What is the fiber tencel?

I am thinking about knitting this http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring04/PATTanouk.html for a friend and the recommend yarn is Pima Tencel, what is Tencel? I would like to change the colors that are in the pattern as I dont really like those or the ones provided in Pima Tencel, can you suggesst a comparable yarn?
Jessica

Here is a web page that describes tencel.

I have some Classic Elite Miracle which is 50% alpaca, 50% tencel and it is feels really nice.

Tencel is lovely. It’s drapey like rayon. I would think anything with a similar drape and gauge would be fine. Frog Tree’s Pima silk is the same gauge.

You could check out yarndex.com and see what else fits the gauge of the Cascade Pima Tencel and is yarn with some drape (less shape and hold). Most cotton/rayon, cotton/tencel, or cotton silk blends would probably work well. Mostly rayon would likely do fine also.

Mama Bear

Tencel is sooo nice to work with. I’ve spun it and I’m knitting with it now…actually a 50/50 merino/tencel blend. :heart:

[color=indigo]SUPER soft!! :heart:

Lando[/color]