Yarn Base

I use a variety of different Yarn Base to dye my yarn imported from overseas. Find bellow a non exhaustive list of my most commonly used yarn bases.

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SURIEAL:

 Surieal is a stunning lace ply wool. Just imagine the belly of a kitten, or a baby fuzzy bunny, and there you have it: the softest wool there is. It is so delicate yet strong due to the silk content & incredibly soft. It is also hypoallergenic, so most people with a sensitivity to mohair can actually knit with this wool! It is, in essence, perfect.
Surieal is composed of 76% Brushed Baby suri alpaca & 26% Silk
and has 300m per 50gr - NSW
Gauge: 3.25mm - 26sts & 36 rows - WPI: 20
It retails at $40

 

 

ANGEL LACE:

Probably one of the softest and most versatile yarn in the shop, this luxury lace weight blend is an essential in any knitter's stash. Delightfully soft, with sheen and delicate drape and a whooping 1200m per 100gr, you can hold a strand of this lace with any project to reach your needed ply, and to add the ultimate softener. Une one strand with a DK to get a 10ply for example, or hold it double with the DK for a 12ply! You could even hold it double on it's own and you'd still get 600m of fingering weight! There is no limit to what this yarn can do, and I for one always have one on hand!
It is composed of 50% Baby suri alpaca, 30% Extra-fine merino & 20% Silk
with 1200m per 100gr - NSW
Gauge: 3.75mm - 30sts & 40 rows - WPI: 34
Retails at 50$ per skein.

 

FAIRY LACE:

This is a super delicate lace yarn with little boucle slubs and a subtle sparkle. It reminds us of ethereal spider webs, it’s so pretty. The yarn takes the dye really well, and when it really comes to life when it’s been knitted and blocked, it creates a beautiful delicately textured fabric. This is what we would consider an ‘art’ yarn, for people who love something a little different and special. It is also gorgeous stranded
with a super thin fluff yarn like Surieal. 
Composed of 42% Silk, 26% Baby Alpaca, 26% SW Merino & 6% Stellina
Fairy Lace comes from the UK and has 980m per 100gr - NSW
Gauge: 4mm - 23sts & 38 rows WPI: 36 
It is retailed at $50 per skein

 

 

MERVEILLE:

Merveille is also an absolute staple, especially if you like a soft yarn and speckles! This is a single ply fingering weight, and honestly probably the best yarn base to show colours & speckles. This has been my favourite yarn base to dye since I started doing so in 2017 and I will never get tired of using it!
Merveille is 100% Merino and has 366m per 100gr - SW
Gauge: 3.25mm -27sts & 40 rows - WPI: 24
It is retailed at 38$ per 100gr

 

  

SMITTEN LINEN:

Smitten Linen is a stunning single ply yarn, the added Linen is dye resistant and adds a beautiful texture, light drape & contrast to the finished colour. The single ply knits as a fingering weight and is delicate, it is fine to knit most garment with, although will pill for high rubbing garment such as socks, so it isn't meant for this purpose. Instead, choose it for your shawls and sweaters!
It is made of 90% Merino and 10% Linen and has 366m per 100gr - SW
Gauge: 2.75mm - 28sts & 52 rows - WPI: 24
It is retailed at $38 per skein. 

 


 

CLASSIC 4ply :

A classic dyers staple, Classic 4ply is a 100% superfine merino 4ply machine wash yarn with a 3 ply high twist. This yarn is imported from the UK and it's price reflects the cost of import. It is perfect for almost every garment except Socks or high wear and tear knits. Has an amazing natural bounce and elasticity and is the most merino you'll land your hands on with only 19.5 micron! With 400m per 100g
Gauge: 2.5mm - 32sts & 48 row - WPI: 22
It is retailed at $38 per skein.

 


NEON FLECK 4ply

This Donegal nep is a bit special, the Neps glow in the dark under Ultraviolet light. The yarn has a high twist with non-dyeable Donegal neps, they resist the dye remaining prominent in the yarns. It takes the dye exceptionally well and knits up into a lovely soft fabric with a nice drape. Composed of 85% Superwash Merino Wool & 15% Neon Donegal with 400m per 100gr - SW
Gauge: 2.75mm - 30sts & 46 rows - WPI: 24
Retails at $38 a skein.



