In what felt like perfect timing, the last 'secret' yarn I'd been keeping quiet about was launched just in time for my recent visit to Scheepjes* and coincidentally, it is great for travel knitting. Let me explain.
Following Spirit and Secret Garden, Stardust is the latest 'premium blend' yarn to be released by the Dutch yarn company. Any one of the five variegated shades can make a beautiful project on its own or can be combined with one (or more) of nine solid colourways. The composition is designed to be soft and gentle against the skin, with just a little fluff and a subtle sparkle. It is comprised of 11% mohair, 11% wool, 75% acrylic, and 3% polyester metallic. Each colour is named after a different star constellation, and as a teal lover, this one is a personal favourite...
Stardust in Sagittarius, colour 662 |
One of the things that Scheepjes do really well is to balance luxury and practicality in their 'white label' yarns which are all lovely to work with, contain luxe fibres, and are marketed at very competitive prices (see below for stockist and pricing info). This one is no exception - it feels great thanks to the soft acrylic and hint of mohair used in the blend. If you're reticent about using acrylic blends, this might be the one to change your mind, especially when you see the other colours in the range.
Stardust should be hand washed at 30℃, worth remembering if you like to throw things in the machine, or are gifting to someone who may not be used to caring for delicate fabrics.
If you're a Scheepjes aficionado it's also worth mentioning that Stardust doesn't have the 'easy start' tab common to the other white label yarns. I strongly suspect this is to keep the price as competitive as possible - although I'm someone who is prepared to pay a bit extra for added convenience, and would prefer to have the tab on ALL yarns - I may have mentioned this a few times on my most recent visit ;)
Stardust comes in generous 100g / 540m balls which means there is enough to knit a shawl from just the one ball - and that's exactly what I'm doing. In preparation for my long return journey by train and plane I cast on a really simple triangle shawl, changing the stitch when the colours change. I love projects where the yarn does all the work and I can relax without following a pattern, so this was perfect for travelling - no stress, no changing yarns, no pattern to follow - just lots of lovely relaxing knitting.
Using 3.5mm needles, it's producing a soft tactile fabric with a slight glimmer when the light hits. I'm thinking of this shawl as a great big swatch. The stripes in the multi-coloured balls alternate between a semi-solid long repeat, and a multi-coloured shorter repeat which makes for an interesting effect which I will be able to show you when I've knit a bit more.
I brought a multi-colour and solid back with me from the Netherlands and am already planning some designs - there's no better way to get to know a yarn than to knit up an entire ball and listen to all the things it would like to become. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, you can order Stardust from selected Scheepjes stockists (see below for direct affillaite links), but be quick - I predict these are going to be snapped up in no time!
I brought a multi-colour and solid back with me from the Netherlands and am already planning some designs - there's no better way to get to know a yarn than to knit up an entire ball and listen to all the things it would like to become. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, you can order Stardust from selected Scheepjes stockists (see below for direct affillaite links), but be quick - I predict these are going to be snapped up in no time!
- Order now for £5.80 per 100g at Deramores UK / US $6.59 at Deramores US / AU $8.19 Deramores AU.
- Also available at Wool Warehouse and LoveKnitting US .
- Also available at Wool Warehouse and LoveKnitting US .
*This sample was supplied by Scheepjes for review purposes - all opinions are my own. Stockist affiliate links are included - thank you for using them and supporting Crafts from the Cwtch.
I love the 'change stitch when the colour changes' idea and have a few things in my stash that might be suitable. Genius!
ReplyDeleteOh good! Happy to have inspired! :)
DeleteSo pretty. And hard to resist! x
ReplyDeleteIt looks so squeezable!
ReplyDelete