I was reading a thread on Ravelry the other day where a knitter asked an honest, genuine question: what IS "squeaky" acrylic yarn? Why do people call it that?
There are a few different answers. "Squeaky" is a common derogatory term used by people to describe a cheap type of acrylic yarn. If you pick it up and squeeze the skein, it has a crunchy sort of feel, a little bit like the tactile version of squeaking some Styrofoam pieces together. The only way I can describe it is to equate it to the feeling of unfinished terra cotta.
Some knitters find this feeling repellant, like fingernails on a blackboard. I personally do not, but I can see how people might.
The other answer is that to some people, under some circumstances, acrylic yarn will indeed squeak when you knit with it. I have never experienced this myself, but I live in a very damp climate. I suspect that this is a bigger problem in drier climates.
I also always knit with bamboo needles. People report that acrylic yarn is more likely to squeak on knitting needles made of metal or plastic. Something about the friction of the yarn against the smooth metal or plastic needle causes an audible (if tiny) squeak with each stitch. Maddening!
If this is the case with your yarn, try switching to a different type of needle, or try moving up a needle size so that you aren't knitting so tightly. If you are knitting in a dry climate, you might even try misting your yarn with water from a squeeze bottle, if you are feeling both desperate and experimental.
Squeaking is just one of the properties of acrylic yarn, because it is made of long threads of plastic. Just like any plastic, the fibers can creak and squeak under some circumstances. It's different for every knitter, which is why squeaky acrylic is something of a mystery.
Image courtesy Flickr/marlana
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