Now that the holiday season is over, we’re into the winter doldrums. What better way to combat those winter blues than to settle in and knit. This week, I’m knitting with Rozetti Yarns Merino Mist, which sports a shimmer that’s sure to brighten up a dreary winter’s day.
Feather-soft and surprisingly lightweight, this elegant yarn is made from blown construction; meaning the fibers are blown into a mesh tube, which creates a warm halo and results in a light and airy yarn that is reflected in its generous yardage of 167yds [153m] per 50g ball. Merino Mist is comprised of 20% Merino, 60% Viscose, and 20% Acrylic. Viscose is a type of rayon fiber that is made from natural sources such as wood and agricultural products, often bamboo, and is known as artificial silk.
Merino Mist is available in 10 different colors, of which I’ll be using 3 this week – Rain Cloud, Thunder, and Night. Not only do I like the color assortment, I love the names. You might think that I’d select brighter colors to combat the winter blues, but the shimmer of Rain Cloud and Thunder were my inspiration – they reminded me of New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Merino Mist is available in 10 different colors. I’ve chosen to use Rain Cloud (silver), Thunder (black & silver), and Night (black) for my colors this week.
The recommended laundry care for Merino Mist is to hand wash and lay flat to dry. Let’s take a closer look at “blown” yarn construction.
Merino Mist is a blown yarn, meaning the fibers are blown into the shimmering mesh tube, giving it a lovely soft haze.
The mesh tube is likely the Viscose component, and is very similar to an I-cord which provides the shimmer quality to the yarn. The Merino and Acrylic components are blown into the tube and protrude slightly to provide a soft halo around the shimmer. I didn’t photograph Night (black) as the shimmer is so subtle, it’s really only noticeable in bright sunlight. That’s okay with me as I think it really complements the other two colors. Blown yarns do not typically split while knitting like some plied yarns can; nor do they pill easily. They are known for being light, yet warm.
The recommended gauge on the label reads 5-6 sts = 1” using a US 5 – 7 [3.75 – 4.5mm] knitting needle. That’s interesting as it means it should range from a sport to a worsted weight; i.e., 20 – 24 sts per 4” [10cm]. Tomorrow, I’ll put this to the test to determine which gauge I like the best.
For my projects this week, I’ll be making a top down yoke sweater, a cowl, and some arm warmers using my selected colors of Rain Cloud (silver), Thunder (black & silver), and Night (black). Join me tomorrow when I knit some swatches using the three different needle sizes to determine how I proceed with my Merino Mist projects.
