What can be better, once I'm on a crochet roll, than breaking into my stash and pulling out another gorgeous yarn by Malabrigo? Silky Merino, a 50-50 merino and silk blend, will delight every yarn enthusiast. I chose the stunning colorway Mares, which I think goes great with the simple and timeless shell stitch I picked for this quick project.
I used two 50-gr hanks with a little left over (about 75gr total) and a 3mm hook to make a pair of fingerless mitts/handwarmers. I wanted a pair that would leave the fingers free for typing on chilly mornings when my hands crave a little extra warmth.
As usual, I didn't work off a pattern, but you can easily make these mitts if you know how to make stretchy ribbing and shell stitch. Start with the ribbing, working a rectangle in single crochet in the back loop only. Close the edges when the piece wraps comfortably around your wrist. Crochet shells into the top; I made 7, but you can fit in more or fewer according to the size of your hand. Work your way up. Make a thumb hole by working a chain instead of a shell in one row. Keep working up until you reach the desired length.
I LOVED working with Silky Merino. It's the perfect answer to "Why would people still choose single-ply yarns when plied ones are so much more durable and less prone to pilling?" Well, this one is simple: because it's irresistibly gorgeous.
Even when my head knows that a 3-ply or 4-ply yarn is the more practical choice, my heart still tugs in the direction of lofty, fluffy, squishy single-plies. However, Silky Merino is, in my opinion, sturdier than the average single-ply yarn thanks to its high silk content. Silk is an amazing fiber, both strong and soft - and, of course, it adds a superb luster.
The result is a stunning yarn: buttery soft, both in the hank and when it works up, warm, with a luscious shine that compliments its vivid colors beautifully. It's a rather light DK, with 150 yards/137m per a 50-gr hank, or 300 yards per 100 grams.
As you'd expect from premium yarn with 50% silk, Silky Merino is pricey. A sweater made with this yarn, while dreamy to the touch, would be outrageously expensive. But if you're on a budget, two hanks should be plenty for a hat, a cowl, a pair of mitts or gloves, or a scarf. Garments worked with Silky Merino feel absolutely delightful against the skin and are 100% non-irritating. Of course, care would involve hand-wash only.
A word of caution: before you start working with this yarn, make sure you've made up your mind about the stitch and pattern. I wasn't sure what stitch I wanted to use, so I had to rip a few rows out, and it was an absolute pain. Since it's a single-ply, the micro-fibers of its fine halo stick against each when you're frogging, and the strand can break, which is a pity when you're working with such expensive yarn.
Final verdict: This might be my favorite yarn by Malabrigo so far! Dreamy softness, luster, texture, and stitch definition.
Don't miss out on my other Malabrigo yarn reviews: Worsted, Rios, Silkpaca, Mora, and Sock.
No comments:
Post a Comment