| Debbie Bliss Amalfi |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
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The Look Stiff cotton staple needs an infusion of other fibers to give yarn and knitted fabric softness and drape. Amalfi, new from Debbie Bliss, mixes viscose, linen and silk with 70% cotton fiber resulting in a lightweight pliable yarn. The contrasting flat and shiny fibers are plied into a soft twist.
The Feel Amalfi is very soft and light to the touch. I almost disappears in your hand. While it is crushable, there is not a high degree of resiliency. Amalfi rates 6 on the softness scale.
The Patterns Debbie Bliss created a number of feminine garments specifically for Amalfi. You’ll find cardigans and pullovers with heavy pleating, ruffles, flowing lines. Amalfi is well suited to these garments. The yarn is lightweight yet strong; even a deeply ruffled edge will not drag down the edges of your sweater.
Color Range Amalfi is available in twelve cool shades, perfect for the soft romantic and feminine garments it is so well suited for. Your knitting will make the statement when you use these restrained hues. Choose fanciful stitches, openwork, or embellished edgings.
I knit a rolled brim hat swatch to test the resiliency and stitch definition. This medium weight yarn knits to a gauge of 22 stitches over 4 inches, or 5.5 stitches per inch. The knitted fabric is very lightweight and flowing. It has only slight resiliency, but the excellent drape of this light fabric can be utilized to create flowing cardigans, bell sleeves, ruffles and pleats that would not be possible with a heavier, stiffer yarn. It did not split or snag and there were no knots in the test ball.
What I’d Like to Make with It Amalfi is quite a specialized yarn. This is one of the few times that I advise following one of the patterns designed by Debbie Bliss specifically for this yarn. These ultra-feminine capitalize on the gracefully fluid properties of Amalfi. You can also use this very soft yarn to knit summer tops, shawls, and children’s garments. Look for patterns that emphasize drape over form fitting.
Blocking It Lay flat to dry.
Washing It Machine wash, cold water.
Wearability Because of its viscose fiber content and loose spinning, Amalfi is a soft yarn. However, don’t worry about pilling, shedding or poor performance. Like all Debbie Bliss yarns, Amalfi is produced of the very best fibers manufactured to a high standard. Follow care instructions and your garment will last a long time.
Overall Recommendation Amalfi fills a unique place among yarns on the market. It has a somewhat limited range of possibilities, but there are few other yarns that can be used to the same purpose as Amalfi. I rate this yarn at 7.
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