Candide

COMPOSITION & YARDAGE

70% Organic merino d'Arles (France) and 30% recycled cotton, included 2% of others recycled fibres (France)

202 yards (185 m) / approx 50 g*

GAUGE (for 10 x 10 cm of st st)

26 st x 40 rows, 2,5 mm needles / US 1

24 st x 38 rows, 3 mm needles / US 2

22 sts x 34 rows, 3.5 mm needles / US 4

Knitted in double with Bérénice (for 10 x 10 cm of st st)

20 st x 30 rows, 4 mm needles / US 6

19 st x 28 rows, 4,5 mm needles / US 7

18 sts x 26 rows, 5 mm needles / US 8

ORIGINS AND MANUFACTURE

This yarn is made from the wool of Arles merinos raised in organic farming in Provence and from cotton recycled on the spot by the spinning mill thanks to a patented technique that preserves the length of the fibres. 

To create this palette, part of the wool is dyed with natural plant extracts (indigo, chestnut, reseda, madder and cochineal) selected for their shade and strength. The dyed and unbleached yarns are then mixed to create the colour range according to the chosen blends and then woolen spun. 

The range includes 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.  

This yarn was dyed and spun in France in the Tarn region by companies with the "living heritage company" label.

To learn more about this project and the colours of this yarn, you can read this article on our blog. 

This yarn is also available in a thicker 3-ply version: you can find its big brother Robinson here.

ON THE NEEDLES

Candide has the same technical characteristics as Ulysse: it is a 202 yds (185 m) / 50g yarn, with a traditional 2-ply structure.

The presence of cotton in its composition gives it a little more softness, a fresher feel and more compactness than its pure wool brother. The small cotton flakes give it an original texture and create a mottled look, more or less pronounced depending on the colour. It is a rather dry yarn which, like many woolen spun yarns, gains in softness and fluffiness once washed. 

We particularly like it in textured stitches but it also brings a very nice natural and relaxed touch to stockinette and garter and gives a lovely earthy look to lace patterns. It can be used for a wide range of patterns written for fingering or sport weight yarns.

It is an ideal yarn for delicate mid-season projects that will benefit from the lightness of wool and the coolness of cotton.

Average quantity:

- baby cardigan (birth to 2 years): 2 to 4 balls

- child's long sleeve jumper (2 to 12 years): 4 to 7 balls

- adult long sleeve jumper size 3: 10 to 12 balls according to chosen positive ease

- shawl 150 x 120 cm : 6 to 8 balls

ADVICES & RECOMMENDED CARE

The colours in this range are obtained from a complex process of natural dyeing in wool which makes it possible to have slight variations in shade within the same production batch. Before knitting your project, we advise you to check the homogeneity of the colour of the balls between them and to alternate the balls if necessary to distribute the colour nuances harmoniously.

Natural dyes are more "living" and fragile than synthetic dyes. These colours are likely to change over time as they soften slightly. We have selected the most resistant plants and natural extracts but we advise you to avoid exposing your balls or knitted garments for a long time to direct sunlight. 

The colour "grand bleu" (big blue), which contains a high concentration of indigo, may bleed slightly when knitted. Indigo pigments are non-toxic and even have beneficial anti-bacterial properties. This excess dye is easily washed off with soapy water. 

To preserve the natural qualities of the wool and to protect our environment, this yarn is not superwash treated. It is advisable to wash your knitted fabric in lukewarm water with a suitable soap or detergent and leave it to dry flat away from direct sunlight, avoiding rubbing or stretching. If you wish to test the cold wool programme of your washing machine, we advise you to do so first with your sample.

A little background information:

Candide is named after the hero of Voltaire's philosophical tale "Candide ou l'optimisme" who invites us to "cultivate our garden" to try to find our happiness in an imperfect world.

* Weight between 47,5 g to 52,5 g.