Knitch Magazine

Yarn Name: SMC Divari Color
Review Date: July 24, 2011
Date Introduced to Market: Fall 2011

The Look

Westminster Fibers brings some of Europe’s most popular yarns to North American knitters. Schachenmayr SMC is known as a brand with well-priced quality yarns and inspirational designs for all the family. SMC’s Divari, a beefy blend of polyester, acrylic, wool and alpaca, that became popular for fashionable coats, sweaters and accessories, is now available in color. A bulky printed singles yarn is plied with a short eyelash yarn to produce a rich mix of texture and color topped off by a soft haze. Random color effects are built into the yarn, accenting plain stockinette or textured stitches with intriguing color. Best of all, Divari Corlor knits at an easy gauge of 13 stitches over 4 inches, so projects fly off the needles.

The Feel

The masterfully blended concoction of soft synthetics with wool and alpaca results in a light, soft and silky yarn despite the bulky gauge. It rates #9 on the softness scale.

Softness Scale

The Patterns

Create big and bold garments with Divari Color using the clever patterns available from SMC. There are the sweater coats, dresses, and accessories like hats, scarves, and capes that illustrate the fashionable look possible using Divari Color. This yarn is bulky but soft, so it knits easily into cables, textured stitches and even ruffles. Several designers, knitting books and magazines feature simple urban styles knit in bulky yarns. Use easy-care Divari Color for daring high fashion garments or brighten a favored old standard with this fresh new yarn.

Color Range

Ten prints that coordinate with 16 solids give knitters a wide spectrum of color to work with in Devari. Two to three colors are skillfully blended in random print patterns that work into random splashes of color against the main ground.

Working It

Divari Color may be soft, but it is not wimpy. This bulky yarn is lightweight, highly crimped and keeps its shape when knit. Knit to gauge, the fabric drapes but doesn’t droop. Divari Color is elastic and bounces back to the original shape. As the knitting progresses, the eyelash ply blooms more and more, covering the surface with a soft haze. Divari Color delivers bulky stitch textures, random color, silky alpaca haze and softness.

What I’d Like to Make with It

Divari Color is soft, silky and pet-able. It is a good choice to knit a soft crib toy for a beloved child. Little ones will fall fast asleep relaxing as their tiny fingers rub the thick texture and silky eyelash accents. This tactile yarn seems made for thumb-sucking. I knit a tiny blanket toy to test Divari Color. It is huggable, soft and cuddly – everything needed in a crib toy.

Knitting Outside the Box

Put your baby in a bunting, blanket or hooded jacket knit of Divari or Divari Color. The yarn is soft enough for baby skin, won’t cause allergies, and is easy to care for.

Blocking It

Lay flat to dry. Do not apply heat that might damage the polyester and acrylic fibers.

Washing It

Divari Color is machine washable in cool water on a gentle cycle. Bulky knit garments can be stretched in the spin cycle, so place your garment in a mesh bag and use a gently spin. Do not wring or wrangle hand knits.

Wearability

Soft spun yarn is always subject to pilling, and Divari Color could pill at wear points like elbows, underarms and cuffs. In Divari Color, the eyelash ply creates a soft haze above the surface of the knitting, taking the brunt of the abrasion and preventing some pilling. To keep your garment fresh, brush away any pills after each wearing. Bulky knits should be folded for storage. Never hang bulky knits as the weight of all that yarn may permanently stretch the knitting out of shape.

Overall Recommendation:

Divari Color is a playful, fun and well performing yarn. I rate it #7.