Alpaca Merino Cotton Yarn, LANA GATTO NATURALPACA, Italian Chunky Weight Chainette Yarn, 75m/50g

Sometimes the most luxurious yarn doesn't need color, sparkle or decoration. It just needs extraordinary fibers. LANA GATTO NATURALPACA brings together 46% Alpaca, 32% Wool and 22% Cotton in a chunky Italian chainette that feels wonderfully substantial in your hands — soft, warm and beautifully natural. But look closer. This isn't a conventional heavy-spun chunky yarn. Its chainette construction builds volume from an airy knitted structure, while nearly half Alpaca creates a soft bloom around the strand. The result is exactly what modern winter knitting calls for: big stitches, strong silhouettes and wonderfully tactile fabric without relying on an extremely dense yarn. And the colors are part of the story. LANA GATTO developed NATURALPACA in the natural greys, browns and beiges characteristic of Alpaca itself — a quiet, sophisticated palette that makes the yarn particularly beautiful for contemporary oversized winter knitwear. ▣ Product Specifications: • Manufacturer: LANA GATTO / Filatura Tollegno 1900, Italy • Article: NATURALPACA • Fiber Content: 46% Alpaca, 32% Wool, 22% Cotton • Yarn Weight: Chunky • Meterage: 75m / 50g (82yd / 1.76oz) • Equivalent: 150m / 100g (164yd / 3.52oz) • Yarn Structure: Airy chunky chainette with a soft Alpaca bloom • Format: Original factory-wound 50 g / 1.76 oz balls • Recommended Needle Size: 5 mm / US 8 • Suggested Gauge: 14 sts / 10 cm (4 in) • Origin: Made in Italy ✦ A YARN YOU CAN COME BACK TO NATURALPACA isn't a one-season yarn you need to rush through. It is part of LANA GATTO's continuing collection, which means I can reorder it as needed — particularly important when you are planning a larger sweater, jacket or matching pieces. Start with a hat or scarf. Fall in love with the fabric. Then come back for the oversized bomber. ✦ My First Impression This yarn feels very self-sufficient to me. I wouldn't automatically add another yarn to make it warmer, softer or more substantial — NATURALPACA already has all of that. What I notice immediately is the construction. It feels like a beautiful chunky cord rather than a dense traditional yarn, with Alpaca fiber already beginning to bloom around it. With 46% Alpaca, I expect that surface to become even more expressive after washing and blocking as the fibers relax and open. It is extremely soft, but it isn't weightless. The Cotton gives the yarn a certain substance in the hand, while Wool contributes structure and the Alpaca gives it that unmistakably soft, warm surface. To me, that balance is one of the most interesting things about NATURALPACA. And this should be an easy, satisfying knit. The yarn already has character; you don't need complicated techniques to make it look expensive. ➤ What Can I Make & How Much Should I Buy? • Hat — 2 balls / 100 g • Cowl — 2–3 balls / 100–150 g • Chunky Scarf — 4–7 balls / 200–350 g • Vest — 7–10 balls / 350–500 g • Women's Sweater, M — 10–12 balls / 500–600 g • Cardigan or Bomber, M — 11–14 balls / 550–700 g • Oversized Poncho — approximately 12 balls / 600 g The last figure isn't merely an estimate: LANA GATTO's official NATURALPACA poncho uses 12 balls / 600 g and 7 mm needles. Garment size, length, ease, gauge and stitch pattern will change actual requirements. ✦ MADE FOR THE OVERSIZED WINTER KNIT This is where I think NATURALPACA becomes especially interesting. I can immediately see it in a chunky bomber, oversized cardigan-jacket, relaxed hoodie, substantial vest or big winter pullover — the kinds of silhouettes where the yarn itself needs enough presence to create shape. And you are not limited to the manufacturer's 5 mm recommendation. LANA GATTO itself takes NATURALPACA all the way to 7 mm needles in its official poncho, producing a gauge of only 12 sts × 16 rows per 10 cm. That gives you considerable room to experiment. Knit it closer for more structure, or open the gauge for a softer, more relaxed fabric with larger stitches and more room for the Alpaca to bloom. ✦ NATURAL COLOR IS PART OF THE YARN There is a reason NATURALPACA looks so beautifully quiet. LANA GATTO describes the yarn as “green by nature” and specifically explains that its grey, brown and beige palette comes from the natural shades typical of Alpaca. That makes these colors