Swatch Talk: Berroco Remix

It’s time for another installation of Swatch Talk! In this ongoing series, I feature different yarns from time to time and share my thoughts about it, my swatch process and ideas for projects that I think work well for it (if you’d like to check out my previous Swatch Talk posts, click here). Since it’s March and Spring is around the corner, I thought it would be a great time to feature a warm-weather-friendly yarn, Berroco Remix.

The Basics

Berroco Remix is classified as a worsted-weight yarn, although in my experience it can also work well in the aran-weight category as well. So this means you can expect to get a stitch gauge ranging from 16-20 stitches = 4″/10 cm (depending on needle size, personal tension and stitch pattern). Note: there is also Remix Light (sport/DK) & Remix Chunky (bulky). This blog post is just about the original Remix.

Remix is a non-wool yarn, making it a good option for warmer-weather climates or for those with wool allergies. It’s made of 100% recycled materials and the yarn label lists the fibers as: 30% Nylon, 27% Cotton, 24% Acrylic, 10% Silk, 9% Linen. Cotton yarns have a tendency to feel very heavy once they are in the worsted-weight thickness but because of the blend of fibers here, Remix doesn’t feel overly heavy and still has some nice elasticity.

What I think makes this yarn especially unique is the fact that it’s a non-wool tweed – so it has no wool but the tweedy texture gives the look of a wool yarn.

The texture

Let’s take a closer look at the texture in a couple of different stitch scenarios. Below is an up-close look of it in plain stockinette stitch…

You can see the tweedy flecks as well as how there is a textured look to the fabric. My stitches aren’t 100% consistent – you can see how some are a little bigger/smaller than others but that is to be expected in a textured cotton blend yarn like this. In the swatch above, I’m getting 17 stitches = 4″/10 cm on a US 8/5 mm needle.

Now let’s look at a different stitch pattern. Below is Remix knit up in a “garter ridge” stitch pattern (the stitch pattern used in my Woods Road Vest). I swatched it on both a US 9 and a US 8:

I really like it knit up in a stitch pattern like this because there isn’t a need for super defined stitch definition but it defines it enough that you can see the garter ridges nicely. I personally think the garter ridge stitch pattern looks the best when it’s worked in a textured yarn like this. And as you can see, whether it’s knit on a US 8 or a US 9, it still looks really nice. In this case, because Woods Road Vest has a gauge of 17 stitches = 4″/10 cm, the US 8 would be the better needle for it.

Below is a different textured stitch pattern – the “box stitch” (worked in the round) featured in my Wharf Street vest:

As you can see, there’s some definition but it’s not super strong. To contrast it, see the photo below that shows the Remix swatch as well as a swatch of a less textured yarn (Juniper Moon Farm’s Cumulus – a cotton/nylon blend):

When you compare the 2 above, it’s quite obvious how a textured yarn like Remix provides a bit less stitch definition in a stitch pattern like the “box stitch”. Both yarns work gauge-wise, both are cotton blends, but they give totally different looks. Each has pro’s and con’s and just depends on the look you prefer.

My Overall Thoughts

I really love Berroco Remix and think it’s such a great option to consider when you are looking for a wool alternative in a worsted or aran-weight. It has over 30 colorways to choose from and is a local yarn shop favorite so it’s easy to find (and I love to support LYS’s!). It’s good to keep in mind though the textured-look it will provide and make sure to pair it with patterns where this type of look is what you’re going for.