| Tahki Tango |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
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Yarn Name: Tango Brand: Tahki
Manufacturer: Tahki/Stacy Charles Made In: Belgium Date Released: Fall 2010 Yardage: 81 yards Weight: 50 grams Yarn Weight: Bulky Fiber Content: 55% wool, 37% acrylic, 8% nylon Texture: Plied Gauge (st./4 in.): 13 stitches/4 inches Needle Size(s): US 10 1/2 (6.5 mm) MSRP: $7.50 Availability: Available Care: Hand wash and dry flat.  Tango Got A Friend Beret Scarf  Tango Tapestry Hooded Vest  Tango Nightingale Vest  Tango Beautiful Rib Waist Tunic
The Look Fresh from the designers at Tahki Yarns, Tango brings a little heat to the knitting basket. The verve and vitality of this new yarn will surely lift your mood and restore your knitting enthusiasm during dull, dreary days. A strand of black roving is spiral-twisted with the solid main color and a contrasting multicolored strand to create this subtly shaded yarn that captures sunshine and shadows. The Feel Tango is soft and lofty, with lots of spring and bounce. Like a ball of fresh roving, Tango is filled with airy promise. The fiber content is 55% wool, 37% acrylic and 8% nylon for strength. There’s no scratchiness from the acrylic or nylon, and the fine wool is smooth and silky. Tango ranks #10 on the softness scale.
The Patterns Tahki/Stacy Charles includes four Tango patterns in the Fall 2010 Tapestry Collection, inspired by Carole King's landmark album from 1971. The rich tapestry shades of Tango are ideal for a feminine tunic, vests, and accessories that evoke the hippie-chic of the 1970's. The shaded colors arrange themselves in random striping that adds design interest to the simple shapes bulky yarns require. Long vertical shapes that allow the full range of the color pattern to develop are ideal for this yarn, as Tahki/Stacy Charles shows in the model patterns.
Color Range Tango is available in 7 subtle multicolored shades. The velvety surface and luminescent glow of fine wool mimic velvet, and Tango has been appropriately compared to tapestry or a treasured Crazy Quilt. Knit it in stockinette or add even more variation by using garter, seed, textured or cabled stitches. Single stiches look like multicolored popcorn kernels or brush strokes on an impressionist’s canvas. Knit up, the fabric sparkles with color.
Working It
What I’d Like to Make with It Perk up the dark days of winter with a quick project knit in Tango. Accessories like hats, scarves, mitts, wristlets, and cowls will perk up your wardrobe and spirits, and they take little time to knit in this bulky weight yarn. The cheerful colors, warm wool, soft texture and subdued color range make Tango a good selection for chemo caps, too. Many knitters like to try out a new yarn before starting a larger garment, and local shops often offer free patterns to show what the yarn can do. As a first project for Tango, you might knit a comfortable, soft and cozy cowl to snuggle into on a cold day. A simple and extraordinarily popular scarf currently sweeping the knitting circles is a short ribbed (or brioche rib) swatch, finished with a two buttonholes or button loops for chunky buttons that close the scarf into a cowl or collar. Make it narrow and asymmetrical by putting the buttons off-center for formal ascot look. A wider and shorter swatch with centered buttons will give you the look of a deep cowl collar. You may decide to gather it closed for a retro 30’s style headband. Make a little longer and narrower scarf with a möbius twist for a swirl of color to wear inside or outside your coat.
Knitting Outside the Box Knit Tango into a warm poncho, stole or shawl for coziness. It is lightweight, but has enough strength to support larger garments like a poncho without drooping. Add an unexpected element like a cable twist or a bit of lacy openwork pattern. Use a chevron stitch or mitered construction to accentuate the color variations in Tango.
Blocking It Dry flat. Do not apply heat to this yarn due to the acrylic and nylon fiber content.
Washing It Hand wash in cool water using gentle wool soap. Even though the acrylic content will help prevent felting, wool fibers will come clean with a bit of soaking and do not require scrubbing or heavy agitation.
Wearability Tango is a very softly spun roving type yarn that may pill with heavy wear. Matting may occur on tension points. Treat it gently and brush off the pills after each wearing. If you do, you will be proud to wear your knitted garment for several seasons to come. Overall Recommendation: Tango lets you approach color with an improvisational flair. This sumptuously soft and colorful bulky yarn rates #9.
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Loft is a noticeable feature of this roving yarn. Tango knits to a recommended gauge of 13 stitches over 4 inches. This gauge allows a bit more space for the fibers to relax, but is still elastic and retains its shape. Although the plump fibers can be knit up at tighter gauges, the softness and drape will be lost. The muted colors blend into a swirl of shades. Enjoy the random color changes and don’t try to achieve rigid symmetry.
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