%20dk