Yarn Notes Two

This only looks like the same post from a while ago.  I have added notes for Dena now that I have knit with most of the yarns.

Creekside Spun Umpqua Alpaca Blend
70% Alpaca 30% Silk
Sport 2 ply - 200 yards - 65 grams
This definitely felt softer than the lighter blend in the hank, but not as soft as the lighter silk blend when I was winding it into a ball or knitting with it.  It was delightful to work with and I would happily knit more.  It has a slight halo and is very soft and bouncy.

Creekside Spun Umpqua Alpaca Blend

70 % Alpaca 20 % Merino 10% Silk

Fingering 2 ply - 200 yards - 76 grams

Interestingly, the darker 70/30 blend felt softer in the hank, but the lighter 70/20/10 blend feels softer in the ball.  

This is loosely spun which makes long tail cast on a little more difficult as the tail unspins as you go.  Also, this is not as consistent as some mill spun yarns are - it is just a little thick and thin, not nearly as much as the Royal Fiber Spinnery crap that I used for that big shawl that I never got paid for knitting.  This is delightfully soft to knit with but it looks like the lace will show fine when blocked even though there is a bit of a halo.

I love both these yarns - a lot, a whole lot.

 Fantasy Fibers Inc.

80% Alpaca 20% Merino

Says Sport Weight, but definitely Fingering - 300 Yards - 105 grams

This yarn felt soft and seemed to have the tiniest bit of halo on the outside of the ball but I think that must have been from handling.  I started pulling from the center of the ball and it is much more like string inside.  It looks like string and sometimes feels like string - it is possible that it has spinning grease still in the yarn though it doesn't feel like it and most spineries don't produce greasy yarn anymore.   I am wondering if it is going to bloom when I wet it - I am betting that it will.  Also, it has a bit too much twist in the plying, it twists back on itself and kinks a fair amount but probably not enough to affect the knitting.

This one did bloom when soaked, but not nearly enough to actually make it a sport weight - I would still call it a fingering weight.  I didn't soak any of the unknit yarn, so I cannot quote wpi to be sure of size, but at the very least it is a light sport.

 Snow Peak Alpacas

85% Alpaca 15% Merino

Fingering - 200 yards - 55 grams

This yarn was noticeably less soft when I was winding it into a ball.  I didn't feel the difference in the hank.

I did not use this one in the shawl so can't say much about knitting it yet.  Any ideas?

  Snow Peak Alpacas

70% Alpaca 30% Merino

DK - 200 yards - 77 grams

 This is lovely and soft and very nice to knit with - not splitty, or lumpy bumpy or thick and thin. It did have a few spots where there were extra bits, but I think that's a function of the alpaca not being over processed like the folks at Royal Alpaca do.  I do think this was the thickest DK weight I've ever used in knitting and would probably call it a worsted.

 Snow Peak Alpacas

80% Alpaca 20% Merino

Probably DK (not on label) - 200 yards - 77 grams

I think this was softer than the brown but it was just as delightful to knit.  I would happily knit with either of these yarns anytime.  And think our alpaca would be lovely made into any of these.  Again, I think this is thick enough to be a worsted.

 This is the unknown 'bulky' yarn.  I will just knit it into a small square.

Still haven't knit this one . . . but it is lovely and soft and I really like it.

Teresa