🌿 Cotton — Freshness and Naturalness
Durable Coral is a 100% mercerized crochet cotton, a chemical process that subjects the fiber to a sodium hydroxide solution under controlled tension, which produces permanent structural changes in the cellulose fiber: it increases its surface luster, improves its dye affinity (which explains the availability of 91 colors with uniform saturation), and gives it greater tensile strength compared to unmercerized cotton. A 50-gram ball yields 125 meters, a weight-to-length ratio that indicates a relatively fine gauge yarn, ideally worked with a 2.5 to 3.5mm crochet hook, and which achieves a gauge of 24 stitches by 36 rows in a 10x10cm square — a considerably tighter density than that of the premium polyester or blended wool we already use, making it especially suitable for fine detail work, decorative edges, amigurumi, and pieces where stitch definition is prioritized over volume. As a mercerized short-staple cotton, it retains the natural moisture absorption and breathability properties typical of cotton, but with a smoother surface and less prone to pilling than untreated cotton. Furthermore, the yarn is OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, which guarantees that it has been tested for harmful substances and is safe for direct and prolonged skin contact — a relevant detail for items such as children's accessories or intimate apparel. Together, these characteristics position Durable Coral as an ideal technical option to expand our offering towards fine detail accessories and pieces where stitch precision and chromatic breadth are determining factors.
Care: hand wash in cold water, dry flat in the shade to maintain color and shape.
✨ Premium Polyester — Durability and Vibrant Color
From a technical perspective, yarn selection is not an aesthetic but a structural matter: each fiber determines the final behavior of the garment. The premium polyester we use, such as Panduro Soft Velvet, comes in 100-gram skeins (approximately 100 meters of yarn), worked with a 4.5mm crochet hook or 5.5mm knitting needles, allowing for an optimal fabric density: neither so tight that it loses flexibility, nor so loose that it compromises the structure of items like bikinis or sweaters. Being 100% polyester, this synthetic fiber offers superior resistance to deformation from tension and moisture, a key characteristic for garments that are in direct contact with salt water, chlorine, or sweat. Its continuous fiber structure (unlike the short fibers of cotton) also reduces the risk of pilling with prolonged use, and its velvety feel is due to a texturizing process that increases the apparent volume of the yarn without increasing its actual weight. In contrast, the cotton we use is a natural discontinuous fiber, which gives it greater moisture absorption capacity (up to 25% of its weight in water) and breathability, but with less elastic recovery, so it is recommended for pieces where body structure does not depend on the elastic return of the fabric. Wool, on the other hand, with its crimped fiber structure, traps air between its fibers, which explains its natural thermal insulation capacity, although it requires more delicate care due to its tendency to felt if exposed to simultaneous friction and moist heat. Understanding these technical properties allows us to decide, piece by piece, which yarn best suits the function, climate, and durability that each design needs.
Why we chose it: maintains intense color wash after wash, doesn't lose its shape, and provides that soft, luxurious feel that distinguishes LIA.G.
Care: hand wash or delicate cycle with cold water, dry flat.
🐑 Wool — Warmth and Artisan Texture
Panduro Merino Mix is a blended yarn combining 52% superwash merino wool and 48% acrylic fibers, a proportion designed to balance the natural properties of wool with the structural stability of acrylic. The "superwash" treatment applied to the merino fiber removes the microscopic scales from the wool cuticle through a controlled chemical process, which drastically reduces the risk of felting and allows for machine washing on a wool program at a maximum of 30°C, something unusual for 100% natural yarns. A 50-gram ball yields approximately 120 meters, and is worked with a 3.5 to 4mm knitting needle or crochet hook, achieving a gauge of 22 stitches by 29 rows in a 10x10cm square with a 3.5mm needle — a medium-fine density that makes it especially versatile for garments with more stitch definition, such as sweaters, vests, scarves, and gloves, as well as for more visually complex traditional patterns like the classic Norwegian Marius. The incorporation of acrylic fiber not only provides tensile strength and greater elastic recovery compared to pure wool but also reduces cost and improves yarn uniformity between batches, a relevant factor for maintaining consistency in small-scale production. Furthermore, this yarn is sourced without mulesing practices, an animal welfare criterion that is part of the sourcing standards we strive to respect at LIA.G. Overall, these characteristics position it as an intermediate yarn between the natural warmth of pure wool and the practicality of acrylic maintenance, ideal for cold-weather pieces that require durability without sacrificing a natural feel on the skin.
Care: cold wash, avoid tumble drying, dry flat away from direct heat sources.
An Important Reminder About Handmade Items
Each LIA.G piece is hand-knitted, stitch by stitch. Small variations in texture, tension, or color tone are not defects: they are the signature that your garment was created by human hands, not by a machine. For us, that imperfection is the definition of authentic luxury.