Cotton yarn: Summer Delight or Genuine All-Rounder?

Cotton is hardwearing, breathable and comfortable; qualities which have made it one of the most popular fibres for garments of all types.  Cotton yarn itself has no elasticity, but your choice of stitch can add stretch to the finished garment.  Cotton yarn has a 'neat', smooth look when compared to wool or alpaca fibre yarns - it doesn't go fuzzy or fluffy.  This is a wonderful attribute when you're looking to do more complicated stitch patterns, as the stitches and patterning are much clearer and visible than in their woollen counterparts. We've used it in the past to make a variety of patterned washcloths and handtowels with great results.

But contrary to popular opinion, you don't have to live in Queensland to enjoy cotton yarns over Winter!  Cotton is a great fibre choice for tops, which can be worn underneath a heavier woollen jacket or coat in the southern states, or as a light jacket in warmer climates.  Whilst its breathability ensures you'll stay comfortable even on the warmest of days, this is a great quality too when working in heated office buildings over the colder months, when heavier garments can become stifling and uncomforable.

Heirloom 8ply Cotton is currently our 'Knit of the Week', so there's never been a better time to try out this 'yarn for all seasons'!

Panda Adds a Splash of Colour!

Panda Feltable Wool 8ply: now more versatile than ever!

Panda Feltable Wool 8ply is now available in six new shades, giving this affordable yet quality Australian pure wool yarn a much needed facelift! We thought we'd take this opportunity to answer a few of the most commonly asked questions about this yarn.

"What is 'Feltable Wool'?"
"Feltable Wool" describes the way the wool will behave when it's subjected to certain conditions.  If you're a felter, one of the methods used to create a "felt" look to a finished garment is to run it through the washing machine several times until the desired look is achieved.  Many wool yarns nowadays are machine washable, and as such, they won't turn to felt when washed this way.  This is great if you want your knitted jumper to maintain it's knitted look; but not so great if you're trying to achieve a felt finish.

"So can I use Feltable Wool for non-felting projects?"
Absolutely!  Panda Feltable Wool is the perfect all-rounder.  Being a pure wool product knitted at a standard 8ply tension, you can use it to knit anything from jumpers to gloves to beanies.  The new range of shades give you the flexibility to knit garments for both children and adults alike.  Just remember though, your finished item will need to be hand-washed to preserve its knitted look.  If hand-washing's not for you, some alternative 8ply wool yarns that are machine-washable include Cleckheaton Country Paint Box, Heirloom Bliss, Heirloom Colorworks, Heirloom Easy Care, Shepherd Colour 4 Me, Shepherd Very Crafty or one of our most popular yarns, Heirloom Merino Magic.  Even with machine washable yarns, we recommend hand-washing when possible; but if not, put your garment into a delicates bag before washing and use a gentle or woollens cycle on your machine.

Panda are offering free patterns and felting instructions for use with this yarn (further details on the ball-band), so if you haven't tried felting before it's a great way to start.

The new shades of Panda Feltable Wool have been unpacked and are ready for immediate sale through our website, so go ahead and plan your new Winter project now!

The vibrant new shades of Feltable Wool 8ply (from left to right): Sunshine, Mauve, Neptune, Pink Candy, Apple and Grape.