Everything you need to know about knitting yarn

Knitted thread in everyday life is often called "T-shirt" - it is a versatile and one of the most common materials for creating knitted products. Typically, this yarn is used to make decorative items and stylish accessories, although it can make good clothes. In our review, we will give a description of the composition and characteristics of knitted yarns and give tips for working with it.

T-shirt yarn is a high quality cotton jersey cut into thin strips that are wound into a ball. This thread is very soft, thick and much more pleasant tactilely than woolen thread. Bulky and very soft products come out of it. The inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun were the very first to use such threads to create stylish things, from there fashion came to Europe, and then spread to the territory of Russia and other CIS countries.

The main advantages of t-shirt yarns include the following points.

• Things tied from such a thread differ in an unusual texture.
• The yarn is elastic, but at the same time things created from it keep their shape perfectly and are almost not subject to deformation.
• The threads are wound in a ball outside the box, therefore, if desired, they can be unwound not only from the outside, but also from the center. This allows you to simultaneously knit two parts from one ball - it is very convenient when you need to make symmetrical blanks.
• Due to the thickness of the thread, knitting does not take much time. As a rule, it will take no more than one or two evenings to create small things.
• Knitted yarn will be an excellent solution for beginner needlewomen. It is easy to use and easy to work with. In this case, you can knit not only with knitting needles, but also crochet.
• Thick threads are often taken for finishing pillows, bags, jackets, hats and other knitted items... This decor is often used instead of fringe.
• T-shirt threads are made from eco-friendly cotton fabrictherefore they do not cause allergies.
• Large selection of colors allows you to carry out bold creative experiments and create truly unique fashion items.

However, T-shirt yarn has its drawbacks.

• You are unlikely to be able to work through small elements with such threads, therefore they are only used to make big things.
• In order for the finished product to retain its shape, it is necessary to soak it with syrup or starch.
• Like the knitted fabric from which it is made, yarn tends to absorb foreign odors... It is quite difficult to get rid of them later.
• After the first wash, the finished things shrink, often quite dramatically.
• Many knitted items shed when washed, so it is advisable to wash them separately from other fabrics.

All types of T-shirt yarn can be conditionally divided into two groups: primary and secondary. Both those and other threads are made from knitted fabric. They have similar characteristics in terms of density, gloss, shade and quality of the original lines. The difference lies solely in the cutting technique.

The primary thread is formed from a single piece of knitted fabric. This is the ideal yarn - it is long, strong and beautiful, here waste is minimized. The threads look straight and free from burrs or other defects. On sale are offered in the widest range of textures and shades.

Secondary yarn is made from the remains of knitted fabric in sewing and weaving factories... This technology allows the presence of several knots and joints - as a rule, two per coil. The material has its advantages, especially for those who are just taking their first steps in creating things from T-shirts.

Secondary yarn is always twisted right side out, in this it differs from primary yarn, which is cut from the wrong side. Accordingly, in the case of blooming, the secondary thread does not twist.

T-shirt yarns on the market today come in a wide variety of colors. Manufacturers use the entire existing palette, so there are usually no problems with the choice of thread. Bright shades have been especially popular in recent years:

• Red;
• orange;
• pink;
• coral;
• Orange;
• yellow.

The unchanging classics include white, black, gray and blue colors. For several seasons, acid tones and metallic colors have been in trend.

For many years, the absolute leader in the market for creating t-shirt yarns has been Turkey... Such threads are of high quality and durability, a wide variety of colors and textures. It is convenient to work with Turkish yarn, and things from it are stylish, beautiful and light.

In recent years, Turkish manufacturers have been supplanted by domestic enterprises. Among the leaders in the Russian segment are:

• Troitsk Worsted Factory;
• cord factory AAA "TEX";
• "TEXCOR";
• Twisting and netting production;
• FPM "Simplex Polymer";
• LLC "Kordkraft";
• Shuisky Textile;
• LLC "Golden Fleece";
• LLC "Linen Manufactory";
• Fi-tex tape-weaving factory;
• LLC "Nevskaya yarn";
• LLC Posadskaya Manufactura;
• LLC ASP-Nit;
• the company "All flax";
• manufacturer of rope products "Kanat";
• Moscow wool spinning factory;
• twine factory "Maikop" and others.

Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of yarns. In order to choose the optimal thread for yourself, you need to take into account the parameters listed below.

• Colors - the shops offer yarn for every taste: from light to dark, from rich acidic to muted, from monochrome to multi-colored. Gradient threads have been very popular in recent years.
• Thread length - the ball should be selected taking into account the size of the thing you are going to knit. So, to create a small carpet and a long jacket, you will need a different amount of yarn.
• Width - the wider the thread, the more voluminous the product will be and the clearer its texture will be.
• Composition - is a key criterion for choosing a material for knitting. It depends on him first of all how durable the connected thing will be, whether it will deform and stretch during the wear process and, most importantly, whether it will be comfortable. This is especially true when it comes to clothing. The ideal solution is knitted ribbons made of 100% cotton.

To create ottomans, rugs and baskets, thick yarn is usually selected. Due to the impressive thickness, the walls of the finished product do not deform and hold their shape well. However, if you have already purchased thin yarn, but want to make a bulky thing out of it, you can knit in two strands.

If you are going to make one complex product consisting of several blanks, it is advisable to use the same yarn for each part. Otherwise, the finished product will be a collage made of parts of different sizes and textures.

