Knitters - qs about yarn weights

[Pruni]

OK I get the N American/British differences (worsted/aran etc)...but how do you know what weight a yarn is if it doesn't tell you on the label? I know you can sort of work it out by the tension guidelines, but that's quite hard for a near beginner like me. Is there an idiots' guide to this? Or is it something you just get a feel for?

I really want to knit a gorgeous top from ALterknits, and it specifies Jaeger Trinity. I've had a look at some and don't really like it, plus the colours are not very me, and quite limited. How can I find a yarn that is exactly equivalent in terms of knitting up?

You have two options: you can try to find something with the same tension, and maybe fiddle with needle size to get there (ideally the same fibre type), or you can wing it and change numbers as needed, particularly if you're good at numbers and the sweater isn't too complicated.

I'm not really here though. Is tamum away too? France is weird, particularly the bits we've been in.

I did finish my first sweater, though, working on my second.

Hello, I'm back :) Was away in Mull all last week, which was fabulous. Anyway... I agree with NQC, tension is the way to go. The different weights are a bit misleading, I think, as it's pretty much a continuum. I know what you mean about Trinity, the colours are all really insipid, and inappropriately tweedy. The problem is, because it's partly silk, you also need to think about fibre content, as silk containing yarns tend to drape, and that's often part of the final look. Cotton might be a bit stiff, and wool a bit floppy. One yarn that looks like it might substitute well is Debbie Bliss \link{http://www.debbieblissonline.com/yarn/alpaca_silk_dk.htm\Alpaca silk DK}. It's 22 X 28 as opposed to 22 X 30, but that shouldn't matter, most lengths are done by measuring as opposed to counting rows. I'm about to get Alterknits when I get back to work and collect my Amazon parcel, so I will have a look!

Well done on the sweaters, NQC, and sorry that France is weird. My baby girl is 8 today, sob!

Ah I knew I could count on you two.

I am really bad at numbers tbh, in knitting patterns anyway. It's quite a complex one (for me) so i don't want to have to think too much.

Tamum, I made the fingerless gloves in Alterknits in Alpaca Silk DK. In the pattern it says Manos de Uruguay (no weight given) on 5mm needles. I did alpaca silk dk 4.5mm needles - just to try - and they fit me perfectly although they could be denser, I suppose. That's made me doubt the patterns in the book...Also there is an errata page on the web, inc ase you need it.

Am now knitting another colinette point five pattern after frogging the jacket I made in Feb. Just didn't like it enough...

Thans Pruni, I'll bear that in mind. I like the look of those gloves....

If you do them, do a rib at the beginning, the pattern gives them a roll, which isn't so good, I don't think.
They are lovely and soft and pretty easy to do. I love mine (turqoise with an orange ribbon ).

Try this link to give you a start off on possible yarns: \link{http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/tips/convert.htm\here}