I recently received a parcel from
Blacker Yarns containing their new Special Blend Knitting yarn – Samite. This
yarn, Samite, was created to celebrate Blacker Yarns' 15th anniversary in the
market.
I've been a fan of Blacker Yarns for a
few years now and have used their products to create numerous designs for both
children and adults. I even had the opportunity to visit their team in June
this year, which you can read about in my post.
So, I was thrilled to try this new
addition and experiment with different stitches, comparing it to their existing
products. Let's take a closer look at these lovely skeins and explore what we
can knit with them.
Yarn story
The story behind Samite yarn is a
tribute to Cornwall, celebrating the county's connection to the Arthurian
legends in local folklore and literature. In the Middle Ages, Samite was known
as a luxurious and heavy silk fabric.
Blacker Yarns' Samite range is crafted
from a blend of 15% recycled silk, smooth drapey Blue Faced Leicester, and the
airy froth of Shetland wool. This unique combination of pale and dark fibers
results in a yarn with rich colors and delicate silk nepps. Samite retains the
characteristic bounce of Shetland wool and is more durable than the standard
silk blend, making it perfect for colorwork, cables, and texture.
The yarn palette consists of eight
colors, including one undyed and seven brightly dyed shades. All colors are
named after characters from the legends of King Arthur: Merlin (Undyed),
Lancelot, Guinevere, Uther Pendragon, Gawain (The Green Knight), Nimue (The
Lady of the Lake), Galahad, and Morgan Le Fay.
Technical Information.
The Samite yarn is available in both
fingering and DK weights, offering a total of eight beautiful shades. These
colors provide endless possibilities for stunning colorwork projects. The range
includes subtle heather tones like Uther Pendragon, Gawain, and Galahad, as
well as vibrant options such as Lancelot, Morgan Le Fay, and Nimue.
Additionally, there are natural blends like Merlin (undyed) and the taupe/brown
shade Guinevere. What I particularly appreciate is how well each shade
complements both natural colors and other shades within its own color family.
Among my personal favorites are the two green hues and the bright shades:
Lancelot, described as pink but closer to a muted beetroot color in my opinion,
and Nimue, a vibrant pop of yellow that pairs beautifully with Galahad (dark navy
colour).
Swatching:
I created three swatches using different
techniques and two different needle sizes, all of which have been properly
blocked.
1. The
first swatch, done in stockinette, was knit using 3.75 mm (US 5) knitting
needles with a gauge of 19 stitches per 10cm/4 inches. I measured the size of
the swatch before and after blocking, confirming that the fabric retains its
size after washing, which is a fantastic characteristic.
2. The
second swatch features cables and was knit on 4 mm needles, a more common
choice for DK weight yarn. The cables look neat and beautiful after blocking,
making this yarn an excellent choice for Aran projects.
3. My
third swatch showcases twisted stitches, a technique I'm currently addicted to.
I could not resist adding a garter stitch background (and moss stitch to my
cable swatch, as you may have noticed) to some triangles. This swatch was also
knit on 4mm needles.
As you can see, the Samite blend
performs wonderfully on all three swatches, resulting in a soft fabric with a
slightly rustic appearance, thanks to the recycled silk and the yarn's subtly
uneven colour.
I have not explored lacy stitches yet,
as I am not particularly fond of lace knitting on 4mm needles with DK weight
yarn. However, I am confident that Samite in 4-ply weight would be ideal for
creating delicate and beautiful lace garments and accessories.
You can read more about the yarn and obtain it from Blacker Yarns website here.
Project Ideas with Samite:
Samite is incredibly soft and
comfortable against the skin. I thoroughly recommend it for various knitting
projects, ranging from snug cozy hats to warm oversized sweaters. It's also an
excellent choice for children's knits since it's non-itchy, creates a bouncy
and flexible fabric, and maintains its quality after washing.
Here are a few of my designs that I
would be delighted to reknit using the Samite blend:
1. Chainring Hat
2. Saunter Sweater
3. Saunter Poncho
4. Cable Whisper Vest
