| Manos del Uruguay Serena |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
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Brand: Manos del Uruguay
Manufacturer: Fairmount Fibers Made In: Uruguay Date Released: Fall 2010 Yardage: 170 yards Weight: 50 grams Yarn Weight: Medium (DK) Fiber Content: 60% Baby Alpaca, 40% Pima Cotton Texture: Plied Gauge (st./4 in.): 22-26 sts/4 inches Needle Size(s): US 4-6 (3.5-4mm) MSRP: $13.00 Availability: Available Care: Hand wash and dry flat or dry clean.
The Look Serena, a delicately soft DK weight yarn from Manos del Uruguay, is evocative of its name. It is blended of 60% alpaca and 40% pima cotton, and hand-dyed in the signature Manos marbleized tones by artisans in Uruguay. Manos del Uruguay (The Hands of Uruguay) is a nonprofit organization that assembles artisans in local cooperatives, with the goal of bringing economic and social opportunities to rural women. Founded in 1968, the cooperative has helped hundreds of women support their families and provided an economic incentive to preserve handcrafts and local culture. The Manos Cooperative was admitted to the World Federation of Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) following a rigorous examination of their environmental, business and human rights practices. Knitters with a social conscience and taste for premium yarns can feel connected to the artisan who produced the yarns. Each skein is signed with the name of the artisan and village where it was produced.
The Feel Although Serena has a soft halo, it is not a fuzzy yarn. It is so extraordinarily soft and smooth that you might not guess it has any plant fiber in the mix at all. The fine baby alpaca and pima cotton blend into a yarn rating #9 on the softness scale.
The Patterns Look for flowing lines, easy fit and garments with drape versus form-fit. A good place to start is with one of the six fashionable designs specifically for this yarn in the Serena Collection. These season-less and season-spanning garments can be layered for lightweight warmth or worn alone. Simple lines accented by a few embellishments and stitch details translate into sophisticated, stylish garments that will become staples of any wardrobe. The free Shadow Shawl pattern, available online from the Manos distributor, utilizes the natural striping of kettle-dyed yarn to accentuate the simple triangular shape. It’s easy and quick to knit this delicately draped shawl.
Color Range Serena is hand dyed in large kettles to create a marbleized, subtly striated effect that forms a rich palette of glorious colors with trademark stria shading. Serena is available in 15 semi-solid and 8 space-dyed shades. The lustrous sheen reflects light and shadow, highlighting construction details and textured stitches. No two skeins of this hand-dyed yarn are exactly alike and there are no dye lots. If there is a great difference between the skeins, the yarn artisans recommend knitting two rows from one skein alternately with two rows from a second skein to give an overall blended effect. To avoid headaches later, buy enough yarn to complete a project. Use one of many guides available to help you estimate yardage needed for a project if you aren’t totally sure of what use you will make with Serena. You can find several such guides online that you can print and carry along with you. For a more permanent solution, purchase one of the handy plastic cards that carry yardage requirements for all garments in all sizes.
Working It
What I’d Like to Make with It Serena is an ideal choice for lace, ruffles, and draped fabric, especially shawls. The distinct stitch definition shows off intricate shaping and lace detail. Serena knits into a resilient but lightweight fabric that won’t sag.
Knitting Outside the Box Don’t be afraid to work Serena at a tighter gauge for whisper-soft baby hats, bootees and sweaters. Cuddle baby in the soft warmth of this sumptuous alpaca-cotton blend.
Blocking It Dry flat.
Washing It Hand wash or dry clean.
Wearability The high quality fibers in Serena promise that projects knit with it will last as long as you care to keep them. Overall Recommendation: Serena is a superb DK yarn that will meet all your demands for quality, warmth, and style. Serena is definitely worth a try and earns a #9 recommendation.
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Knitters appreciate fine yarns because they caress the hands as the yarn slips across the fingers as stitch after stitch is formed. Serena knits like a dream because it is soft, smooth and uniform. The recommended gauge creates the relaxed, lightweight and flowing knitted fabric that could be expected from alpaca fibers. The pima cotton contributes strength, stability and excellent stitch definition. Both fibers add luster and sheen, which are highlighted by the softly shaded hand-dyed colors.
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