Mondo–the name says it all. Big…beyond big. In fact, if you look up “mondo” in a dictionary the definition is humongous.
A favourite in the Cascade family, Mondo is just what it’s name implies, SUPER bulky. And because it’s a velvety blend of superfine alpaca and wool, it is SUPER soft as well!
With a gauge of .75 – 1 stitch per inch on size 25mm (US50) needles this jumbo yarn knits up in record speed. Knit a cowl in an hour or a squishy blanket in a day! Cables will pop with Mondo, and decorative stitches will stand out for miles, as they should!
The creative minds at Cascade know that plied yarn is integral to good stitch definition and so they have plied three loosely spun singles together to make Mondo. Plied yarns are better balanced thereby making your knitted stitches better balanced too. They are also more durable than single ply yarns and tend to pill less.
Thanks to TV shows like Outlander, jumbo knits are literally bigger than ever. With the seemingly never ending supply of cozy knitted cowls, shawls and gauntlets parading across our screens, knitters have taken notice and have taken it upon themselves to recreate their own Outlander inspired accessories. A quick pattern search on Ravelry for Outlander yielded 266 matches, that’s a whole lot of options for patterns!
And what about those jumbo blankets we are seeing all over the internet these days? Mondo is exactly what you need to make these bold statement pieces. Another quick Ravelry search and we see quite a few blankets knit with just one or two balls of Mondo.
As with all of their yarns, Cascade have a couple of patterns for Mondo on their website that you can download for free. The Giant Steps Cowl uses just one ball of Mondo and knits up in the blink of an eye. A simple drop stitch pattern is all that’s needed to highlight the beauty of Mondo. The Hearthstone Throw is knit with three balls of Mondo and makes for the perfect gift for any wee one.
If you haven’t seen or tried Mondo yet, head on over to your LYS and give it a try. You’ll be delighted by it’s softness and versatility.
Happy knitting and crocheting everyone!!