Knitch Magazine

Yarn Name: Lady Like
Review Date: December 2, 2011
Date Introduced to Market: Fall 2011

The Look

When winter is looking bleak and you need a little Mardi Gras in your life, pick up a ball of Lady Like from Anny Blatt. It is a delicious blend of loop mohair stranded with colorful polyester boucle. If there were a stick in the ball, you might mistake it for a gourmet candy apple. Brightly dyed boucle strikes a lively contrast against crimped black mohair. Whether knit alone or in company with other yarns, Lady Like makes a dramatic statement. There are super chic fashions available from the Anny Blatt designers, and clever knitters will find it easy to use Lady Like with a favored color of worsted to create their own one-of-a-kind mix of colorful fiber.

The Feel

Luxurious loop mohair gives Lady Like a silky must-touch feel that brings out the drool reflex in knitters. The soft polyester only increases the irresistible texture of this scrumptious yarn that rates #9 on the softness scale.

Softness Scale

The Patterns

Continental designs from Anny Blatt have a sophisticated runway appeal. Even though rather simple in shape and styling, the designs make dramatic use of interesting textures and fiber that bring immediate notice. They can fit any situation, from casual to elegant. Even so, there is a classic element to these designs that make them wardrobe staples for seasons to come. The sweaters, coats and accessories are knit using Lady Like along with other colors and fibers to create unique fabrics and textures. Whether you copy one of these patterns or use the concept in one of your favorite designs, Lady Like is the ideal companion yarn to add oomph to any design. Use Lady Like with a solid color worsted and knit it into a simply shaped poncho, cardigan or jacket, or scarf.

Color Range

There are five brilliant color choices in Lady Like. All use a base of black mohair teamed with shiny and bright strands of multi-hued polyester. Color choices include tonal ranges of cognac, cherry red, blue and gold, or purple and a multi colored range called opera. Given this range of color, Lady Lake can be paired with almost any other color for dramatic impact. Use your favorite color to contrast with or blend with the bright polyester. Experiment to find the blend that you like best.

Working It

Mohair is a pleasing yarn to knit. It is soft, silky and knits up quickly into a lightweight fabric. Lady Like has all those desirable qualities and the added advantage of working to a bulky gauge. When paired with a companion yarn, the pleasure is not diminished. There is a lot of texture in Lady Like, so you won’t need to bother with adding it in the knitting. The flat smooth surface of stockinette stitch becomes a lofty three dimensional cushion softened by the mohair and polyester loops in Lady Like.

What I’d Like to Make with It

For a versatile and useful garment, knit a sweater coat in this lofty bulky yarn. It is lightweight but very warm and durable. You may prefer the ease of a poncho that can layer over other garments. The brilliant colors and rippled texture of Lady Like add shimmer and style to the simplest of garment shapes, and it is a look that never tires the eye. Let this yarn do the work for you as you simply enjoy the knitting.

What other applications might this yarn be used for?

Surprisingly, none of the Anny Blatt designers created a hat using Lady Like, perhaps because this yarn doesn’t create a springy ribbing to hug the head. Use worsted to knit a short band of ribbing and create a colorful crown with Lady Like.

Blocking It

Lay flat to dry. Do not apply heat to Lady Like; the polyester fibers will melt or flatten if exposed to high temperatures. Avoid this risk by blocking and drying your knitting flat.

Washing It

Hand wash only. Do not dry clean. Avoid agitation and wringing that could mat the mohair.

Wearability

Mohair is a sturdy fiber despite its fragile appearance. With proper care, you will have long wear from Lady Like. Frugal knitters will choose classic designs to get the most from their investment. Flamboyant designs will go out of fashion long before the yarn looks worn or stale.

Overall Recommendation:

Lady Like earns a # 9 recommendation for its sparkling colors, fine quality and fashion statement.