Manos - building community one skein at a time

Some of the most beautiful things come out of South America. Gorgeous full bodied reds like Mendoza Malbec and plushy shiny Silk Blend from Manos Cooperatives in Uruguay. This beautiful and temperate land has become a leader in the production of incredibly soft merino in amazing hand-dyed colors. Manos cooperatives, know here in the US as Manos del Uruguay is a non-profit social organization established in 1968 that employs women artisans in rural areas of Uruguay. As part of the World Fair Trade Organization, Manos products are held to strict standards of quality and environmental impact, but more importantly, they ensure that that the artisans receive a fair price for their products.

My favorite of the Manos yarns for this time of year is their gorgeous Silk Blend. It’s the softest merino and high quality silk spun together in a plushy, shimmery single ply. It’s one of the most scrumptious fibers on the planet. While some fibers fight with one another for dominance in a blend , silk and wool each know their strengths. As in a good marriage, they bring out the best in one another. The merino has tremendous softness and elasticity, while the silk lends drape and sheen. The silk in this yarn drinks up the dye greedily yielding a yarn with deeply saturated colors and sheen.



The fiber combination of Silk Blend also makes this a perfect yarn for this area even during the warmer months. Both the silk and wool are breathable because they’re natural fibers. The silk in this yarn makes it so delicious that you really want to have it touching your skin. Since it’s a dk weight yarn, the fabric you knit from it will be light and comfortable too. To get you started, why not try a little wrap It’s just what you need this time of year. The semi-solids would be fabulous in a Saroyan because its subtle color variation won’t distract from the leaf design. The multis would be perfect in a large linen stitch wrap that uses slip stitches to blend the colors beautifully. There are several beautiful patterns for cardigans, pullovers, shawlettes, and other wraps that play to Silk Blend’s color and textures.
So, come by and pick up some gorgeous Silk Blend and get started on a spectacular something – because every single hank of Manos yarn you purchase helps a woman in rural Uruguay support her family.