Andeamo Heavy & Lite... by Jody Long
I i used to think I liked the Lite version of this yarn for garments and the bulky version for hats and cowls. But I just knit the charcoal cardigan shown in the gallery using the "heavy" and I LOVE it. The garment knit up in a weekend on a US 15 needle.
So either weight is as much for garments as for mittens, hats and cowls/scarves.
Both versions have a great hand and drape - I think it is the density of the 15% alpaca in the yarn that gives these yarns their structure and softness along with the memory and resilience you expect from wool (it is 85% Peruvian Highland wool).
Lite:
The recommended gauge for the Lite version is that it be knit at 4.5 st/inch on a US 8. Each 200 gm skein has 437 yards, making it a great value for a garment (most customers use 3 sks for a sweater). The customers who have knit sweaters with it have come back for more. The cowl shown here helps illustrate how good the stitch definition is. The green vest (pattern is Galawa by Feller from Ravelry) is a 47.75 chest and used 2 hanks - with about 60 gms leftover! This garment also shows the lovely stitch definition you can get with this yarn.
For an uber plush and soft 100% baby alpaca yarn at a similar gauge to the Lite, check out Herriot Great! Homestead is another great option if you want to see other options at this 4.5 st/inch gauge. Oh...and the new Llama Hasa is a 100% llama that is lush and lovely at this gauge.
Bulky:
The bulky gauge, as shown in the charcoal cardigan, is recommended knit at 2.5 sts/inch on a US 15 needle. Each 200 gm skein has 175 yards.
For other bulky/chunky gauge yarns, check out &Make Bulky or Rasta.
Both the Lite and Bulky versions of Andeamo are the same price:
Price Per: $24.99
