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Yarns We Love
Summer 2024
Space isn’t a concern in an online magazine, so we have asked each designer to provide a review of the yarn they used for their projects. When designers submit a proposal for a design, we try to accommodate their yarn choice. They are the best judge of what yarn will work best for their projects.
Anzula It Could be Worsted
190yds/173m, 114g/4oz
50% Superwash Merino, 50% Tussah Silk
I always joke that I run into long-lost friends whenever I’m dressed in staying-at-home clothes rather than my usual office wear. I decided to remedy this problem by creating a sweater that would be as comfy as pajamas or a sweatshirt but look elegant and sophisticated if I run into someone I know while running weekend errands. I chose a silk-blend yarn to give the garment a bit of drape and slouchiness. The yarn is very round and hefty, giving the sweater a decent weight. You can throw it on over any T-shirt, tank top, or camisole. The merino resists pilling and provides great stitch definition for both cables and eyelets. The slight sheen of the silk makes the sweater a great alternative to my usual drab weekend wear. Available in every colorway, you’re sure to find the perfect color for your project!
by Ashwini Jambhekar—The Weekend
Biscotte Yarns Louise Robert Collection Merino Worsted
220yds/200m, 100g/3.5oz
100% Superwash Merino
https://leslainesbiscotte.com/
This 3-ply superwash merino yarn is lovely to knit with. It’s soft and has a bouncy feel, making it easy on the hands as you’re knitting. The textures and stitches really stand out, so it’s a great yarn choice for cables or other textured patterns. It comes in a wonderful array of hand-dyed colors, so for larger projects, I recommend alternating skeins to avoid any color pooling (but didn’t find that necessary on this small two-skein cowl).
by Tonia Lyons—Buttoned Up
Brooklyn Tweed Arbor
145yds/132m, 50g/1.76oz
100% American Targhee Wool
Arbor is a 3-ply worsted-spun yarn made from 23.5-micron Targhee wool from sheep in Montana and South Dakota. Like all of Brooklyn Tweed yarns, every stage from source to dying is entirely processed in various locations in the United States. Though it is clearly a DK weight at 22 stitches per four inches, it produces a surprisingly sturdy fabric. In fact, after working with it for several weeks, I began to think of it as a medium, rather than a lightweight, yarn. Whether that is due to the nature of Targhee wool or the fact that it is worsted-spun, I’m not sure. But when I feel the fabric, the word that comes to mind is “substantial.” It is certainly not plush and drapey, but also not coarse or stiff, but rather somewhere in between. It would make a warm sweater, and I found it ideal for a hat. Their website calls it a “plush yet sturdy fabric,” which I found to be an accurate description.
by Frank Jernigan—Jollity
Cascade Yarns Cantata
218yds/200m, 100g/3.5oz
70% Cotton, 30% Superwash Merino Wool
.https://www.cascadeyarns.com/
Cantata has a unique construction of a cotton tube with merino fibers blown in, which makes the yarn soft, airy, and lofty. The yarn has nice stitch definition and is great for cables and textured stitches. Cantata has more than 40+ beautiful colors to choose from, which is perfect for every-season projects.
by Quinny Zhang—Canna Lily
Cascade Yarns Cascade 220
220yds/200m, 100g/3.5oz
100% Peruvian Highland Wool
.https://www.cascadeyarns.com/
Cascade Yarns has never disappointed me. It’s my “go to” yarn because the quality is good, the price is reasonable, it comes in a variety of weights and fibers, and the colors are numerous and beautiful. It worked really well for Amaryllis, and I’m delighted with the finished product. Because I have used Cascade Yarns so many times, I know that it will hold up well. It can be easily washed by gently immersing in tepid water and run through a spin cycle and will dry quickly. I do not find that pilling is ever an issue, and there were no knots in any of the hanks. Highly recommended!
