Extra

Extra is a heavy worsted to aran-weight yarn from Blue Sky Fibers, blending 55% baby alpaca with 45% fine merino. Each hank is a generous 150 grams with 218 yards (199 meters), so a hat or cowl often takes just one, and a sweater needs fewer hanks than you might expect.

The alpaca brings softness, drape and warmth, while the merino adds spring and helps the fabric hold its shape. It's a plied, squishy yarn with a matte finish and solid, machine-dyed color in deep shades like Mulberry Wine, Chestnut and Ocean Deep. The merchant lists its origin as Peru.

This is a yarn for quick, cozy knits with real substance: warm winter accessories, sweaters you can finish in a few weekends, and gifts that feel generous the moment they're unwrapped.

Best for

• Cabled hats and thick cowls
• Quick weekend sweaters and cardigans
• Warm mittens and wrist warmers
• Throws and lap blankets

Working with it

Use US 7–9 needles for 4–5 stitches per inch. Extra is plied with plenty of twist, so stitches look crisp and cables stand out well, though the alpaca softens their edges after washing. Alpaca can grow in heavier garments, so knit a generous swatch, wash it, and let it hang for a while before measuring. Our guide to merino and alpaca explains how each fiber behaves, and the yarn estimator will help you work out how many hanks to buy.

Care

The merchant lists Extra as hand wash. Soak gently in cool water with a wool wash, avoid agitation, then press out the water in a towel and dry flat. Don't hang the finished piece to dry, as alpaca's weight can stretch it.