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    Anne of the Island | Cashmere Blend

    Cashmere Blend is a step up.

    This is the most luxurious yarn I dye, and not something you'll find even in your local yarn shop. Most MCN blends are made with 10% cashmere, but my Cashmere Blend has double that amount. It's a plump fingering weight yarn made of 70% extrafine merino wool, 20% cashmere, and 10% nylon. It has a tight twist and 3-ply structure that makes texture and cables pop.

    What can you make with it?

    Your knitted fabric will be softer than anything you can imagine. It's also drapey and plush, which is a stunning combination. You can make:

    • Shawls and cowls that will be super soft and warm.
    • Lightweight sweaters that are perfect for transitional seasons like late autumn or early spring. The cashmere content gives them extra warmth.
    • Socks, too. I've used Cashmere Blend for socks for several years, and they are plush and luxurious.

    What do my dye colors look like?

    My colors are rich, layered and complex. Tonals shine on Cashmere Blend and speckles are sublime: tiny, crisp, and with just a dash of watercolor smudge.

     

    Yarn specifications

    Cashmere Blend
    70% superwash merino wool, 20% cashmere & 10% nylon
    420 yards | 115 grams
    3-ply construction
    superwash

    Gauge
    My ideal sweater gauge for Cashmere Blend is 24 to 27 sts to 4 inches, which I usually achieve on a US size 3 or 4 needle (3.25 to 3.5 mm)

    My ideal sock gauge for Cashmere Blend is 32 sts to 4 inches, which I achieve with a size 2.25mm needle.

    Provenance
    Merino wool grown in New Zealand
    Cashmere grown and nylon created in Italy
    Yarn spun in Canada

    Pattern recommendations

    Cashmere Blend
    sweater gauge of 24 to 26 sts to 4 inches:

    Birch Pullover by Andrea Mowry

    Gaon Cardigan by Soomin Ahn (links to Ravelry)

    Slightly Sassy V by Aimee Sher

    Solitude cardigan by Kirsten Joel

    Cashmere Blend + Mohair Silk Lace held together
    sweater gauge of 18 to 22 sts to 4 inches:

    Love Note by Tin Can Knits

    Silver Bells by Tin Can Knits

    Uniform cardigan by Carrie Bostick Hoge (links to Ravelry)

    Do you need to alternate skeins?

    For socks, no. For garments and shawls that use more than one skein, yes. All of my yarn is dyed by hand in small batches of four skeins. There will be variations in color intensity and placement. I think that’s part of what makes each skein perfect – they’re not identical. If you will be using more than 1 skein in your project, alternate skeins to blend any color differences.

    Caring for your finished item

    My yarn should always be hand-washed with a gentle wool wash and cold-water rinse.

    Depending on the difference in chemistry between your local water and mine, there may be some color residue in the wash process. Washing and rinsing in cold water will help to minimize this.

    Always let your knitted item air dry to prevent shrinking or felting and to keep your item looking its best.