Why knit with Suri yarn by Sue Simoton

Why knit with suri yarn? What can I expect?
Fine suri yarn is a beautiful lustrous yarn, warmer than wool, somewhere between cashmere in its softness and silk in its drape and luster. It takes color as beautifully as kid mohair. Lovely to work with, it slips easily through the knitter’s or spinner’s hands.

What are the properties of suri yarn?

Suri yarn’s drape and weight make it perfect for lace, scarves, shawls, vests, jackets and sweaters that are designed to drape rather than cling. Suri is 20% warmer than wool, so fine and open work garments are warm. While it is not as resilient as wool it is more resilient than silk, cotton or bamboo. Suri blocks and holds its shape nicely if it is not made of heavy yarn and not knit loosely.

What does “fine” mean?Fibers are classed by micron. British cashmere is < 19 microns. Vicuna <14 microns. Alpaca, including suri, includes a wide range of fineness and is classed accordingly. Canadians sort with six grades: G1 <20 microns (µ), G2 20 -22.9 µ, G3 23-25.9µ, G4 26-28.9µ. G5 29-32µ, G6 32.1-35µ. Currently U.S. growers are working on a classing system. The fibers’ micron grade will help determine how the yarn is best used as well as its price. Fine suri can be worn next to the skin — coarser fiber can be used for outer wear, rugs or felting.

How do I use my fine suri yarn? How do I find patterns?
Suri — fine, lustrous, sound, consistent in handle and staple length is a luxury fiber. It is soft and so it can be worn next to the skin. Yarn of this fineness is ideally suited to beautiful shawls and scarves but also lace sweaters, christening bonnets and dresses, and wedding veils.

Whether spun in a fine lace weight (250 yds/oz) or a light fingering (75 – 100 yds.oz) it should adapt easily to patterns for such garments. Attention to needle size is important. Generally, go down a needle size or two from a pattern created for wool. Always check gauge!

Patterns for silk and fine cotton and some of the newer fibers should behave much the same as suri as they do not have the elasticity of wool. Patterns for huacaya fall somewhere in between — not as elastic as wool, not as silky as suri or silk. So again, check the gauge.

Fine suri can also be blended with silk, merino, cormo or cashmere — each giving a slightly different yarn.

What do I do with my stronger (coarser) yarns?
Heavier garments of stronger (coarser) fiber do not work well when made of pure suri. A lovely drape in a finer yarn becomes a weighty drag unless great care is taken to knit very firmly. Pure suri in the heavier weights of yarn, worsted and bulky, becomes rather like string. Suri can be blended with wool, preferably a wool of similar staple length and micron count and one with some luster. This makes the yarn lighter, more resilient, suitable for outerwear. Patterns for this weight are most likely to be for wool so checking gauge and needle size is important.

What needles should I choose?

For knitting suri yarn smooth wooden or bamboo needles are good; for lace projects addi lace needles are wonderful. As suri is a slippery yarn, the addi needles have just enough drag to hold the yarn on the needle and are still fast. Both feel good in your hands and hold this soft yarn better than most metal. The size needle can very according to the project. The finer the needle the more stable the finished piece.

Sue Simonton
Little Gidding Farm Suri Alpacas