Self-striping sport weight acrylic yarn with 550m per ball
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You know that moment when you cast on a baby cardigan, excited about the colour, only to realise halfway through the yoke that you're going to have to weave in approximately four hundred ends because you kept switching skeins for stripes? We've been there. Tampico is basically our answer to that frustration — it stripes itself, so you just knit (or crochet) and watch it happen.
At sport / fine weight, it sits in that sweet spot where your project still grows at a decent pace but you get lovely stitch definition. That 220g ball is chunky in your hand, but don't let that fool you — you're unwinding 550 metres of it, which is genuinely a lot of yarn for the price. One ball covers a good-sized baby blanket or a cosy adult hat with a matching cowl to spare.
Being 100% acrylic, it's machine washable, which is the first thing any experienced baby-gift knitter checks before casting on. Gifting a handmade sweater that has to be hand-washed to a sleep-deprived new parent is a fast way to see your work end up in the donation pile. Tampico survives the machine just fine. It's also hypoallergenic and won't scratch sensitive little skin — same reassurance you'd get from something like our Baby Design, which is another popular baby-acrylic option in the shop if you prefer a single solid colour rather than stripes.
Beginners, take note: sport-weight acrylic is one of the most forgiving yarn categories to learn on. Stitches are easy to see, the yarn slides smoothly off the needle without snagging, and if you have to frog a section (we all do, no shame), it comes back out cleanly without matting or felting. If you're working through your first yoke sweater or a granny-square bag and want something with a bit more character than a plain colour, the self-striping effect does the design work for you.
We'd also suggest browsing Baby Lollipop alongside Tampico — it's another fine-weight 100% acrylic with great stitch clarity, good for mixing into a project if you want to introduce a contrasting solid section between the stripe repeats. And if you're tempted to go somewhere slightly different with the same needle size, Angora Color gives you that same fine-weight gauge with a soft halo that pairs nicely in a two-yarn held-together swatch for winter accessories.
Tampico is currently available in Brown Shades, Blue, Grey, and White — four colourways that each stripe differently, so your finished objects won't look like anyone else's. Grab a ball and see which one claims your next cast-on.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Fiber Composition | 100% Acrylic Machine washable and hypoallergenic — a reliable choice for baby items and everyday wearables. |
| Yarn Weight | Type 2 Fine: Sport / Baby Lighter than DK, giving you good stitch definition and relatively quick knitting for a fine weight. |
| Yardage per Ball | 550m / 601.49 yds Generous yardage — one ball is typically enough for a baby cardigan or a sizeable hat-and-cowl set. |
| Weight per Ball | 220g / 7.76 oz A large single ball, meaning fewer joins and a more consistent stripe sequence across your project. |
| Package Content | 1 ball per package Sold individually — buy the number of balls your pattern calls for without paying for extras. |
| Brand | Ice Yarns Our own label, made to consistent quality standards we test in-house. |
| Recommended Needle Size | Not specified For sport-weight acrylic, a 3.5mm–4mm needle is typically a good starting point — always swatch first. |
| Recommended Hook Size | Not specified A 3.5mm–4mm crochet hook is a reasonable starting point for this weight — confirm with a gauge swatch. |
| Gauge | Not specified Knit a gauge swatch before starting any fitted garment to confirm your tension matches your pattern. |
| Care Instructions | Not specified 100% acrylic yarns are generally machine washable on a gentle cycle — check the ball band when your order arrives. |
| Colorway / Dye Lot | Self-striping; available in Brown Shades, Blue, Grey, White Self-striping means the colour changes happen automatically as you work — no yarn switching needed. |
| Country of Origin | Not specified Not listed on the product page. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many balls of Tampico do I need for a baby blanket or adult sweater?
For a small baby blanket (roughly 60x80cm), one 220g ball at 550m will usually get you there comfortably in sport weight, especially if you're working a simple stitch pattern like moss stitch or a basic lace repeat. A classic baby cardigan in a size 6–12 months typically uses around 300–400m, so one ball covers that too with yarn left for a matching hat. Adult projects need more: a lightweight adult pullover in sport weight generally requires 900–1200m, so budget two to three balls depending on your size and tension. Always knit a gauge swatch first — your actual row count will tell you more precisely than any estimate.
Is self-striping acrylic yarn a good choice for baby items and sensitive skin?
Acrylic gets a bad reputation sometimes, but modern baby-grade acrylic like Tampico is genuinely soft and non-scratchy against delicate skin. It's also hypoallergenic, which matters when you're making something that'll be worn right against a newborn. The bigger practical win for baby items is machine washability — a garment that has to be hand-washed rarely survives toddlerhood. The self-striping element is purely a visual bonus. Stripe repeats create built-in colour interest without any seams or yarn joins that a baby could catch a finger in. If you're still unsure, knit a small swatch and rub it against the inside of your wrist — that's the real-world test.
