Introducing Robinson
Something new and rather exciting has just arrived at Tangled Yarn! I've added two new yarns to our shop, Ulysse and Robinson from De Rerum Natura, a small, ethically sourced, sustainable yarn company from France.
Today we'll look at Robinson, a new yarn for summer 2022. Named after the shipwrecked hero Robinson Crusoe from Michel Tournier's book "Vendredi ou les Limbes du Pacifique", he learns to live in harmony with nature and his fellow man where all happiness seemed impossible.
Robinson is a light worsted weight - 70% Organic Merino d’Arles from France / 30% recycled cotton - 270 yards (250m) / 100g
De Rerum Natura is perhaps best known for its beautiful wool, Merino d'Arles, which is farmed organically in Provence, France. Their desire to create a wool cotton yarn has been with them from the very early days of starting the business, but sourcing locally grown cotton isn't possible as it needs a warmer climate than France to grow. So they set aside the idea until they met Fabrice, who found a way to recycle cotton t-shirts destined for land-fill. Fabrice patented technology turns t-shirts into reusable long lengths of cotton fibres.
It was this advancement in technology that enabled Robinson to happen. The recycled cotton, along with the wool of organically farmed Merinos d'Arles, makes Robinson a yarn for use throughout the year. It allows De Rerum Natura to support the breeders financially and repurpose materials.
Robinson is dyed and spun in the French region of Tarn. The fibres are dyed using natural plant extracts (indigo, chestnut, reseda, madder and cochineal) selected for their shade and strength. The dyed and unbleached fibres are blended to create the colour range, and then woolen spun.
There are eleven colours altogether, including two undyed colours: the unbleached "sucre glace" colour and the "nougat" colour, which is a blend of 60% unbleached Arles merino / 10% black French merino and 30% recycled cotton.
Worked on a 4 to 4.5 mm needle the gauge is approximately 20 sts for 28 rows.
Whilst Robinson has the same technical characteristics as De Rerum Natura's Gilliatt yarn with a 3ply structure and 250m / 100g, the presence of cotton means it's best knitted on a smaller needle size with an approximate gauge of 20 sts and 28 rows.
Pattern Ideas for Robinson
Sommer Ella Solo by Lene Holme Samsøe
An easy to wear summer top Sommer Ella Solo would be a great choice for Robinson as the gauge is a match. Sized from XS - XL, it will need three to four balls of Robinson.
Oksa by Caitlin Hunter
Caitlin Hunter's Oksa would be beautiful worked up in Robinson. It's sized from 32" through to 68" and would require between 4 -7 balls depending on which size you knit.
Super Simple Summer Sweater by Joji Locatelli
Stripes shout summer to me so there can be no more perfect matchthan Joji Super Simple Summer Sweater and Robinson. Like all of Joji patterns a good range of sizes are included from XS - 5XL and will require two colours of Robinson.
Ayami by Isabell Kraemer
I'm a huge fan of Isabell Kraemer's designs and Ayami would be wonderful knitted up in Robinson. To knit this top-down sweater you'll need between four and six balls depending on your gauge and chose size.
All the patterns suggested for Robinson are available to purchase from Ravelry. These are not the only designs, but these are some of my top choices for knitting!