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By Amy
R Singer
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.
Starting in 2007, groups
of 30 knitters gathered 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 a 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! Yarns are listed
below in alphabetical order by yarn name. This
issue's reviews include feedback collected
from three different nights of testing.
Items are
rated on scale of 1-5.
Retail prices are in USD.
dislike/disagree/bad
|
deep
love/total agreement/great
|
|
 |
| Name |
1824 wool tricolors |
 |
| Brand |
Mission
Falls |
Fiber
content |
100% wool |
| Yardage |
85 yards | 50 grams |
| Gauge |
4.5 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail
Price |
$6.75 |
| 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 |
- nostalgic
- dependable
- yummalicious
- comforting
- honest
|
| what's the one thing
you couldn't know about this yarn until you
knit with it? |
- doesn't feel like superwash
- prefered look knit up vs in the ball
- easy to work with
|
|
|
| Name |
Anne |
 |
| Brand |
Schaefer |
Fiber
content |
60% Merino Wool Superwash,
25% Mohair, 15% Nylon |
| Yardage |
560 yards | 4 ounces |
| Gauge |
7-8 stitches per
inch |
| Sugg. Retail
Price |
$25.00 |
| 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? |
- how fuzzy the mohair would make the
swatch
- knits into a smooth, soft piece of
dreamyness
- looks great as lace; could do so much
with this
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Name |
Beaded
Rhapsody |
 |
| Brand |
Artyarns |
Fiber
content |
100% Silk; 70% Kid
Mohair/
30% Silk with Glass Beads |
| Yardage |
175 yards | 100 grams |
| Gauge |
4.5 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail
Price |
$34.00 |
| 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? |
- easier to knit with than it looks
- denser than expected
- sparkly but not gaudy
|
|
|
|
| Name |
Comfort |
 |
| Brand |
Berroco |
Fiber
content |
50% Super Fine Nylon,
50% Super Fine Acrylic |
| Yardage |
220 yards | 100 grams |
| Gauge |
4.5 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail
Price |
$5.50 |
| 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 |
- valueyum
- airy
- surprising
- bouncy
|
| what's the one thing
you couldn't know about this yarn until
you knit with it? |
- how soft and springy it is
- usually hate synthetics but this
is changing my mind
- would never have guessed it's acrylic
|
|
|
|
| Name |
Elsie |
 |
| Brand |
Tilli
Tomas |
Fiber
content |
33% wool, 33% silk,
33% milk protein |
| Yardage |
135 yds | 50 grams |
| Gauge |
4.5 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 |
- creamy
- soft
- splitty
- vivacious
|
| what's
the one thing you
couldn't know about
this yarn until
you knit with it? |
- needle size
on label produces
fabric with too
much drape
- soft cottony
feel without
being cotton
|
|
|
|
| Name |
Fil de la mer |
 |
| Brand |
Tilli
Tomas |
Fiber
content |
70% silk, 30% seacell |
| Yardage |
140 yds | 50 grams |
| Gauge |
4.5 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail
Price |
$18.00 |
| 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? |
- solid color actually has a slight
variegation
- the drape
- has a nice shine
|
|
|
|
| Name |
Kureyon sock |
 |
| Brand |
Noro |
Fiber
content |
70% wool, 30% nylon |
| Yardage |
462 yds | 100 grams |
| Gauge |
7.5 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail
Price |
$19.00 |
| 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? |
- softens dramatically when knitted
- pulling from the center of ball became
very tangled
- much more evenly and tightly spun
than regular Kureyon
- the suggested needle size makes a
very loose fabric
|
|
|
|
| Name |
Maizy |
 |
| Brand |
Crystal
Palace |
Fiber
content |
82% corn fiber,
18%
elastic nylon |
| Yardage |
204 yds | 50 grams |
| Gauge |
7-8 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail
Price |
$6.25 |
| 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 |
- cushy
- sproingy
- squishy
- squeaky
|
| what's the one thing
you couldn't know about this yarn until
you knit with it? |
- that it feels a bit like silk
- it's very sticky on bamboo needles
- very dry hand to the fabric
- texture looks uneven in the ball
but finished piece looks smooth knit
up
|
|
|
|
| Name |
Panda Wool |
 |
| Brand |
Crystal
Palace |
Fiber
content |
51% bamboo, 39% wool,
10% nylon |
| Yardage |
186 yds | 50 grams |
| Gauge |
7-8 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail
Price |
$6.25 |
| 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 well
- please make it machine washable
|
|
|
| Name |
Purelife
organic cotton |
 |
| Brand |
Rowan |
Fiber
content |
100% naturally dyed organic
cotton |
| Yardage |
120 meters | 50 grams |
| Gauge |
5.5 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail
Price |
$9.95 |
| 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 |
- earthy
- soft
- anticotton
- perfect
|
| what's the one thing
you couldn't know about this yarn until
you knit with it? |
- subtle color variations -- this is
a semi-solid!
