Welcome our newest addition to space: Manos del Uruguay’s Ideal! The yarnitas love Manos for both its products and its commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. We’re thrilled to have their new 100% Polwarth yarn just in time for stitching cozy cold-weather projects.

Meet the sheep: Polwarth

Ideal (pronounced ee-day-AL) is a bouncy worsted weight 4-ply yarn spun from Polwarth sheep raised in Uruguay. The breed is most commonly raised in parts of South America and Australia, where it originated. Like Merino wool, Polwarth is long-stapled, which results in a soft yet strong yarn that is highly resistant to pilling. The wool’s characteristics also result in excellent stitch definition, making Polwarth wool a great choice for cabling, ribbing, and other projects where you want your stitches to pop! Plus, Ideal holds the vibrant Manos dyes beautifully.

About the Manos Coop

By now, you know we’re fans of the Manos del Uruguay yarns we carry for their quality and vivid colorways, but we also support their mission to produce their products ethically and sustainably, starting with the land to all the way to the stitcher. Manos is a non-profit worker-owned cooperative that has been a member of the World Fair Trade Organization since 2009. The co-op spans 12 different villages in Uruguay, which care for the land, raise sheep, produce yarns, make garments, and ultimately give back to their communities.

The co-op was created in 1968 to further the lives of Uruguayan women through building financial independence and a stronger community. If you’ve ever looked at a Manos tag on a hank of Alegria, you’ll find out exactly who from the co-op dyed your skein–making the production process truly traceable and personal!

Yarn Details

• Worsted (4) weight
• 100% Polwarth wool, 4-ply
• Approximately 219 yards (200 meters)/100 grams
• $29 and available in-store only

Project Ideas

Minas Sweater

   

Sizing

Sizes 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Bust circumference: 42.75 (46, 49.25, 54, 58, 62.75, 66, 69.25)”

This garment has an oversized fit and is intended to be worn with about 8” of positive ease.

Yarn

Manos del Uruguay Ideal (100% Polwarth wool), approximately 220 yards/100 grams

• Color A: 2 (2, 2, 2 , 3, 3, 3, 3) skeins
• Color B: 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) skeins
• Color C: 2 (2, 2, 2 , 2, 2, 3, 3) skeins
• Color D: 1 (1,1, 1, 1,1, 2, 2) skeins
• Color E: 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2) skeins

Needles and Notions

• US #10.5 32” to 40” circular knitting needles, or size to obtain gauge
• US #10.5 16” to 20” circular knitting needles, or size to obtain gauge
• US #9 32” to 40” circular knitting needles, or size to obtain gauge
• US #9 16” to 20” circular knitting needles, or size to obtain gauge
• US #9 DPNs or size to obtain gauge
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle

Gauge

20 stitches by 20 rows = 4” in colorwork pattern from chart using larger needles, after blocking.

Fraile Cardigan

   

Sizing

Sizes 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Bust circumference: 40.75 (43.25, 45.5, 47.5, 51, 55.75, 60.75, 67.5)” buttoned, with 1.25” front bands overlapped.

This garment has a relaxed fit and is intended to be worn with about 6” of positive ease.

Yarn

Manos del Uruguay Ideal (100% Polwarth wool), approx. 219 yards/100 grams

• Color A: 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 7) skeins
• Color B: 3 (3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6) skeins

Held with

Manos del Uruguay Cabrito (80/5 kid mohair, 20% polyamide), approx. 230 yards per 25 grams or other mohair

• 6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12) skeins

Needles and Notions

• US#9 32” to 40” circular knitting needles,  or size to obtain gauge
• US#9 16” to 20” circular knitting needles, or size to obtain gauge
• US#10 16” to 20” circular knitting needles, or size to obtain gauge for ribbing
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• 5 1” buttons

Gauge

14 stitches and 32 rows = 4” in half fisherman’s rib

Ideal Hat

Sizing

Finished measurements: 17” circumference, unstretched, x 8” tall

Yarn

Manos del Uruguay Ideal (100% Polwarth wool), approx. 219 yards/100 grams

• Color A: 1 skein
• Color B: 1 skein
• Color C: 1 skein

Needles and Notions

• US#6 16” circular knitting needles, or size to obtain gauge
• US#8 16” circular knitting needles, or size to obtain gauge
• US#8 DPNs
• Removable stitch marker
• Tapestry needle

Gauge

18 stitches and 25 rows = 4 inches in tick stitch stripes

Ideal Cowl

 

Sizing

Finished measurements: 26” circumference x 7” tall

Yarn

Manos del Uruguay Ideal (100% Polwarth wool), approx. 219 yards/100 grams

• Color A: 1 skein
• Color B: 1 skein

Needles and Notions

• US#8 24” circular knitting needles, or size to obtain gauge
• Spare US#8 24” circular knitting needles, or smaller, for closing graft
• 6 stitch markers, one in a unique color to mark beginning of round
• H/5mm crochet hook for provisional cast on
• Tapestry needle
• Waste yarn

Gauge

18 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch