NOTE: These yarns have been DISCONTINUED by the manufacturer. I am leaving it up for those who might have a way of getting their hands on it or who might want to pester Premier to bring it back.
This is Part Two of my review of the new Downton Abbey yarns in which I feature the second pair of yarns, the Lady Sybil and Branson lines. (Read Part One here.)
(Note: Since I wrote this over 2 years ago, Premier discontinued the Downton Abbey yarns. Par for the course for these companies it seems.)
Lady Sybil Yarn
Line has been discontinued
Yarn Basics
- Washing instructions: Hand wash only, lay flat to dry
- Comes in 8 colors (Cloud Paper, Pearl Pink, Dusky Mauve, Mulled Grape, Jade Green, Blue Mist, Stone Blue, Gull Grey)
- #2 category yarn
- Content: 80% acrylic, 10% Angora effect (polyamide), 10% mohair
- Weight: 3 oz (85 g)
- Length: 380 yd (347.472 m)
Yarn Review
This yarn is a very elegant, light, and airy. I chose the Pearl Pink color to make a scarf. I had a hard time choosing a pattern to fit the yarn. At first I tried to do a solid single or half double crochet stitch like I did with the Lady Mary yarn, but this yarn was to wispy to do a tight stitch.
As I set out looking for a new pattern, I looked for an airy pattern that accented the structure of the yarn itself. I managed to find one in a crochet stitch collection I bought recently. It gives a whimsical feel to the project, much like Sybil herself. I used a rather large hook (J) for this size yarn to help make the pattern feel even more open.
I worked the Branson and Sybil yarns together like I did the Matthew and Mary. It wasn’t stunning, but it might work better with different colors.
Branson Yarn
Line has been discontinued
Yarn Basics
- Washing instructions: Machine wash gentle, tumble dry low
- Comes in 8 colors (Claret Red, Rustic Russet, Lichen Green, Slate Blue, Chestnut Brown, Cobblestone Grey, Oatmeal Cream, Vapor Grey)
- #5 category yarn (though I think it is better classified as a #4 yarn)
- Content: 80% acrylic, 20% wool
- Weight: 3.5 oz (100 g)
- Length: 153 yd (139.9032 m)
- Outside pull skein (unwinds from the outside in)
Yarn Review
I saved the best character for last. Branson is by far my favorite character on the show, so I was eager to try this yarn most of all. This yarn was the one that while I worked on it reminded me most of the character it represented.
The first thing I noticed was the color I ordered (Cobblestone Grey), which seemed monochromatic on the computer, was actually grey with small flecks of red in it. So, like Tom, it seems like you can paint it/him with a single color until you look closer and see its/his depth.
The next thing I noticed is the yarn is really soft, but not as soft as the Matthew yarn. Again, Tom is soft, but not as soft as the other men on the show.
I noticed the third similarity when I started working with the yarn. If you’re not careful handling it, the yarn splits and unravels really easily at the ends of the yarn. (You have to handle Tom carefully or he unravels.) I like to crochet over my ends to weave them in and this adds bulk and mess to the project with this yarn.
The last thing I noticed was the yarn also has a small bit of a wispy side to it like the Lady Sybil yarn. I thought it was neat that this yarn “couple” had that similarity. It was a reminder of how Sybil was a part of who Tom is.
I decided to make a wrap out of my Branson yarn and, although unfinished, it has already been worn while I watched the last three episodes of Downton Abbey (as in the last three in Season Six). It did a very good job of drying my tears which were, luckily, mostly happy ones. It wasn’t long enough to tell completely, but it seemed to be warm.
UPDATE: I finished my Branson wrap! It’s easy to snuggle in and warm.
Conclusion (All 4 Downton Abbey yarns)
The Downton Abbey yarns have a heftier price tag than I usually like, but for those who are fans of the show it’s well worth the cost. Recently I have found it on sale both online and in stores.
I enjoyed experiencing new yarns. The unfortunate thing (to my husband and our pocketbook) is I might have developed a little bit of an addiction to trying out new yarns. 🙂
Disclaimer: I am in no way claiming ownership to the Downton Abbey name or the character’s names. I am not in any way affiliated with them or with Premier Yarns.
Have you tried the Downton Abbey yarns? Do you want to? Let us know in the comments!
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