Tropik by Jarbo Garn (distributed by Swedish Yarn Imports) is the last of the 4 yarns I was sent to swatch for TNNA’s Great Wall of Yarn. Here it is made up into a swatch of 2 multiples of the stitch pattern used in the Elegantly Simple Baby Blanket and Flowered-Crown Preemie Cap (from my 1989 Itty Bitty Circular Workshop).
Tropik is a brand new yarn for January 2008. I received the color white — not too exciting, but you can see from the samples I knitted that ‘baby’ came to mind.
The yarn came in a 50g/135 yd ball and is 50% bamboo, 25% combed cotton, 25% acrylic. Ball band needle size recommendation is 4mm (US 6) at 23 stitches and 30 rows over 10 cm (4 inches). However, I used 3.5mm (US 4) on this preemie cap to achieve that gauge after washing and drying. For the baby blanket swatch, I used 4.5mm (US 7) as I usually go up a few needle sizes for lacy items.
The warm white is soothing and the yarn is soft. The fabric is fluid and yiedling; definitely something that will feel good to wear and have next to even the most sensitive skin.
I feel that Tropik will be better used for special items that do not require intensive laundry care. However, with the ability to machine wash using moderate temperatures and tumble dry on low heat, items even for a special ‘going home’ baby hat and blanket such as these would be possible.
p.s. I’ve had some requests to republish the preemie caps that I designed in 1989 as part of my “Itty Bitty Circular Workshop”. I am putting reworking the models and instructions on my 2008 schedule of to-do’s, so stay tuned if you are interested. I chose preemie caps as the hands-on projects for that multi-part workshop because these small items are wonderful candidates for practicing and learning the techniques. And there are always babies in need if you don’t have one of your own. Visit in case of emergency.