KNITmuch Issue 10

Knitting with Alaska yarn – soft and airy
Cindy O'Malley
I’ve been exploring Rozetti Yarns Alaska – a light
and airy yarn that surrounds you with warmth and
softness.
When I was first introduced to Alaska, it softly
whispered “touch me”. I was not disappointed, as
it is as soft on the hands as it appeared to be. The
type of softness that makes you squish it up to your
neck, the true test of softness.
Frozen Pond and Stormy colorways in Rozetti Yarns Alaska
The 8-color palette is equally soft with color names
like Icicle, Peach Puff, and Frozen Pond to name a few,
that are representative of an Alaskan powder puff.
When I read the label, there were several things
about it that surprised me. One of which is the
gauge. The yarn is rated as a DK/Light Worsted (3)
with a recommended needle size of US 5 [3.75mm]
to achieve a gauge of 20 stitches and 26 rows
over 4” [10cm]. As a gauge knitter, I would typically
expect to achieve this for most yarns with a US 7
[4.5mm].
Another pleasant surprise is the yardage. A 50g ball
contains a generous 246yds [225m], which is what
you would typically expect from a 100g ball of light
worsted. This speaks to the lightness and airiness of
the fiber.
The fluffiness of the yarn gives it an aura, making it
difficult for the eyes to focus on an individual strand.
Alaska is comprised of 44% Acrylic, 15% Alpaca,
15% Super Wash Fine Merino, and 26% Polyamide.
Although there is a high synthetic content, the
most delicate of the fibers, in this case Alpaca,
dictate the laundering requirements. The
recommended laundry care is hand wash, lay flat
to dry, and no iron.
I’m not what you would call a devoted yarn snob –
only a somewhat yarn snob. What’s more important
to me than the yarn content is the following:
1) Are the colors pleasing to me,
2) Do I like the feel of the yarn,
3) Do I like knitting with it, and most important of all,
4) Do I like wearing the finished project.
The fluffiness of the yarn gives it an aura.
12 KNITmuch | issue 10
Photos by Cindy O'Malley