Faster, Easier, Better: Chunky Knitting Rocks
Chunky yarns have a bad reputation in the knitting world. Some knitting snobs say chunky yarn lacks the classiness of other yarns because it’s fast and easy. To that Yahoo DIY says, “Pshaw!”
I’m a knitting fanatic, and I never say no to a nice chunk yarn. Chunky yarns, usually defined as being either a bulky or super-bulky weight on the Craft Yarn Council’s Standard Weight System, are awesome in so many ways. In fact, they’re so great that I’d recommend them to anyone who wants to learn to knit – or anyone who doesn’t feel super confident about their knitting skills. Here’s why:
(All Photos: Ashley Little)
Chunky yarns are faster.
It makes sense, doesn’t it? If you’ve ever seen expert knitters wielding those tiny size 1 needles that you need to knit, say, a pair of socks, then I can’t blame you for running away in fear. It takes hours just to see any progress! For chunky yarn, though, you’ll get instant gratification. The thick yarn paired with those giant needles will cut your knitting time significantly.
Last winter, I had the crazy idea that I was going to knit a dress (yes, a dress. What was I thinking?!) with fingering-weight yarn and size 3 needles. I worked on it diligently for hours, working my way through a marathon of at least four seasons of television on Netflix while knitting. And where is that dress today? It’s sitting in a tote bag in my craft room unfinished. I didn’t even finish knitting the front of it!
In the meantime, I’ve worked up an entire sweater using Cascade Eco + chunky yarn, and that only took about five hour-long television episodes.
And here’s another example of how quick chunky yarns are: this past Christmas, I knitted a chunky cowl with size 15 needles for my sister-in-law and a pair of socks with size 1 needles for my dad. Completing the cowl took half the time it took to knit just one of my dad’s socks.
Chunky yarn patterns are easier.
Leave the fancy lace work and other complicated stitches to those thinner yarns. Chunky yarns speak for themselves and don’t always work well with intricate designs. I like chunky yarn patterns that are easy enough that I can do other things while I’m knitting, like listen to an audiobook or watch TV. Chunky knit patterns are amazing for multi-tasking!
The cable knit tech case, designed by Nguyen Le for my book Chunky Knits, is a great example of how a simple design works so well with a chunky yarn. The design features one chunky cable right down the middle – made even easier since chunky yarns don’t tend to slip on and off the needle as easily as other yarns. There’s nothing too crazy complicated here, but the pattern is still beautiful.
Chunky yarns are cozy.
It doesn’t get much better than a chunky yarn when you want something soft and cozy. My favorite winter accessories are the ones that are made with chunky yarn. You’re getting tons of warmth packed into one little ball of yarn.
I designed and knit the Honeycomb Throw pictured above using Patons Beehive Baby Chunky. I keep this throw right by my couch, and any guest that comes across it can’t get over how soft and cozy it is. The best part? It only took a few hours to knit it! The honeycomb pattern is repeated over and over, giving the throw texture and warmth. It’s just proof that a technically easy pattern can still look intricate and interesting.
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If you’re ready to take on some chunky knits of your own, you can download a free pattern for a Button-Up Slouchy Hat from Ashley Little’s book Chunky Knits. You’ll see just how awesome (and quick!) those chunky yarns can be.
You can also check out her blog, The Feisty Redhead, to see the latest chunky knits she’s worked up.
