KnitPicks Preciosa Tonal

​Knit Picks Preciosa Tonal Yarn 
Available from KnitPicks 
100% Merino Wool Worsted Weight
$11.99 100g Hank
273 yds/Hank

featured in Pokeberry

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I had the thought yesterday that perhaps it would be helpful for me to review more of the yarns I used in my projects. Especially with yarns that are predominately available through online retailers, it's sometimes hard to know what to expect. Today, I'm working on a hat using KnitPicks Preciosa tonal yarn in pokeberry. It is a vivid pink color. On my computer, it looks a little more purple than it is in real life- in real life it is PINK. Like in-your-face pink. But that's okay because that is what I wanted. I read up on this squishy worsted weight yarn, and apparently it was a reserve yarn that was so popular, KnitPicks added it to their permanent collection. There are 16 colors available that include jewel tones as well as black, brown and grey.

The yarn is a single-ply merino wool. What this means is that there is only one strand in the yarn. In contrast, something that is two-ply (or greater) would have two strands of fiber wound together to make the yarn. There is something very special about single-ply yarns. I feel they really allow the fiber to show its natural texture; it reminds me of roving, in a way. This particular single-ply yarn is very squishy and soft, too, which makes it perfect for things like hats or scarves but can also be used for larger projects like sweaters to great effect. In my experience, single-ply yarns can be a little temperamental, I sometimes have trouble with inconsistent thickness and breaking. However, Preciosa seems to be very even and strong; I have not had any trouble with breaks.

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This is a tonal yarn, so the color is variegated as you move through the hank.  I have noticed a little pooling and striping, which sometimes frustrates knitters.  It is not a hand-dyed yarn, so there is some uniformity expected in the yarn's tonal shifts.  I read some other reviews of this yarn that proclaimed it to be self striping, but I have not had quite that severe an experience.  I only mention this so you can plan your project accordingly.  If your last wish is for pooling or subtle striping, this is not your yarn.  The color range within the hank is very nice, not creating too drastic a shift in hue.  In my pokeberry, the color shifted from the dark bubble gum color to the lighter candy pink, but the two extremes are not drastically different from one another, allowing you to create a unified looking project.  I am including a photograph of a swatch done in a 2x2 rib followed be a stockinette stitch so that hopefully you can see the stitch definition (which I think is quite lovely) and the color shifts.  You can see some of the striping that occurred in the stockinette stitch and the pooling that happened in the ribbing.  This, I think, is just a natural part of using variegated yarn, though.

Bottom Line:  I really like this worsted weight single-ply.  It is very soft, feels good while you are knitting it, and is very affordably priced.  The tonal shifts are not crazy, put there can be some pooling or striping in your project.  The colors available are vibrant and fun, it is a yarn that will make you smile.