particularly appealing for minimal winter pieces where texture, silhouette and fiber become the design — oatmeal jackets, stone-colored oversized sweaters, natural brown bombers, substantial scarves and neutral accessories that don't depend on seasonal color trends. This isn't a yarn that needs to shout. Its luxury is in the fiber and the texture. ➤ OR — BREAK THE RULES NATURALPACA doesn't need a companion yarn. But that doesn't mean you can't give it a completely different personality. I particularly like the idea of playing against its very natural, understated character: natural Alpaca + a tiny flash of glamour. Carry a very fine strand of Mohair for additional haze. Add an ultra-fine grass or eyelash-style effect yarn and let little fibers escape from the chunky Alpaca surface. Or introduce a very fine Lurex or occasional sequins against the natural beige, grey or brown. The contrast is the interesting part: earthy, natural yarn underneath — unexpected light or texture on top. For a soft luxury combination, a fine LANA GATTO SILK MOHAIR can add another layer of airy fiber without substantially changing the construction. Want to take NATURALPACA in a completely different direction? Carry a fine strand of RiGo CRISTALLO — Italian Cotton Lurex Tweed Cocoons Yarn for irregular little cocoons, texture and flashes of Lurex against the soft natural Alpaca. The contrast is the design: quiet, earthy Alpaca underneath — unexpected light on top. And if you want sparkle to be barely there rather than obvious, use the finest possible companion and let NATURALPACA remain the dominant yarn. ✦ ONE YARN — TWO VERY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS That is what I particularly like about NATURALPACA. Leave it alone and you get quiet Italian winter luxury: natural color, chunky stitches, soft Alpaca bloom and clean oversized shapes. Add a tiny effect yarn and suddenly the same natural base can become fashion knitwear — furry, sparkling, textured or slightly extravagant. The base yarn stays simple. The personality is yours. ➤ Knitting & Crochet The manufacturer's starting recommendation is 5 mm / US 8, with approximately 14 stitches per 10 cm / 4 in. For structured pieces such as hats, bomber-style jackets and substantial cardigans, I would begin around that range and swatch from there. For oversized scarves, ponchos and softer outer layers, larger needles are absolutely worth testing. LANA GATTO's own poncho demonstrates that NATURALPACA can successfully move to 7 mm / approximately US 10.75. Simple stockinette will emphasize the chainette and Alpaca bloom. Ribbing gives the chunky yarn beautiful architectural definition. Garter stitch is another particularly good choice — LANA GATTO itself created an official Garter Stitch Scarf specifically for NATURALPACA. ✦ OFFICIAL LANA GATTO PROJECT INSPIRATION LANA GATTO currently shows both a Garter Stitch Scarf and a Poncho Design made specifically with NATURALPACA. The poncho is especially useful as a technical reference: 12 balls, 7 mm needles, 12 sts × 16 rows / 10 cm. It demonstrates how dramatically this chunky chainette can open when given more room than the standard 5 mm recommendation. LANA GATTO NATURALPACA — Official Yarn & Patterns ⫯ Weaving Because NATURALPACA is a soft, bulky chainette with significant Alpaca content, I see it much more naturally as an expressive weft yarn than as a hardworking warp. It could create beautiful winter scarves, wraps, blankets or textural panels where the natural color and fuzzy surface become part of the cloth. For warp, I would choose something smoother and stronger and sample NATURALPACA first. ➤ Complete the Project NATURALPACA is a particularly good yarn for experimenting with needle size because a relatively small gauge change can transform its character from structured chunky knit to open, oversized winter fabric. Explore ChiaoGoo knitting needles, interchangeable sets and accessories for your project. I would consider swatching from the manufacturer's 5 mm / US 8 upward, depending on the silhouette you want. ⟳ Care Instructions • Hand wash gently in lukewarm water • Use a mild detergent suitable for delicate natural fibers • Do not rub, twist or wring • Gently press excess water into a towel • Reshape and lay flat to dry • Do not tumble dry • Store finished garments folded