CATANIA Cotton - Schachenmayr

Schachenmayr CATANIA Cotton – 100% Mercerized Cotton for Amigurumi and Knitting

100% combed and mercerized cotton | 50g – 125m | Over 100 colors available

📋 Key Features

• Composition100% combed and mercerized cotton
• Ball Weight50g
• Yardage125 meters
• Recommended Needles2 – 4 mm
• Recommended Crochet Hook2 – 4 mm (2.5-3.5 mm for tight amigurumi)
• WashingFirst wash 60°C, subsequent 40°C
• Ideal ForAmigurumi, knitting, crochet, granny squares
• Gauge10x10cm swatch: 26 stitches x 36 rows

🧵 The Yarn

Schachenmayr CATANIA Cotton — also known as Schachenmayr Catania — is the classic 100% mercerized cotton yarn, the most popular choice among crochet and knitting enthusiasts worldwide. Made from high-quality combed cotton, it offers a smooth, even finish and exceptional stitch definition that highlights every detail of your creations. Its brilliant finish and regular texture make it perfect for projects that require precision and care.

Available in 50g balls with 125 meters of length, CATANIA is the ideal yarn for light spring and summer garments, airy accessories, home decor, and especially for creating colorful amigurumi. Its versatility makes it suitable for both knitting needles (2-4mm) and crochet hooks, with excellent workability even for beginners.

🧬 Technical Composition: Why Mercerized Cotton Makes a Difference

Mercerized cotton is cotton that has undergone a special treatment with concentrated caustic soda, a process that completely transforms the fiber's characteristics. Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified — safe in contact with the skin, also suitable for baby and infant garments. This chemical bath increases the thread's strength by up to 20%, improves dye absorption (which is why the colors are so bright and long-lasting), and gives it that silky luster that distinguishes CATANIA from regular cotton. The result is a yarn that is not only more beautiful to look at, but also stronger and easier to work with.

The combed cotton used by Schachenmayr has undergone a combing process that removes short fibers and impurities, leaving only long, uniform fibers. This results in a smooth, lint-free yarn that slides perfectly on needles and hooks without knotting or creating irregularities. For amigurumi, where every stitch must be perfect, this feature is fundamental: the stitch is compact, defined, and the stuffing does not show through.

📦 Ball Size and Yield

Each ball of CATANIA weighs 50g and offers 125 meters of yarn. With one ball, you can make a small, complete amigurumi (approx. 8-10cm tall), a pot holder, a pair of baby booties, or contribute to larger projects like granny square blankets. The yield is excellent for the price: 125 meters allow you to work without frequent interruptions and maintain color consistency.

For larger projects like sweaters, cardigans, or blankets, calculate approximately 500g (10 balls) for a women's size M sweater. We recommend purchasing all the necessary balls in one go to ensure they come from the same dye lot: even if the color is the same, different lots may have slight variations in shade that might be noticeable in the finished work.

🧶 Recommended Crafting

For knitting, Schachenmayr recommends using sizes from 2 to 4mm. With 2-2.5mm needles, you will get a very compact fabric, ideal for structured garments that should not lose their shape. With 3-3.5mm needles, the fabric is softer and draped, perfect for summer sweaters and shawls. With 4mm needles, the work becomes airier, ideal for light blankets and lace projects. The standard gauge is 26 stitches x 36 rows over 10x10cm using 3mm needles.

For crochet, the recommended size is 2.5-3.5mm for compact amigurumi where the stuffing must not show through. For granny squares, bags, and accessories, you can use a 3.5-4mm hook for faster, softer work. The yarn slides perfectly without splitting the fibers, even after hours of work. It is also perfect for advanced techniques like Caterina de Medici embroidery, where stitch definition is essential.

✨ Why Choose Schachenmayr CATANIA Cotton

CATANIA solves the main problem for those who make amigurumi and detailed projects: stitch definition. While regular cotton can be fuzzy or irregular, CATANIA is combed and mercerized, so every stitch is sharp, compact, and the stuffing does not show through, even with tight stitches. Compared to other mercerized cottons on the market, CATANIA offers an unbeatable value for money and a range of over 100 colors that allows you to always find the perfect shade for your project.

In everyday life, this translates into creations that last over time: washed garments retain their shape, colors remain bright even after dozens of washes, and the fabric does not pill. If you craft for sale or for gifts, CATANIA guarantees a professional result that your customers will notice immediately. It is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, making it safe even for items in contact with babies' skin.

🎨 What You Can Make

CATANIA is the most versatile yarn in the Schachenmayr catalog. Its primary use is for amigurumi (stuffed animals, dolls, characters), but it is also perfect for summer clothing (tops, sweaters, light cardigans), accessories (bags, hats, spring scarves), home decor items (cushions, granny square blankets, pot holders), children's projects (booties, blankets, toys), and advanced techniques like Caterina de Medici embroidery and lace work.

👩🎨 Who It Is For

CATANIA is suitable for both beginners and experts. For those just starting, the yarn flows well without splitting, does not knot, and allows you to clearly see each stitch, making it easier to learn. The smooth texture makes it easy to undo and redo without damaging the thread. For experienced crafters, the quality of the mercerized cotton guarantees professional results even on complex projects with structured or lace stitches.

Who typically buys it? Hobbyists who make amigurumi for fun, artisans selling their creations on Etsy or at markets (the OEKO-TEX certification is a plus for sellers), moms and grandmas making items for children, and granny square enthusiasts looking for a vast range of matching colors. Many customers also choose it for handmade gifts because the quality is visible and felt to the touch.

🧼 Maintenance and Care

• WashingFirst wash at 60°C to set colors, subsequent washes at 40°C in the washing machine
• BleachingDo not bleach. For projects with light and dark colors, use color-catcher sheets
• SpinningNormal spin cycle. Mercerized cotton is durable
• DryingDry flat, away from direct heat sources
• IroningIron at medium temperature if necessary. Cotton tolerates the iron well
• StorageStore in a dry place, away from direct light to preserve colors

📌 Important note

📊 Technical data summary