| Sublime Soya Cotton DK |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
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The Look From Sublime, the luxury brand of yarns by Sirdar, Soya Cotton DK is an innovative blend of 50% cotton and 50% soy. If you’re not familiar with soya, it’s a cellulose fiber extracted from soybean pulp, which is a byproduct of tofu. The liquefied protein is extruded into long fibers which are spun into yarn. Soy yarn is soft and silky, and some have compared soy’s texture to silk blended with cashmere, calling it vegetable cashmere. Soya Cotton DK feels and looks like silk. It has a deep luster and smooth finish. The yarn drapes gracefully even when wound into a ball, predictive of good results when knit.
The Feel Rub this yarn against your cheek and you will nearly melt. Soya Cotton DK is soft, satiny and smooth. It rates #10 on the softness scale.
The Patterns If you’re not compelled to try Soya Cotton DK on its own merits, you’ll have a hard time ignoring Sirdar’s design suggestions in The Third Luxuriously Exotic Soya Cotton book by Sublime. It includes 11 very stylish garments for men, women and children. The lovely shawl-collared shrug could appeal to anyone. The designer’s choices show that Soya Cotton DK can make simple garments look special; a creamy stockinette surface accented by ribbing or a few cables becomes a classically beautiful garment. Soya Cotton DK will transform any garment into a stunning fashion statement that will feel and look luxurious.
Color Range The writers at Knitting Fever Inc. describe Soya Cotton colors as a hot palette of spicy, rich shades and contrasting cool, watery colors. These vivid but in no way garish colors will add zest to your wardrobe.
Working It Like silk, Soya Cotton DK has a luxurious drape and hand. This blend of natural fibers relaxes into a soft texture incredibly smooth fabric without losing stitch detail. Cotton adds body to the smooth soya fiber. This yarn is 100% natural and biodegradable, too, but who can bear to think of their knitting as compost! That’s taking the “green” revolution a bit too far.
What I’d Like to Make with It I am stuck on the lacy shawl-collared shrug developed by the Sirdar design team. It is a simply shaped garment that would keep my interest as a knitter because of the all-over lace pattern and lacy shawl collar. It’s also versatile and could be worn for any occasion and in any season. I think it would also be an attractive accessory for any body size or type, and the color range for this yarn would suit most preferences. Other possibilities include a lacy scarf or shawl, a baby hat, or bootees.
Knitting Outside the Box Bring comfort to someone who needs it by knitting a chemo cap as a test swatch. Chemotherapy patients who lose their hair prefer a cap that is very smooth and lightweight. They also need a cap that is sized smaller than the average cap (hair adds volume). Choose a simple roll brim cap or a try out a lacy pattern. The bright colors in this yarn and the extraordinary softness will be appreciated by the patient.
Blocking It Lay flat to dry. Do not apply heat.
Washing It Soya Cotton is machine washable using a short gentle cycle with mild soap and cool water. The label recommends “minimum washing conditions.” Wash dark colors separately as they may bleed. Alternatively, wash by hand.
Wearability Soya Cotton is a soft, smooth and breathable yarn. It will be comfortable to wear, as the soya fiber has similar wicking properties as cotton. Additionaly, it retains warmth like wool and will be a little warmer than pure cotton. Soya is also very strong, washable and colorfast. Another important property of soya is that it does not shrink like cotton. Garments knit of Soya Cotton should retain their shape well with little or no shrinkage. Overall Recommendation I highly recommend this beautiful and elegant yarn at #10.
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