by Sara Louise Greer—Amaryllis
Dream in Color Yarn Smooshy Cashmere
400yds/365m, 113g/4oz
70% Superwash Merino, 20% Cashmere, 10% Nylon
https://www.dreamincoloryarn.com
Most of the socks I knit are for myself since I have a small foot, and commercial socks don’t fit me well. So when I’m looking for sock yarn, I opt for softness, durability, and easy care. With 20% cashmere and 10% nylon added to the superwash merino, Smooshy Cashmere checks all the boxes. This yarn felt wonderful flowing through my hands as I knit, and I know these socks will feel great when worn. The tight twist meant there was very little splitting, and the slight halo from the cashmere did not detract from the excellent stitch definition. In addition, the finished socks have a lovely sheen that shows off the stitch pattern. There are so many colors to choose from, ranging from solids to semi-solids and tonals to subtle variegations, that I had a hard time selecting one. I can imagine using this yarn for a shawl, but I’m certainly going to make more Smooshy Cashmere socks!
by Sharon Levering—Carolyn’s Choice
HiKoo Rylie
274yds/250m, 100g/3.5oz
50% Baby Alpaca, 25% Mulberry Silk, 25% Linen
https://www.skacelknitting.com/
This yarn is one of my go-to choices for summer projects. I’ve used it many times and never been disappointed. The blend is perfect. The baby alpaca is soft, the mulberry silk is shiny, and the linen is tough. The linen adds years to the life of the garment and ensures that the lace stitch pattern I selected for this top will block out beautifully.
I checked the Skacel website to see if they still describe the color palette in the same way. Yes, they do and it is so true: “Dyed in soft pastels, beachy brights and glowing neutrals, Rylie is ravishing.” I decided to try a new (to me) color. Kelp is the perfect color for the leafy lace stitch pattern.
I checked my last review, and I mentioned that the linen component was hard on the hands, but I didn’t notice it all. But then, I had just finished Linaceae, which is 100% linen. I know I will be using this yarn again.
by Arenda Holladay—Leafy Lace
Knit Picks High Desert Worsted
217yds/198m, 100g/3.5oz
100% American Wool
High Desert Worsted is 100% American-grown and spun yarn. The wool comes from the Shaniko Wool Company, based in Oregon. It is processed in South Carolina and dyed and milled in North Carolina. It is a 3-ply yarn made up of a blend of Merino and Merino-Rambouillet.
This yarn is very soft in the hand and is a joy to knit with! The amount of twist is just right, producing a round, bouncy yarn. It shows stitch definition very well and blocks beautifully.
High Desert is available in a range of colors inspired by the Oregon desert landscape: jewel-toned blues and greens, reds and oranges, plus some neutral colors.
I was pleased with how the Trinity Stitch looked worked up in this yarn, and I can’t wait to use it again in another project!
by Heather Storta—Trinity and Cable + Trinity Pillows
LoftyFiber 14/2 Euroflax
153yds/140m, 28g/1oz
100% Linen
At our 2023 Retreat in Charlotte, Dawne Wimbrow, the owner of Lofty Fibers, gave a presentation on linen. I have worked with linen a lot, and I thought I knew all there was to know about the fiber. My constant refrain when working with linen has been how hard it is on my hands. Dawne recommended winding it into balls or requesting it on a cone. I cannot believe the difference it made! Since Linaceae is a mid-thigh cardigan, knit on Size 2 (2.75mm) needles, I spent a lot of time with this 2-ply laceweight fiber, and I my hands were just fine.
The resulting ultra-fine fabric can only be described as gossamer, but it would be wrong to think it is flimsy or insubstantial. It is linen, after all. I blocked it in pieces, and each piece was so stiff I thought that I’d have to block again after I seamed and picked up the bands to get rid of wrinkles. It immediately softened and was wrinkle free.
For this cardigan, I strayed from my typical choice for linen fibers (rich jewel tones) and opted for Limestone, a pale green that could be classified as a neutral. It is the perfect color for a summer coverup.
by Arenda Holladay—Linaceae
Madelinetosh Wool + Cotton
219yds/200m, 100g/3.5oz
50% Superwash Merino Wool, 50% Pima Cotton
I have used this yarn once before and immediately had it in mind when I was designing my Sakura cardigan. It’s the perfect yarn for summer—when one minute you are out in the heat, and the next minute you are blasted with air conditioning. This light weight yarn’s smooth texture and soft hand offers the perfect blend of warmth and coolness, softness and structure.
