Having been knitting for over 15 years and crocheting (or hooking!) for more than 10, I’ve squished my fair share of yarn, used a variety of different hooks and needles, and made up patterns from a wide range of designers!
So I thought I’d share with you a few of my favourites. Of course, these are just my preferences and may not suit you! But if you’re looking for something new, then why not try one or two of my suggestions…
YARNS
One of my utmost favourite (more luxurious) brands for yarn is Juniper Moon Farm, particularly their Findlay Dappled, which is a gorgeous silk and merino wool blend. As a finer yarn, its perfect for lacy shawls. And some of the colourways are just awesome!
If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative, you can’t go wrong with Drops yarn in my opinion. They have a range of different fibres and colours and are all easy on the purse!
In terms of fibre, I absolutely love alpaca yarns, either solely alpaca or blended with wool. I think part of this stems from my obsession with the animals, and their ability to decide whether or not they get pregnant! But also, the alpaca fibres are much softer than wool, and warmer too! They are also hypoallergenic and resist pilling, so win-win. Some great alpaca yarns are Drops Alpaca or West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious.
HOOKS/NEEDLES
My personal preference is for wooden knitting needles – and I’m a sucker for anything pretty and rainbow colours. (If you know me, this won’t surprise you!) So my needles of choice are KnitPro Symfonie – just look at those stripes! They are also just fabulous to knit with, a soft click and the stitches move easily around on them.
As for crochet hooks, I have to admit that I’ve not yet delved into the world of luxury hooks. You can find lots of beautiful hooks on Etsy, made from polymer clay, but having found the hooks that I use now, I am hesitant to move away from something that feels so nice to work with! I pretty much exclusively use the Drops Pro Circus hooks now, as they have a soft silicone coating and are the right length for my hands.
DESIGNERS
The knitting and crochet world is full of amazing designers who create the most stunning patterns! I have tried to pick a few out who I love for different reasons.
Stephen West does some really amazing work with colour and texture in his patterns. He is known for his mystery knit a long shawls, which have all been just stunning!
Joji Locatelli takes classic shapes and patterns and adds her unique style to them. I particularly love her “Like a cloud” cardigan.
Woolly Wormhead hats are really lovely to knit and look stunning. I love how they include waves in the patterns.
Jacki Badger has some incredible lacework in her designs, and isn’t shy of a subtle rainbow! She gets a massive tick from me.
I also create my own patterns – which are mostly accessible to beginners. You can find them here.
What are your favourites from the yarny world? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!