Lamana Premia

Every so often a yarn comes across my counter that makes the whole shop go quiet for a second. Lamana Premia is one of those. I've been doing this for nine years, and I still catch myself running a length of it across the back of my hand just because it feels that good. If you've ever wanted to make something that feels genuinely luxurious, this is where I'd start you.

Here's what it is. Premia is 60% superkid mohair and 40% silk, spun into a fine lace weight. Superkid mohair is the softest, finest grade of mohair, so instead of anything scratchy you get a delicate, weightless fluff, a gentle halo that surrounds every stitch. The silk runs a noble shine through the middle and adds that cool, fluid drape. Lamana dyes both fibers evenly, which gives Premia its calm, elegant look, the color soft and settled rather than loud.

Notice it in your hands

Give it the lightest squeeze and it almost disappears, it's that airy. You'll see the halo start to bloom as soon as you work it, that soft fuzz rising up around your stitches. It's remarkably generous too: 328 yards in a tiny 25 g ball, so a little goes a very long way. That fine gauge and big yardage is exactly why lace and mohair makers adore this kind of yarn. Hold it up to the window and you can see the silk catch the light through the fuzz, a soft shine that makes the finished piece look quietly expensive.

What I'd make with it

On its own, Premia is dreamy for light lace shawls, airy scarves, and cowls so soft you'll never want to take them off. But the magic trick, and the one I recommend most, is holding it together with a heavier yarn. Run it alongside a fingering or DK wool and you add a whisper of warmth, a soft glow, and that gorgeous halo without much extra weight. It's a wonderful way to make a plain sweater feel special. Bring me your main yarn and we'll find the right partner for it together.

A few things I've learned working with it

• Needles and gauge. Premia is flexible. The band suggests roughly 22 stitches over 4 inches, and it works anywhere from about US 2.5 up to US 8 depending on how you use it. Solo for lace, go smaller for a crisp fabric. Held with another yarn, follow your main yarn's needle. Bigger needles give you a softer, cloudier drape.
• How much to grab. With 328 yards a ball, one ball often carries a good scarf or a held-double accent across a whole sweater, and two will get you a generous shawl. Buy from the same dye lot when you can.
• Go slow on mohair. The halo makes stitches want to cling, so if you need to rip back, work gently and don't yank. A quick pop in the freezer can actually loosen a stubborn section before you frog it.
• Blocking. Wet block to open up the lace and let the halo settle. Mohair blooms beautifully once it's had a soak and a stretch.

Keeping it lovely

Premia is hand wash, lay flat to dry. Cool water, gentle soap, press out the water without wringing, and let it dry flat. Handled kindly, a mohair-silk piece keeps its glow and softness for years.

If this one steals your heart

Silk and mohair makers rarely stop at one, so here are a few I'd steer you toward. For a pure silk lace with a smooth, glowing hand, Novita Edith is lovely. If you want silk with a little wool for structure, try Novita Helene. Another exquisite mohair-silk to hold double is Kelbourne Woolens Harmony, and the Madelinetosh Silk Cloud is a favorite cloud-soft option in the same spirit.

One of the joys of these nine years is watching a maker try mohair for the first time, a little nervous, and then fall completely in love once that halo blooms. Whether Premia is your first fluffy shawl or a glow you're adding to a sweater, I'd love to help you plan it. If you're in San Diego, come by the shop in Liberty Station, say hello, squish some skeins, and I'll wind it for you for free. And if a pattern trips you up, bring it in, that's my favorite kind of afternoon. To hear how Apricot came to be, I've shared it all on our Our Story page.

Happy making,
Sara Heckman
Owner, Apricot Yarn & Supply

Pickup available at Apricot Yarn & Supply*

2690 Historic Decatur Rd., #101 
San Diego, California, USA 92106
Get Directions

*Usually ready same day if ordered at least 1 hour before close.

Hours
Monday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm
Sunday, 11am - 5pm