| Gedifra Samina |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
|
Yarn Name: Samina
The Look Samina, manufactured in Italy for Gedifra (the German arm of Coats), glistens and shines with metallic beauty. This new yarn is bound to be a big hit, and not just for evening wear. This glamorous metallic lamé is smooth and soft, with good body and resiliency. It shines like silk or rayon but feels like a soft merino. Samina is stunning yarn that will add luxury and glitz to your knitting.
The Feel Don’t let its metallic sheen let you think Samina is stiff and scratchy; it is soothingly smooth, soft and supple. Samina rates an “8” on the softness scale. The silky nylon wrap over soft wool in this soft, strong and elastic yarn knits into a crunchy fabric that you’ll want to squeeze.
The Patterns The manufacturer has developed fabulous fashions that double for daytime and evening wear. Samina’s glossy surface will work well with Fall fabrics, equally effective with silk skirts, satin blouses or sateen pants. Samina is used to good effect in designs that emphasize texture, as in a sensational ribbed and flounced wrap cardigan. Other patterns in the line feature updated classics like the lacy stitch cardigan with sleeves ribbed to the elbow. At a versatile 21 stitches per 4 inches, you can substitute Samina in a wide range of patterns that call for worsted weight yarn.
Color Range Samina is available in eight luminous metallic shades to brighten up any outfit. You will find neutrals in natural, silver, anthracite (charcoal) and black plus copper, orange, red-brown, and verdigris. The well-rendered dyes approximate naturally occurring metals and patinas, and are very pleasing to the eye.
Working It
What I’d Like to Make with It Cardigans and pullovers in Samina are versatile enough to be worn to the office or to the theater. Knit a long openwork scarf of Samina to accessorize a plain silk blouse. If you are tired of shawls, knit a handsome cardigan or jacket in Samina to spice up your wardrobe. You might utilize Samina’s faceted glimmer to contrast with other fibers like mohair or alpaca, or combine it with ribbon or novelty yarns for even more texture.
Knitting Outside the Box Samina's metallic shine make it appropriate for just about anything except baby gear, so emphasize the metallic quality by knitting accessories like a headband, narrow scarf, or even a bracelet. Outside of chainmaille, Samina doesn’t seem practical for menswear. Although, you may change your mind about chainmaille after watching the dashing knights in the new TV series, Merlin.
Blocking It Lay flat to dry and do not use heat.
Washing It Hand wash cool. Do not dry clean. Samina performed well with a mild bath and not shrink or stretch. It retained the metallic sheen even after washing.
Wearability You will need to exercise care not to snag the loosely woven nylon fiber in Samina. Most pulls can be worked back into the fabric, but I noticed it snagged even on rough cuticles. It may not be appropriate for very rugged outdoor garments, but is perfectly suitable for most average wear.
Overall Recommendation Samina is definitely worth a try, especially if you like textured knits and are looking for an alternative to shawls for evening wear. Whether you use Samina for an evening handbag, glittery accessories, or a stunning cardigan, you will be sure to be noticed and admired. Samina rates an “8.” Where to buy Gadifra Samina yarn: Yarnmarket.com
|
Did you enjoy this feature? Make sure you never miss an issue of Knitch Magazine. To receive alerts for upcoming issues:
