Noro Kochoran

Kochoran
Noro Yarns
50% Wool, 20% Silk, 30% Angora
100 g = 176 yds
Gauge: 3.5 per inch on US needle size: 10
My color: 57
My source: Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN


Finally, a soft yarn from Noro! I stand corrected. They CAN make a soft yarn. Obviously, the colors are gorgeous. I am very bothered my angora when I'm knitted, but this did not bother me at all. I really love the colors in this particular hank. However, as usual with Noro, I found a knot right away, which throws off the color patterning.

Silk Strands
Kaalund Yarns
100% mulberry silk
50g = 108m/118yds
Gauge: 20sts x 22.5 rows to 4" on US size 8 needles
My color: Magnolia
My source: Knit Stop
Pattern Stitch: Japanese Feathers


The yarn is wonderful! One ball made this whole scarf. The colors are gorgeous and it is truly a pleasure to work with.

Noro Silk Garden Lite

Silk Garden Lite

Noro

45% Silk, 45% Mohair, 10% Lambswool

50 g = 122 yds

Gauge: 4.5sts/1" on 7-8 US needle

My Color: 2013

Noro does such beautiful colors. Why can't they just do it with soft, high quality yarns? This is a scratchy one. I wouldn't want it for a next-to-the-skin garment. And why is it scratchy? Kid mohair? Lambswool? Silk? What's to be scratchy? I don't get it. You'll love the colors, though. They are gorgeous.

Ty-Dy Socks

Ty-Dy Socks
Knit One Crochet Too
80% wool/20% nylon
100 gr = 436 yards
Gauge: 34 sts per 4" on US size 1 (2.25mm) needles
My color: 1689 BUTTER BLUE

Interesting yarn with fairly long color repeats. The blending of colors is slightly different than Noro, with little bits of the other colors bleeped here and there before you get a full run of the next color. I actually knit this sock on a size 2 because that's what I had available at the time, and the fabric is nice and taut. Check out their range of colors. There are some really pretty ones.

Camelino: One Hump or Two?

Camelino
Knit One Crochet Too
90% Merino wool/10% camel
50 g = 109 yds.
Gauge: 20 sts to 4 in. on US 7 needles
My Color: 737

A very pretty yarn with good stitch definition. There are purl stitches beside the cable, but they wanted to rib up with the stockinette beside them. Should have done the background in reverse stockinette. Not the fault of the yarn, the fault of the knitter. I liked it and would use it again.

Hippie Chic

Ty-Dy

Knit One Crochet Too

100% Cotton

Gauge: 20 sts/4 in. on US #7 needle

100 grams = 196 yards

Color: 891

Very interesting color changes. Of course, this would look quite different when knitted in much longer rows or in the round for a sweater. The clor changes would happen much sooner and the stripes would be much more narrow. I am not a fan of cotton, but this is an interesting yarn for those of you that do. It did not split while I was knitting it with Denise needles, and felt good in my hands. I am a loose knitter, so I would go down to a size 6 at most, rather than the size 7 suggested on the label, as this fabric is a bit too loose for my taste. Tighter knitters should have no such problems.

Malabrigo Sock Yarn

Malabrigo Sock Yarn

Malabrigo Yarns

100% Superwash Merino Wool

100g= 440 yds

Gauge: Approx. 8 sts/inch

Recommended Needle Size: 1-3 US

My Color: 850 Archangel

Needle size used in this sample: US 0

Pattern: Practice sock from Cat Bordhi's, "New Directions for Sock Knitters"

The colors are gorgeous! The yarn is very skinny, and could probably be used for lace knitting. The skeins are generous, with 440 yards, so you only need one for a pair of socks, and only one for a small shawl.

Silk Stralis

Silk-stralis

Kaaland Yarns

50% cultivated silk 50% wool
50g =120m/131yds
Gauge: 25 sts x 27.5 rows to/4" on US size 6 needles
My Color: Coral Trout

Gorgeous yarn. Wonderful to work with. I will definitely use this one again.

Malabrigo Silky Merino

Silky Merino

Malabrigo Yarns
50% Silk, 50% Baby Merino wool
50 g = 150 yds.
My color: Nocturnal 472
My source: Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN
Pattern: Palindrome Reversible Cable Scarf<

If you like Malabrigo and you like silk,then you'll love the mix of the two in this yarn. The colors are what you would expect from Malabrigo and a kettle dyed yarn. The silk gives the yarn a beautiful sheen. It's thick and sturdy enough to be a gorgeous hat, but thin enough to make a soft scarf.

Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool

Classic DK Wool
Jo Sharp
100% Pure Wool
50g = 107 yds
Gauge: 22.5 sts and 30 rows to 4 in. using US size 6 needle
My color: Smoke 339
My source: Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN
Pattern Stitch: Baudelaire, by Cookie A., Knitty.com Summer 2006

A sturdy yarn, this one comes in quite an array of colors, and would be great for color work. It is somewhat stiff in the ball, but may soften up after washing. Its crispness would make it great for cables.

You've Got Class

Class

Aslan Trends

55% Cotton, 45% Viscose

100 g = 240 yds.

Gauge: 5-6 sts/in. on US 4-7 needles

My Color: 947

My Source: Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN

From their website: This sport-weight cotton-viscose blend is delicate, fun and with a soft light sheen. Its a gorgeous extra light yarn perfect for that special spring summer project.

