The Morning Crafter

I love specialty yarn, and I especially love visiting local yarn stores that sell that yarn. I first came across Feliz by Manos Del Uruguay when I took my mom to Criativity Crafts in Largo, Florida, to choose the yarn she wanted for her birthday sweater.

We were looking for a DK weight yarn in a colorway that spoke to her. Most importantly though, we had to ensure we had enough yardage for the sweater pattern I was using – The Novice Sweater by Petite Knit.

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Reminder: Everything I write here is my opinion and my opinion only. No brand has asked me to do these reviews, and I am not receiving any compensation to review these yarns.

First impressions

This yarn is soft. And squishy. When we walked into Criativity, we chatted with the staff and she directed us to the wall with a fair number of DK options. My mom was immediately drawn to Feliz in the Autumnal colorway, and we held onto a hank of it as we compared it to pretty much every other DK option in the store. Time and time again, it won out over the others.

When I read the label, I was blown away that each label was hand signed by the artisan who worked on your yarn. From their website: “Every garment or Yarn has a tag with the artisan signature and the name of the village where the cooperative is located. This help us remind that behind each poncho, throw or scarf, there is a woman, a story.”

Yarn Details

• Fiber: 70% Merino superwash, 30% Modal
• Weight : DK, weight 3 (though, it does feel thinner than this… but not quite sport weight)
• Gauge: 4×4″
  • Crochet: It does not specify the crochet gauge
  • Knit: 22 stitches with 3.5mm needles
• Colorways: Really beautiful options, some in solids and others in variegated
• Price range: $30-40 USD

Performance and experience

Ease of use

Feliz by Manos Del Uruguay was REALLY wonderful and easy to work with. It didn’t split at all while knitting, and slid off the needles quickly and easily without any snags or drag. Because it was so soft, it just felt fast, easy, and enjoyable.

Texture and feel

As I mentioned, this yarn is really soft, but not slippery soft like some bamboo yarns. Though it is made with wool as the majority, the modal in it keeps it really smooth. You don’t get any of the typical scratchiness or itchiness with 100% wool, and it doesn’t have that same drag that many merinos can have.

Strength and durability

This yarn is so strong, I was unable to break it by pulling it. Even after blocking, it seems as though the fibers will be sturdy over time as well.

Washing and care

I blocked the sweater I made with Feliz by Manos Del Uruguay using a no-rinse knit wash and laid it flat to dry on my blocking board. The fibers relaxed quite a bit, so I recommend planning for stretching when working with this yarn. The label does say you can machine wash cold and lay flat to dry, but I would be nervous about how stretched out things would get, so I may just hand wash when using this yarn.

Project recommendations

Garments garments garments! Feliz is such a lovely yarn to work with and has such a nice feel on the skin that I would recommend making any type of garment. Because it is a lighter yarn, I would suggest using it for things that are for transitional seasonal wear like in Spring or Fall. If you wanted something warmer, it may be worth it to hold this yarn double to increase the thickness and warmth.

Pros and cons

Rating

Sub-ratings

• Softness: 5/5
• Ease of use: 5/5
• Durability: 5/5
• Value for money: 4/5
• Color range: 4/5

Final thoughts

I really really love this yarn. The cost is prohibitive to regular use, but for special projects or garments, I absolutely see myself purchasing it again. I love the story behind the company and how it “was founded, to give Uruguay’s rural women jobs, that would mean, not just an income, but also an opportunity to personally develop and gain independence, keeping their roots and traditions, close to their community and families.”