The Rise of AI in the Art World What do you think of this image? It's very pretty at first glance, isn't it? Does it make you immediately want to seek out the pattern to make them yourself? You're not alone. I took this image from a random page on Facebook that showed up on my newsfeed. I have no idea who originally made it. It's being shared by pages that appear to be run by bots, as the caption is always the exact same. So What's the Problem? The problem is these crochet parrots are not real. That is not real crochet. The photo is generated by AI. How can you tell? Firstly, they are too perfect. Creating crochet birds that could sit like that on a perch without falling over would be challenging. The direction of some of the stitches doesn't make sense. If you zoom in, you can see the stitches on the head especially do not look like crochet stitches. The yellow feathers on the left bird's head look like real feathers, which you wouldn't be able to rep
Let's Talk Yarn - Chenille Yarn
What is Chenille Yarn
Chenille is a synthetic yarn, usually made from polyester, and it is soft and fluffy. As a synthetic fibre, it can be dyed in an endless number of colours, and even some patterns like the floral one I used to make the cow above. It's essentially soft fluffy fibres attached to a thread.
Chenille yarn is great for making warm soft blankets and it is ideal for soft toys as well, as it feels so nice and squishy. It has become really popular in recent years, especially among those who like making amigurumi, like me!
Pros of Chenille Yarn
The texture is lovely and soft, making the finished project feel and look really nice. The yarn is smooth as well, it won't split like acrylic yarn and is fairly easy to work with.
It comes in a huge range of colours, some even have glitter through it or patterns. It is a chunky weight yarn, which means it works up quite quickly.
It is also fire resistant. In the UK, all soft toys must pass a strict safety standard, and I have put three of my patterns through this testing. Part of the UKCA testing includes flammability, and I have found that chenille yarns are difficult to set alight and the flame tends to self-extinguish. As the fibre is a kind of plastic, it tends to just melt.
Cons of Chenille Yarn
The shedding! Because of how the yarn is made, with a central threat and the fibres attached to it, the fibres can be pulled off the end of the thread so working with it can be quite messy. I recommend singing the ends of the yarn with a lighter to reduce this.
Chenille yarn does not like to be used for sewing, and while it is smooth on the hook, when you are sewing with it or making a magic ring, it can sometimes refuse to budge and this makes it challenging to work with in this way. Some people prefer to use acrylic yarn to help make magic rings or to sew pieces together.
Making a magic ring is difficult, and if it gets stuck, the yarn is prone to snapping if you're not careful. To mitigate this, I advise doing 3-4 stitches into the ring then beginning to close the ring a bit. This seems to help ensure you can fully close the ring when you finish the first round. I also advise that when pulling the end to close the ring, don't tug as hard as you can, just use steady even pressure and hold it until it gives way, this reduces the chance of it snapping on you.
Microplastics! For the environmentally conscious among you, it's worth noting that as a synthetic yarn type, chenille yarns can produce microplastics, so be aware if you are making something that will need washed regularly. The yarn can be washed at low temperatures and holds up well to it but there is the possibility of microplastics leeching into the water. This is why I only really use it for toys, as they don't need washed regularly, only if they get dirty.
Finally, in this cost of living crisis, cost. Chenille yarns can be a bit on the pricier side. Definitely more expensive than acrylic yarns but not as pricy as fancier natural fibres such as merino or angora.
My Favourite Brands of Chenille Yarn
I've got a few favourites. My top two brands are SMUMS Milano, and the Cygnet Jellybaby range. They come in great colours, they are very soft and easy to work with, and a nice chunky weight. I do also like the Hobbii Babysnuggle range, which is also really lovely and soft, but it doesn't have EN71-3 certification available yet so I can't use it for plushies I intend to sell.
I have used the King Cole Yummy patterned chenille, such as in the cow pictured above, and it is a nice chunky and soft yarn, although I felt it was a lot more prone to shedding than the others I have used. It made it a bit trickier to work with.
I do like the James C Brett Flutterby yarn which is fairly soft and the butterscotch colour is perfect for a standard Highland Cow. It's a bit thinner than the others though, and I have found the black to feel a little 'squeaky' which is a bit of a sensory issue for me. Like wet cotton wool, I suppose. Still, it's not too bad for shedding.
These are all the brands I've tried so far, but the Cygnet Jellybaby is probably my top favourite, I just love the bright and bold colours, and the glittery version is so pretty and sparkly. Because who doesn't love a bit of glitter? I am a stockist for Cygnet yarns and have a good number of colours available on the website if you want to try them out for yourself!
Comments
Post a Comment