WHY CROCHET WITH SURI? WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

• Suri’s luster and drape complement the beauty of crochet.
• Suri glides off the crochet hook, making the stitching process quick and easy.
• While Suri is a straight fiber, the crochet knots hold the Suri in place giving it structure and elasticity.

WHAT ARE THE PROPERTIES OF SURI YARN FOR CROCHET?

• Suri spins thin! 100% Suri lace weight yarn is perfect to create the delicate openwork textures of lace crochet. You can also hold lace weight yarn double and crochet with two strands to make your garment more substantial. NOTE: Suri has limited loft, so when doubling, be aware of the weight of the crocheted fabric.
• For heavier weight yarns from sport weight to bulky, look for a blend of Suri with a loftier fiber such as standard alpaca or wool. As the yarn thickness increases, the percentage of Suri should decline. With Suri’s wonderful drape and its warmth, these yarns work well for items such as sweaters or blankets.
• Suri is known for its luster – even when blended. This luster will accentuate the stitch definition of your crocheted projects.

WHAT DOES FINE MEAN?

• Fibers are classed by micron. British cashmere is < 19 microns. Vicuna <14 microns.
• Alpaca, including suri, includes a wide range of fineness and the fleece is classed accordingly.
  

The Suri Network, along with the Australians, the Canadians, and Peruvians class fibers as follows:
Grade #1,Suri Ultimate, <20 microns (μm),
Grade #2, Suri Superfine, 20 -22.9 μm,
Grade #3, Suri Classic, 23-25.9μm,
Grade # 4, 26-28.9μm.
Grade #5, 29-31.9μm, G6 32-35μm.

Classing or grading provides guidelines for sorting fiber into micron, color and staple length.
The fibers’ micron grade will determine how the yarn is used as well as its price.
Fine Suri, Grades #1 or #2 can be worn next to the skin, a Grade #3, if it is carefully sorted with few
fibers over 30, can make a comfortable garment—coarser fiber is best used for rugs or felting.

HOW DO I USE MY FINE SURI YARN WITH CROCHET?

• Fine Suri is most often found in lighter weight yarns such as lace and fingering weights. 
• These types of yarns lend themselves to garments worn close to the skin, such as scarves, cowls, and shawls. 
• Consider mid-grade Suri yarns in the 23-25.9 micron range for items such as hats, gloves and mitts, and accessories such as purses and open worked sweaters.
• Always check gauge, and attention to hook size will be important.

HOW DO I USE MY STRONGER (COARSER) YARNS?

• The thicker the fiber, the heavier it is. As such, be sure coarser Suri is blended with a lofty fiber. 
• Coarser Suri is still beautiful, but must be used in the proper type of project. Consider garments and home goods items that take abrasion, such as sweaters, outerwear, blankets, or pillow covers, as examples.