Webs gave us a look at several of the Valley Yarns and Tahki Spring and Summer yarns!
As with all swatches, ours DO NOT have garter stitch edges. Read more here about that and why your swatches should NEVER have garter stitch edges.
And, as with all our reviews, I’ve really tried to give you good information – things that you might think of if you had it in your hands at a LYS. I hope it’s helpful!
Blocking Method
All the swatches were steam-blocked. I believe that cotton is better when it’s steamed because it doesn’t get drenched in water and take umpteen days to dry (who wants that?). The FO can also get stretched out when wet blocked.
I planned to do both a pre- and post-block gauge, but the steam blocking didn’t change the gauge. It *did* flatten the edges a bit and they didn’t curl under as much. But that was the only change that they really got.
A note about experience level and fiber types
Most plant-based fibers ARE cooler than an animal-based fiber (such as wool). But, plant-based fibers are also less stretchy than their animal-based counterparts. It’s this inherent lack of stretch that makes me advise that a beginner would PROBABLY get frustrated when knitting the row after the cast on row. Given this, I wouldn’t recommend using any plant-based fiber if it was being used by a beginner and the cast on row had A LOT of stitches. And the same goes for the bind off. Given that the fiber has less stretch, it’s easier for the bind off to feel a bit tighter and this is something that newer knitters often do.
Valley Yarns Southwick
52% Pima Cotton, 48% Bamboo Viscose
gauge: 4.75 sts and 5.5 rows per inch
The yarn has multiple plies (around 8 – it’s hard for me to pull them apart fully). If I was making a larger piece, I would have switched to a blunter tipped needle. Still metal, but not as sharp. A few times I did split the yarn and only noticed it a few rows later. I laddered down and fixed it so it’s not in the swatch.
Given that it’s only about half cotton, the yarn felt like it had a bit of give. Not like a wool, but also not as ungiving as a cotton-only yarn.
The yarn doesn’t have a sheen to it. Probably because it’s not mercerized and it’s also a blend.
The yarn and dyeing is consistent and even. I suspect that you wouldn’t notice the changing of balls in the same dye lot.
Swatch: CO 19, 4 rows garter, 16 rows St st, 4 rows garter
Size 4.5 mm/US 7 Metal with Sharp Tips
Even though I typically knit at the ball band gauge with that same size needle, my gauge was a bit bigger than what’s stated. If I were to do it again, I’d use a needle one size smaller.
Experience of Knitter
Intermediate. Given the ease of my splitting stitches, I don’t think this would be good for a beginner.
Valley Yarns Hawley
50% Cotton, 30% Silk, 20% Nylon
gauge: 5 stitches and 7 rows per inch
This yarn looks and feels a lot more like a cotton yarn. It’s nubbier in comparison to the Southwick above, and even though they recommend it worked on a needle one size smaller, it feels as thick or maybe even a bit thicker. The yarn also seems sturdier than the Southwick.
The yarn is very not-sheeny and has tiny bits of yarn hanging off the main strand (in that way a lot of cotton yarns can have – know what I mean?). The yarn is sticky and it’s a bit harder to pull more yarn out of the center of the ball. It’s not hard – just harder than, say, the quick tug that I needed to do with the Southwick.
Swatch: CO 19, 4 rows garter, 16 rows St st, 4 rows garter
Size 4 mm/US 6 Metal with Sharp Tips
Experience of Knitter
Beginner. It’s easy to knit and I think it would make up into a nice piece. Due to its stickiness, it’s harder to split stitches (a common problem when someone is starting out).
Tahki Coronado
90% Cotton, 10% Silk
gauge: 5.5 stitches and 7.25 rows per inch
This is another smooth yarn. It’s clear that there’s more cotton in this yarn versus the Southwick.
It does drape very nicely though – especially for a yarn that’s mostly cotton! I suspect it’s both the 10% silk and the spinning that give it the supple feel.
Even though there’s a lot of cotton in it, it knits like more of a blend. I suspect it would halo though and get that haze that you often get with an item made with a lot of cotton.
Having said that, I do think it’s a pretty yarn and I think it would work up well in a lacier stitch for more of an openwork look. You could even use multiple colors!