- it's superhero cotton, mild-mannered
in the skein
- it's stretchy
|
|
|
| Name |
Pure
Merino Nuance |
 |
| Brand |
Berroco |
Fiber
content |
100% extra fine merino |
| Yardage |
92 yards | 50
grams |
| Gauge |
5.5 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail
Price |
$8.50 |
| 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 |
- classic
- cushy
- squooshy
- soft
|
| what's the one
thing you couldn't know about this
yarn until you knit with it? |
- super cozy
but a bit thicker than I expected;
would make a great sweater
- how well it
knits up
- the slight
color variegation
|
|
|
|
| Name |
Sanctuary |
 |
| Brand |
Alchemy |
Fiber
content |
30% silk, 70% wool |
| Yardage |
125 yds | 50 grams |
| Gauge |
5 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail
Price |
$16.50 |
| 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 |
- soft
- non-irritating
- luscious
- sophisticated
|
| what's the one thing
you couldn't know about this yarn until
you knit with it? |
- pearly sheen
- nice elasticity
|
|
|
| Name |
Sheep
3 |
 |
| Brand |
Sheep
Shop Yarn Co |
Fiber
content |
30% silk, 70% wool |
| Yardage |
325 yds | 100 grams |
| Gauge |
6 - 6.5 stitches per
inch |
| Sugg. Retail
Price |
$23.00 |
| 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 |
- favorite
- irresistable
- bohemian
|
| what's the one thing
you couldn't know about this yarn until you
knit with it? |
- much springier when knit
- softer knit than in
the ball
- some variegation not
visible in the ball
- not splitty
- felt soft, drapey, wonderful
on skin
|
|
|
|
| Name |
Shepherd worsted |
 |
| Brand |
Lorna's
Laces |
Fiber
content |
100% superwash wool |
| Yardage |
225 yds | 100 grams |
| Gauge |
4.5 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail
Price |
$18.00 |
| 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 |
- quintessential
- comforting
- cuddly
|
| what's the one thing
you couldn't know about this yarn until
you knit with it? |
- got gauge easily
- no surprises; very appealing
- dense in a good way
- softer when knitted up
- very elastic
|
|
|
|
| Name |
Silk
cotton |
 |
| Brand |
Handmaiden |
Fiber
content |
50% silk, 50% cotton |
| Yardage |
225 meters | 100 grams |
| Gauge |
6 stitches per inch |
| Sugg. Retail
Price |
$32.00 |
| 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? |
- that it wouldn't pool
- i can knit an afghan with cotton,
can't i?
- it's very easy to knit with
|
|
|
|
© 2008
Knitty magazine. The information shown
in this column is mathematically averaged from
a standardized questionnaire completed by each
Yarn Roundtable participant. Yarn Roundtable
participants are not compensated for their participation
and each questionnaire is anonymous. The opinions
expressed on this page are those of the Yarn
Roundtable attendees and not of Knitty.com
Do you make yarn you'd like us to sample at
a future Knitty Yarn Roundtable night?
Visit this page for more
information. |
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