Yarns for Cambia Capelet

I usually like to suggest some possible alternative yarns for my patterns:  I like to hit several yarn price points (and maybe if we're lucky, some of those yarns can be found on sale), some knitters are sensitive to one fiber or another, and some-- okay, all-- knitters have a few yarns in their stash that they are looking to use up. 

For Cambia, I have to put in a plug for Dream in Color Classy* (100% superfine merino wool), mainly because I feel that the color variations really add interest to Cambia's fairly simple stitch pattern.  The colors are beautiful, and there is no pooling of color in the finished garment (for photos of the Visual Purple and Deep Seaflower colorways, see here, here and here).  The yarn is also machine washable and a pleasure to work with, but there are many yarns with these last characteristics, so they are less of a factor in my strong recommendation that you give DiC Classy a try.  Note that some of their colors are more semisolid than others; I tend to prefer the semisolid colorways to the more wide-ranging color mixes. 

But of course there are many other yarns out there!  For this project, I would avoid 100% cotton, because the finished project would tend to be too heavy, and more likely to stretch out of shape than a pure or mixed animal fiber or synthetic.  Ditto for linen and silk-- except for the caveat that if you only want to wear the capelet "normally" (over both shoulders), the drape of a pure linen or silk yarn might be nice (but the cable stitch pattern would definitely have a flatter look to it).  Plant fibers mixed with wool or synthetic fibers should work fine.  Here are a few I like (as always, be sure to make a good-sized gauge swatch and measure it after blocking, whenever you substitute yarn in a pattern!): 

Cascade 220 (wool):  also comes in a superwash version.  

Cascade Venezia (wool/silk)

Classic Elite Verde Collection Solstice (cotton/wool)

Debbie Bliss Fez (merino/camel)

Fiesta Yarns Boomerang (superwash merino wool)

Knitpicks Andean Silk (alpaca/silk/merino wool)

Malabrigo Worsted (merino wool)

Spud & Chloe Sweater (wool/cotton)

Tahki Yarns Savoy (silk/merino) 

*Full disclosure:  I purchased all of the Dream in Color yarn I own, including what I used for Cambia,  from various retail yarn stores, and have received no payment or compensation of any kind from Dream in Color.