Yarn review: Drops Sky

DISCLAIMER: Since I wrote the review for this yarn, Drops have changed their manufacturing, this review is based on the older drops sky which might not represent the newer variety as of December 2022

A super-soft, lightweight yarn

Hi guys! Welcome to my yarn review. I like to write these to discuss specific yarns that I’ve worked with in the past and discuss what I love about them, what they might not be the best fit for, and what kind of knitted items they work best in. For my more yarn reviews, and to get notified when I write a new one, sign up for my newsletter!

Today I’ll be reviewing Drops Sky - a wonderfully light and soft chainette yarn that I’ve worked with once but definitely see myself coming back to. It’s a very affordable 8-ply yarn that’s designed to be knit on 4mm needles and consists of 74% alpaca, 18% polyamide and 8% wool.

At 190m for each 50g skein, Drops Sky stretches quite far and as few as 3-4 skeins could get you a whole sweater.

Good for:

• Wearing right on your skin. Someone once asked me which was softer - Drops Air or Drops Sky. This was a hard one because they’re both so comfortable to wear directly on your skin, but I think what makes Drops Sky the clear winner is that while Drops Air is very soft, it’s a “fuzzy” kind of soft with a halo that can be a little irritating when it tickles your skin. Drops Sky, on the other hand, has all the softness of Drops Air but with none of the fuzzy halo, so you get a nice, itch-free fabric that feels like wearing a blanket.
• Lace knitting. Again, because Drops Sky lacks a fuzzy halo effect, it is ideal for soft, delicate lace knits. I’m actually planning to make a white version of my Bonnieux cardigan in Drops Sky for my Christmas Dinner outfit!
• Drapey garments. Because of the alpaca, Drops Sky lends itself to garments that are very flowy. This is ideal for loose-fitting, romantic cardigans and sweaters.

Not great for:

• Structured knits. Pieces that are built like “bomber” jackets or to be stiff are not a good fit for Drops Sky because of the earlier mentioned drape of the yarn.
• Holding its shape during blocking. Drops Sky tends to grow a lot during the blocking process. Therefore, it is always best to make and block a swatch before knitting with this yarn.

Recommended patterns in Drops Sky:

• The Bonnieux Cardigan
• Magnolia Bloom by Camilla Vad (double stranded)
• Ranunculus by Midori Hirose
• Missoni Accomplished by Espace Tricot (free pattern!)