Merino Silk Yarn, CASA DEL FILATO PRATO FRISBY, Luxury Italian Lace Weight Yarn, Balls or Cones, 1500m/100g

Discover the refined beauty of FRISBY by Casa del Filato Prato, Italy, an exceptional luxury lace-weight yarn combining 50% Merino Wool, 25% Silk, and 25% Polyamide. This beautifully balanced Italian blend offers the warmth and elasticity of fine Merino, the elegant drape and luxurious hand of silk, and the durability of polyamide, creating sophisticated fabrics with remarkable softness, beautiful stitch definition, and timeless designer appeal.

Originally produced for luxury Italian knitwear, FRISBY stands out for its beautifully carded construction and refined natural melange. Tiny tweed-like flecks give every color remarkable depth and movement, transforming even the simplest stitch patterns into fabrics with understated elegance. Whether you're creating lightweight sweaters, elegant cardigans, shawls, scarves, or couture-inspired layering pieces, FRISBY delivers exceptional Italian quality with a character all its own.

⚑ Product Specifications:
• Manufacturer: Casa del Filato Prato, Italy
• Article: FRISBY
• Fiber Content: 50% Merino Wool, 25% Silk, 25% Polyamide
• Yarn Weight: Lace / Extra Fine
• Yarn Count: Nm 1/15
• Yardage: Approximately 1500 meters / 100g (1640 yards / 3.52 oz)
• Construction: Fine carded luxury Merino, Silk, and Polyamide yarn with natural melange and a subtle tweed effect
• Formats: Balls (BY DEFAULT) or Cones (PLEASE PURCHASE)
• Origin: Made in Italy

➤ My First Impressions
The very first thing that surprised me about this yarn was how much it reminded me of luxurious Geelong Merino while it was still on the cone. It has the same softly carded, slightly irregular appearance rather than a perfectly smooth industrial finish. Even before knitting, the strand feels incredibly pleasant in the hand—soft, slightly dry like fine Merino, yet with a subtle silky, buttery touch that comes from the silk content.

I knitted my sample using four strands on US 4 (3.5 mm) knitting needles, and the yarn became even more beautiful once knitted. The fabric felt lightweight yet substantial, with elegant stitch definition and beautiful natural texture. The subtle melange and tiny tweed-like flecks immediately added depth and sophistication that cannot be achieved with perfectly solid yarns.

After washing, the sample transformed beautifully. The yarn opened up, developed a delicate bloom, and became noticeably softer without becoming fuzzy or losing stitch definition. The fabric gained volume while remaining remarkably lightweight, exactly what I look for in a luxury Merino blend.

For lightweight sweaters and cardigans, I found four strands to be an excellent starting point. If you prefer a warmer, cozier fabric, simply increase to five or six strands. One of the greatest advantages of FRISBY is how easily you can customize the final fabric simply by adjusting the number of strands.

Another feature I truly appreciate is the balance between the fibers. The silk contributes beautiful drape, luxurious smoothness, and that slightly buttery feel associated with premium silk blends, while the Merino provides warmth, elasticity, and softness. The polyamide quietly reinforces the yarn, improving durability and helping garments maintain their shape without sacrificing comfort.

I also believe FRISBY deserves special attention as a companion yarn. It blends beautifully with linen, cotton, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, Merino, and many other fibers, adding softness, delicate bloom, and refined silkiness without overpowering the original yarn.

✦ Texture & Feel:
Soft, airy, and beautifully carded with a refined natural melange and delicate tweed-like flecks that give every color remarkable depth. The Merino provides warmth and resilience, the silk contributes elegant drape and luxurious softness, while the polyamide improves durability without changing the natural hand of the fabric.

After washing, the yarn blooms gently, becoming even softer while preserving crisp stitch definition and its elegant textured appearance.

If you appreciate understated luxury, sophisticated texture, and timeless Italian quality, FRISBY creates fabrics that look and feel truly exceptional.

➤ Recommended Uses:
Perfect for lightweight sweaters, elegant cardigans, shawls, scarves, wraps, shells, transitional garments, luxury accessories, baby garments, sophisticated layering pieces, weaving, crochet, and machine knitting.

✧ Tips & Recommendations:
Because of its fine lace-weight meterage, FRISBY offers tremendous flexibility. Adjusting the number of strands allows you to create fabrics ranging from lightweight garments to cozy winter knitwear.

For hand knitting, I recommend starting with four strands and adjusting according to your desired fabric and gauge. Four strands create an elegant lightweight fabric, while five or six strands produce warmer garments with additional body.

Simple stockinette, garter stitch, ribs, cables, and understated textured stitches beautifully showcase the natural melange and subtle tweed effect.

Always knit and wash a swatch before beginning your project to determine the ideal strand count, gauge, and finished fabric.

➤ Recommended Needles/Hooks:
• My sample: Four strands on US 4 (3.5 mm) knitting needles
• Four strands: Lightweight sweaters, cardigans, and accessories
• Five to six strands: Warmer sweaters and winter garments
• Crochet: Select hook size according to strand count and desired fabric
• Excellent for machine knitting and weaving
• Always make a washed swatch before beginning your project.

➤ Weaving Suitability:
Excellent for weaving. The carded Merino, silk, and polyamide blend creates woven fabrics with beautiful softness, elegant drape, and refined natural texture. The subtle melange and tweed-like effect produce luxurious scarves, shawls, apparel fabrics, and sophisticated home textiles with remarkable visual depth.

⋔ Recommended Yarn Usage:
Approximate requirements when knitted with approximately four strands:

• Lightweight Sweater (M): 300–450g
• Cardigan: 350–500g
• Shawl or Wrap: 180–300g
• Scarf: 120–220g
• Hat: 80–120g
• Baby Sweater: 100–150g
• Baby Blanket: 250–350g

Actual yarn requirements will vary depending on garment size, stitch pattern, gauge, strand count, and desired fabric density.

➤ Recommended Pairings From iDOKNiT:
One of FRISBY's greatest strengths is its versatility. The luxurious combination of Merino and silk makes it an exceptional companion yarn, adding softness, elegant bloom, and beautiful drape while allowing the original yarn to retain its own personality.

Natural Fibers
• Fine Linen – Adds breathable texture and natural summer character.
• Cotton – Creates comfortable everyday fabrics with enhanced softness.
• Cashmere – Produces exceptionally luxurious winter garments.
• Kid Mohair – Adds an ethereal halo while preserving stitch definition.
• Alpaca – Creates lofty fabrics with outstanding warmth and softness.

Recommended Pairings Available at iDOKNiT
• LORO PIANA EXODUS – Adds luxurious Mulberry Silk and graceful drape.
• LORO PIANA SHANTUNG JASPÉ – Creates extraordinary fabrics with sophisticated texture and designer depth.
• LANECARDATE VELA – Adds remarkable loft, warmth, and luxurious bloom.
• SEA CASHMERE by IAFIL SPA – Creates lightweight garments with exceptional softness and breathability.

My Recommendation: FRISBY is beautiful enough to knit on its own, but it also makes an exceptional companion yarn. Try holding one or two strands together with linen, silk, cashmere, mohair, or Merino to create fabrics with remarkable softness, elegant drape, and sophisticated Italian designer character.

⟳ Care Instructions:
• Hand wash gently in cool water using a wool-safe detergent
• Do not wring or twist
• Gently press excess water out with a towel
• Lay flat to dry away from direct sunlight
• Reshape while damp
• After washing, the yarn develops a delicate bloom while maintaining its beautiful stitch definition, elegant drape, and refined natural melange.