We know not every knitter is lucky enough to have a Local Yarn Store nearby. And of course, not every yarn shop can carry every yarn. The Knitty Yarn Roundtable was created to give knitters more information about yarn than just what's on the ball band.
Once a month, 30 knitters gather in Toronto [the hometown of Knitty's editor] to sample a variety of yarns of every possible description -- from budget to super luxury. The events are open to anyone who can attend, and are advertised on the Knitty blog and the dedicated Yarn Roundtable blog. Knitters brought their own needles and yarn companies of every size sent in yarns they wanted our readers to try.
Five different yarns from five different manufacturers are sampled at each event by all knitters present who provide their opinions on a standardized form. Yarns that did not receive good feedback will not be featured in Knitty, in accordance with our review policy, so if you see a yarn on these pages, it means the majority of knitters liked it, found it interesting or surprising! Yarns are listed below in alphabetical order by yarn name. This issue's reviews include feedback collected from three different Roundtable events.
Editor's note: All swatches shown were knit by the same knitter using what she felt was the most appropriate needle size for each yarn.
Items are rated on scale of 1-5. Retail prices are in USD.
| Name |
allhemp6LUX |
|
| Brand |
Hemp for knitting |
Fiber
content |
100% hemp |
| Yardage |
130 m | 100 grams |
| Gauge |
5.5 stitches per
inch |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$17.00 |
| overall impression |
  |
| would you buy it? |
 |
| how does it feel in the ball? |
|
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- softer than I expected
- it feels a lot better knit up [although still stiff]
- love the color
- remarkably soft for hemp
|
| Name |
Camelino |
|
| Brand |
Knit One, Crochet Too |
Fiber
content |
90% merino wool,
10% camel |
| Yardage |
100 m | 50 grams |
| Gauge |
5 stitches per
inch |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$9.00 |
| overall impression |
|
| would you buy it? |
|
| how does it feel in the ball? |
 |
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- has nice body - soft but not wimpy
- feels softer than it looks
- gauge on ball band is right on
- downy haze on a sturdy base - nice!
|
| Name |
Fingering 55 |
|
| Brand |
Claudia |
Fiber
content |
55% silk, 45% merino |
| Yardage |
175 m | 50 grams |
| Gauge |
6.5 – 7.5 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$18.50 |
| overall impression |
|
| would you buy it? |
|
| how does it feel in the ball? |
|
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
- yummy
- strokable
- luxurious
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- am completely in love with this yarn. It's very springy and has good elasticity knitted up
- the variegation is very soft and the colors blend into each other very smoothly
- doesn't split
|
| Name |
Hempton |
|
| Brand |
Hemp for knitting |
Fiber
content |
40% cotton, 30% hemp, 30% modal |
| Yardage |
120 m | 50 grams |
| Gauge |
5.5 stitches per
inch |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$6.00 |
| overall impression |
|
| would you buy it? |
|
| how does it feel in the ball? |
|
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
- summery
- natural
- crisp
- sexy
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- thought it would hurt my hands since it's hemp, but i really liked it and would love a short kimono knit out of it
- quite soft fabric for a yarn that looks rough
- it would be so much softer knit than in the ball
- are you sure there's no silk in this stuff?
|
| Name |
Linen [handpainted] |
|
| Brand |
Claudia |
Fiber
content |
100% linen |
| Yardage |
270 y | 100 grams |
| Gauge |
6 stitches per
inch |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$30.00 |
| overall impression |
|
| would you buy it? |
|
| how does it feel in the ball? |
|
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
- stiff
- string-y
- substantial
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- very elegant
- knitted fabric is very nice/smooth feeling despite stiffness
- luscious colors
- i'd like to see/feel it after washing
- challenge to knit evenly
|
| Name |
MinnowMerino |
|
| Brand |
Minnowknits/
Classic Elite |
Fiber
content |
100% extrafine superwash merino |
| Yardage |
77 y | 50 grams |
| Gauge |
4.5 stitches per
inch |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$7.95 |
| overall impression |
|
| would you buy it? |
|
| how does it feel in the ball? |
|
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
- cloud-like
- luscious
- splitty
- cushy
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- it has a halo!
- because it's a single, i thought the stitch definition would be lousy but with a little care, it's lovely!
