| S. Charles Collezione Siam |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
|
The Look Pictures don’t adequately communicate the knitterly qualities of Siam, a new medium weight blend from S. Charles Collezione. This soft crepe yarn, blending silk, wool and viscose, creates lightweight garments and accessories for year-round use. A single strand of silk adds sheen and contrast. Siam looks like cotton and performs like wool. There is a wide range of traditional colors that can be used for year round wear; make a garment in Siam and you’ll get a big return on your investment of time and money.
The Feel Siam is soft and spongy in the ball. The softly plied smooth yarn promises a hint of texture when knit. It is crushable, smooth and altogether inviting. It hits 8 on the softness scale.
The Patterns As a medium weight yarn with plenty of body, you can use Siam for nearly any project. S. Charles Collezione debuts a diverse collection of garments along with Siam to show you how versatile this yarn can be. It is lightweight and can be knit into sweaters, tunics and jackets with the same good looks as a flouncy blouse.
Color Range Siam is available in 16 deeply saturated shades that blend with all colors in the Collezione palette. The well saturated luminescent strands add a subtle shimmer – when knit, these plies blend into an all-over glow. You may not be able to ditch the cheek gloss, but wearing a garment knit in Siam is one way to gain radiance.
Working It Knitting Siam is relaxing and pleasurable. There’s no tugging or straining as you might experience with stiff cotton yarns. This smooth yarn is elastic so it conforms easily into whatever stitch you make, and the stitches retain their shape. Stockinette stitches are straight and uniform just as textured stitches provide surface embellishment. The lightweight knitted fabric doesn’t stretch the stitches out of shape nor will it feel like you’re wearing an entire bale of cotton. Instead, Siam feels like good quality silk.
What I’d Like to Make with It Siam is a medium weight yarn that knits to a gauge of about 19 stitches over 4 inches. I think it would be stunning in a textured jacket, kimono, or cardigan. The silky effect makes it suitable for any occasion, equally appropriate for causal to office to business meeting. Knit your garment in Siam to make a subtle statement of sophisticated elegance.
Knitting Outside the Box Siam is lightweight and has a lot of body; think about knitting custom-fit skirt. There is a wide selection of darker tones available that are perfect for this wardrobe staple.
Blocking It Lay flat to dry.
Washing It Hand wash. May be dry cleaned.
Wearability Siam, with its graceful drape and silky sheen, looks like it needs to be treated carefully. It is more sturdy than you may expect. There are no short fibers sticking out from the strand to pill later. I had to tug at the strands to un-ply silk filament. Don’t expect Siam to snag on rough cuticles, but you should treat it with the same care you would any fine wool or silk. It should be kept clean with hand washing and folded flat to store. Overall Recommendation Try Siam for its light weight, elegant drape, good stitch definition, and silken radiance. I rate it #8.
S. Charles Collezione Siam yarn can be purchased from Yarnmarket.com.
|
Did you enjoy this feature? Make sure you never miss an issue of Knitch Magazine. To receive alerts for upcoming issues:
