Schachenmayr Catania (50g/125m, 100% mercerized cotton yarn)
THE Schachenmayr Catania is one of the most popular yarns used for amigurumi among crocheters. The yarn in 100% is made of cotton and thanks to mercerization, it can be washed at high temperatures and does not lose its color when exposed to moisture. That's also why toys for babies are often made from this yarn, as well as premature babies are also crocheted for this reason Corips of this type of yarn. What has recently been the biggest surprise and clearly positive experience I have had with this yarn is that It is produced in Hungary. I learned this fact not long ago, and for this reason alone I will prefer to use this yarn. I also have quite a large stock of this yarn, I have made many different toys from it and I also use this type of yarn for my own designed dolls. At first I didn't really like it, but now I'm used to it and I can even say I love this type of yarn.
In the following, I will tell you what I think are the advantages and disadvantages of this yarn.
Photo: Own (Rebeka Novák-Szabó ev)
PRO
🔘 The first and most important - especially for products made for babies - It has OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certification, which means it can be used especially for babies and toddlersand products made from them. So babies and toddlers can safely put the toys made from this in their hands!
🔘 Made of 100% cotton, i.e it is made of natural material.
🔘 Mercerized yarn, i.e. a during cotton dyeing, the cotton fabric shrinks and thickens under the influence of alkali, its strength and dye absorption increase. The consequence of this is that if it gets wet again, the textile retains its color, it does not let go, so it is ideal for babies, as they put everything in their mouths, and with this yarn the dye does not dissolve under the influence of saliva. In addition, it has the advantage that, due to its strength, the game is a keeps its size better, and does not stretch out during long use.
🔘 Harder yarn, so it keeps its shape better, if you use it with a very small needle, e.g. 1.75 mm, it keeps its shape on its own (this is a useful feature when crocheting e.g. Christmas angels and snowflakes).
🔘 It does not tear during sewing, it withstands stress well. You can pull, pull, handle more roughly and it won't break, or it will only break.
🔘 It's nice to work with him, its surface is uniform, you can achieve a nice result with it.
🔘 The manufacturer is very provides a large selection of colors, I think that is why it is so popular in amigurumi making. It has color-changing or mottled yarn, so you can make pretty fun things out of it.
🔘 Easily available! It can be found in many yarn shops and online stores. The value for money is similar to other mercerized cotton yarns.
🔘 It does not fray and can be an excellent first yarn for beginners, as it helps to find the eyes and is very easy to handle.
🔘 It is a local product, i.e. manufactured in Hungary by purchasing this yarn, you support the local economy, and thus contribute to sustainable development with your hobby!
CONS
🔘 For those who start crocheting with thicker yarn it can feel very thin and you have to learn to hold it so it doesn't slide back because of its shiny surface, which is actually the result of mercerization. For me at first crocheting went very slowly with him precisely because it is I had to keep my hand steady, so that I can keep the yarn tight enough and I can crochet tightly with it. This is a matter of habit anyway, since I've been using it more often, I can crochet with it faster than at first.
🔘 Choosing the right crochet hook is important, but it depends on individuals, who crochets how tightly/loosely. At first I had to crochet with a 1.75-2 mm needle so that it wouldn't have holes, now that I'm used to the yarn and I can crochet tighter, I can use the 2.5 mm needle. I think so this yarn requires individual experience, what size needle the crocheter crochets with, it is not necessary to rely on the needle size specified in the pattern.
🔘 I don't think the surface is soft enough, it even seems rough to me sometimes. Although it meets safety standards and the mercerization is good for teething, babies prefer softer materials, so I wouldn't make a nap/sleeping cloth out of it. On the contrary, I think it can be used as a perfect chew and later on it is also an ideal choice for babies.
OVERALL
I think it's a good yarn overall, basically I'd say it's the basic yarn for amigurumi. Anyone, anytime, can use it for almost anything. You can make a toy, a home decor object, a Christmas tree ornament, or even a dress out of it (for this, of course, you must use the needle size recommended by the manufacturer). Personally, I wouldn't make a sleeping toy out of it for a baby, but a rattle, a toy for teething, or later a baby for role-play would be welcome!