Swatch: CO 19, 4 rows garter, 16 rows St st, 4 rows garter
Size 4 mm/US 6 Metal with Sharp Tips
Experience of Knitter
Intermediate. While the knitting itself is an easy task, the fact that it’s 90% cotton makes it a bigger challenge to care for and launder.
Tahki Tiburon
50% Organic Cotton, 50% Lycocell
gauge: 5 stitches and 6.5 rows per inch
This is a smooth yarn with many plies. Given its smoothness, the plies aren’t bound together and I can see a newer crafter splitting the yarn. But, for a more-experienced crafter, it’s a beautiful option. A blunter needle would also help for a less-experienced crafter.
Swatch: CO 19, 4 rows garter, 16 rows St st, 4 rows garter
Size 4 mm/US 6 Metal with Sharp Tips
Experience of Knitter
Intermediate. A bit of extra care needs to be taken not to split the yarn. Even though I’m a very experienced knitter, I did have it split once in the cast on row.
Valley Yarns Goshen
48% Peruvian Cotton, 46% Modal, 6% Silk
gauge: 4.5 stitches and 5 rows per inch
This is a nice yarn! Good cotton but with other fibers to help it not be “too” cottony (know what I mean?)
The addition of the modal and silk give it a nice hand and drape that you don’t see in a 100% cotton.
Swatch: CO 19, 4 rows garter, 16 rows St st, 4 rows garter
Size 5.5 mm/US 9 Metal with Sharp Tips (a US 8 is recommended but I couldn’t find one – and I have a strong hatred for interchangeables with their tips that always seem to unscrew at the WORST time). Btw I did knit it to come out at gauge. I don’t think this yarn naturally would result in this gauge when on this size needles.
Experience of Knitter
beginner. It was easy to knit and made a nice swatch.
Valley Yarns Granville
90% Pima Cotton, 10% Merino Wool
gauge: 5.5 stitches and 7.5 rows per inch
I’m amazed at what just 10% wool can do to a yarn! I’m not a person who gets their hands crampy when working with wool, so I can’t tell you how this one holds up.
But, I can tell you that the yarn feels nicer. And even just looking at the ball, I’d be tricked into thinking it had more – a lot more – than just 10% merino. I’m curious if people allergic to wool would feel that this yarn is OK.
The yarn knit easily and didn’t split – even with my sharp needles. That 10% wool really seems to be more than pulling its weight.
The label does say to lay flat to dry. But true to form, I tried it anyway and (this is for next week’s post!).
This was by far the most enjoyable knitting experience out of the bunch. It solidified for me that most 100% cottons are just not for me.
Swatch: CO 19, 4 rows garter, 16 rows St st, 4 rows garter
Size 3.75 mm/US 5 Metal with Sharp Tips
Experience of Knitter
Beginner. It was easy to knit and looked nice. If you plan to dry it, you should DEFINITELY plan for it while knitting it.
Valley Yarns Montague
100% Organic Cotton
gauge: 4 stitches and 5 rows per inch
This is such a squishy yarn! It’s mostly unspun but it has the binder wound around it. Even the cast on row is extra pretty!
Although I love drying cotton yarns, there’s NO WAY I would dry this yarn! And this also means that the FO should be cared for and if it’s gifted, please make sure the receiver knows and is willing to care for it properly.
If not, give them something made from a different yarn. Because, while this one is beautiful, beauty comes with some strings.
Swatch: CO 19, 4 rows garter, 16 rows St st, 4 rows garter
Size 4.5 mm/US 7 Metal with Sharp Tips
Valley Yarns LEVERETT
70% Pima Cotton, 30% Linen
gauge: 5 stitches and 6.5 rows per inch
This yarn behaves like a plant-based yarn. It has less-stretch and less-sheen.
But, unlike a 100% Linen yarn, the cotton softens the yarn and it doesn’t have that rope feeling that a 100% Linen often has. If you want to have your FO have linen in it, this is a great option!
Swatch: CO 19, 4 rows garter, 16 rows St st, 4 rows garter
Size 3.75 mm/US 5 Metal with Sharp Tips
Experience of Knitter
Intermediate. The needle would get caught in the binder, making the experience with this gorgeous yarn VERY frustrating.
End of the Review
Webs sent us 8 – EIGHT! – yarns for review. I hope it’s been helpful and that our comments gave you a few things to think about and consider. Let us know what you think! We have several more lined up, so it’d be great to hear what your thoughts and comments.
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