knittingmag.com 25YARN REVIEWPAINTBOX YARNS
RECYCLED METALLIC
RIBBONI am really impressed with how
creative companies are getting
when it comes to producing
recycled yarns. It is easy to
think of recycled as dull and
a bit worthy, but Recycled
Metallic Ribbon certainly
busts this myth. This yarn has
a relatively high Lurex content
which adds sparkle and shine.
Primarily it is made from waste
cotton jersey fabric that is
shredded and then mixed with
polyester and Lurex. The result
is a beautifully flat ribbon yarn
that knits up very evenly and
with superb stitch deinition.
It is comfortable and quick to
knit with.
I think we all love a bit of bling
every now and then and the
colours that make up this range
really compliment the sparkly
element, including classic 003
Pewter (pictured). This would
be an exciting choice for
homeware like blankets, rugs
and cushions. Hand-wash.Composition: 50% cotton,
37% polyester, 13% Lurex
Weight: 250g Length: 120m
Rec needle size: 8mm
Tension (10cm): 11 sts x 13 rows
RRP: £11
Contact: paintboxyarns.comWOOL AND THE GANG
GLITTERBALL SOCK YARNThis yarn really appeals to
the disco diva in me, but it is
also Wool and the Gang’s irst
yarn to be sourced and spun
in Yorkshire. Many sock yarns
rely on a 75% wool, 25% nylon
blend, but Glitterball Sock
Yarn boasts 95% Bluefaced
Leicester content, making it
much softer.
It is a high twist two-ply yarn
that has a tendency to twist
because of the Lurex content- try using a yarn bowl if this is
a problem. Stitch deinition is
excellent, and the yarn comes
in four disco-inspired shades
including Night Fever Navy
(pictured).
Glitterball Sock Yarn could
be used in any of your existing
sock patterns. There is also a kit
available via the website that
includes the pattern and a set
of dpns to get you dance floor
ready! It would also be a great
yarn for shawls, scarves and
shrugs. Hand-wash only, do
not tumble-dry or iron.
Composition: 95% Bluefaced
Leicester, 5% Lurex
Weight: 100g Length: 390m
Rec needle size: 2.5mm
Tension (10cm): 30sts x 42 rows
RRP: £15
Contact: woolandthegang.comRICO CREATIVE
COTTON DEGRADE
SUPER 6
Cotton Degradé Super 6
is the latest addition to the
successful Rico Degradé
family. It produces a fabric
with good drape on a 3.5mm
needle, but you may wish to
use a smaller size for projects
that need a irmer feel.
The yarn is made up of four
ine threads that have been
loosely plied rather than spun.
I would recommend needles
with ine points to avoid
splitting or snagging, possibly
in bamboo or wood as it is very
soft and silky to knit with.
Cotton Degradé Super 6
has one of the more gentle
gradients I have come across.
Not all cakes are wound
from the same point, so the
sequence will vary from
project to project, which you
should bear in mind if using
more than one ball. There is a
free pattern on the inside of
the ball band. Machine-wash
at 30ºC, do not tumble-dry.
Composition: 50% cotton,
50% acrylic
Weight: 200g Length: 800m
Rec needle size: 3.5mm
Tension (10cm): 26 sts x 38 rows
RRP: £16
Contact: rico-design.de
CASCADE YARNS
PARADIGM SHIFT LITECascade has released a DK
version of its successful
Paradigm Shift yarn.
Paradigm Shift Lite retains
the original’s lengthy shift
from one colour to another,
but ofers even longer
metreage. Shade transitions
are so gentle and long that
they are not completed within
each 200g ball, so you can
be conident that no two
single-cake projects will look
the same. The DK version will
also work for garments, in
which the way that the colour
is distributed will again be
unique. Paradigm Shift Lite
is beautifully soft to work with
and provides good stitch
deinition, with textured
stitches throwing up little
nubs and pops of colour.
Paradigm Shift Lite is
available in six shades,
including 01 (pictured).
Pattern support is in the
pipeline. Machine-wash at
30ºC and tumble-dry low.Composition: 100%
mercerised cotton
Weight: 200g Length: 528m
Rec needle size: 3.25-3.75mm
Tension (10cm): 24-28 sts
RRP: US$20 (approx £15)
Contact: cascadeyarns.com