We were so fortunate to review the new Berroco yarns for Fall 2019. We, no surprise, really liked them! Read on for lots of details.
Coco
This is a nice yarn and the dyeing is exquisite!
77 yards [70 meters]/100 grams
Super Bulky weight
100% Superwash Merino
Color #4912; available in a variety of dappled colorways as well as one that’s just blues
Needles
I used a 10mm (US 15) set of Addi Turbos. While my preferred needles have sharper points, I don’t feel that the sharper points would be a good match for the Coco. I believe the yarn would split too much
About the Yarn
As I mentioned above, the dyeing is just awesome. The colors in this ball range from subdued to deeply-saturated to almost-black purple.
The purl-side looked as intriguing as the knit-side, and I’d have a difficult time choosing which side was the public side.
My swatch had a lot of stretch in it and it felt pretty soft. No doubt that the softness is due to its 100% Merino content.
Who’s This For
While it’s a Super-Bulky – and those heavier weights are often used for people who are just learning to knit – I’d advise them against using this yarn.
As you can see, Coco is really a roving with a thin thread wrapped around it. Even though I have a few decades of knitting experience under my belt, I still had to pay attention in order to avoid splitting the yarn. And even with that, I occasionally found myself splitting it.
Rating
Advanced Knitters
Gorgeous and rich with a beautiful hand. Just not for beginners.
Nomad
A fun boucle yarn to add a bit of subtle pizzazz to your wardrobe! It’s light-feeling and squishy-warm.
77 yards [70 meters]/50 grams
72% Extrafine Merino, 28% Camel
Bulky Weight
Color #9107; it’s available in several natural shades
Needles
6.5 mm (US 10½) Chiaogoo steel tips.
About the Yarn
Although it’s a Bulky weight, the boucle makes it loftier and lighter for that weight.
Having said this, a boucle will also make things appear larger than in a more traditional yarn of the same weight.
Who’s This For
Similar to the Coco above, the Nomad isn’t for a beginner. Even though it’s a Bulky weight, the boucle will make it harder to see individual stitches and it will also be harder to rip sections out.
Rating
Intermediate. The boucle keeps it from being a beginning yarn. There’s just too much texture there to make it easy to knit, and the boucle will also make it more challenging to rip and re-knit.
So, while the boucle could hide a less-than-perfectly even texture, I still wouldn’t recommend this one when just starting out.
Pirouette
This is another boucle yarn, but this one has an almost brushed look to it. There’s no binder, like we saw in both Coco and Nomad. Instead, it’s wound around a center core.
140 yards [128 meters]/50 grams
41% Baby Alpaca, 41% Merino Wool, 18% Nylon
Bulky Weight – although the recommended needles are for more of a Worsted Weight
Color #2312; available in a variety of adult-looking colors
Needles
5mm (US 8) Chiaogoo Steel Tips
About the Yarn
This yarn has a lot of subtle differences in the color. It’s very pretty. And like most boucles, it’s lighter-feeling than you’d expect for the weight of yarn.
Who’s This For
Similar to our two yarns above, I’d say this is not for a beginner either.
Rating
Intermediate
Sesame
I swatched this after the three boucles above. Given this, Sesame was a wonderful break from three yarns that took a bit more care for me to knit.
230 yards (210 meters)/100 grams
43% Wool, 39% Acrylic, 9% Cotton, 9% Nylon
Worsted Weight
Color #7411; available in a variety of long stripes plus 2 that are just blues
Needles
5 mm (US 8) Chiaogoo Steel Tips
About the Yarn
The mix of fibers makes for a gorgeous and well-behaved yarn.
The long color changes keep it interesting but still appropriate for an adult.
Given the color changes, I personally wouldn’t use it for cables or lace. That’s an aesthetic decision though.
And given the colors in both this and Coco, someone at Berroco must have a thing for blues. All the blue options are beautiful and well-done, but it was funny to see it as the only single-color in both of these yarns.
Who’s This For
I think anyone could work with this yarn. It’s a nice, well-balanced, even, plied Worsted Weight yarn.
Rating
Beginner
Arno
A gorgeous chainette yarn that almost seems like it has a brushed look to it.
159 yards [145 meters]/50 grams
72% Extrafine Merino, 28% Camel
DK Weight
Color #9107; offered in a sophisticated palette of colors
Needles
3.75 mm (US 5) Chiaogoo Steel Tips
About the Yarn
The yarn stays together nicely and is quite well-behaved. The chainette is stuffed with a pillowy fluff that’s a slightly different color from the chainette, so it gives the yarn a bit of subtle depth.
The brushed look also gives the yarn a bit of a softer appearance (kinda like the way they’d focus a little softer on an older actor), and at first I thought it was a single.
Who’s This For
Given the chainette structure, I can see a newer knitter’s needles getting caught in the yarn. So, while the swatch appears rather standard, I’d say that a new knitter might be better working with a more typically plied yarn.
Rating
Intermediate
Providence
This is a gorgeous tweed that combines merino, alpaca and silk!
191 yards [175 meters]/50 grams
65% Merino Wool, 20% Baby Alpaca, 15% Silk
DK Weight
Color #1106; available in a range of both lights and darks
Needles
3.75 mm (US 5) Chiaogoo Steel Tips
About the Yarn
This is a gorgeous tweed yarn. The flecks (mine had predominately white, but also both a blue and an off-red) offset the base color beautifully.
The yarn combines the stretch of merino, the luxury of alpaca and the strength of silk.
You owe it to yourself to try this out!
Who’s This For
While I’d love to say that this is for everyone (because, really, everyone deserves this beauty in their stash), the yarn would likely be more challenging for a beginner to knit because of the tweedy flecks, looser-spin and rustic joins.
Rating
Intermediate
Conclusion
In closing, I’m VERY impressed with the new Berroco line! The unusual combinations of fibers, the dyeing, the variety of types of yarns – they all add up to a wonderful set of new yarns.
If your LYS carries Berroco, do yourself a favor and check them out. And if not, let them know! These are some great, fun additions to an already-full line of yarns.
Thank you for your recommendations regarding drawbacks for new knitters. Sometimes new knitters and crocheters simply don’t know what to to look for in a yarn. Repeatedly, I’ve seen forums and blogs advise to knit with the best yarn we can afford (that’s putting it nicely). Most designers will recommend a particular yarn, but it’s not always available and choosing a substitute is not always obvious. (Most local yarn shops will be able to help you with that.)
I’ve been knitting a while now, so the details about color change length, the before/after blocking photos, color intensity, etc. were really helpful. I can get overwhelmed by the variety of choices when I get to the yarn shop (what a lovely dilemma to have). I truly appreciate the candid reviews!
I’m so glad you appreciated it! Thanks so much for your input 🙂