| Araucania Ulmo Multy |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
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The Look From Araucania, Ulmo is a 100% cotton DK weight yarn that is extraordinarly soft and resilient. Named for a mountain evergreen tree that can reach a height of up to 130 feet with a 6 foot diameter trunk, Ulmo is anything but woody. Araucania honors the yarns in its line with names familiar to this southern region of Chile. Ulmo trees grow in coastal mountain ranges at about 2300 feet above sea level, where it thrives in humid conditions. Ulmo the yarn has a deep luster, smooth surface, and is richly dyed in fashionable colors.
The Feel Ulmo is very soft and rates #8 on the softness scale. The ball crushes with a gentle squeeze bringing back memories of Mr. Wimple who couldn’t stop squeezing the soft bathroom tissue. It’s likely your hands will get as good a workout as if you used an isokinetic hand exercise ball.
The Patterns The very fashionable variegate colors proclaim Ulmo to be a fashion yarn, and the patterns supplied for it are the latest “it” styles. There’s a fashionable hoodie summer top and a gathered empire waist pullover, but Ulmo will work well in just about any DK gauge (22 stitches over 4 inches) garment. There are many possibilities for children’s garments and baby blankets, shawls and shrugs.
Color Range Araucania added 10 new multi tones to the Ulmo collection for 2010, bringing you a choice of 40 stunning colors. Most are variegates, but there are twelve pretty solids to choose from, too. These are beautiful, rich and pleasing colors, too. Several of the color combinations use lower values of mocha, brown and taupe instead of the dark black, giving the yarn a natural earthy attraction.
Working It Ulmo has great stitch definition and excellent resiliency for cotton yarn. The knitted fabric is soft and flexible but it retains its shape and the stitches are sharply distinct. Whether you knit it in garter, straight stitch, lace or textured pattern, you will be pleased with the results. Decorative decreases, yarn overs and traveling stitches all showed up prettily.
What I’d Like to Make with It Go green and fashionable at the same time. Knit yourself a mesh bag shopping bag using Ulmo. It is strong and flexible plus the colors are gorgeous. If you’d rather wear your knitting, then you’ll surely be satisfied with a summer shrug, tank or tee knit in Ulmo.
Knitting Outside the Box Maybe I missed earlier signs of a fashion trend, but I’ve noticed loads of scarves knit for summer wear. Scarves, not shawls, paired with sundresses, sleeveless top and even t-shirts. Scarves knit long like a winter muffler in lace patterns, Möbius rings and mitered shapes. Ulmo is the ideal colorful, fashionable and lightweight yarn to add a scarf to your summer wardrobe. While you’re at it, how about trying Ulmo in a hat? Use it for a cloche, cabled cap or simple watch cap.
Blocking It Lay flat to dry.
Washing It Dry cleaning is recommended. Can be gently hand washed in cool water with mild soap. Test wash a swatch before deciding you will wash your garment. Otherwise, follow Araucania’s recommendation to dry clean for assured best results.
Wearability Cotton is a cool, absorbent fiber and that makes garments knit in cotton ideal for hot weather. If you knit a garment in Ulmo, you can expect it to be wear well. Cotton is also a strong fiber, not subject to breaking. The long staple in this yarn is not likely to pill due to abrasion. Overall Recommendation Ulmo is a terrific yarn. I rate it #9.
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