FINE BOUCLE 4ply

This is such a pretty yarn, the boucle is fine and delicate. The yarn takes the dye really well and bright colours can be achieved, it’s soft and velvety in texture and is nice to knit. The construction of the yarn means that it gently blurs the colours when knitted giving it a lovely soft chenille effect, speckles look almost like water colours, it is a very pretty effect. The knitted fabric keeps its shape well, and rather than the halo of a brushed yarn, it has more of a felted look, it’s one of our absolute new favourites! This would work well as accessories and would make stunning sweaters.

Composed of 100% Merino natural boucle, 19.5 micron, soft as butter!
With 450m per 100gr - SW
Gauge: 2.75mm - 26sts & 52 rows - WPI: 16
Retails for $40 a skein.

PAPER FLUFF 4ply:

Something a little different, this yarn is two different strands twisted together, one is a brushed fluffy mixture of baby alpaca and wool with a Tencel binder, and the second is a high strength wood pulp paper. The paper takes this very lightly so adds a lovely contrast to the fluffy yarn which will absorb most of the dye. It knits really nicely and creates a very light fabric with a gentle halo. This would make beautiful summer garments and if woven would create something very special.
It is composed of 29% Wood Pulp, 20% Superfine Alpaca, 
21% 20 Micron Merino Wool & 29% Tencel with 400m per 100g - NSW

Gauge : 3.5mm - 22sts & 35 rows WPI: 18
Retails for $40 a skein

 


BOBBLES 4ply:

This is a super fun yarn. The cotton slubs do not take acid dyes and therefore appear as white pops in the yarn. They may take on a small amount of colour in dark yarns, but it is minimal. We often like to suggest knitting textured yarns with something thin and fluffy, and this would work nicely with this yarn, however, it also works fine without. The fabric is light and airy knitting on a 3.25mm and block out really well. The slubs appear on both sides of stocking stitch, but they are more prominent on the reverse which can be manipulated in patterns.
Composed of  92% Superwash Merino Wool, 8% Peruvian Pima Cotton
with 400m per 100g - SW

Gauge: 3.25mm - 19sts & 38 rows WPI: 20
Retails at $38 a skein

 

 

FAWN LUX 4ply:

A gorgeous and luxurious blend of superfine fawn baby alpaca, SIlk & Cashmere, this yarn has a super soft kitten feel to it and is a joy to wear next to the skin, so works really nicely for accessories and garments. The yarn takes the dye well and colours merge softly into each other when dyed, speckles spread softly. The fabric has a wonderful drape, and very rich colours will emerge due to the natural base colour. Will need gentle wash and care for it is NSW.
Composed of 70% Natural Fawn Baby Alpaca, 20% Silk ,10% Cashmere with
400m per 100g - NSW

Gauge: 3.25mm - 28sts & 38 rows WPI: 22
Retails at $45 a skein.

 



SWEET SOCK:

This yarn is a firm favourite, with its super tight twist it is a strong workhorse yarn with Titanium strength whilst maintaining a lovely soft fabric. This yarn sucks up the dye like a dream, and speckles super well. Colours appear bright and strong on this yarn. Suitable for all styles of dyeing. We love this for socks and hard-wearing accessories, but it is soft enough to use for anything that takes your fancy. It is the same base and construction as Sparkle Sock minus the sparkle!

It is composed with 75% Superwash Merino & 25% Nylon
and has 425m per 100g - SW
Gauge: In the round: 2.25mm - 37sts & 53 rows
Knitted Flat: 2.5mm - 31sts & 52 rows
WPI: 21/22
Retails at $38 a skein.

 

SOFT SOCK:

Finally another sock option with more merino, a lesser twist and just a touch of Nylon for strenght. This yarn bridges the gap between Classic 4ply and Sweet Sock, offering both the softness and beauty of a garment wool with the strenght and stitch definition of a sock yarn. It’s supersoft with 19.5 Micron merino and it’s great for those who really want something really really soft and that makes a lovely even smooth fabric. This takes the dye really well and speckles are prominent on this yarn.
Composed of 85% 19.5 Micron S Wash Merino Wool, 15% Nylon with 400m per 100g

Gauge: In the round 2.25mm - 36sts & 48 rows - Knitted Flat 2.5mm - 32sts & 48 rows
WPI: 22 - SW
Retails at $38 per skein.

