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!

Tahki Stacey Charles Taylor

Needle: 4.5mm/7 metal sharp tips 

Gauge: 18 sts/4″

Fiber Content: 45% Wool, 30% Viscose, 25% Cashmere

It’s a chainette yarn but a bit easier to knit. It doesn’t split as easily given its brushed texture

I used a 4.5mm needle as suggested on the ball band, but I think I’d try a needle one size higher. 

Experience Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Sesia Hello Dolly

Needle: 5.5mm/US 9 metal sharp tips

Gauge: 17 sts/4″

Fiber Content: 50% Wool, 32% Viscose, 13% Kid Mohair, 5% Polyamide

I’d try a blunter tip as a way to avoid splitting the yarn. I actually did split it once even though I was working to avoid it. 

The mohair gives a good amount of hairiness. It’s a shiny yarn – I think because of the viscose and polyamide. 

The yarn is also lightly spun and it’s looser than average. I’d say that your project pairing should embrace this and even use that. I’d love to see it in a simpler design and not a complex lace. I think it could be easier to create pulls and that’s hard to fix nicely in lace. 

The yarn does seem to be strong and I don’t think it’s fragile like we see with a lot of singles. 

Experience Level: Advanced. Between the loose spin and the hairs from the mohair, it would be easy for people to get lost and knit in the wrong place. 

Tahki Whistler

Needles: 3.75mm/US 5 sharp tipped metal

Gauge: 20 sts/4″

Fiber Content: 80% Wool, 20% Kid Mohair

The yarn works up quite lovely and has a nice sproing. The mohair does make it stretch a bit less, but it’s still quite good. 

The two plies of yarn are twisted on each other and it feels quite balanced. The dyeing seems saturated and even. 

Given just the 2 plies, I don’t think it’s a good choice for baby or child projects. I suspect that agitation would result in a different-looking area. 

Having said that, I think it’s a lovely option for an adult. 

Experience Level: Intermediate because of the needle size. It knits up easily. 

Valley Yarns Brodie

Needles: 4.5mm/US 7 sharp tipped metal

Gauge: 20 sts/4″

Fiber Content: 95% Cashmere, 5% Extrafine Merino Wool

What a lovely yarn! It’s clear that there’s a whole lot of cashmere in this yarn.

It works up easily and makes a beautiful swatch.

It comes in a large variety of mature colors.

We actually got 2 colors of Brodie, so look for our blog article on that very soon – subscribe so you don’t miss it!

Experience Level: I hesitate to say it, but it knits up easily enough to be for a Beginner. However, I wouldn’t recommend such a splurge fiber for a beginner. Suffice it to say, it knits up quite beautifully.