Madelinetosh’s website describes it as a “ying-yang DK” that “makes easy-to-wear all-season knits.” I couldn’t agree more! It offers fantastic stitch definition, is a pleasure to knit, and a breeze to block.
Madelinetosh Wool + Cotton can be machine washed cold on the gentle cycle and laid flat to dry. It is currently available in 72 gorgeous hand-dyed colors, both solid and variegated. All of the colors are made to order, however, so expect about a two-week lead time to receive yarn. Trust me, though, this yarn in any of these colors is truly worth the wait!
by Jennifer Kent—Sakura
Mirasol Inka
442yds/405m, 75g/2.64oz
64% Viscose, 36% Baby Alpaca
The soft halo created by the baby alpaca is the perfect accompaniment to the sheen of the viscose in this yarn, even when knitting a lace shawl. It creates a light and airy fabric where the stitch pattern is still visible. The generous yardage in each 75-gram ball means you can knit a lot before needing to add another ball, and one ball easily handled this shawl. I used wood needles and recommend using needles that are not too pointy or too slick as this yarn will really slide along metal needles!
by Therese Chynoweth—Summer Morning
Miss Babs Yearning
1200 yds/1095m, 185g/6.6oz
65% Merino Wool, 35% Tussah Silk
Yearning is a triple-sized hank of the Miss Babs YET base… not a true laceweight nor a true fingering weight yarn, but somewhere in the middle. This unique heavy laceweight makes it very easy to work with while producing a lighter-weight effect and openness.
The merino wool and tussah silk base provides the best of both worlds. The memory and ease of hand with wool predominates with the perfect amount of dense weight and sheen from the silk. The wool/silk base also causes the yarn to pick up the dye in an almost semi-solid, heathered effect as the two fibers interact with the dye differently.
Overall, Yearning is a triple-dip of an excellent base. I hope there is a sweater made from Yearning in my future because I think wearing it will be as wonderful as working with it.
by Mary E. Jacobs—Bertha
Neighborhood Fiber Co. Capital Luxury Sport
375yds/343m, 113g/4oz
80% Organic Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Silk
https://neighborhoodfiberco.com/
I expected this yarn to be soft, with a subtle sheen from the silk, and Capital Luxury Sport did not disappoint! The luscious hand feel and gorgeous depth of color were a pleasure to work with. I was also really happy with the stitch definition. Both the cables and lace came through beautifully, and this yarn held up well when I ripped and re-knit several sections. I would love to use Capital Luxury Sport for other shawls or garments in the future.
Like with most hand-dyed yarns, there is some color variation between the skeins. I recommend alternating skeins to avoid a noticeable break in the color.
by Emily Wood—Static Lines
Purl Soho Morning
191yds/175 m, 100g/3.5 oz
75% Organically Grown Cotton 25% Yak
Purl Soho Morning is a versatile yarn imported from Peru. Cotton gives the yarn strength, and the addition of yak adds a luxurious softness and a bit of elasticity. It’s perfect for spring and summer projects. Purl Soho calls the yarn a light worsted/DK weight yarn and it falls somewhere between #3 Light and #4 Medium, with a suggested gauge of 5–5.5 sts per inch. The Morning Glory Blue had a charming dye pattern owing to the distinct absorption of dye by its two fibers. The yarn is machine washable, but I always hand wash hand-knitted work. Purl Soho offers Morning in a vibrant and cheerful palette of 15 colors.
by Leslie Gonzalez—Wisteria
Purl Soho Santolina
328yds/300m, 100g/3.53oz
70% Organically Grown Cotton, 20% Rayon from Bamboo, 10% Hemp
I have been hearing about Purl Soho yarns for quite some time now, but as they are not a local yarn company and easily available to me, I had not tried any of their yarn. So, I jumped at the chance to give their Santolina a try for my latest design. Oh my, am I glad I did! This yarn is positively dreamy. My design is a summer tee which of course called for something that would feel good next to the skin and, as I live in Texas, also needed to be able to brave the summer heat. Santolina fits that bill to a tee – yes, pun intended!
