
Burras is the new yarn to join the Ripples Crafts family. But first, let me explain the name.

Burras (pronounced boo-ras) is Gaelic for caterpillar. And what do caterpillars turn into? Beautiful, multi-coloured butterflies! (yes, and moths, but we won't talk about those - just keep thinking about butterflies). Butterflies in many, many lovely colours and shades. And when you receive your hank-let you may agree with Stevan that it looks a little like a small caterpillar.
And with butterflies in mind (and a sweetie shop, if I'm honest) I have been dyeing this lovely new yarn for the shop. Burras is a single ply, fingering weight (equivalent of 4ply) pure merino and will come in 20g hanks, so ideal for small stranded colour projects.

There are 15 colours at the moment, with perhaps more to come. I haven't quite decided yet. But above you will see all 15 shades currently available. The nature of the single ply yarn combined with my dyeing techniques means that the resulting colour is very definitely variegated through the hank - there is almost a heathery effect to the finished hank.
I have been working on Sleeping Beauty Cowl (Ravelry link) over the past couple of days and I wanted to have it finished and washed before releasing the yarn, but some of you have been asking when it would be available, so here it is!
You will see from the close up of the reverse side of my cowl the nature of this yarn.

It almost looks like the fibre of the yarn includes silk, but it doesn't. It really is a very pretty yarn, and incredibly soft. It isn't the sort of yarn you'll use for items which will receive heavy wear, such as socks, but for cosy winter accessories such as shawls, cowls, hats - it will be ideal.
Some of my colour choices when knitting the cowl are not ideal. It is so many years since I did fair isle knitting - I'd forgotten how to select colours which will "pop" when combined. But it is a test piece - I'll just have to knit another one.
Supplies of this yarn are currently limited, but once I know how popular it is, I can order more base yarn and get dyeing. You'll find all 15 shades in the shop now.
4 reactions
1 From Sarah Jeffs - 25/01/2016, 11:12
2 From Sarah Jeffs - 25/01/2016, 11:19
Kate Davies Sixareen cape, Nepal shawl and many other Fairisle patterns she has created would also be perfect in this yarn eg mittens.
I will stop thinking of all the possibilities now.
3 From Sarah Jeffs - 26/01/2016, 12:35
4 From Francine - 27/01/2016, 18:35