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Let Them Knit Cake

I don’t know about you, but I call a skein that’s been wound on a ball winder a “cake” of yarn. Often to giggles and smiles from knitters – and a few jokes about calories.

But now Tina’s done us one better: she’s given us not one, but TWO yarns called CAKE…!!

Only super-delicious merino could deserve such an appellation. This is bouncy, happy fiber at its yummiest best. Every time I think about ways to describe Cake Worsted and Cake DK, I come up with images of ultra-happy, puffy, clean things: like fluffy cosmetic puffs, or a baby’s head right after a bath, or fat ducklings waddling after their mamas.

Yup, they are that happy and bouncy.

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CAKE Worsted is a plump 4-ply (four plies, four candles – get it?!) that knits up like a dream in the light-worsted range. I did a series of swatches from a size US6 (4mm) to a US8 (5mm), and got great, balanced stitches throughout. On the smaller needle sizes, you get crisp stitch definition and fantastic snap-back, and a gauge around 20 sts x 31 rows per 4″/10cm. Great for pullovers and cardigans where you want a little body without a ton of weight. There’s so much buoyancy in here (hence the comparison to fluffy cotton balls)!

On the looser end of the worsted range, I was geting a more fluid fabric that still wasn’t sheer, and had great integrity for all that it was opened up. A US8 got me 17 sts x 27 rows – and a perfect fabric for open, drapey cardigans or fun accessories.

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Speaking of fun accessories, I couldn’t wait to cast on for a cozy cowl, and my internet buddy pariserlandluft fulfilled my wishes with a brand-new pattern, i_n_t_a.

Simple columns of twisted stitches on a field of reverse stockinette really let this yarn show off its great stitch definition. And it was such a pleasure and simple to knit that it was done nearly before I knew it! I would highly recommend this as a tasty way to try out CAKE Worsted. “Just a slice for me, thanks.” “Oh another? I couldn’t possibly… well, if you insist.”

Pert and springy on the needles, the fabric of this cowl just relaxed and softened with blocking. Now I can hardly bear to take it off (good thing April’s coming in like a lion as we speak! Winter woolies can’t go in the closet just yet.)

unnamed-4CAKE DK is a 3-ply, with a tiny bit more halo than the Worsted. It’s so drapey and soft, you’d think there’s some alpaca or other long-staple fiber in there. But its merino pedigree shines through when you knit it through its gauge range and block your swatches – pert and bouncy to start, your swatches will relax with blocking and just transition into the most gorgeous flowy-yet-reliable fabric imaginable.

I swatched it on a range of needles from US4 (3.5mm) to US7 (4.5mm), and the fabric is lovely throughout the range. Down on the smaller needle sizes, you’ll get a true DK gauge (22 sts in 4″/10cm) and a fabric that has integrity with flow – perfect for cardigans or pullovers. Opened up a bit, you can get close to a tight-light-worsted gauge (around 20.5 sts) with a ton of drape. I’m sure there are a few sweaters in the new Cocoknits Sweater Workshop that I just have to try in Cake DK. Or maybe the new Churchmouse Quintessential Cardigan…? As I told Tina after swatching both CAKES – this might just be my ultimate sweater yarn. (And that’s saying a lot – this girl loves her some sweaters!)

In the meantime, I’m taking the rest of this skein and casting on Hunter Hammersen’s Compunction mitts. All those great twisted/traveling stitches should knit up a dream!

No matter how you slice it, CAKE is a fantastic new range of yarns – I can’t wait for you all to serve yourself up a skein and eat … I mean knit it all up!

Dang. All this talk of CAKE got me so hungry, a girl had to go bake herself one to dig into while we cast on! unnamed-5

Happy birthday, CAKE!

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