Cotton Superfine Alpaca Yarn, LANA GATTO CORTINA, Italian Sport Weight Fashion Yarn with Lurex, 140m/50g

Cotton for winter? CORTINA makes a surprisingly convincing case. LANA GATTO CORTINA combines 56% Cotton with 30% Superfine Alpaca in an unusual Italian yarn that brings together the lightness and definition of cotton with a soft, fuzzy Alpaca halo.

But the fiber combination is only part of the story. CORTINA has an airy, irregular flamé-like thick-and-thin texture, with beautifully blended multicolor effects, a soft Superfine Alpaca halo and delicate flashes of Lurex. Together they create a sophisticated, almost tweed-like surface with a distinctly Chanel-inspired character — making CORTINA especially exciting for textured jackets, cardigans, vests and other statement knitwear. The Lurex is intentionally subtle and may be difficult to capture fully in photographs or video, but it adds tiny points of light as the knitted fabric moves.

CORTINA belongs to LANA GATTO's FASHION Fall/Winter 2026–2027 Collection, inspired by the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games. LANA GATTO presents this Fashion collection with a sporty, versatile and comfortable approach to winter knitwear.

▣ Product Specifications
• Manufacturer: LANA GATTO / Filatura Tollegno 1900, Italy
• Article: CORTINA
• Collection: FASHION — Fall/Winter 2026–2027
• Fiber Content: 56% Cotton, 30% Superfine Alpaca, 8% Polyamide (Nylon), 6% Polyester (Lurex)
• Yarn Weight: Sport
• Yardage: 140 m / 153 yd per 50 g / 1.76 oz ball
• Equivalent: 280 m / 306 yd per 100 g / 3.52 oz
• Yarn Structure: Airy cotton-rich fancy yarn with a soft Superfine Alpaca halo, irregular flamé-like thick-and-thin texture and subtle Lurex accents
• Format: Original factory-wound 50 g / 1.76 oz balls
• Recommended Needle Size: 4.0 mm / US 6
• Suggested Gauge: 20–24 sts / 4 in (10 cm)
• Origin: Made in Italy

➤ What Can I Make & How Much Should I Buy?
• Hat or Headband — 1 ball / 50 g
• Cowl or Short Scarf — 2–3 balls / 100–150 g
• Long Scarf or Small Wrap — 3–4 balls / 150–200 g
• Sleeveless Top or Vest — approximately 5–6 balls / 250–300 g
• Sweater / Pullover, S–M — approximately 6–7 balls / 300–350 g
• Relaxed Cardigan or Vest, M — approximately 7–8 balls / 350–400 g

These are general planning estimates rather than pattern-specific requirements. Final consumption depends on size, garment length, ease, stitch pattern and gauge.

✦ A WINTER YARN FOR KNITTERS LOOKING BEYOND TRADITIONAL WOOL
With cotton making up more than half of its composition, CORTINA offers a genuinely different approach to cold-weather knitting. Cotton contributes definition and structure to the finished fabric, while Superfine Alpaca brings softness, halo and cozy character.

This makes CORTINA especially interesting for lightweight sweaters, vests, cardigans, jackets and transitional pieces where you want a distinctly wintery appearance without building the entire garment around traditional sheep wool.

✦ DESIGN INSPIRATION — FROM YARN TO LUXURY KNITWEAR
CORTINA's combination of dimensional texture, soft halo, mélange color and restrained shimmer fits beautifully into one of the most interesting directions in contemporary luxury knitwear.

For inspiration, explore Brunello Cucinelli's Fall/Winter 2026 Dazzling Tartan knitwear, where airy and smoother surfaces, rich dimensional texture, matte tones and luminous accents transform relaxed silhouettes into sophisticated statement pieces.

CORTINA is not the yarn used in these Brunello Cucinelli garments, and the knitting techniques and fiber compositions are different. Think of the collection instead as design inspiration: CORTINA's own irregular flamé-like texture, Superfine Alpaca halo, multicolor movement and subtle Lurex sparkle offer an exciting starting point for creating your own luxury-inspired jacket, cardigan, vest or coat with a similarly sophisticated approach to texture and light.

Explore Brunello Cucinelli Dazzling Tartan Knitwear — Design Inspiration for LANA GATTO CORTINA

➤ Knitting & Crochet
CORTINA is particularly well suited to tweed-inspired and Chanel-inspired knitted jackets and cardigans. Its irregular texture, soft halo, multicolor details and subtle Lurex sparkle can create the visual richness of a fashion tweed while allowing the actual knitting to remain relatively simple. It is equally compelling for contemporary luxury-inspired vests, oversized cardigans and relaxed outerwear where the yarn itself becomes the design feature.

CORTINA is recommended for 4.0 mm / US 6 needles, with a suggested knitting gauge of 20–24 stitches per 4 in / 10 cm.

Simpler stitches can be a real advantage with this yarn. Stockinette allows the irregular flamé-like texture, mélange color movement, soft Alpaca halo and tiny Lurex accents to become part of the fabric without competing with an elaborate stitch pattern. Garter stitch emphasizes the changing texture, while simple openwork gives the fluffy fibers room to breathe. Light structural details can also work beautifully when they do not overwhelm the yarn.

For crochet, 4.0–4.5 mm is a useful starting range. Swatch before beginning a fitted garment or changing needle or hook size.

➤ Original LANA GATTO CORTINA Pattern
Want to see what this unusual yarn looks like in a complete garment? LANA GATTO created an original CHIC SLEEVELESS DRESS specifically for CORTINA, showing how the yarn's color movement, irregular texture and soft halo work across a full knitted piece.

FREE Lana Gatto CORTINA Chic Sleeveless Dress Pattern & Project Inspiration

➤ Complete the Project — Recommended From iDOKNiT
CORTINA is designed for US 6 / 4.0 mm needles. Complete your project with ChiaoGoo knitting needles, interchangeable sets, needle gauges, stitch markers and other knitting accessories from iDOKNiT.

Shop ChiaoGoo Knitting Needles, Sets & Accessories at iDOKNiT

✦ A Beautiful Gift for a Knitter
CORTINA makes an especially interesting gift for a knitter who already owns plenty of ordinary yarn. The unusual Cotton + Superfine Alpaca combination, irregular flamé-like texture, soft halo, mélange coloring and delicate Lurex sparkle give it a distinctive character straight from the ball.

For a project gift, combine several balls for a scarf, cowl, vest or small jacket with US 6 / 4.0 mm needles.

⫯ Weaving Notes
For hand weaving, CORTINA is best considered a specialty effect weft. Its soft Alpaca halo, irregular thick-and-thin texture, changing color and subtle Lurex details can bring dimension to scarves, wraps and decorative sections alongside a smoother yarn.

Because of its fuzzy fancy construction, sample first and consider using a smoother, more stable yarn for the warp.

⟳ Care Instructions
• Hand wash gently in lukewarm water, maximum 30°C / 86°F
• Use a mild detergent suitable for delicate fibers
• Do not rub, twist or wring
• Gently remove excess water with a towel
• Reshape and lay flat to dry in the shade