cheaper alternative to debbie bliss yarn?

[janx]

I am new to knitting and have just finished a hat from the debbie bliss baby book Would like to knit the boat neck sweater and wondered if anyone could recommend an alternative to the suggested cashmerino aran?

any aran yarn would do - but if it's going to have cashmere in it, it will be pricier than say a wool/acrylic mix. no real suggestions...will ponder

Thanks bundle - I was thinking maybe a would be able to get something cheaper than the bliss range

it would need to be aran weight for the pattern to work.

I think it usually says what needles are used on the back of the yarn band....using another yarn that requires the same size needles should work.

am not an expert knitter though, more of an enthusiastic amateur.

sirdar do a range of DK and aran with cashmere which might be cheaper than the Debbie Bliss stuff.

It's called Sublime. At least I think it's Sirdar!

this has some silk in it too,from sublime/sirdar lots of colours, not sure how much

that's the stuff bundle.

they had it in hobbycraft for about £4 for a 50g ball, but you can probably get it cheaper elsewhere.

Thanks lacks and bundle - will explore the sidar

Hey bundle - just clicked on your profile and I see you are in north london - I am in Stoke Newington - where are you?

join ravelry! Then you can check out all the other boat necked sweaters and what yarns those knitters used!

(I knitted it in merino aran)

Hi BellaBear - have just joined - but must be a bit thick as I can't really understand how to use it

you're not thick!

find the group mumsknitters and join it

start a message saying help and we'll all pile in!

i'm on it now

look me up, i'm ellatheelephant and have a nose round my profile, projects, queue etc

when you say you've just joined - have you received your invite? it can take a few days before you get access

Hi BellaBear
No time now - got my 3 year old today and she hates it if I go on the computer - will catch up later - thanks

i have never found a good sub for cashermino actually

blue sky alpacas cotton is nearby, but about the same price

the cashmerinos are often in sale (last season colours, lol) so you could get them there

its the softness/drape that is very hard to sub in for, ime

that said, i don't much like it for kids clothes, it pills to easily

and specific to that pattern, i think any aran would be fine, its a very straightforward unshaped stockinette jumper iirc. I think you could sub in any aran yarn tbh.

v close janx - finsbury park/highbury way

ah bundle - my dd goes to nursery on highbury new park

is that a montessori one?

no -its the community one - aberdeen park

BellaBear- jsut looked you up on ravely - how nice to see what you have knitted - I have a thing about tank tops and would love to do one for my wee boy

make friends with me and then i can see who you are on rav

Janx, almost any aran will substitute, from "£1 for 500g" market stall stuff to mainstream brands. Really cheap yarn can be yuk to knit with though. Sirdar, Patons, King Cole are good middle of the road yarns. Cashmere is not essential, just added to make the yarn pill as far as I can see. Acrylic/Wool mix would be fine, such as Sirdar Country Style (?).

You need to peer at the ballband small print where there is a little grid showing the needle size and the stitches/rows for 10cm. Look for 18sts/10cm and bingo, you have a match.

If you live in London you shouldn't have any problems finding a nice yarn shop!