- snags easily on the needle
|
| Name |
Miss Priss |
|
| Brand |
Schaefer |
Fiber
content |
100% merino wool |
| Yardage |
280 m | 4 oz |
| Gauge |
4.5 stitches per
inch |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$20.00 |
| overall impression |
|
| would you buy it? |
|
| how does it feel in the ball? |
|
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- knits up very smoothly compared to how it looks in the skein
- the colorway in the ball didn't interest me but knit up it's really quite lovely
- the depth and nuance of the color
|
| Name |
Natural Focus Ecologie Wool |
|
| Brand |
Nashua Handknits |
Fiber
content |
100% naturally dyed wool |
| Yardage |
80 m | 50 grams |
| Gauge |
4 stitches per
inch |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$8.95 |
| overall impression |
|
| would you buy it? |
|
| how does it feel in the ball? |
|
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
- warm
- great color shading
- buttery
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- mottled effect of color variation
- what amazing mittens it would make
- it's like a nicer version of Lopi
|
| Name |
Raw Silk |
|
| Brand |
Tilli Tomas |
Fiber
content |
100% silk |
| Yardage |
190 y | 50 grams |
| Gauge |
6 stitches per
inch |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$6.00 |
| overall impression |
|
| would you buy it? |
|
| how does it feel in the ball? |
|
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
- crunchysoft
- crunchy
- soft
- nice
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- feels more like cotton
- softens as you handle it
- it's quite soft for a raw silk
- has almost a pearlescent sheen to it. very pretty. good for lace.
|
| Name |
Riverstone Chunky |
|
| Brand |
Louet |
Fiber
content |
100% wool |
| Yardage |
165 y | 100 grams |
| Gauge |
2.5 stitches per
inch |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$6.99 |
| overall impression |
|
| would you buy it? |
|
| how does it feel in the ball? |
|
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
- rough
- semi-scratchy
- classic
- soft
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- it gets softer with handling
- very even - would work well with cables
- knits up beautifully - even tension
- made a nice stitch/fabric
|
| Name |
Root sizing silk [N-6B] |
|
| Brand |
Habu |
Fiber
content |
100% silk |
| Yardage |
88 y | 0.5 oz |
| Gauge |
US 3-5 needle |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$12.00 |
| overall impression |
|
| would you buy it? |
|
| how does it feel in the ball? |
|
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
- crunchy
- sublime
- raffia
- exotic
- stiff
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- splits easily
- how stark the stitch definition is -- very attractive, which i did not expect
- it is not as smooth and slippery as other silks
- tricky to manage. tangly.
|
| Name |
Saucon Sock |
|
| Brand |
Kraemer Yarns |
Fiber
content |
44% cotton, 43% acrylic, 13% nylon |
| Yardage |
430 m | 100 grams |
| Gauge |
7.5 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$12.00 |
| overall impression |
|
| would you buy it? |
|
| how does it feel in the ball? |
|
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
- everyday
- softish
- crisp
- summery
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- nice sheen
- that i could suddenly envision it doubled for a blanket
- slight variegation - it's a semi-solid!
|
| Name |
Shepherd Sport |
|
| Brand |
Lorna's Laces |
Fiber
content |
100% superwash wool |
| Yardage |
200 y | 70 grams |
| Gauge |
6 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$11.00 |
| overall impression |
|
| would you buy it? |
|
| how does it feel in the ball? |
|
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
- phenomenal
- heaven
- supple
- yummy
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- really nicely blended color runs
- how pretty it is
- how soft and drapey it was. would definitely use this in a sweater! loved it! loved it!
|
| Name |
Silk Garden Sock |
|
| Brand |
Noro |
Fiber
content |
40% lamb's wool,
25% silk, 25% nylon, 10% kid mohair |
| Yardage |
300 m | 100 grams |
| Gauge |
7 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$19.50 |
| overall impression |
|
| would you buy it? |
|
| how does it feel in the ball? |
|
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
- twiney
- stunning
- stiff
- springy
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- softens as you work it
- it's all about the color
- a bit of slubbiness
- a bit sticky
- very twisty
|
| Name |
Therapi |
|
| Brand |
SWTC |
Fiber
content |
30% Bowlder [Jadeite] fiber, 50% fine wool, 20% silk |
| Yardage |
100 m |50 grams |
| Gauge |
5 stitches per
inch |
| Sugg. Retail Price |
$10.00 |
| overall impression |
|
| would you buy it? |
|
| how does it feel in the ball? |
|
| how does it feel knit up? |
|
| is it fairly priced? |
|
| how's the stitch definition? |
|
| drapey [1] or stiff [5] ? |
|
| describe it in one word |
|
| what's the one thing you couldn't know about this yarn until you knit with it? |
- knits up fast
- knits incredibly fast
- develops a significant halo
- a little splitty, pilly
|
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