Knitch Magazine

Yarn Name:

Brand: PolarKnit
Manufacturer: PolarKnit
Made In: Canada
Date Released: Fall 2009
Yardage: 38 yds.
Weight: 200 grams
Yarn Weight: Ultra Bulky
Fiber Content: 100% polyester fleece (polartec®)
Texture: Fabric strips (ribbon)
Gauge (st./4 in.): 4 sts / 4 inches
Needle Size(s): US 35-50 (19-25mm)
Availability: Currently available
MSRP:
Care: Machine wash warm, machine dry.

It had to come to the world of knitting. Polar fleece, the lightweight synthetic wool fabric that revolutionized winter wear, is now available in yarn for hand knitting. PolarKnit™ yarns were created for knitting and crochet and are available in three weights: Worsted, Chunky and Mega. PolarKnit™ Mega is ideal for big stitch knitting (kennel pads, seat cushions, rugs). Knitters who work with Mega can let their senses of adventure and creativity fly in working with this unique product.

If you are wondering, as I did, about how this came to be, here is the story behind PolarKnit, from their website:

As avid knitters, we are always looking for new yarns. A couple years ago we bought some yarn that was similar to fleece but not as cozy and soft as our favorite fleece pullovers. After looking around in the marketplace, we realized a soft, super warm fleece product did not exist. We decided to change this by creating the world’s first authentic fleece yarn.

We are knitters and also outdoor enthusiasts. Going one step further we wanted to create a fleece yarn that would be great for the outdoors, one that dries quickly, doesn’t itch or smell, and is crazy warm and cozy. Who best to team up with to create this yarn than Polartec® (formerly Malden Mills Inc) based in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Polartec®, founded in 1903, invented the world’s first polarfleece® in the 70’s and was heralded by Time Magazine as having created one of the best inventions of the century. Today Polartec® is a world-renowned manufacturer and designer of over 300 high-tech outdoor fabrics. After researching these fabrics, we found that Polartec's® Wind Pro product was just what we were looking for. Its tight knit construction blocks 4 times the wind than traditional fleece. Warm, non-itch, soft, and ideal for use in outdoor activities, PolarKnit was born.

The Look

Mega is a long tapered strip of polar fleece, ranging in width from about ½” to 1 ¼” in width. If you’ve knit with fabric strips, rotary cut from a bolt of cloth, you’ll be in familiar territory with Mega. As someone who has chopped up all kinds of fabric, including nylon net, for knitting, I have eyed bolts of fleece with thoughts of knitting. PolarKnit Mega comes ready to knit. The fabric strips don’t have a lot of stretch, but they lay flat and don’t curl up as you might expect with a knit fabric.

The Feel

Mega is velvety soft and crushable. It feels just like the Polar fleece you have come to know and love, especially after it is laundered and machine dried. On the softness scale, this yarn is a “9”.

The Patterns

This yarn is made for outdoor use. It is lightweight for comfort, insulating for warmth, washable, and rugged enough for active sports or heavy use. PolarKnit recommends Mega for pet beds, auto seat covers, pillows or cushions, rugs. At the gauge of 1 stitch per inch, you can quite easily make your own patterns: just measure and knit to the dimensions needed. Very little calculation is required. You can quickly work up a kennel cushion for your pet, a soft bathroom mat, lap robe or poncho.

Color Range

Mega is available in cheery bright colors that are machine washable and dryable, just right for heavy use in snow, mush and mud. The lively color names, Pink, Mermaid, Carrot, Leap Frog, Black, Deep Red, Mallard, and Purple, will bring out the child in anyone lucky enough to have something knit in PolarKnit.

Working It

Refer to PolarKnit’s web site for helpful suggestion on working with Mega and other PolarKnit yarns. My test swatch was knitted on size 50 (25 mm) needles. Along the way, I learned a few things from working with this very wide tape yarn:

• Cast on very loosely. The yarn is somewhat inelastic even on these huge needles and you can expect a little shrinkage when you wash and dry it. To avoid a too tight edge after washing and blocking, keep the cast on edge very loose. I tried long tail, cable and knitting on the bias, but the edge seemed too tight with all methods. I found that the simple backward loop cast on method was just right.
• If you’re a “thrower”, you won’t need to make many adjustments other than getting accustomed to the large scale of knitting with Mega. I don’t recommend knitting Mega with your left hand or “Continental” style. “Continental” style knitters should instead take the opportunity to perfect (or learn) a new method of knitting. Knitting with size 50 needles is a challenge in itself, not to mention stranding the wide strips of Mega fabric. Your hands will tire very quickly with these oversize needles and yarn, and it is a little difficult to maintain tension. Switch your knitting style to throwing for this yarn and you will find it much easier to handle. It may seem slower to you at first, but at this gauge, speed is not a factor. You’ll be finished before your hands get tired.
• Use the recommended needle size (US 35 or 50). There are no intervening standard sized needles, but you could make something out of dowel rods, broom sticks, or pvc pipe. Commercial knitting needles tend to be somewhat short and you can’t get more than about 36 inches worth of fabric on them; if you want to knit something wider, you’ll either need to make it in strips and sew together or fashion needles from something longer.
• Mega twists considerably with knitting, rolling into a tube instead of a flat ribbon. Unkink it from time to time to maintain an even tension.
• You won’t need magnifying glasses in working with this yarn – the gauge and stitches are clearly visible!
• Join in new balls of yarn by lapping the ends from the old and the new ball, leaving at least two inches on each end, and weave in the ends. Or simply knot and leave the ends loose. If you choose a knot, do not tie until you have finished knitting. Hand block to ease tension in your project, and then tie the knots.

What I’d Like to Make with It

Sure to keep you warm this winter is a cozy, plush authentic fleece yarn, "PolarKnit." Its soft texture and wind resistant qualities are ideal for outdoor activities. Use it for all your cold weather knitting and crochet garments and accessories including hats, mittens, scarves, and jackets, really anything where warmth and comfort are desired. It works up quickly on larger needles, not to mention its machine washable and dryable for easy care.

Knitting Outside the Box

Just choosing this yarn is “Knitting Outside the Box” – be adventurous, try this yarn. If you want to perk up your office or car, knit yourself a comfortable chair pad. A Mega car seat cushion will protect you from the shock of too much cold or heat; a bright office chair cushion will enliven your work space. Just one skein will make a 12 x 12-inch square, large enough for any chair.

Blocking It

No blocking required. Mega is machine dryable and should be dried at low heat in your dryer. Do not use heat to block and do not iron fleece products.

Washing It

PolarKnit™ fleece yarn is machine washable and durable. Use lukewarm water, do not bleach, and do not use fabric softeners. Do not dry clean Mega as the chemicals are too harsh. Mega did not fade or bleed in washing. It retained its shape and bounced back after drying, and did not shrink.

We recommend always machine washing your finished garment to remove any residual fluff. You may have noticed a little fluff coming off the yarn when knitting with it – this is left over from the manufacturing process. Simply toss the garment in the washing machine and then tumble dry – you never have to worry about shrinking or fluff again! This yarn stands up wash after wash, year after year.

Wearability

Once you wash and dry Mega, you won’t have to worry about shrinkage or pilling. Fleece is durable and will stand up to repeated laundry and harsh wear. The test swatch handled beautifully in the laundry.

Overall Recommendation

If you live in a harsh climate and need a rugged easy care and warm for yourself, your kids, or your pets, give this a try. It’s an “8.”