I recently ordered a few balls of yarn from those Chinese shops because the prices are absolutely crazy cheap. Now I've got them and I'm not sure if I should actually start knitting with them. Does anyone have experience with whether this cheap yarn is usable at all or should I just get something better instead?
I'd test the stuff first before you really dive into it 😅 Just knit up a small swatch, maybe 20-30 rows, and see how the yarn feels, whether it scratches or sheds and how even the stitch width is. Quality often varies a lot depending on the batch, so what you get might be completely different from what someone else gets. If the swatch looks okay - make something simple with it like a bag or a scarf, then at least you'll have something finished even if it doesn't turn out perfect.
It depends on what you want to make with it. If it's just an experimental project or you want to knit something simple that doesn't have to look perfect afterwards - then you can give it a try. A lot of people report that yarn from there tends to be thinner and uneven, so the thread thickness fluctuates. That makes knitting more tiring and the result just doesn't look as clean. Plus the yarn often smells weird (not necessarily unpleasant, but kind of chemical), though that usually goes away when you wash it.
The bigger problem is that the quality is really unpredictable. Sometimes the yarn lasts forever, sometimes it frays when you wash it or pills quickly. So you're basically becoming a guinea pig. If you're actually starting out with knitting or trying to improve, I'd really get yourself a few decent balls of yarn - it doesn't have to be expensive, but yarn from well-known brands or local shops is just way more fun. The stitches sit better, the color is even and you actually see your project making progress instead of getting frustrated.
But if you already have the balls: just trying them out doesn't cost anything. See how the thread feels when you knit, whether it tears, how the stitches look. Then you'll quickly figure out yourself whether it works for you or not.
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