The Ultimate Review of Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Fine
Note: This post was not sponsored or paid for. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Why You Should Read This Yarn Review
You’re busy, and you don’t have the luxury of overthinking which yarns to use for your projects. If you’re lucky enough to have a LYS (local yarn store) near you, with your schedule it’s rare that you get to visit and shop in person.
You rely on a few favorite online brands and shops and tend to use a select few favorite yarns. Every now and then you want to try something new, but you worry about whether or not you’ll actually like it.
That’s where I come in.
Let me be your trusted advisor by sharing honest & thorough yarn reviews so you’ll be confident when you try a new yarn. Because you deserve to enjoy it from cast on to bind off. Oh, and you’ll love wearing it, too.
With each pattern released, you’ll find a corresponding review of the yarn specified in the pattern so you can cast on with confidence.
Why I Used Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Fine for the Sister Peplum
When I designed the original Sterling Peplum, I had picked up a few skeins of Ultra Pima Fine from my LYS. I liked the way the skeins felt smooth and cool in my hands. I lived near the beach in Redondo Beach and I would take my knitting with me to sit on the sand and watch Jason surf. In the middle of summer, it was getting too difficult to knit with wool and was intrigued by the pima cotton.
As I knit with it, I really liked the way it felt in my hands and the fabric it was creating. When I finished the sample, it became one of my most-worn knits. It felt like wearing my favorite pair of jeans.
When I was planning the relaunch of the Sterling Peplum to the Sister Peplum, I looked at other sport-weight cotton yarns but ultimately chose to knit with Cascade Ultra Pima Fine.
Here’s why:
Price
Priced at $7/skein, purchasing yarn for the Sister Peplum is fairly affordable. Depending on which size you knit, you can expect to pay between $28 - $70.
Color
There are so many colors to choose from, it might even be overwhelming! I opted for a demure blush that would go well with a lot of the items in my closet but it looks great in Cascade’s bright jewel tones as well. My tester, Markie, knit a version in a bright green and it is stunning. Choose a rich Chocolate color and you’ll have a sleeveless top that is the perfect layering piece for fall.
Pima Cotton Content
The longer cotton fibers found in Pima cotton lends a softer hand, it’s more durable and less prone to pilling, and it has this gorgeous sheen when it’s knit. That sheen elevates and more understated basic. Pima cotton also feels lighter than other traditional cotton yarns. And when it’s hot & humid outside, you want to avoid anything feeling heavy against your skin.
MACHINE WASHABLE
Let me say that again. Ultra Pima Fine is machine washable. Because you are too busy to have to worry about washing all of your handknits. Sometimes you just want to pop it in the wash. Just lay your finished pieces flat to dry to maintain the shape and size.
It Gets Softer
Just like your favorite pair of jeans, Cascade Ultra Pima Fine just gets softer and softer with each wear. I’ve been wearing mine all summer and it’s starting to feel like a summer tee.
Let’s Get Specific
Weight: Sport
Fiber Content: 100% pima cotton
Yardage: 136 yards (125 meters)
Weight: 50 g (1.75 oz)
Recommended needle size: US 3 0 4 (3.25mm - 3.5mm)
Care Instructions: Machine wash cool, tumble dry low
Available colors: see above
Color used for Sister Peplum: Shell
What it Felt Like to Work With Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Fine
Winding
Cascade Ulta Pima Fine was easy to wind on my yarn swift. If you’re not familiar, a yarn swift is a tool used by knitters and crocheters to efficiently unwind skeins or hanks of yarn into a cake of yarn. Once the yarn is caked you can easily work from it and take it on the go. The skeins fit on the winder well, and it would fit on most in-home winders. If you don’t have a winder (I’d recommend getting this one) but you could also wind it by hand since there are only 137 yards in each skein.
I had no issues with knots or tangles when winding my skeins,
Swatching
While knitting my gauge swatch, Ultra Pima Fine felt smooth and soft in my fingers. I had no issues with skin irritation or any issues with dye bleeding. I would recommend using scissors to cut your working yarn, if you try to rip it with your fingers you will hurt your fingers. Pima cotton is strong!
Blocking
You should always block your finished projects to ensure they fit and look like the sample. This is a hill I will die on - you should always swatch & block. You can either wet block or steam block Pima Fine for great results. Just wait until you see that drape.
What Stitches to Knit with Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Fine
Ultra Pima Fine is a stand out in Stockinette stitch and simple lace patterns (as seen on Sister). Choose more intricate lace stitch patterns for more summer-friendly pullovers and cardigans. And the crisp stitch definition will make textured stitches pop.
What Should you Make with Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Fine
Obviously, I think you should knit the Sister Peplum. It is an ideal match between fiber & silhouette. The Sister Peplum is a foundational piece for your wardrobe. Make a few smart outfit swaps throughout your day and you’ll look polished, effortlessly.
How Should you Wear the Sister Peplum?
Wear the Sister Peplum with a pair of leggings and snakeskin mules for a chic school drop off look, change into some high waisted jeans for a quick coffee run, and pair it with a sleek pair of high-waisted trousers for that presentation you’ve been prepping for.
Your Turn to Spill the Tea!
Have you knit with Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Fine before? What was your experience like, and what did you make? Please share in the comments below!