 

 

SPARKLE SOCK:

Sparkle Sock is a beautiful high twist sock base with a 2ply construction. This base has a lovely glittery spark which is superb and very subtle, not overpowering and does not add any texture (not scratchy!) to the yarn. In fact it is extremely soft (one of the softest base) and grabs the dye beautifully.
It is made with 75% Merino, 20% Nylon and 5% Silver Stellina
and has 400m per 100gr - SW
Gauge: In the round :2.25mm - 36sts & 46 rows 
Knitted Flat: 2.5mm - 31sts & 46 rows - WPI: 25 
It is retailed at 38$ per skein

 



CLASSIC 8ply :

A classic dyers staple, Classic 8ply is a 100% superfine merino DK machine wash yarn with a 3 ply high twist. It is perfect for almost every garment except Socks or high wear and tear knits. Has an amazing natural bounce and elasticity and is the softest merino you'll land your hands on with only 19.5 micron!
225m per 100gr - SW

Gauge: 3.75mm - 19sts & 34 rows  -  WPI: 14
Retails at $38



ECO DK :

This yarn is so nice, the combination of the robust twist and the linen gives a gorgeous strong but yet soft DK. This has a velvety texture, and the linen is not prominent, but it does give the yarn a slightly caramel hue. The yarn is a delight to knit and blocks out nicely. This would make a superb sweater yarn and would make some lovely crisp cables. This would work for socks, but make sure you use a small needle to keep the strength in the fabric to prevent wearing..

It is composed of 80% 18..5 Micron Organic Merino & 20% Linen and has 
212m per 100g - NSW
Gauge: 3.5mm - 21.5sts & 35 rows  WPI: 15
Retails at $38

 




FLUFFY NEON DK:

This Donegal nep is a bit special, the neps glow in the dark under Ultraviolet light. The yarn is soft and knits into a lovely drapey fabric. The linen just creates a little extra texture. The yarn sucks up the dye and so lovely strong colours can be created. We used a 4mm needle and this knits as a DK yarn with 4ply yardage.
Composed of 42% 21.5 Micron Merino Wool, 32% Superfine Alpaca, 18% Donegal Neon & 8% Linen with 400m per 100g, NSW

Gauge: 4mm - 20sts & 34 rows  WPI: 14
Retails at $42 a skein


SNUGGLY DK:

This is an a first, an air blown yarn! This construction is a little different, it has baby alpaca inside a cotton cage. It makes the most snuggly fabric, that has a gently halo but not too much fluff. The fabric knitting in this yarn is fantastic, it’s almost a woollen spun texture whilst maintaining the softness and warmth. It takes the dye well, and the cotton cage provides some really nice denim/worn like effects as it will not take acid dyes like the alpaca inside. This yarn will make the best sweaters and accessories.

Composed of 51% Baby Suri Alpaca and 49% Peruvian Pima Cotton with 300m per 100g - NSW
Gauge: 3.5mm - 21sts & 42 rows  WPI: 12
Retails at $42

 

ALPACLOUD DK:

This yarn is like a cloud wrapped around a core, it is light and fluffy, and it gives a poufy fabric with added softness since the ends of the yarns are not exposed but wrapped. It is made of 100% Superbaby Alpaca (19.5 micron) and is Non-Superwash. This takes the dye really nicely, strong colours can be achieved, and as often on alpaca, these appear slightly more muted than on a merino giving it a sophisticated look. Speckles spread softly and look very pretty in this yarn. The fabric is super squishy and soft and would make gorgeous accessories worn against the skin, and the snuggliest of sweaters. This knits as a DK because of the construction.
It has 150m per 50gr and is NSW

Gauge: 3.75mm - 19sts & 32 rows  WPI: 10 
it retails at $40 a skein

 

SWANKY DK:

Swanky DK is a luxurious and absolute stunner of a yarn base! 
The Linen and the Silk give this base a dramatic drape, with the silk adding sheen and the linen a beautiful rustic touch. The Baby Alpaca then comes in to soften the final product and create a yarn base that is just delightfully soft, drapy & robust all at once. The 25% of linen resist the dye, which means this will absorb colours lighter and not display speckles finely.
It is made with 50% Baby Alpaca, 25% Silk & 25% Linen and is a DK with a 2ply construction and 250m per 100gr - NSW

Gauge: 3.25mm - 22sts & 36 rows - WPI: 19
It is retailed at 42$ a skein.


ECO ARAN:

This organic aran has a gentle toothy texture, it is a traditional aran in construction and will work well for sweaters and will cable really nicely. The yarn dyes well, the fibres soften the colours and speckles spread softly on this yarn.
We’ve used a 5mm needle for the swatch and this creates a drapey fabric, but you could go down to a 4.5mm of 4mm for more body.
Composed of 100% Organic South American merino wool
(26.5 Micron) with 166m per 100g - NSW
Gauge: 5mm - 17sts & 26 rows - WPI: 13/14
Retails at $30