Tried and True

I think sometimes Malabrigo yarns get a bad rap for pilling and lack of strength due to their super-soft-Merino-wool-ness, and I'm here to tell you that I think that's unfair. As a point of proof, check out my Saroyan, the first-ever-shawl I finished 2 years ago in March 2010:

That's my "Yay, Malabrigo!" face.

It's a lovely pattern, a sideways-knit shallow shawl/scarf-like piece with a pretty lace leaf edging.

Colorway: Green Gray

I used Malabrigo Twist, an aran-weight Merino wool composed of 8 plies and it was love-at-first-touch. It is super soft with a nice weight and thickness, and the shawl felt like it flew off my needles. For the 25 repeats I knit, it took just a bit over three skeins knit on size 10 needles.

As times has told, it's one of the warmest things I've ever knit. I wear it constantly in the winter, wound about my face with the ends tied in front, and I've been wearing it a lot lately during chilly mornings on the boat, as well. The poor thing has been tugged on, tucked into coats, tossed around in bags, and has seen its fair share of rain, sleet, snow, frozen breath, seawater, seaweed, and fish slime.

The Saroyan, today.

After all that, it doesn't look half bad. AmIright? I mean, it's fuzzed up a bit, but not to the point where the leaf details are obscured or where there are giant pills hanging off of it everywhere. It hasn't even seen a sweater shaver/sweater stone-- the above photo shows its exact state of wear with no doctoring other than a handwash now and then. For such a short-staple fiber as Merino and for a yarn that sometimes gets a bad rap for looking crappy with wear, I think it's held up quite well to the abuse that I've put it through. So, for those who say Malabrigo pills too much, give Twist a try. I really love the stuff!