Sub yarn for Noro Silk Garden yarn?

[cookworm]

I fell in LOVE with this shawl! I asked the site owner what type of yarn she used, and she said Noro Silk Garden. While I think the yarn would be dreamy to use, unfortunately, mohair is quite itchy for me, even in very small proportions (and it's nearly half the fiber content for this yarn). Does anybody have any comparable yarn suggestions as far as drape and the beautiful striping? The gauge is 4½ stitches per inch, aran weight, needle size 7-8.

[boyforpele13]

i saw one of those eleanor wraps done in karaoke instead of silk garden and it came out gorgeous! here is one in silk garden and here is one in karaoke, a more subtle colorway clearly. (i'm a huge fan of the mermaid mix myself.)

eta: photos borrowed from blogs... i hope that's ok! full credit: karaoke lady eleanor stole can be found in greater detail here and the silk garden version belongs to this site ok i feel better.

[cookworm]

Thank you!!! This is very pretty yarn...but may I ask (and maybe I should already know )--what is "soysilk" yarn?

[boyforpele13]

it is a silk alternative made from the by-products of making tofu. it's very soft like silk, but it has warmth to it, and a lovely drape. karaoke is a 50/50 blend of soysilk and wool so it felts too.

[jelly]

maybe Paton's SWS would be ok for you

[ArtLady1981]

How about a 100% Merino Wool? However, you would be called upon to coordinate your own colors for the striping sequence. Fun!

I knit with NORO Silk Garden quite a lot, and it knits as a worsted weight, although it 'looks like' a DK weight in the skein.

Another idea: how about using same-qauge yarn leftovers ? Just start with a color til it runs out, and attach a new color using the "spit/splice" invisible technique, and carry on!