Schachenmayr Yarn

Schachenmayr yarn comes from a German manufacturer of hand-knitting yarns, with cotton, acrylic, merino wool and mohair blends in the range. If you are looking for Schachenmayr wool, you can choose from Catania, Merino Extrafine 120, Bravo and Soft & Easy in many shades. Each range has a different length per ball and recommended needle size, so choose your range to suit the project first, then pick your colour. You can compare yarns from other brands in the knitting yarn category.

Which Schachenmayr yarn range suits your project?

For summer garments and crocheted toys, choose cotton Catania; for warm jumpers, Merino Extrafine 120; and for blankets, acrylic Soft & Easy in 100 g balls. The Bravo ranges are acrylic yarns for everyday clothing and accessories, while Bravo Baby 185 is their finer version for children's items.

Cotton, acrylic or merino: how do they feel when worn?

Cotton is a plant fibre that absorbs moisture and does not provide warmth, so Catania is used to knit summer tops, T-shirts and clothing for warm days. It is strong with little stretch, giving stitches and patterns clear definition, which you will also appreciate when crocheting toys. Catania Color is the multicoloured version of Catania with the same length per ball, while Catania Grande is thicker and knits up faster. You will find cotton from other brands in cotton yarn.

Merino is fine sheep's wool that provides warmth even in a thin knit and does not itch, making Merino Extrafine 120 suitable for jumpers, hats and scarves worn next to the skin. The acrylic in the Bravo and Soft & Easy ranges is lightweight and stands up well to washing, so it is used for baby blankets and everyday accessories. Mohair blends, such as Pebble Mohair for 5.5–6 mm needles, give knitted fabric a fuzzy, airy surface. You will find more soft wools in merino yarn.

How many balls should you buy, and how do you get the size in the pattern?

When substituting the yarn in a pattern, compare length rather than weight: 50 g of Catania has 125 m, but 50 g of Catania Grande has only 63 m. Divide the required length in metres by the length per ball of your chosen range, then round up to whole balls. Buy the full quantity for one item at the same time, as shades from different dye lots can vary slightly.

The recommended needle size in the table is a starting point, rather than a rule. Before making a jumper, knit a 10 × 10 cm swatch and count the stitches: if you have more than the pattern states, try needles half a millimetre thicker; if you have fewer, use thinner needles.