Ideal

Named after the Uruguayan term for the Polwarth breed of sheep, Ideal (said "ee-day-AL") is a yarn spun from 100% mulesing-free Polwarth wool.

The natural attributes of Uruguay's landscape and the dedication of Manos del Uruguay's breeders produce a yarn that marries durability and resilience with the unparalleled warmth and next-to-skin comfort of Polwarth.

Ideal is a 4-ply worsted-weight non-superwash yarn that is sourced, spun, and hand-dyed in Uruguay. Vibrant, bright, and perfect for matching and colorwork, these hues and the amazing qualities of the base bring endless possibilities!

All of Manos del Uruguay yarns are hand dyed. The artisans use big kettles heated by wood-fueled boilers, dyeing in small batches creating wonderful colors. The colors of Manos yarns are bright and wild, full of nuances and variations. No two skeins are the same, each one is unique, a testimony of a particular moment.

Due to the small batch hand-dyed process, there may be differences in colors between skeins. Order enough yarn for your project for a better likelihood that skeins will match. Alternate skeins where needed.

All Manos del Uruguay yarns are mulesing-free.

Our notes

After making a few of our own projects with this yarn, here's what we've found:

Very nice workhorse yarn: This is a great standard, classic workhorse worsted-weight yarn. The four-ply construction makes it very durable without sacrificing drape or texture.

Colors work up well: the colors and dye patterning of both the tonals/semi-solids and multi-colored colorways all work up very nicely without any strange pooling.

Soft and pleasant: Anyone ultra-sensitive to the prickle factor might have issues with this yarn, but for most of us here, it's next-to-skin soft (even Stephanie, who's notoriously sensitive to prickly wool). It's not as soft as its sister yarn Maxima, but the plied nature of it makes it hardier and more wear-resistant for longer-lasting pieces. This is the perfect yarn for heavier sweaters or other accessories you want to cherish for a long time.

Swatch details

All swatches were wet blocked before measuring.

Knit

• Colors: Nymph, Akita
• Swatcher: Avery
• Needles: 4.5mm (US 7)
• Stitch: Stockinette with a seed stitch border
• Gauge: 18 stitches and 27 rows per 4" / 10cm

Crochet

• Colors: Nymph, Akita
• Swatcher: Avery
• Hook: 5.5mm
• Stitch: Half double crochet
• Gauge:
  • Nymph: 15 stitches and 12 rows per 4" / 10cm
  • Akita: 15 stitches and 13 rows per 4" / 10cm

Nalbind

• Colors: Nymph, Akita
• Swatcher: Stephanie
• Tension: Needle, 26mm (Nymph) / 20mm (Akita) circumference
• Stitch: Oslo F1
• Gauge:
  • Nymph: 30 stitches and 16 rows per 4" / 10cm 
  • Akita: 34 stitches and 20 rows per 4" / 10cm

Weave

• Colors: Nymph, Akita
• Swatchers: Avery, Stephanie
• Sett: 8 ends per inch
• Structure: Plain weave, 32 (Nymph) / 47 (Akita) picks per inch
• Warp: Size 10 crochet cotton

Yarn details