When I wrote about Loops & Threads Capri Tencel yarn last July, I promised to follow up on my impressions once I’d knit a garment with it. I had just enough yarn for a summer tank, so I chose the Arioso Tank Top (Ravlery link) by Leah Prestamo. It knit up quickly, and I didn’t have too much trouble with the yarn splitting. As this pattern calls for a fingering weight yarn, my gauge was a bit off, so I knit a size smaller to compensate.
I’m pretty happy with how the yarn shows off the lace pattern, even at the slightly larger gauge, and I’ve worn and washed the top a few times now. The top is reasonable cool to wear, even in our hot humid summer weather. It’s held up pretty well, and the lace has stayed open without repeatedly blocking, although it rolls slightly at the hem edge. It has, however, started to pill slightly and lose it’s sheen, as rayon-type fabrics are wont to do. My linen Suora tee, by comparison, has remained like new over 5 years of wearing. So I’d still prefer to use linen, or a linen-cotton blend, if I could afford it. Nevertheless, I think I will still get a fair amount of wear out of this top before it’s done.
What is your favorite yarn for summer tops?
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