Vlna-Hep Camilla (50g/125m, 100% mercerized cotton)
I was one of the first to try this mercerized cotton yarn, well over a Schachenmayr Catania before. My first crochet attempt was with it, then I crocheted very loosely, so I was able to crochet quite tightly with a 1.75 mm needle. To be honest, this needle size was a pain, so I gave up making korips, as I felt I couldn't make them at a high enough quality to get them into little hands. The remaining skein rested in my yarn basket for a long time, when it was used again. The pattern I used it for Angel pattern by BluuBunnyCrochet was, I only deviated from it in the colors, as I wanted to crochet a non-holiday-themed but beautiful doll for my unborn daughter.
THE Vlna-Hep yarn brand produced by a Czech-owned company that has been operating since 1991. The company since its foundation is engaged in the sale of haberdashery, then because of the increased interest in yarns started to cooperate with several foreign companies, such as Alize or Himalaya. With the change in demand, the company opened new doors and Since 2015, it has started distributing its own brand yarns. Over the past 11 years the brand's offer has been enriched with a large number of types and compositions of yarn, which yarn enthusiasts can purchase from retail retailers.
In the following, I will let you know 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. This means that can be safely given to babies the yarn!
🔘 Made of 100% cotton, i.e it is made of natural material.
🔘 Mercerized yarn, i.e. during cotton dyeing, the cotton fabric shrinks and thickens under the influence of alkali, and its strength and dye absorption increase. The consequence of this is that if it gets wet again, the textile keeps its color and does not fade, so it is ideal for babies, because they put everything in their mouths, and with this yarn the dye does not dissolve due to saliva. Another advantage is that due to its strength, the toy 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).
🔘 I think its surface is brighter and silkier than that of its mercerized counterparts. According to my observations this yarn glides better on the needle, which can be confusing for beginner crocheters.
🔘 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's great can be combined with yarns with similar properties, such as Schachenmayr Catania or Scheepjes Catona.
🔘 Easily available! This yarn is already available 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.
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. I think this brand is more slippery than its peers, so more for beginners I recommend crocheting with a wooden or plastic crochet hook compared to their metal counterparts. 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.
🔘 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. Eza yarn also requires individual experience, what size needle the crocheter crochets with, it is not necessary to rely on the needle size specified in the pattern. Experienced crocheters can use the same needle size as the Catania.
🔘 I don't think its surface is soft enough, although it is softer than other mercerized yarns I have tried. In my experience, you can get a softer result with taller sticks (like for a skirt with single-fold sticks). It can be used as a perfect chew and is also an ideal choice for babies later on.
OVERALL
I enjoyed working with this yarn, I will continue to use it in the future. Bravely I recommend them for crocheters, who love Schachenmayr Catania yarn, as the two yarns are very similar. They are super combinable, with a wide range of colors, any a crochet pattern can be made wonderful with its dazzling colors.
