Hand or machine knitting is a fabric, formed by interlooping yarn. The loops are the "stitches".
Hello, my name is Valerie and I am the owner of Urban Knitters. Each week, I'll be choosing one question from my in store or online visitors that I will answer under "Ask Valerie".
If you have a knitting question for Valerie e-mail her at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Question: I'm not a knitter, but I am buying yarn for a throw that my mother-in-law will knit. She usually knits with a synthetic yarn, because she says it's easy to care for. How easy is it to care for a wool blanket?
Answer: There is much variety in yarn choices today, so it is easier to choose a product that meets your expectations. To answer your question, superwash wools are an option, if you absolutely must wash in the washing machine. With an item like a throw, a seasonal cleaning is probably all that's needed, so a handwash is not so tedious for a nonmachine washable wool.
However, a knitted wool item is more durable and long lasting than any 100% acrylic or other synthetic yarn. Wool naturally repels dirt and moisture, and feels better to touch than a synthetic. 100% acrylic pills, feels hot and "plastic-like" because it doesn't breathe, stains are difficult to remove, it may stretch, and is heat sensitive; that is, hot temperatures damage the fiber. Generally, most synthetics can be machine washed without any problems. If durability and aesthetics are most important to you, I would choose wool yarn to make the throw over a synthetic. If cost and easy care is more important then go for the synthetic.