In most cases, t-shirt yarn is used to create decorative interior items. Although with its help you can get stylish clothes: coats, jumpers, jackets, as well as jewelry and other accessories. Of course, it will not be easy for an inexperienced craftsman to knit things, therefore, it is better to start acquaintance with knitted threads with simpler products. For example, make a rug or a pouf out of them.

Ottomans can be small or large, one- or multi-colored, square and round. Such pieces of furniture will need filler, but football yarn, due to its strength, withstands pressure and does not lose its former shape. A rounded pouf with multi-colored inserts looks especially stylish.... Such a product attracts children, although adults will undoubtedly like it too.

The knitted thread can be used for sewing bags - it can be a large beach accessory, a small stylish clutch, a children's backpack, or a shopper. To create such things, you will need beautiful accessories, while very little yarn itself is used. The work is not particularly difficult - even beginners will be able to make the simplest package.

T-shirt yarn will make simple soft shoes. The network will be able to pick up knitting patterns for a variety of slippers. Threads are used to make patterns with open or closed heels, as well as models with embroidered decorative elements.

Quite comfortable in everyday life knitted baskets, they store all sorts of small things: accessories for needlework, small parts or toys. If desired, such an item can be decorated with embroidered patterns or beads. For the lid and bottom, you will need cardboard or plastic elements.

T-shirt threads make beautiful cushions... They can have a wide variety of shades, shapes and sizes. If desired, you can make one pillowcase from the threads. It is not difficult to knit a carpet from threads; the thickest material is best for this.

Also from T-shirt yarn you can create unusual accessories: bracelets, beads or necklaces. Very little material will be needed, besides, such work will take a little time. More experienced craftswomen knit clothes from knitted threads. Of course, creating jumpers, coats and vests will require skills and will take time, but things turn out to be exclusive, which will look trendy regardless of their colors and styles. In addition, due to the impressive thickness and ease of use, knitted yarn will greatly facilitate the work of needlewomen.

Even baskets for cats and dogs are made from the raw materials in question. Be sure - in such a home, four-legged friends will sleep with great pleasure.

Yarn consumption directly depends on the density of knitting and the size of the finished product that you are going to create. The amount of thread used is influenced by the pattern and thickness of the tools. When calculating the flow, the following features must be taken into account:

• the thicker the thread - the less is the consumption of yarn for creating a finished product;
• fewer threads are spent when performing simple schemesthan when forming complex patterns;
• the more the thread is twisted around its axis, the more is the consumption;
• the thicker the needles or the hook, the less consumptionhowever, in this case, the strength of the finished product will also decrease.

Before the stores began to sell knitted ribbons, craftswomen made a similar material with their own hands from unnecessary things. For this, old T-shirts, sweaters and sweaters were cut into separate ribbons. At the end of the knitting, very strong and durable bedside rugs were obtained from this material, as well as paths that have faithfully served their owners for more than one year.

Large items are usually taken to create skeins. It is best to take adult clothes, as children's clothes will be too short - this is inconvenient. If you do take T-shirts, make sure they don't have folds or seams. In addition to them, you will need sharp scissors - no other tools are needed for work.

In order to make good yarn from old T-shirts yourself, you need to follow a few simple steps.

• First, cut off the top of the workpiece, roughly along the armpit line: there are many seams, it is difficult to get even yarn from such areas. As a result, you should be left with something like a pipe, on both sides of which there are a couple of seams.
• Next, fold the side edges together, and then step back 2–3 cm so that the edge protrudes slightly from below.
• Fold the resulting matter in half again... If everything is done correctly, the protruding part should stand out slightly from the rest.
• Decide which yarn width you need... Keep in mind that after cutting, the strips will twist and become slightly smaller as a result. A universal solution would be to cut a tape 2-3 cm wide. Prepare the necessary blanks from the material.
• Cut not only the edges, but also the clothing... The incisions must be made throughout the convolution.
• Unroll the now old T-shirt and see what comes out. The knitted fabric must maintain its integrity.
• Stretch the entire section over your hand or a jar - this will allow you to assess the quality of the cuts and accurately perform the next job.
• Then move from one incision to another, moving diagonally, use scissors. You should end up with a long, even strip, otherwise you will have to tie the stripes together. The result is a continuous skein of yarn.
• When finished, pull slightly on the strips to curl the edges of the fabric.

Nowadays, the need to make yarn by hand has disappeared, since a thread that is pleasant to the touch and the eye has appeared on the market. It's a pleasure to work with her.

Well, in conclusion, we will give several recommendations for caring for things made of t-shirt yarn, so that they do not lose their color saturation and do not shrink.

Such products can be washed exclusively in cool water with a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees. If you clean at a higher value, the shades will fade. In this case, cleaning compounds should be as delicate as possible, otherwise the structure of the material can be damaged. No presoaking is required. Washing should be gentle, you do not need to rub the product.

If using a washing machine, set the delicate cycle and set the speed to the lowest possible.

Drying must also be correct. Do not hang such items on a rope with clothespins. The washed item is placed on a horizontal base, given the desired shape and left to dry naturally. It is very important not to dry T-shirt yarn products in direct sunlight, near heating appliances, or in rooms with high humidity.

Store such jersey horizontally, otherwise it may stretch.

Correct operation is essential.