| Karabella Aurora 8 |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
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The Look The label, with its sophisticated gold fonts and graphic on a black card, is tucked into a handful of soft deep purple merino. Basic information is neatly displayed on the back of the label, where I find an intriguing new term. Aurora 8 is described as 100% extrafine merino wool irrestringibile. Does this mean the yarn is machine washable, tangle-proof, or that the color will not bleed? The hand wash in 30°C (cool water) care symbol on the label is contradicted by Google™, where irrestringibile is translated from Italian to mean non-shrink, which I further interpret into knitspeak to mean non-felting, or machine washable. This was confirmed by a cross-checked with the manufacturer and Yarnmarket websites. The label information could be a problem for the knitter who is browsing in a local yarn shop, but not for the online shopper. Otherwise, the packaging is well designed, easy to read and attractive.
The Feel On a softness scale, this yarn is a 7. It lacks the silkiness of cashmere and alpaca, but is still very soft and smooth to the touch. The multiple plies (6) give the yarn a smooth texture. The ball springs back into shape without crushing. The yarn is smooth and not coarse with no loft in the fiber.
The Patterns Because this yarn has been available for some time, there are multitudes of patterns available, and the yarn can be substituted for most worsteds. This yarn has a luxury feel that can enhance even the most utilitarian garments or accessories. It can be a staple in any stash.
Working It
What I’d Like to Make with It Karabella designers offer a wide variety of patterns for every knitter that range from simple hats and scarves to serviceable baby blankets and even lace shawls. The unbelievable selection of colors means this yarn can be used for almost anything a knitter imagines – as long as felting isn’t part of the picture. I would choose this yarn for baby and children’s items because of its luxury feel (it could never be called “too hurty”) and washability. This washable property makes Aurora 8 an ideal yarn for baby gear, baby blankets, afghans, or knitting for busy people who avoid hand wash items. Socks, booties, and slippers are other possibilities for washable wool.
Knitting Outside the Box Since there are so many shades available in this yarn, it invites playing with color, shading, and striping. This yarn is an excellent resource for the teacher or student who wants to explore use of color; it yields a beautiful knitted fabric and provides a color range wide enough for exploration.
Blocking It Lay flat to dry; do not use heat to dry or steam to block.
Washing It Aurora 8 can be washed with mild soap in lukewarm water. I think a busy person could wash in a machine on gentle cycle, but I recommend hand washing to preserve body and shape.
Wearability This yarn does not pill or snag easily. If knit at a very loose gauge, it may snag because of the six plies, but I could not raise a snag by running a ring across the surface of the yarn. Anything can snag, and I doubt this yarn is any more prone to snags; I probably worry more about this because of my initial experience with picking the stitches.
Overall Recommendation: I recommend this yarn, in particular because of its color range, softness, good hand, and drape. Since it is washable wool, it will not felt, and therefore will not splice. It is packaged in small 50 gram quantities of 98 yards, and will require skill in joining and hiding ends. This is the one negative factor, but something for the knitter to think about when choosing a project with this yarn. I rate Aurora 8 a “7”.
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