| Cestari Fine Merino |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
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Brand: Cestari Fine Merino
The Look Cestari Fine Merino is a worsted yarn with a traditional handspun look. It was wound from the skein into a springy ball with no knots or breaks. The dye was well saturated and even. Cestari is not harshly processed, and some of the lanolin remains in the yarn, giving it a faint sheepy scent. The lanolin issue tends to split knitters: some dislike the smell while others prize it for bringing them closer to the sheep. Despite the gentle processing, there were no plant fibers in the yarn. It was well carded and clean.
The Feel As you might expect with a merino yarn, Cestari’s Fine Merino is very soft and supple. Merino wool, prized for its fine fibers, tight crimp and long staple, spins into soft bouncy yarn, and Fine Merino is just that. It rates an 8 on the softness scale.
The Patterns Cestari Farms provides a selection of patterns for classic sweaters, cardigans and ponchos. At a gauge of 4.5 to 5 stitches per inch, Cestari can be substituted for any medium weight yarn, giving the knitter an almost unlimited choice of patterns.
Color Range Cestari Fine Merino is available in 30 colors, including natural tones. You will find bright cheerful colors perfect for kids knits, mittens, hats, and sweaters.
Working It
What I’d Like to Make with It Because of the resilience and warmth of this yarn, it is ideal for accessories like hats and mittens or jackets and outer garments. The soft worsted spin on this yarn creates a handspun-like fabric, well suited for casual unstructured garments, textured knits, and garter stitch. This rustic yarn is ideal for garments that will see outdoor wear or for children’s rugged wear.
Knitting Outside the Box Consider using this yarn for felting projects, afghans and blankets. With over 30 colors to choose from, this yarn could fill many needs.
Blocking It Dry flat. The sample swatch blocked back into shape with little or no need for steam.
Washing It Hand wash, cool. The space dyed yarn did bleed in the bath, but did not fade. A little bleeding is typical of space dyed yarns as they give up some of the extra dyes in the bath. I recommend testing for colorfastness, especially if you are knitting stripes or color pattern. The sheep smell intensified when the yarn was wet, but disappeared completely after it dried.
Wearability This yarn is soft but strong, ideal for durable garments that will see wear and abrasion. I would not expect this yarn to pill excessively, and would not hesitate to use Fine Merino for mittens or a jacket.
Overall Recommendation This lovely yarn does bring the knitter close to the sheep. If you are a knitter who prefers natural, unprocessed or gently processed yarns, you will favor Fine Merino for its high quality staple and lanolin content. If, on the other hand, you prefer deluxe yarns, you may not be able to forgive this yarn for its organic qualities. I enjoyed working with Cestari Fine Merino and I think anyone who appreciates a handspun look with fibers that are closer to nature should give it a try. I rate it an “8”.
To Purchase This yarn may be purchased directly from the Cestari web site or from one of their local retailers.
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Yarn Name: Cestari Worsted
The yarn knits to a relaxed gauge of 4.5 stitches per inch and can be knit tighter for mittens or hats. There is no scratchiness to this yarn with its high lanolin content. Some knitters feel their hands soften after knitting with gently scoured yarns. This worsted spun yarn yields good stitch definition, good for cables or textured knits. The knit fabric is scrunchy, resilient, and lofty. Garments knit with Cestari Fine Merino are sure to be warm.
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