Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Yarn Review: RYC Silk Wool DK

Judging by the number of comments on the last post, the results of my personality test apparently did scare some people away. I will try to be more agreeable and less neurotic from now on.

But this is a yarn review! Here it is, without further ado.

Silky Woolly GoodnessSilk Wool DK is a new fall yarn from RYC. It is 50% spun silk, 50% merino wool, and 100% luxury. From the moment that Amy showed me the little bits of yarn on the color card, I knew that I wanted to knit with this yarn.

What first attracted me to the yarn was the sheen of the silk. This sheen is so intense that the yarn appears to be glowing from a light within, a quality that is difficult to photograph. The appeal of the yarn is furthered by the extreme softness of the yarn. I can easily imagine this yarn being used in a slinky, skin-tight sweater for a special evening out.

SilkWoolPliesThe yarn is a tightly-spun, 4-ply yarn that has a springy, bouncy feel that initially reminded me of Karabella Aurora 8. In fact, Silk Wool knits up into a fabric that behaves and feels similar to the fabric knit from Aurora 8. Thanks to the wool content, ribbing is very grabby and cables pop nicely. However, the yarn also has a nice crunch to it due to the high percentage of silk. RYC has done a masterful job blending these two fibers such that the superior qualities of each are well represented.

The yarn texture is generally smooth, though the yarn does bloom a little with washing and friction. Thankfully, the sheen of the silk is not muted by the slight surface fuzz. Silk Wool is easy to work with and is not prone to splitting, but I have snagged a few stitches as I knit. When snagged, the silk fibers tend to pull out and create a fuzzy poof in the fabric that cannot be easily worked back into the fabric. So if you have rough skin on your hands like I do, be sure to keep your hands well moisturized when working with this yarn!

SilkWoolCableI am thoroughly enjoying my experience with Silk Wool. It has already gained a place in my “favorite yarns” list. If money were no object, I could think of many sweaters that I would want to knit with it.

Silk Wool comes in 50 g balls (100 m or 109 yds) and has a recommended gauge of 22 stitches and 30 rows in 4 inches. It is currently available in ten muted colors, which include pastels and rich, dark colors. I am working with “Velvet” color #307. The RYC Classic Style book contains 16 patterns using Silk Wool. The patterns include several pullovers and cardigans, two vest, three bags, and a scarf.

19 comments:

Valerie said...

That looks really wonderful! Thanks for the review!

And please don't stop being neurotic and less than agreeable (un-agreeable? non-agreeable?)!

Anonymous said...

The wool looks so shiny in a good way, perfect for a special project. I will try to look at it in person for the "touch" factor.

p.s. Shhhh...according to that test, I'm about as neurotic as you are, but I was too afraid to post it on my blog. :) Glad to have a kindred spirit out there.

amylovie said...

Great post Laura. I'm glad you are enjoying it.

Consider yourself entered.

Amy

Anonymous said...

Wow, I've missed that one. I'm knitting with RYC Natural Silk Aran and I'm in love with that. But this sound yummy as well!

Here's a pic of the RYC Natural Silk Aran:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketsc1ent1st/242384130/

Elizabeth said...

Eat a few bon bons and spend the morning with your favorite knitters, then take the test again. Neuroses will be way down, agreeableness, way up and you'll see what a flawed test it really is.

The sweater is looking gorgeous, bobbles and all.

Meredith said...

Yummm...that is some nice looking yarn!

Stephanie said...

Oooh - me like! That stitch definition looks awesome!

Jennifer said...

Sounds lovely! I love how it makes the cables pop!

Karen said...

The cables are gorgeous! I may have to find something to make out of that yarn...it calls to me. Wait, all yarn calls to me. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh my god, that sweater is gorgeous. Look at those fantastic cables. And the bobbles don't even look like bobbles. Oh, I'm just drooling in envy.
I hate that personality test, btw.

soapy said...

looks and sounds beautiful! Lovely color too!

Nana Sadie said...

I didn't like the looks of the results on that test when I took it either, but if you READ what it says in detail, it was pretty darn close for me anyway...Odd way of putting things, if you ask me.

I LOVE this yarn - that color - and your sweater is gorgeous!
(((hugs)))

Sarah said...

This yarn looks awesome!

If I didn't have, like 12 sweaters worth of yarn in the stash....

Love the color, and the cables!

Anonymous said...

Shiny!

I'm not afraid of you or your personality test; I'm just lazy (guess who didn't do so well on "conscientiousness").

monkeemaven-fruitcakeknits said...

50% + 50% + 100% = MATH IS HARD!

Anonymous said...

well no matter how hard you may try, you haven't scared me away.

Thanks for the review, very informative.

Gina said...

lovely color!!!
and what lovely cable :D

Jes said...

Thanks for the review!
The cabling is absolute stunning =)

Anonymous said...

I want I want I want. I'm not even going to look at what it's selling for per ball, though, because it'll only make me sad.

I will grudgingly acknowledge, by the way, that your bobbled cables look pretty nice. I think you could definitely getting away with not debobbling them when you get the sweater back. (Really I only wrote this paragraph so I could work in the word "debobbling," which brings me great pleasure. Go ahead, say it out loud.)