Can anyone recommend me a nice soft knitting yarn please?

[shitehawk]

For a hat for dd.

I am a novice knitter and know absolutely nothing about yarns! I have made her a scarf using an alpaca/wool blend, I thought it would be nice and soft - which it is really, I suppose, but she finds it a bit tickly and it wouldn't do for a hat.

I would like something really soft, preferably a natural fibre, which I can knit up needles no smaller than 4mm.

What are your favourite yarns? And who would you recommend as a supplier? I have tried Angel Yarns, who I wasn't terribly impressed with, and Readicut.

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Thank you, much appreciated. That looks lovely.

My mother thinks Pound Shop acrylic is just the thing ... I have other ideas

Any other suggestions?

The bamboo yarns are nice and soft too and natural fibre and very smooth. Sirdar do them and you can order on line.

i second the cashsoft vote. lovely for children. what i try and use.

you can buy it here at john lewis.

King Cole anti-tickle (www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=91 Merino]]? I can vouch for it being a lovely yarn and cheap too.

I find the bamboo yarns split though DutchOma?
Debbie bliss cashmerino is lovely.

Ooops

King cole anti-tickle Merino is a soft pure wool in loads of colours, washable. Rowan Pure Wool is soft and smooth too.

Texere are great to deal with IME, really personal service.

Thanks guys

I second Debbie Bliss Cashmerino yarns for hats - I've just finished a cute little cabled baby hat with ear-flaps in DB Cashmerino Aran. I've made lots of nice things in both the Aran and Baby weights, including this gorgeous baby wrap.

oh yes, and I'm a big fan of the Cashsoft stuff too. I've recently finished a lovely sweater for myself in Cashsoft 4 ply, and used the leftovers for this sweet baby bobble hat.

I have just taken delivery of four balls of Sirdar Snuggly DK in cream for a birthday blanket out of the baby blanket book. I haven't knitted with it yet, but it feels very soft. I ordered it on Monday and it arrived this morning, in spite of the fact they said it would take up to 4 days to send.
It is 60% acrylic and 40% nylon, so totally machine washable, it can even be cool tumbledried. There are lots of colours.
I ordered it from Dianne's knitting, their website is www.cpu-enterprises.com

I second (or is that 3rd or 4th) Debbie Bliss. The cashmerino is lovely and comes in a variety of thicknesses including a chunky aran which would make a lovely warm hat this time of year.

I would also second Sirdar Snuggly DK. I am doing a blanket in it at the moment and it is gorgeous. It is man made fibres but a good quality one.

I also have a stash of Debbie Bliss cotton angora and Paton's Serenity, both natural fibres although maybe a bit too much cotton for this time of year. They are both beautifully soft though.

I haven't used them mail order as they are local to me and I love visiting the shop, but these people have quite a good website and they know their knitting yarns!

And they are cheaper Niecie.
Have just looked and can't find you on Ravelry. Have a looked with my nose or are you not on it?

I changed my name on Ravelry since I don't much like Niecie but haven't yet changed it on here - seems too contraversial a step. I only joined Ravelry last week and I haven't done anything with it yet. I haven't even done my guided tour!

My name on there is Hattrickchick (I know stupid name but I have made 3 hats in a row and it was the best I could come up with - I'm not very good at names)

Be careful with of the website prices - they don't seem to include VAT which is a bit daft.

Oh well then you MUST join the Mumsknitters, can't let you get away without doing that. and I'll add you to my friends.
I never did the guided tour, just jumped right in.
Thanks for the warning re VAT, that was included in the price of the Sirdar Snuggly I got.

Neicie, I was looking at the cashmerino chunky arran last night, it looks lovely and I am very tempted. Debbie Bliss yarns aren't cheap though, are they!

Will have a look at some of the others you all recommend.

Thank you for indulging a complete beginner

cashmerino is brilliant though long story about no cashmere in it

also nice is blue sky alpacas organic cotton

(scroll down)

it is UNBELIEVABLY soft. like cotton wool.

Sublime baby cashmerino silk

shitehawk - have a look on ebay. You can get a bargain with the yarn on there sometimes, if you know what you want.

You might even get away with using just one ball for a child's hat. I did when I made one for DS2 and that was a chunky one (Twilleys Freedom wool - lovely but a little bit 'wooly' and prickly than your DD would like by the sounds of it)

Dutchoma - I'll have a look for your group on Ravelry (when I have worked out how to do that)! Thank you.

Fillyjonk, that looks lovely. A little pricey perhaps.

Is it itchy? The alpaca yarn I have used before is gorgeous but my middle child says itchy and wont have it next to her skin.