Knitting With Handspun
A handspun hat
Small samples of handspun can be used to knit a fun and funky hat.
Once you’ve washed your wool, picked it and carded it, and spun it and plied it, then what? If you’re me, you’ll pet it and look lovingly at it, all while spinning up more yarns to join it in your yarn basket, before deciding that maybe you have kind of a lot of handspun and should do something with it. Here are my tips for how I knit with handspun!
First, you’ll need to know how much yarn you’ve got. A niddy noddy like this nifty 3D printed one can be used to estimate how much yardage you have - one wrap around equals one yard, so you can count your wraps as you wind the yarn. I really like the little niddy noddy because I tend to spin small amounts at a time and it’s perfect to keep in the carrying bag for my Louet Victoria. Just be warned, the plastic is heat sensitive and will melt and re-form into a warped shape if left in a hot car! If you want a bigger one, I am also a fan of these PVC pipe versions.
Knowing the thickness of your yarn helps you choose the right size needle for your project. One of these handy “wraps per inch” tools will measure your yarn for you. I particularly like this set because you can lay your yarn in the grooves while you’re spinning (just pause your treadling and measure it before winding it on the bobbin) and have an idea of what size it will be. I also like the knitting needle sizer + swatch gauge measuring tool, those are super handy to keep in your kit.
Handspun Shetland Wool Hat
My go-to items to knit with my handspun are small projects like hats. Hats are SUPER forgiving of yarn that might have some variation between thick and thin, and a simple beanie or watch cap pattern can really show off fun and funky handspun yarns. I have knitted the watch cap pattern from the Yankee Knitter for years. The chunky mitten pattern is another great one for those bulkier handspun yarns. I haven’t tried it yet in handspun, but the Yankee Knitter’s basic sock pattern is my go-to for socks and the one I plan to use when I’m ready to try socks in my handspun yarn.
I also haven’t tried knitting a sweater out of handspun, but if or when I do, I intend to use the top down raglan sweater pattern, which is a really easy project to knit. As an aside, I really love all of the Yankee Knitter patterns and own all of the ones linked here, plus a few more. Written for multiple sizes and weights of yarn, you really get your money’s worth. They’re great for beginners, as they contain really easy to follow instructions so you can learn how the garments you are knitting are constructed. The watch cap pattern was the first pattern I ever bought, 20+ years ago, and my go-to pattern for quick gifts for any age or sex of recipient. It’s a classic!
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