This post covers everything you need to know, from buying local yarn in India and knitting with Icelandic yarn.
SOURCING YARN IN INDIA
LOCAL YARN STORES IN INDIA
I have realized that the trouble with buying yarn in India, is that it’s difficult to physically access a local yarn store. There are few anyways, and those that are there are far from where I live. I have complicated this matter by taking a stand about not using yarns with acrylics in them, since they release microplastics when washed. So, not only do I miss browsing in a brick-and-mortar store, but my genuine intent has made things challenging for my business.
Nevertheless, I found some super dependable stores to source yarns made out of cotton, wool, linen, mohair and silk. Most of them are popular and quick to deliver, like Pradhan Embroidery Stores and Magic Needles in Mumbai. Some go the extra mile to deliver my exact requirements, like YarnKart and Sunrays Creations in Bengaluru, ABC Wools in Jodhpur and The Happy Hands Store in Mumbai. Between these 6 stores, I can get Indian and international yarns to work with any project that I want.
YARN STORES OUTSIDE INDIA
There’s however another aspect to my sourcing of yarn. I am privileged and blessed to have family and friends who travel abroad. They not only source the next year’s fancy planner, but also buy yarn for me. Though I am quite the desi girl at heart, my dil goes dhak-dhak for some foreign indulgences like Moleskine, exclusive-to-that-country yarns, haberdashery supplies, crafting tools, stationeries and of course chocolates.
And so, when my brother and SIL visited Iceland last year, and asked me what I wanted, I obviously answered – Icelandic yarn. They went above and beyond to visit stores, showed me yarns via videocall, and considered fiber contents and prices. They even lugged the yarn all the way back home for me! I am so glad and grateful to have these two people in my corner.
THE YARN I GOT – LETTLOPI, AN ICELANDIC YARN
One of the yarns they got me is called Lettlopi (Light Wool), by Istex – Léttlopi – Ístex (istex.is). It’s a 100% Icelandic sheep single ply wool, medium worsted weight. It is a bit ‘hairy’ like mohair, feels soft to touch, gives out a rustic vibe, and actually is quite light in weight. A 50gms skein yields about 100m of yarn, and a 10x10cm square knitted with 4- 5mm needles, results in 18 stitches and 24 rows in stockinette stitch.
I learned that Lettlopi is considered to one of the warmest and most insulating types of wool in the world. This is because the robust sheep adapted themselves to deal with the extreme sub-Arctic climate. Also, they have not been bred with any other type of sheep since centuries. This makes for a very unique and exclusive yarn. It is made up of two strands of unspun Lopi (wool) twisted together –
- thel – inner fiber – fine, soft, and warm, and
- tog – outer fiber – coarse, wiry, long and naturally water-repellent.
I could also find some bits of yarn that seem to be a mix of thel and tog. Both tog and thel also have different colours, which creates such a distinctive look!
Wearables made from this yarn must be handwashed in <30°C and ironed using medium heat. They can be dry cleaned with any solvent, except trichloroethylene, but then I would rather not risk that. As with any handknit product, they can’t be bleached for sure.
THE PATTERN I CHOSE – PURL SOHO’S CLASSIC CUFFED HAT
To best use these gorgeous yarns [Light Ash Heather (0054) and Ash Heather (0056)], I chose to knit the Classic Cuffed Hat by Purl Soho – Classic Cuffed Hat – Purl Soho | Beautiful Yarn For Beautiful Knitting. This is a traditional classic hat, designed by Gina Rockenwagner. Which is why it is the best option, because the yarn needs to be the main character.
THE GAUGE SUGGESTED, AND WHAT I ACHIEVED
Gina used 1 skein of Purl Soho’s worsted weight 100% merino wool for an adult sized hat. Each 100gm skein yields about 150m of yarn, and a 10x10cm square knitted with 4.5mm needles results in 20 stitches and 28 rows. The weight and meterage of Lettlopi didn’t match Purl Soho’s yarn. However, with my 4.5mm needles and hands’ tension, I could achieve a gauge of 21 stitches and 28 rows in a 10x10cm square. This was roughly the recommended gauge for the hat. Eventually I ended up using 27gm of the Light Ash Heather yarn and 48gm of the Ash Heather yarn, so around 75gms in all.
A NEW TECHNIQUE I LEARNED
I tried to start this project with the Long Tail Tubular Cast On as suggested by Gina. It is tricky, I have to admit, especially since I find Long Tail Cast On itself to be challenging. I am more of a Cable Cast On person. But to achieve that gorgeous elastic edge, where it seems like the stitches go around the brim of the hat – its best to do what Gina says. It’s not that the cast on was tough, but the three set-up rows to begin the 2×2 ribbing portion was difficult. I would forget to knit the behind leg of the stitch, and sometimes purled instead of slipping with the yarn in front. Small learning curve, but smooth sailing after that.
MY ADDITIONS TO THE HAT
As a curly girl, I know how important it is to protect hair from breakage and damage from wool. So, I am definitely adding a satin lining to this hat. A quick trip to my favourite fabric centre is on the agenda now. Also as suggested by Gina, I will be adding a medium sized pompom to the hat – I chose to add some black yarn, to make it really stand out. A logo and a wash, and then this hat is good to be sold.
MY PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE YARN
Honestly, I love the way this hat turned out! It looks warm, feels soft, and of course the yarn was a dream to work with. This blog post only shows snippets of what I made, so that I can maintain some level of suspense for next year’s drop. My thoughts about this yarn:
- Lettlopi knitted up really well, I didn’t observe any yarn splitting as such. I used KnitPro Nova’s interchangeable metal needles.
- Knitting with Icelandic yarn in India’s post-monsoon heat was certainly a challenge. The next time I work with this yarn, it will only be in December and January.
- Using the suggested needle size helped me to create a dense fabric. I have some more of this yarn left, and I am going to try larger needles – maybe 6mm – to see if I can knit a slightly open fabric.
If you’re a knitter looking for a quick and easy hat to make, this pattern is for you! Even though Lettlopi isn’t available in India, it’s not that difficult to find 100% wool in medium worsted weight. Check out some of the stores I mentioned earlier for some in-house and branded (Indian and international) yarns. And of course, it goes without saying, if you aren’t a knitter and want a hat like this, you know which Bee to contact haha!
Have you ever tried knitting with Icelandic yarn or seen Icelandic knitwear? Do you have an Icelandic hat or sweater that you love? Share your own project or knitwear photos in the comments!