There is a very nice sheen to this yarn, and its drape would make it great for a summer or dressy but not hot shawl. It would be equally pretty in a sweater. There are many colors to choose from, and the tone on tone quality makes the yarn more interesting.

Mericash Express 2

Mericash Solid

Punta del Este Yarns

80 % merino wool, 20 % mongolian cashmere
50 grs. = 263 yrs.
Gauge: 24 sts /4"

My Color: 414

My Source: Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN

Pattern: Waves of Grain, Knitty.com Fall 2008

So soft, so gushy. I loved this yarn. It is heavier than laceweight, but makes beautiful lace with a little more body. As you can see from the swatch, it would make a beautiful scarf or shawl. Baby clothes would be equally beautiful, though they would need to be hand washed.

Give me a little Hempathy

Hempathy

Elsebeth Lavold

40% Hemp, 40% Cotton, 20% Modal
50 g=175 yd
Gauge: 22-23 sts /4" on US 4 needles

My color: 015

From the Elsebeth Lavold website: A lovely yarn, made up of 40% Hemp, 40% Cotton and 20% Modal. The hemp content provides for a great drape and a linen-like feel, the cotton adds softness, and the modal provides elasticity.

I agree with their description, but for this swatch, I held two strands together throughout, and thus, ended up with a thicker swatch. One strand would definitely be drapey and nice shawl. The website also gives links to several patterns using this yarn.

Mericash Express

MERICASH KALEIDOSCOPE
Punta del Este Yarns
80 % merino extra fine, 20 % mongolian cashmere
50 grs = 66 yds.
Gauge: 19 sts. to 4 in.

My Color : Kal01

My Source: Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN

I loved this yarn! It is very soft and natural feeling. It's very lightly woolen spun, so pilling may become a problem, but I'd LOVE to have a coat out of this. It will be very soft and very warm.

Hi Ho Taiyo

Taiyo

Noro Yarns

40% Cotton, 30% Silk, 15% Wool, 15% Nylon

100 g=220 yds

Gauge: 4-4.5 on US Needle size: 7-8

My Color: 4

My Source: Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN

My Pattern: Aria by Lynne Barr from her book, Knitting New Scarves

Another lovely blend of colors by Noro. The yarn is soft, but there were several little colorful stick-like things stuck in here and there. I just pulled them out as I came to them. This little scarf-ette swatch was fun to do. If you haven't seen Lynne Barr's book, I suggest you check it out. Very interesting.

Country Cashmere

Country Cashmere

Filatura di Crosa

70% Merino Wool, 30% Cashmere

50 g = 46 yds.

My Color: 302229

My Source: Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN

A nice, cushy yarn, woolen spun, so prone to pilling. Would make a nice warm hat, thick scarf, or heavy coat, though the pilling might be a problem with the coat, where there is more friction.

Elsebeth Lavold Angora

Angora
Elsebeth Lavold
60% Angora, 20% Wool, 20% Polyamide
50g = 91 yds.
Gauge: 17 sts /4" on US 7-8 needles
My Color: 026 Citric
My Source: Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN

I expected this yarn to be limpy and wimpy, as some angora yarns can be. However, it was surprisingly robust. It made a nice, thick swatch, and I can definitely see it in a very cozy cardigan, or a hat and gloves for a nice warm winter set.

Playing Possum

Kia Ora 8-ply

Rimu Blend

Zealana Yarns

Distributed in the US by Yarn Sisters

60% Merino Wool

40% New Zealand Possum

No gauge information is given on the label, but I used a US size 9 for this swatch, and got 3.5 sts per inch.

My color: Boysenberry

My source: Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN

From the Yarn Sisters website: "Like the deep, rich-colored timber, native to New Zealand, this sumptuous yarn is strong and hard-wearing. A blend of 60% fine New Zealand Merino and 40% New Zealand possum fiber with a silky, warm touch you’ll have to feel to believe! "

This is not the animal you find dead on the side of the road, or live hanging from a tree by its tail here in the US. No, this possum is a different animal, and its fiber is nearly as soft as cashmere, and quite durable. New Zealand is overrun with these animals, which are native to Australia, NOT to New Zealand. You can read here to learn about the eco problems they have caused in that country, but the upshot is, we now have a new fiber to knit with. It is quite lovely, soft, cushy, takes dyes well, and is a joy to knit with.

Rowan Tapestry

Tapestry

Rowan Yarns

70% wool and 30% soybean protein fiber

50 Grams=131 Yards

Gauge: 5.5sts per 1" #6 US needle

My Color: 172

My Source: Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN

One of my pet peeves: knots in balls of yarn. Within 5 rows of knitting 22 stitches, I encountered my first knot in this ball. Still, the colors are beautiful, the hand is soft and comfortable, and the sheen is lovely. If you don't like Edamame, you can get your soybeans in your yarn!

Koigu Mori

Mori

Koigu Yarns

50% merino and 50% silk

185 yards

Gauge: 7 stitches per inch on US 3

My Source: Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN

Another beautiful yarn from Koigu, but this time, there is silk involved! It's just like the KPPPM sock yarn, but is 50% silk. It feels great, knits up beautifully, and comes in a gorgeous array of colors.