Our Bases

Our Bases

Meet the Yarns: A Guide to the main bases at Green Tea Yarns

One of the questions I’m asked most often is which base should I choose? Each yarn has its own personality, strengths and ideal projects, and understanding the fibres and meterage makes planning a project so much easier.

Below is a handy overview of the eight core bases that appear again and again in the shop.

Darjeeling – The Reliable All-Rounder Sock Yarn

Fibre: 80% merino / 20% nylon
Typical meterage:

  • 4 ply / fingering: ~400 m per 100 g

  • DK: ~225 m per 100 g

Darjeeling is the workhorse of the range. The addition of nylon gives durability without sacrificing softness, making it perfect for socks, baby garments, everyday sweaters and accessories. It blocks beautifully and holds stitch definition well, so it’s also excellent for colourwork and textured knitting.

Perfect for: socks, kidswear, sweaters, mittens, gift knitting.

Ginseng – Pure Mulberry Silk Luxury

Fibre: 100% mulberry silk
Typical meterage:

  • 3 ply / heavy lace: ~600 m per 100 g

  • 4 ply / fingering: ~400 m per 100 g

Ginseng is all about drape and glow. Silk takes dye with incredible depth, giving colours richness and luminosity that’s hard to replicate. Finished fabric feels cool against the skin and has a fluid, elegant movement.

Perfect for: shawls, summer tops, lace garments, heirloom pieces.

Jasmine – The Merino Silk Favourite

Fibre: 50% merino / 50% silk (non-superwash - 4 ply only)
Typical meterage (per 100 g):

  • 2 ply lace: ~800 m

  • 3 ply heavy lace: ~600 m

  • 4 ply fingering: ~400 m

  • 5 ply sport: ~300 m

  • 8 ply DK: ~225 m

Jasmine blends the bounce of merino with the sheen of silk. The  fibre gives a slightly more organic feel and a beautiful bloom after blocking. Comes in an amazing variety of weights ... 

Perfect for: garments, shawls, special sweaters, lightweight cardigans.

Kawa Kawa – Merino Possum Warmth

Fibre: 80% merino / 20% possum
Typical meterage:

  • 4 ply / fingering: 435 m per 100 g

  • 8 ply / DK: 238 m per 100 g

Kawa Kawa is wonderfully light yet surprisingly warm thanks to the addition of possum fibre. Possum creates a soft, airy yarn with gentle halo and excellent insulation without heaviness. The result is a cosy, breathable fabric that feels warm on the needles and even warmer to wear.

Perfect for: sweaters, hats, mittens, winter accessories and lightweight garments designed for warmth without bulk.

Osmanthus – Silk & Merino Singles

Fibre: merino / silk blend (singles construction)
Typical meterage: per 100 g

4 ply: 400m/100g (70% sw merino/30% silk)

8ply: 250/100g (50% merino/50% silk)

Osmanthus is a single-ply yarn with softness and gentle halo. The single strand creates painterly colour transitions and a slightly rustic texture that works beautifully in shawls and relaxed garments.

Perfect for: shawls, drapey garments, fade projects, lightweight sweaters (when combined with a bit of fluff to give it strength).

Pekoe – 100% Mulberry Silk


Typical meterage: per 100 g

2ply/lace: 800m/100g

3ply/heavy lace: 600m/100g

4ply/fingering: 400m/100g

Another pure Mulberry silk ... but a totally different animal to the Ginseng bases

Perfect for: summer tops, tees, shawls and lightweight cardigans (best teamed with a bit of fluff to help minimise pilling when used for a garment other than a shawl).

Rosemary – Suri Alpaca & Silk Fluff

2ply/lace: 

Fibre: 65% suri alpaca / 35% silk
Typical meterage: ~ 400 m per 50 g

3 ply/Heavy Lace:

Fibre: 74% suri alpaca / 26% silk
Typical meterage: ~ 300 m per 50 g

Rosemary is the mohair alternative in the range and comes in two weights. Suri alpaca gives a soft, silky halo without the prickle some people experience with mohair. The silk core adds strength and shine.

Perfect for: holding double with other yarns, airy sweaters, cardigans, shawls.

Shui Yun – Mohair Silk Cloud

Fibre: mohair / silk
Typical meterage: ~420 m per 50 g (some stock of 500m/50g which I am clearing)

Shui Yun is the dreamiest halo yarn in the collection. Light, airy and glowing, it transforms any yarn it’s paired with and creates fabric that feels almost weightless.

Perfect for: lace shawls, soft sweaters, holding double for halo and warmth, or teamed with other fibres for it's anti pilling properties.

Choosing the Right Base

A quick cheat-sheet:

  • Durability: Darjeeling

  • Drape & sheen: Ginseng, Jasmine, Pekoe

  • Soft halo: Rosemary or Shui Yun

  • Painterly singles texture: Osmanthus

  • Warmth: Kawa Kawa

Every colour behaves slightly differently on each base, which is part of the joy of working with hand-dyed yarn. Once you find your favourite base (or three!), choosing colours becomes even more fun.

If you’re ever unsure which base suits a project, this guide is a great place to start 💛

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