Please note: As of October, 2018, Classic Elite Yarns has closed its doors. I’m leaving the review up here for reference in case you’re lucky enough to discover some of this yarn for sale.
Classic Elite Yarns has introduced a new undyed, natural-colors-only yarn collection called Mountaintop. The collection features three yarns to start, each of which is spun in Peru of fibers that have not been dyed or rendered machine-washable.
Crestone
First is Crestone, a hearty and hard-working wool that knits up at 4 3/4 stitches per inch on US 6-7 (4-4.5mm) needles. Crestone is made of three tightly twisted strands that are plied together at a near perpendicular angle, resulting in a quite springy, round yarn. It will ship in 50g skeins of approximately 100 yards each.
Vista
Next is Vista, a slightly softer blend of 50% superfine alpaca and 50% wool. This yarn has a hint less twist to it than Crestone, resulting in a more relaxed but still fairly rounded three-ply yarn. Vista knits up at the same gauge as Crestone, making it a suitable substitute or companion to Crestone projects. The yarn will ship in similarly sized skeins to Crestone.
Vail
Finally, the softest and most luxurious of the three is called Vail. For a yarn line claiming eco-friendliness, Vail contains a rather unusual but cost-effective blend of 70% baby alpaca and 30% bamboo viscose. Nearly identical to rayon, bamboo viscose is a manufactured fiber made from the regenerated cellulose of bamboo plants. It gives a fineness, luster, and drape to the final product while costing significantly less than silk. Vail knits up at 6 3/4 stitches per inch on size US 3 (3.25mm) needles, and will ship in 50g skeins holding a generous 236 yards.
