Candide is an ideal yarn for delicate mid-season projects that will benefit from the lightness of wool and the coolness of cotton. It is made from the wool of Arles merinos raised in organic farming in Provence, France and from cotton recycled on the spot by the spinning mill thanks to a patented technique that preserves the length of the fibres. This yarn was dyed and spun in France in the Tarn region by companies with the "living heritage company" label.
To create this palette, part of the wool is dyed with natural plant extracts (indigo, chestnut, reseda aka weld, madder and cochineal) selected for their shade and strength. The dyed and unbleached yarns are then mixed to create the colour range according to the chosen blends and then woolen spun.
The range includes two undyed colours: the unbleached "sucre glace" colour and the "nougat" colour which is a blend of 60% unbleached Arles merino / 10% black French merino and 30% recycled cotton.
Candide has the same technical characteristics as Ulysse: it is a 202 yds (185 m) / 50g yarn, with a traditional 2-ply structure. However, due to the addition of cotton, Candide is a touch softer, and slightly more compact than Ulysse.
The small cotton flecks give it an original texture and create a tweedy look, more or less pronounced depending on the color. Like many woolen spun yarns, this yarn will increase gains in softness and fluffiness once blocked.
Candide is particularly nice with textured stitches but it also brings a very nice natural and relaxed touch to stockinette and garter and gives a lovely earthy look to lace patterns. It can be used for a wide range of patterns written for fingering or sport weight yarns.
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ADVICE & RECOMMENDED CARE
The colors in this range are obtained from a complex process of natural dyeing in wool which makes it possible to have slight variations in shade within the same production batch. Before knitting your project, we advise you to check the homogeneity of the color of the balls between them and to alternate the balls if necessary to distribute the color nuances harmoniously.
Natural dyes are more "living" than synthetic dyes. These colors are likely to change over time as they soften slightly. We have selected the most resistant plants and natural extracts but we advise you to avoid exposing your balls or knitted garments for a long time to direct sunlight.
The colour "grand bleu" (big blue), which contains a high concentration of indigo, may bleed slightly when knitted. This excess dye is easily washed off with soapy water.
To preserve the natural qualities of the wool and to protect our environment, this yarn is not superwash treated. It is advisable to wash your knitted fabric in lukewarm water with a suitable soap or detergent and leave it to dry flat away from direct sunlight, avoiding rubbing or stretching. If you wish to test the cold wool setting of your washing machine, we advise you to do so first with a swatch.
GAUGE (for 10 x 10 cm of st st)
26 st x 40 rows, 2,5 mm needles / US 1
24 st x 38 rows, 3 mm needles / US 2
22 sts x 34 rows, 3.5 mm needles / US 4
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Pattern suggestions for Candide include:
by Midori Hirose
by Tori Yu
by Ozetta
by Emilie Luis
