A Study of Rauma Yarns, Pt 2

At The Woolly Thistle, we are proud to stock four different 100% Norwegian Wool Rauma yarns: Gammelserie, Finullgarn, Strikkegarn, and Vams. Each has its own weight, characteristics, and range of uses – but how do you know which you need for your project? Last week, I introduced you to the first two of these yarns, Gammelserie and Finullgarn. This week, I'll introduce you to Strikkegarn and Vams. 

Strikkegarn

Strikkegarn is a 3-ply, DK-weight yarn with around 114 yards to 50 grams. Made from the same Norwegian wool fiber as both Finullgarn and Gammelserie, the thicker weight and three plies creates a rounder and bouncier finished yarn. It feels strong and robust, but still springy and responsive.

I swatched (Color 100) on a US 5 (3.75mm) needle and got a gauge of 20 stitches and 30 rows to 4 inches, compared with Rauma’s recommended 22 stitches to 10cm. It has more stitch definition than Finullgarn and Gammelserie, but still did block well. It is a bit less drapey than Finullgarn and I found it feels more textured because of the roundness of the yarn.

Strikkegarn reminded me of traditional Norwegian ski sweaters and Selbu mittens. Garments knit in Strikkegarn would be a little thicker and more structured than Finullgarn, at least at the gauge I knit. Knitting it more tightly would result in nice cozy house socks and mid-weight mittens and knitting it more loosely would work well in DK-weight shawls and even cables.

Vams

Vams is the thickest Rauma yarn we carry at a worsted/Aran weight. Like the other three, it is 100% Norwegian wool, but it does feel somewhat different from the thinner yarns. It is the loftiest and fluffiest feeling of the Rauma yarns, with 90 yards to 50 grams and a loosely-spun construction that leaves it very airy and light for its weight. It feels like a double-size Finullgarn. It is the squishiest of the four Rauma yarns, feels almost fleecy, and manages to still feel quite round despite its 2-ply construction.

I swatched Vams (Color 003) using a US 8 (5.0mm) needle and got a gauge of 15 stitches and 24 rows to 4 inches. It is quite drapey for its weight at that gauge and traps a lot of air. After blocking, it formed a cohesive fabric that has a nice fuzzy halo to it.

Vams would make a warm and fuzzy sweater with a nice halo. Rauma also recommends it for felting projects and dreaming of knitting a fluffy hat.

I hope this brief introduction to our Rauma yarns has given you some insight into these yarns, how they knit up, and what you could make with them. If you missed last week's post where I discuss Gammelserie and Finullgarn, you can find it here. This is not the end of the road for me and Rauma! In the coming months, I’ll explore the full range of these yarns, including their use in colorwork, marling, texture, and at the edges of their gauge ranges. Hope you’ll join me!

 *Quick Note on Swatches: I have swatched these yarns in the flat and without garter stitch edging. If I were planning a project knit in the round, I would recommend swatching in the round for an accurate gauge for all knit rows. Also, I find that while a garter stitch edge can make swatches lie flatter, the different gauge of garter stitch can distort the gauge measurement of the stockinette swatch. 

As always, if you have questions about these yarns or anything else, click the conversation bubble at the bottom right or email us at info@thewoollythistle.com.

Kelsey Peterson is a knitter, eager student of yarn construction and sheep breeds, and employee of TWT. She is on Instagram as kcrp.making and on Ravelry as yellowpaperfish.