We have a very special fiber joining space this week: WoolDreamers Manchelopis. Like all of WoolDreamers’ yarns, Manchelopis is a breed-focused, heritage fibers – 100% Manchega sheep’s wool.
Manchega sheep are native to the La Mancha region, and have been bred there for centuries. These sheep are cultivated for their milk, and you may be more familiar with the cheese we get from them! Manchego cheese must be made with 100% Manchega sheeps milk, and that history is in each skein of yarn.
Not typically raised for their wool, WoolDreamers wanted to highlight the softness and quality of the fleece. Our test knitter had the following to say:
Manchelopis is this unique pencil-roving style yarn that can cover a lot of ranges for your knitwear. This yarn is unspun, and it makes every skein look like a cloud of woolly cotton candy. If you always loved the look of the traditional Lopapeysa colorwork sweaters, this yarn would be a great soft option for making one!
Tips on working with this unspun yarn:
The manufactured plate-like wheels are wound into 2 strands of the yarn, which you can knit anywhere from US#7 to US#15 range of needle sizes. Two strands will provide more structure, yet remains lightweight. However, you can also work with just 1 strand throughout without needing to split each wheel into its individual skein, simply by working each strand in turn. For example, if working flat you can easily make it work by using a circular needle. Work the right side row once with one strand of yarn, then slide the stitches of your circular needle to the beginning of the right side row again, and now work it with the second strand. This expands your possibilities to use even smaller needle sizes from US#2 to US#6, as well as implement any additional colors to create fun custom striping sequences! If using Manchelopis this way, you will find 503 yards in each 3.52oz wheel of yarn!
Working it single-stranded requires some delicacy, as it doesn’t need much tensioning at all. It is also very easy to spit-splice to rejoin the yarn strands invisibly. Easy and quick to soak, your projects will dry in a blink of time!
If you are looking to make this fiber even more structured and softer in a project, consider carrying it along with a silk mohair or cashmere lace weight yarns to provide additional drape and halo.
As delicate as the yarn is, the final fabric is incredibly soft and strong. WoolDreamers encourages us to treat this yarn as an experience, to slow down and really enjoy the process of knitting.
Yarn Details:
- Fiber: 100% Manchega Wool
- DK Weight
- 503 yards / 100 gram cake
- 25 sts and 34 rows per 4″, size 3mm/US 3 needle
- Hand Wash, dry flat
Pattern Picks:
Magnolia Bloom
Sizes:
- CHEST CIRCUMFERENCE:
(93) 103 (113) 120 (132) 142 cm
27,5 /29,5/ 31,5 / (33,5 / 35,4 / 37,4) / 39,4 / 41,3 / 43,3 / {45,2 / 47,2} inches
MATERIALS
Yarn:
- 2953 – 3937 yards (2700 – 3600 m), strands held double
Needles:
-
US 10 – 6.0 mm7.0 mm
Miles Shirt Jacket
Sizes
- XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL) 5XLFinished Bust Circumference – 43 (45½) 48 (52) 56 (60½) 64½ (67) 71” 109 (116) 122 (132) 142 (154) 164 (170) 180 cmThe Miles Shirt-Jacket has around 11-12” 28-30 cm of positive ease built into the pattern. Sizes XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL) 5XL correspond to a bust circumference of 32 (34) 36 (40) 45 (49) 53 (56) 60” 81 (86) 91 (102) 114 (124) 135 (142) 152 cminal size of garment will be an additional 11-12” 28-30 cm).
Yarn:
- Aran Weight –
917 (992) 1162 (1238) 1427 (1475) 1662 (1739) 1923 yds
839 (907) 1063 (1132) 1305 (1349) 1520 (1590) 1758 m
400 (400) 500 (500) 600 (600) 700 (700) 800 gSuggested Yarn – Wooldreamers Manchelopis (100% wool, 100 g = 253 yds) 4 (4) 5 (5) 6 (6) 7 (7) 8 plates
Needles:
- 6 mm (US Size 10) 16” and 32-40”, or the required needles to obtain gauge
5 mm (US Size 8) 16”, or two sizes down from main needles
Travelers Cardigan
Sizes:
- XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL) 5XLFinished Bust Circumference – 35 (39) 42 (47) 51 (55) 57 (61) 65” 89 (99) 107 (119) 130 (140) 145 (155) 165 cmGauge – 15 sts and 24 rows = 4 x 4” 10 x 10 cm in stockinette st, both flat and in the round on larger needles, blocked
Yardage:
- Yarn – Aran Weight –
539 (609) 742 (886) 984 (1123) 1239 (1351) 1484 yds
493 (557) 678 (810) 900 (1027) 1133 (1235) 1357 m
300 (300) 300 (400) 400 (500) 500 (600) 600 gSuggested Yarn – Wooldreamers Manchelopis (100% wool, 100 g = 253 yds) in colorway Blue, 3 (3) 3 (4) 4 (5) 5 (6) 6 plates
Needles:
- 6 mm (US Size 10) 16” and 32-40”, or the required needles to obtain gauge (main needles – used for body and sleeves)
5 mm (US Size 8) double-pointed needles, or two sizes down from main needles (used for button band)
5 mm (US Size 8) 16” and 32-40”, or two sizes down from main needles (used for hem, collar, and cuffs)
Dittany
Sizes:
Adjustable.
210 cm – 82 ¾“ long
46 cm – 18” deep
Yardage:
450 meters – 495 yards of heavy DK to Worsted weight yarn.
Needles:
6 mm (US 10) needles
Lolancha Mitts
Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4) Palm circumference: 6.5 (7.5, 7.5, 9.5) inches [16.5 (19, 19, 24) cm] Cuff circumference: 6.5 (7.5, 8.5, 9.5) inches [16.5 (19, 22, 24) cm]
Yardage:
- 130 – 230 yards (119 – 210 m)
Needles:
- US 7 – 4.5 mm