What does Karachai yarn look like and what can be knitted from it?

Karachay yarn is familiar to many craftswomen who are engaged in hand and machine knitting. There are other names for the material. It is also called Caucasian or Kislovodsk. Such yarn is popular due to its good composition, large color palette, and also low price. Today we will talk about what the Karachai yarn is, about the advantages of the material and its disadvantages, as well as about the rules for caring for finished products.

Karachai yarn appeared a long time ago and was immediately able to gain popularity. It was originally called Kislovodsk, as it was produced in the city of Kislovodsk, Stavropol Territory. More than once these threads have rescued the craftswomen at a time of total scarcity. Nowadays, the products also remain popular due to the improvement in quality and assortment.

A distinctive feature of the Karachai yarn is that it is produced mainly with the addition of sheep wool. On sale you can find skeins consisting of 100% wool, as well as mixed with acrylic. Products obtained from such threads have a high density, due to which they will warm you on cold days. With proper care, they will not shed or warp after washing and drying.

The blended yarn contains wool and acrylic in a 30/70 ratio. Woolen yarn has the opposite indicators, that is, the ratio of wool to acrylic will be 70/30, you can also buy skeins containing only wool. The assortment also includes yarns made of acrylic. In addition, you can buy polypropylene, that is, a loofah yarn, but it will not work for creating clothes.

Yarn is sold in balls, rolls and bobbins. A detailed description on the label will allow you to determine the composition of the threads, their weight. Caucasian yarn is sold in hanks weighing 250-300 g or in skeins of 50 g. Half-woolen and woolen threads, usually folded 2-3 times, can reach a length of 1000 meters.

When crocheting by hand, a thinner yarn in two folds is more suitable, and for knitting in three folds. The thread can be folded in half for a more voluminous pattern. There are two types of acrylic yarn available, if desired, in the form of skeins or traditional balls. Its shape is chosen depending on how the work will be done.

The advantages of this material include:

• low hygroscopicity;
• good coloring;
• lightness of finished products;
• large selection of shades;
• warming qualities when wearing finished products.

As a rule, skeins consist of smooth, soft and fluffy threads, but loose ones often come across. Some skeins may have knots, small defects in the form of uneven threads and poor twist. Also, the disadvantage of this product is that in some cases the finished products after washing became unsightly. According to many knitters, this yarn is more suitable for knitting decorative things in the form of small rugs, covers, potholders, and not for making beautiful clothes.

During work, it is recommended to use a tight dense technique. The disadvantages can also be attributed to the inconvenience arising when rewinding the yarn into balls from the skeins. The low price of these products allows beginners to use them as educational material. Experienced craftswomen, in turn, will be able to easily create beautiful products from Kislovodsk yarn.

A wide range of colors will allow any knitter to choose a wide variety of shades for their products. Currently, about 60 shades of Karachai yarn are produced. It is made from wool of Karachai sheep, which are usually black. White variants come from other regions. Mixing black and white produces shades of gray in different variations.

If woolen threads have calmer natural shades, then acrylic options are striking in a variety of tones. Each craftswoman will be able to choose for herself any shade that is necessary for her work, taking into account her preferences. There are both calm pastel colors and brighter saturated shades. The most popular colors are considered: "Super white", "Bordeaux", "Pearls", "Light pink", "Blackberry" and "Jeans". The yarn of light blue, pistachio color is also in demand.

Karachai yarn can be used for hand and machine knitting. Many things can be knitted from it. These are not only knitted sweaters and blouses for children and adults, but also decorative items in the form of blankets, rugs, and potholders.

• It is better to knit warm clothes for children from semi-wool, which is sold in rams (200-300 g). Such yarn will not be pricked, which is important for babies. The presence of wool in its composition will allow the products to warm the body well, and the acrylic included in the composition will provide comfort to wear. As for the choice of shades, the color palette of semi-woolen options is slightly larger than that of analogs in wool.
• Kislovodsk woolen yarn is often chosen for knitting warm sweaters, ponchos, cardigans. This option is more durable. Even after a long time, sock marks will not be visible on it.
• Acrylic is a hypoallergenic material, it is more often chosen for the manufacture of products that are adjacent to the skin. This is the easiest material to work with, which is why novice knitters prefer it.

As for caring for products made from Karachai yarn, it does not differ significantly from the usual traditional rules. Finished products will look like new for a long time if you follow the recommendations and follow the advice of professional craftsmen:

• it is recommended to wash knitted items separately from other products;
• they are washed at a temperature not higher than 35 degrees Celsius;
• it is not recommended to soak things for a long time, rub them strongly and squeeze them out;
• you should not sprinkle powder on the product itself; you need to lower things in warm water with dissolved powder;
• with a machine wash, use a delicate cycle.

Knits made of wool, blended yarns and acrylic require some care. Finished wool products only need to be washed by hand. It is recommended to turn the item inside out before starting the procedure. Washing and rinsing must be carried out in water of the same temperature. If you do not adhere to this rule, then things can deform. Make sure that the water temperature when washing woolen items does not exceed 30 degrees. In hot water, things can deform and "shrink". It is better to wash products from Kislovodsk yarn with the addition of an emollient, this will allow them to remain pleasant to the touch, and they will last longer.

When rinsing, you should not twist things, it is better to transfer them from one container to another. Finally, add a softener to the water. It is necessary to rinse things very thoroughly, otherwise the color of the product may suffer during drying.

Since woolen products absorb a lot of water, they become heavy, so they cannot be hung, for example, on a hanger, so as not to stretch. It is better to spread the washed wool product on a large towel, then roll it tightly in the form of a roll. The excess water will then be absorbed into the fabric. The washed products are dried horizontally by spreading them out on a table or other place where the direct rays of the sun will not fall. To keep wool products fluffy after washing, they are placed in the freezer for a couple of hours, wrapped in a bag.

Wool blend yarns are composed of natural fibers and synthetic or artificial yarns. Such products will be good for air permeability and keep warm. Special care is required for products made from such yarn.

• Powder or liquid detergent is suitable for washing semi-woolen yarn.
• After washing, the products are not squeezed out or twisted.
• It is important to maintain the same temperature during washing and during rinsing.
• When rinsing in water, it is recommended to add 2-3 tbsp. tablespoons of vinegar. Thanks to this, the thing does not fade.
• Dry the products on a flat surface by laying them out on a towel or cotton cloth.
• During the drying process, it is recommended to slightly pull the product, giving it its original shape.
• Wool blend items are not ironed.

Things made of acrylic are washed by hand in not hot water or in a typewriter, in the "delicate wash" mode. The powder should not contain bleaching agents. You need to squeeze the products manually, not twisting them too much. It is recommended to dry it by spreading it out on the surface, away from heating appliances.