Yarn Reviews

We look at some of our favourite yarns available this spring

Easyknits
100% Blue Faced Leicester sock yarn

100g/330yds.

The yarn, Blue Faced Leicester is, as always, a joy to knit. The stitches are mathematically perfect with stunning definition. But there are of course many BFL sock yarns on the market, so what makes this one special? The answer, Jon's dyeing and colour combining. In the hank they are already woollen works of art, but when knitted up the subtleties in his dyeing and colour choices really become apparent.

It really is a case of not whether to buy but which to buy.

Our personal favourites are

This is why Easyknits has received a knitonthenet award for his yarn.

Easyknit yarns can be bought direct from Jon at www.easyknits.co.uk or from www.greatbritishyarns.co.uk or www.iknitlondon.org.uk

Berroco Seduce 47% rayon, 25% linen, 17% silk, 11% nylon

40g skein 100yds/92m
Best knitted on 4.5mm (US #7) needle with a gauge of 20sts x 28 rows to 10cm (4 inches)

This is a most unusual, most non-traditional yarn. It is spun in a very different way, with an almost felted strand woven through it.

It has very little natural stretch and initially I was worried about maintaining an even tension. However, despite it being a little slippy on the needle, once I got knitting the stocking stitch fabric created was incredibly even.

The real beauty of this yarn is when you handle it. The silk and linen combined in the fibre give it a very tactile, weightless and sensuous feel. The name 'Seduce' is extremely apt. Over a larger area of knitting the drape of the fabric would be exceptional.

In addition to all this there are a selection of designs by none other than Norah Gaughan to support the yarn.

More information is available at www.berroco.com

knitshop.co.uk Cotton/Linen yarn 70% cotton, 30% linen

100g/220m
Suggested needle size 3.5mm - 4.5mm (US #5 - #7)

knitshop.co.uk, owned by the lovely Julieta, have a substantial range of yarns and this cotton / linen mix is one of their new editions for summer.

The yarn knits surprisingly smoothly and neatly for a "nubbly" yarn offering an extremely attractive fabric. The linen content in the yarn also prevents the overall "feel" of the fabric being too heavy and gives the cotton an added softness and durability. I think this yarn will wash in over time very nicely.

The yarn is available in a range of colours but this particular shade S0552 is my favourite.

The other incredibly fact about this yarn is that it retails at only £3.88 for a 100gm hank.

This yarn and many others, including the 100% silk used in barbarella are available from www.knitshop.co.uk

Lanaknits Cashmere Canapa 60% cotton, 30% cashmere, 10% hemp DK weight

50g/110m/120yds
Suggested needle size 3.75mm (US #5). 22sts to 10cm (4 inches)

This yarn is a beautiful blend of cashmere, hemp and cotton, giving you the best of all three yarns. The cashmere gives a halo to and softens the cotton and the hemp, which in turn adds strength and durability.

The yarn was a delight to knit with, much softer than you would expect with lots of natural stretch. The fabric it created draped beautifully and had a wonderfully neat stocking stitch finish. What was intriguing that you still felt that you had produced a hemp based fabric; the softness and the halo just make the yarn even better. It really is a special yarn, and for those of you who suffer a little from a tickly nose when knitting with hemp, this yarn seems to answer all your prayers.

Lana's yarns are now available in the UK as well as Canada, USA and International
To find out more go to www.lanaknits.com

We will be featuring more of Lana's yarns in future issues - look out for an exclusive pattern in our summer issue.