It knits up soft as a baby’s behind, and the slight heathering from the hemp creates a beautiful effect. I chose the color blue violet as it combines two of my favorite colors into the perfect shade. I know I am going to reach for this garment often as the weather gets warmer, and I am going to absolutely love wearing it.
by Debi Maige—My Heart Is My Center
Rowan Cotton Cashmere
137yds/125m, 50g/1.75oz
85% Cotton, 15% Cashmere
For my mesh, summer pullover, I needed a yarn that was strong to counter the open mesh, cool for summer days, and soft to wear. I love that Rowan’s Cotton Cashmere can be worn comfortably against the skin but has a luxury feel too. The cashmere provides a slight give to the yarn, so if you struggle knitting with inelastic yarns, this might be worth a try. It stays very close to the pre-blocked gauge after blocking, so working to a specific length is easier. It comes in 22 mostly pastel (all gorgeous) shades.
by Donna Estin—St. Armands
Rowan Softyak DK
148yds/135m, 50g/1.75oz
76% Cotton, 15% Yak, 9% Nylon
I admit, I am a sucker for a chainette yarn. I love the round, smooth texture of the stitches this yarn construction creates, and Rowan’s Softyak DK does not disappoint in this area. This lightweight yarn’s smooth texture and soft hand are the perfect choice for any seasonless knit item. And, the blend of cotton, yak, and nylon make it static resistant and anti-microbial to boot!
It was the perfect choice for my Endless Loop Scarf since it will work well in either warm or cool climates no matter where in the world you happen to be.
Softyak DK can be machine washed cold on gentle cycle and laid flat to dry. It is currently available in 23 colors, from rich jewel tones to more muted shades. Rowan recommends a US size 6 (4mm) needle for this yarn, but I opted for a US size 7 (4.5mm) for an even more open mesh fabric on my Endless Loop Scarf.
by Jennifer Kent—Endless Loop
Sandnes Peer Gynt
99yds/91m, 50g/1.76oz
100% Norwegian Wool
https://www.sandnes-garn.com/
https://motherknitter.com/*
Peer Gynt is a lovely pure wool DK weight yarn from the Norwegian yarn company Sandnes. This yarn type has been on the market for over 80 years. Its trusted and long history clearly demonstrates its versatility and quality. Comprised of 100% Norwegian wool, Peer Gynt is an incredibly durable, plied yarn that in fact gets softer with use, keeping shape after wear and wash. In particular, the tweed batches are a pleasure to work with and are surprisingly not itchy compared to other pure wool. Compared to other DK weights, Peer Gynt is slightly thicker and ‘squishier’ and is perfect for projects that call for a bit more warmth without the extra bulk.
by Kelly Blank—Hedelyng Slipover
*Editors Note: The US distributor of this yarn is Mother Knitter.
Valley Yarns Valley Superwash
97yds/89m, 50g/1.76oz
100% Extrafine Superwash Merino Wool
For my cowl design, I wanted a soft, easy-care yarn with a great color range, and Valley Yarns Superwash Worsted was the perfect choice. The softness of this 100% merino yarn not only makes it a pleasure to work with, it’s also a great choice for an accessory that is worn around the neck. This yarn also has great stitch definition and is great for colorwork. Although the yarn is machine-washable (in cold water), I recommend hand-washing this cowl so it won’t stretch.
by Joni Coniglio—Shifting Ground
West Yorkshire Spinners Exquisite 4 PLY
437yds/400m, 100g/3.5oz
80% Falkland Wool, 20% Mulberry Silk
The name of this yarn describes this yarn. It is, indeed, exquisite. It is a blend of Falkland wool and silk which makes it extremely soft with a slight sheen. It was just what I wanted for this very special scarf, a tribute to my cat George. Hiss was a true test of this yarn as the scarf is double knit and measures 8 x 60″. I never got tired of working on it. It was a treat for my hands.
West Yorkshire Spinner yarn can be difficult to find in the US, so I was thrilled to discover at last year’s h+ h trade show that Berroco now represents this yarn. I used the store locator and their website and was very pleased to find how many stores in the US now carry this yarn.
There are 16 colors and all are lovely, but I wanted Noir and Knightsbridge for this double knit project; black cats on one side and silver on the other. Next time I will select a richer shade, maybe Burgundy or Bloomsbury. From my gauge swatches, I know the drape will be perfect for a lightweight cardigan.
by Arenda Holladay—Hiss
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