Before trying any new-to-you fiber, work up a swatch. Is it nice to work with? Does your skin get along with the fibers? Is it a good match between yarn and pattern?

Now’s the time to change your plans. Good fiber? Maybe it needs a different pattern. Good design? Maybe you’re not using the right fiber. 

Getting these to match is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your project. The success depends on getting this right, so don’t short change this crucial step!

Idea – take a peek at their look books to see what they’re making in the yarn. It’s a great clue and it’s free!

Lanas 

Needles: US 7/4.5 mm sharp steel tips

Gauge: 18 sts/4″

Fiber: 100% Wool

This yarn reminds me a lot of Cascade 220 – both the hand and also the depth of color. Even though my yarn basically looked like a drab-green, it also had a heathered look with more of a gray. It’s a great, staple yarn.

Experience Level: Beginner. It’s an easy yarn to both knit and wear.

Artesia

Needles: US 10/6 mm sharp steel tips

Gauge: 13 sts/4″ but it was variable in my swatch because the yarn caught on itself and some stitches were small and some were big.

Fiber: 40% Alpaca, 40% Kid Mohair, 20% Nylon

This yarn needs simple stitches. It doesn’t show off complexities – increases or decreases or cables are better left to a simpler yarn.

Take care to make a loose BO. It’s easy for the yarn to catch on itself.

Between the alpaca and the mohair – 80% of the yarn – it’s likely quite warm and insulating. 

Experience Level: Advanced 

Mochi 

Needles: I used 2 needle sizes with this one! It just seemed like it could work in a variety of sizes.

Fiber Content: 37% Baby Alpaca, 35% Nylon, 26% Fine Merino Wool, 2% Other Fiber

5.5 mm/US 9 sharp tipped metal at a gauge of 15.5 sts/4″

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6.5 mm/US 10.5 sharp tipped metal at a gauge of 14 sts/4″

It seems like it’s cable plied (as in, braided) and that it’s been brushed as well. The alpaca likely helps soften the look too, and maybe the “other fiber” as well?

I had to take care not to split the yarn. The flecks of colors are a fun addition!

Experience Level: Advanced given the cable plying and the fuzz. 

Millefiori light luxe

Needles: 4.5 mm/US 7 sharp tipped metal

Gauge: 20 sts/4″

Fiber Content: 50% Acrylic, 43% Wool, 6% Nylon, 1% Other Fiber

The recommended needles are 3.75mm but I made a mistake and grabbed the wrong yarn. But, this shows that what’s on the ball band isn’t written in stone. It’s a suggestion and I quite like the swatch at this gauge. 

The yarn is a single but it has beautiful gradations. And the glitter/sparkle adds just a bit of glitz. I can see using this in a great cowl or shawl. I don’t think I’d use it in anything requiring hard wear because the glitter could come free and a single isn’t known to be a hard-wearing fiber. 

Experience Level: Intermediate because of the single.

Tiramisu

Needles: 4.5 mm/US 7 sharp tipped metal

Gauge: 20 sts/4″

Fiber Content: 38% Wool, 28% Acrylic, 23% Superkid Mohair, 11% Silk

The yarn is made up of 2 distinct strands – a single and a thin thread. Both seem to have a bit of a fuzz to them. 

The single’s colors change. The thread’s color doesn’t but it’s made up of a couple colors. Those colors are consistent throughout the skein. 

Given the 2 strands, I wouldn’t suggest this for a lace. It would be hard to knit and even hard to see with both of the strands making it hard to see things distinctly (This last part is an aesthetic decision and some of you might try it and love it! That’s why I always say swatch first)

Experience Level: Intermediate/Advanced. It’s easy to split the single or not to grab the thread. Because of both of these, I’d also recommend a duller needle. 

Aerial

Needles: 4 mm/US 6 sharp tipped metal

Gauge: 20 sts/4″ but it was hard to accurately measure gauge. Also, in my experience, you can change the gauge of a mohair/silk blend quite a bit during blocking and the amount of stretch.

Fiber Content: 65% Superkid Mohair, 35% Silk

It’s another lovely mohair silk blend! It would be great by itself or also paired with another yarn (see the pic from Berroco) to give it a bit of mohair-fuzziness. 

Have you tried making cables in a thin mohair like this? We’ll show you what that looks like in an upcoming blog article – subscribe so you don’t miss it!

Difficulty Level: Advanced. The lightness (as in weight) can make it harder for a newer knitter to work with it.