Knitting Pattern Question

I am a VERY beginner knitter, and I just had a silly technical question I wanted to clear up.

Is it important that, when following a pattern (like making a scarf), you must use the same type/size of yarn the pattern suggests?

Would the project be that much different if I used a chunkier wool than suggested?

Thanks!

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=bV0u07FXB1gC&pg=PA20&lpg=PA20&dq=changing+yarns+pattern&source=bl&ots=D2yOm5wjVv&sig=XToweTvcr_vg5XsJyQdYQ0VX4pw&hl=en&ei=6XGYSujyKYbOsQP4y-ShAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9#v=onepage&q=changing%20yarns%20pattern&f=false

that should help...

 

I'm not crocheting, but thanks.

 

Well yes and no. For a scarf it doesn't really matter too much but if you were knitting a sweater or hat then yes it can make a huge difference.

Know what row gauge is? Basically a pattern gives you a type of yarn to use, the size needle and what gauge it knits up at in stockinette. Like I will type:

Use Noro Kureyon with size 8 needles to knit at a gauge of 18 stitches per 4 inches, or 4.5 stitches per 1 inch.

If you used a heavier (thicker) yarn you'd change that number ^ above and the outcome could be a lot larger.

You don't have to use the same yarn but try to match the weight of the yarn: lace, fingering, sport, DK, worsted, chunky(bulky), super bulky.

Try to check out www.knittinghelp.com
to explain better since I suck at explaining things

 

Yeah... the page I linked you to is true of knitting too. It's just explaining the yarns.

 

if youre making a plain scarf, you should be able to do it w/out a pattern. ive never used one, they utterly bamboozle me.

 

Simple answer to the original question. If you use a chunkier wool and the same size of pins the scarf will be slightly thicker and wider but, it's a scarf so it shouldn't make a difference, but if you progress on to sweaters and the like it's pretty important to use the yarn and pin size stated by the pattern. As you become a more confident knitter you will get a feel for these kinds of things. Good luck! Knitting's a wonderful craft and can be quite complex if you go onto more advanced designs and colour combinations but the world's your oyster so "keep knitting"