Choosing cashmere
Cashmere yarns are expensive and variable in quality, so I wanted to see if I could find ways to identify a good one before buying and trying it. After pulling apart, swatching, washing and generally abusing three cashmere yarns, I've found I can get a good idea with some simple checks.
New and Discontinued Yarns
New yarn : Cloudborn Highland DK (affiliate link) © Craftsy
New
Berroco
Corsica
– DK
– 90% Cotton, 10% Cashmere
– S on S plied
– Semi-solid colors
Elba
– Worsted
– 100% Cotton
– Tape
– Semi-solid colors
Mykonos
– DK
– 66% Linen, 26% Nylon, 8% Cotton
– Fiber core wrapped
– Solid colors
Cascade Yarns
Anchor Bay
– DK
– 50% Cotton, 50% Superwash Wool
– S on S plied
– Solid colors
Anthem
– Aran
– 100% Acrylic
– Plied
– Solid colors
Cloudborn (by Craftsy)
Highland Roving
– Super Bulky
– 100% Peruvian Highland Wool
– Single ply
– Solid colors
Highland Superwash Sock Twist
– Fingering
– 80% Peruvian Highland Superwash Wool, 20% Nylon
– Tightly plied
– Solid colors
Merino Alpaca Sport
– Sport
– 80% Merino Superwash Wool, 20% Baby Alpaca
– Plied
– Solid colors
Merino Sock Twist
– Fingering
– 80% Merino Superwash Wool, 20% Nylon
– Plied
– Solid colors, Heathers
Superwash Merino Sport Twist
– Sport
– 100% Merino Superwash Wool
– Plied
– Solid colors, Heathers
Conway + Bliss
Cleo
– Aran
– 62% Cotton, 38% Nylon
– Filled tube
– Solid colors
Lolli
– DK
– 80% Cotton, 20% Polyester
– Filled tube
– Dotted colors
Debbie Bliss
Cotton Denim DK
– DK
– 100% Cotton
– Plied
– Semi-solid colors
Rialto Luxury Sock
– Fingering
– 75% Wool, 25% Nylon
– 2 plies
– Self-striping (gradient marls)
Diamond
Luxury Collection Caravan
– DK
– 40% Linen, 32% Cotton, 18% Nettle Fiber, 10% Silk
– 2 plies
– Solid colors
Luxury Collection Pure Donegal Tweed
– Heavy Worsted
– 100% Wool
– Tweedy
– Tweed colors
King Cole
Vogue DK
– DK
– 100% Cotton
– Plied
– Semi-solid colors
Lotus Yarns
Margaux
– Heavy Worsted
– 94% Cotton, 6% Nylon
– Chained
– Solid colors
Louisa Harding
Pittura
– DK
– 75% Wool, 25% Viscose
– Single ply
– Multi-colored
Noro
Ginga
– Super Bulky
– 40% Cotton, 30% Silk, 15% Wool, 15% Nylon
– Single ply
– Multicolored
Mirai
– Sport
– 40% Cotton, 25% Silk, 25% Viscose, 10% Nylon
– Single ply
– Self-striping (gradient)
White Gum Wool
Egret
– Sport
– 70% Merino Wool, 30% Tussah Silk
– Plied
– Solid colors
Discontinued
Araucania
Puelo
– DK
– 100% Llama
– Plied with a soft haze
– Multicolored
Berroco
Floret
– Worsted
– 75% Acrylic, 25% Cotton
– Plied
Karma
– Super Bulky
– 100% Cotton
– Tape
Weekend Chunky
– Bulky
– 75% Acrylic, 25% Cotton
– Plied
Kollage Yarns
Fantastic
– Aran
– 100% Merino Wool
– Plied
Louisa Harding
Grace
– DK
– 50% Silk, 50% Merino Wool
– Single ply
– Solid colors, Multicolored
Plymouth Yarn
Boku
– Aran
– 95% Wool, 5% Silk
– Single ply
– Multicolored
Red Heart
Fiesta
– Aran
– 73% Acrylic, 27% Nylon
– Plied
Kids
– Aran
– 100% Acrylic
– Plied
Super Tweed
– Aran
– 100% Acrylic
– Plied
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