Dr Who Scarf

[jan_andrea]

Okay, the universe wants me to make David a Dr. Who scarf.

I was reading my Google Reader feeds and clicked on a pattern for a neat looking scarf. While I was checking it out, David glanced over and said, "Oh! Could you make me a Dr. Who scarf?"

So I googled it and found www.doctorwhoscarf.com (who knew?) and spent about 10 minutes checking it out before going back to Google Reader. Read a few more articles, scrolled down... and there was this.

So, clearly, I am meant to make this scarf.

However, I'm not sure quite how. I mean, I have the directions (he wants the season 15 version), but I'm not sure about the yarn. Wool makes me itch, and him, too, so I'm stuck with non-woollen yarns. The directions call for a sport or DK weight yarn, and I would prefer to use something that feels nicer than the cheapo "pound of yarn" crap (I hate that stuff). OTOH, it's a *crapload* of yarn, and I don't want to pay more than, oh, say, $50 for the yarn. I can't tell exactly from the pattern, but it looks like I need between 200 and 400 yards each of 7 colors.  Of course, the pattern calls for it to be between 10-12" wide, and David wants something about half that width (and maybe shorter, once he sees how very long it is), so I guess I don't need quite as much.

Knitters, do you have recommendations for nice-feeling but not bank-breaking yarns? I like working with soft but not too stretchy yarns; have had success with a lovely chenille I got at my LYS, but it was years ago and I don't remember what it was called.

Comments

[jan-andrea.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, it's all wools -- I even handled some alpaca and it made me itch :( Seems to be the proteins or something, I don't know. It's heartbreaking, though; even cashmere is out of the question :P

Thanks for the link! I'll check them out :D

[webhill.livejournal.com]

Jan, alpaca do not have wool. Only sheep have wool. I can absolutely understand that you might find all animal fibers bothersome, and hey for all I know you have multiple fiber allergies -- but I am just commenting on your use of the term "wool" to describe alpaca fiber. it's not actually correct. Cashmere is also not a type of wool.

Now, if you are at all inclined to double check and see if you are truly wool-intolerant vs "just" scratchy-wool intolerant, you might consider snuggling some Malabrigo wool just to see. If not, don't bother :)

All of that said...my husband hates wool, but LOVES the llama-silk blend I just made him a hat from. And that said, that stuff was mucho dinero, so it won't help you.

Hmmm. how about a nice cotton??

[jan-andrea.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the clarification :) Animal fibers it is. I spent a good 30 minutes at my LYS fingering various animal-based yarns and they all made my fingers tingle, not in a good way. Alas!

Llama/silk sounds lovely, though...

[apis-mellifera.livejournal.com]

Thanks for clarifying that animal fibers != wool -- I clicked through on the link in my email to point that out myself. As an anal retentive fiber person, that's one of my big pet peeves. ;)

Hm. Lion Brand Cotton-Ease might be another option, too. Not sure what colors are available, though.

[artemis-rich.livejournal.com]

Only sheep have wool

Actually, this is not true. Technically wool refers to the fibers of certain animals, of which sheep is the main, but can also refer to the hair of goats, llamas (of which the alpaca is a cousin) and rabbits.

This is a common misconception, especially in the US.

EDITED TO ADD: Cashmere is considered a type of wool.

[webhill.livejournal.com]

I suppose there must be differing opinions. I was taught by my small ruminant medicine instructors at vet school to never call the fiber of anything except a sheep "wool," and until today that has worked out well for me.

[apis-mellifera.livejournal.com]

Boo for actual allergy issues (as opposed to "I got a scratchy wool sweater once so I'm gonna assume that all wool is scratchy" issues ;) ). Lion Brand Cotton-Ease might be okay, and Caron Simply Soft isn't too terrible (for an acrylic). You might also want to check out elann.com for other discount yarns--they focus mainly on animal fiber yarns, but you might get lucky.

Also, if you get to a bookstore or yarn shop, look for Amy Singer's No Sheep For You--she has a wool allergy and therefore the entire book is devoted to non-wool fibers. I think it's mainly non-animal fibers, too, so most of the yarns used in the projects should be fine.

[jan-andrea.livejournal.com]

LOL at the title :D

I got the "Shine" stuff from knitpicks in the end. I hope it's nice :)

[apis-mellifera.livejournal.com]

I've heard very good things about it. It's one of the yarns I'm looking at for the afghans I want to make for my nieces.