Blacker Yarns Releases Tamar Range

One of the great pleasures of knitting is squishing yarn, feeling its qualities and the noting the pleasurable difference between a cheap acrylic and proper, natural wool.

Tamar, the latest DK and 4ply yarn range from Blacker Yarns, passes the squish test straight off. I was fortunate to receive a sample before its release date of 3rd March and appearance at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival on the 18th and 19th of March.

Image courtesy of Blacker Yarns

Blacker Yarns prides itself on only using fleece from regional and rare British sheep. The yarns are spun at their mill in Cornwall. A big tick there for the company's British credentials.

My Tamar sample is reply in the colour Loveny, which is a beautiful dark purple shade. Immediately I'm imagining socks or a cable-patterned hat. Blacker Yarns describes the yarn like this:

"Tamar is a lustre blend yarn with a fluid sheen, reminiscent of flowing water and the river which gives this blend its name. This luxurious lustre yarn has been worsted spun to enhance the fibre's inherent drape and shine."

It's certainly shiny and there is an array of shades in both DK and 4ply. Gwindra is a natural, undyed off white. There are 15 other shades to choose from in reds, picks, purples, browns, blues and and greens.

Tamar shades courtesy of Blacker Yarns

The yarn itself is a blend of Wensleydale, Teeswater, Cotswold and Black Leicester Longwool mixed with 30% Cornish Mule. It feels soft to the touch but the company advises that it will get softer with every wash. This makes it perfect for people who may have previously avoided wool thinking that it will be itchy against their skin.

Each 100g skein is priced at £14.70. One skein is enough for many shawl, handwarmer and hat patterns on Ravelry. There will also be some Blacker Yarns patterns to accompany Tamar's launch. I'm looking forward to buying a full skein of Lovely myself and making the post of its beautiful deep lavender colour.