Wool, new and old (and a new crochet cushion)

In these cash-strapped times, it's always good to find something that seems good value. Buying wool can be an expensive business, especially if you go for pure new wool. I'd love to be able to use this more than I do, but just like the UK government, I'm having to make drastic cuts to my out-goings. All my recent makes have been blankets or cushion covers, things which (in my opinion) are better made with wool which can take some wear and tear and is machine washable.  I know some people turn their nose up at acrylic yarns, but I don't have a problem with them, I think they are reasonably priced, crochet up well and keep their shape and don't shrink after washing. I found a new brand recently which I'm liking a lot, Stylecraft Life DK, which is a blend of 75% acrylic and 25% wool.   

The colours are rich and vivid and it has a nice soft feel with enough wool content to make you forget about the man-made stuff.  I got these for £2.25 a 100g ball, pretty good value I'd say. I've been making a little something with some of the colours......

I started making these squares a couple of weekends ago  just to see how the wool fared. I can report favourably, it doesn't split and feels soft on the hands, the stitches look nice and neat and uniform too. 

 

It's a homage to the Babette blanket! The pattern is from Jan Eaton's book 200 Crochet Blocks; I made one of the large squares to start with and then varied the repetitions of rows to get the small and medium sizes. 

  

The lighter green wool in those squares is made with Sirdar Countrystyle DK which is a firm favourite of mine. This is a 45% acrylic, 40% nylon, 15% wool blend. The range of colours is wide and it's about £3.20 for a 100g ball. It feels wonderfully soft and crochets up beautifully. I've used it mixed with other wools in all my granny square cushions, my hexagon blanket, 2 baby blankets and my WIP blanket for my nephew. This green went so well with the other colours, they just seemed made for each other. And I've finished the cushion, what do you think?

 

I'm delighted with how this has turned out.

 

Some buttons to match the wool to fasten

 

Job done; I'm all crocheted out now! And pleased that I've found some new wool which won't break the bank and looks good.
 
 
 

 

 

 
 

 

Comments

[Jennyff]

I'm a bit of a wool snob I'm afraid, but then I don't crochet and I can understand your enthusiasm for those prices and lovely colours. I have tried bamboo for socks, it's good value and washes well but I do want to keep supporting the sheep.

[Marie]

Nothing wrong with being a wool snob!! I think for socks and garments you can't beat lovely new wool. I do have quite a bit of real wool squirrelled away for just the right project, but it's not come along yet :-) The acrylic mix yarn is my everyday workhorse wool( and I do love a bargain) and the pure wool DK is for a bit of luxury.

[Anne@andamento]

Gorgeous cushion, love the design and the colours.

I use mainly acrylic/acrylic blends plus some cotton as I like a variety of textures. Price driven I'm afraid. I hate to think what my current blanket would cost using pure wool instead of mainly 100g balls of acrylic from the pound shop plus a few balls of stylecraft and sirdar like you've used. Depends on the colours available too.

But your cushion is lovely no matter what it's made of!

[Marie]

Thanks, Anne, I'm glad you like it:-)

[lankybird]

Fired up by discovering Attic 24 and spotting a fab foxglove in the garden, I rushed out yesterday and bought 2 bagfuls of Robin DK in different colours. Its getting crocheted into granny squares and I've become an acrylic lover - I could never afford all those colours otherwise and its working up really well. Bring on the manmade fibres!!