Multicolor Wool Blend - Parrot Party

Parrot Party is a Paradise Fibers multicolor spinning blend in the colors of a macaw's feathers: lime green, royal blue, sunny yellow and scarlet red, with streaks of white. It is 65% extra fine merino, 15% mulberry silk, 10% banana fiber and 10% Tencel lyocell, combed together into a ready-to-spin top with a 3 to 4 inch staple.

Each fiber carries its own color. The merino, in green and blue, is the soft, springy base and makes up most of the blend. Mulberry silk brings the yellow and a bright shine. Banana fiber adds the white streaks along with strength and a crisp hand, and Tencel lyocell carries the red with a glossy drape. Wherever the silk and plant fibers land in the yarn, you get a flash of color and light.

Fiber details

• Fiber content: 65% extra fine merino wool, 15% mulberry silk, 10% banana fiber, 10% Tencel lyocell
• Colors: Lime green and royal blue merino, yellow silk, white banana fiber, red lyocell
• Staple length: 3 to 4 inches
• Preparation: Combed top
• Blend: Paradise Fibers custom blend
• Sold by: The ounce

How it spins

The merino does most of the work, so it drafts smoothly for a blend with this much shine. The silk, banana and lyocell are slicker than wool, so give it a little more twist than you would a pure merino. To keep the colors in bold, separate runs, split the top lengthwise into strips and spin them end to end. For a confetti look where all five colors mix, pre-draft and spin from the fold. A 2-ply mixes the colors further, and a chain ply keeps them in longer stretches.

What to make with it

Bright hats, mitts and socks, colorwork accents, a shawl with plenty of shine, or a woven scarf where the long color runs can show. If you like bold multicolor tops, also see Dyeing Poison Dart Frog, a merino and tussah silk sister blend, and browse more multicolor merino top and wool and silk blends.

Questions about Parrot Party

What is Parrot Party made of?

65% extra fine merino, 15% mulberry silk, 10% banana fiber and 10% Tencel lyocell. The merino is the soft base; the silk, banana and lyocell add shine, strength and drape.

Will the colors stay separate or blend together?

It depends on how you draft. Split the top lengthwise and spin each strip for longer runs of color, or pre-draft and spin from the fold for a more blended, heathered yarn.

Can I spin socks from it?

Yes. Merino gives stretch and the banana fiber and silk add durability. Spin a firm, well-plied yarn for the best wear.

How much fiber do I need?

Plan on about 4 oz for a hat or small shawlette, 8 oz for a generous shawl or scarf, and 1½ to 2 lb for an adult sweater. Buy it all at once: this is a small-batch blend and may not be restocked.

How is it priced?

Sold by the ounce. Quantity pricing applies automatically at 4 oz, 8 oz, 1 lb, 2 lb and 5 lb, so buying for a sweater costs far less per ounce than buying a single sample.