Yarn Reviews

Our favourite yarns for summer knitting will provide lightweight and luxurious fabric, as well as gorgeous colours

The best yarns for summer, offering light fabrics and bright colours

NAVIA Cotton

Shade pictured Turquoise Ball weight/length 50g/230m Needle size 3-3.5mm (UK 11-9/US 2-4) Tension 24-26 sts and 34-36 rows to 10cm Fibre content 55% wool, 45% cotton Care Machine wash 30°C RRP £5.40 Contact 01981 541093 www.islandwool.co.uk This new yarn from Navia is a soft blend of wool and cotton. The colour palette features 14 powdered shades, including a wide range of naturals, as well as some brights; all have a slight semi-solid look to the fabric. It’s a light and cool 4ply weight, with a nice bit of bounce due to the wool content. We think it would be great for summer layers and accessories.

WHISTLEBARE Yeavering Bell DK

Shade pictured Goat’s Breakfast Skein weight/length 100g/230m Needle size 4mm (UK 8/US 6) Tension 19 sts and 25 rows to 10cm Fibre content 80% mohair, 20% Wensleydale wool Care Hand wash RRP £18.50 Contact 07775 501068 www.whistlebare.co.uk This family-run farm works magic with the mohair and longwool of their flocks, hand-dyeing this gorgeous worstedspun yarn into 30 luscious, gleaming shades that reflect the surrounding Northumberland countryside. Yeavering Bell has a relaxed spin that gives a fluidity to the yarn as you knit, and a beautiful drape to the knitted fabric.

MARINA SKUA Bluefaced Leicester/ Nylon Sock

Shade pictured Wave Crest Skein weight/length 100g/300m Needle size 3-3.75mm (UK 11-9/US 2-5) Tension 24 sts and 34 rows to 10cm on 3.75mm Fibre content 70% superwash wool, 30% nylon Care Machine wash RRP £16.50 Contact www.marinaskua.com This lovely hand-dyed yarn showcases the lustrous quality of Bluefaced Leicester wool, with nylon adding the necessary durability for socks. The plies are spun just enough to give a fantastic spring to the yarn and a plump roundness that shows off the stitches well. Most of the engaging colourways are dyed in a tonal variegation, and will create stand-out socks.

ISAGER Silk Mohair

Shade pictured Coral (28) Ball weight/length 25g/212m Needle size 3-4mm (UK 11-8/US 2-6) Tension 20-25 sts and 25-34 rows to 10cm Fibre content 75% kid mohair, 25% silk Care Hand wash RRP £8.75 Contact 020 7288 1160 www.loopknittingshop.com Isager’s lovely mohair/silk blend will add softness and interest to your knitwear, whether you use it on its own or in tandem with another yarn. This laceweight creates a fabric with a gorgeous halo that softens the stitches and allows the glow of the silk to shine through warmly. There are 15 sophisticated shades in the palette, perfect for special shawls and garments.

THE BORDER MILL Alpaca Tweed Silk 4ply

Shade pictured Periwinkle Skein weight/length 50g/145m Needle size 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) Tension 28 sts and 32 rows to 10cm Fibre content 40% alpaca, 20% silk, 20% merino wool, 20% bamboo Care Hand wash RRP £8.00 Contact 01361 883692 www.thebordermill.co.uk We love this luxury blend tweed, with its silky gleam and characterful flecked look. A delight to knit, it has fantastic, slightly slinky handle and a wonderful softness, thanks to its blend of fibres. The shade range is a gorgeous array of 30 floral colours, from sunny yellow jonquil to vivid geranium red, alongside some more quiet neutral shades.

COOPKNITS Socks Yeah! DK

Shade pictured Anemoi (204) Skein weight/length 50g/112m Needle size 3-4.5mm (UK 11-7/US 2-7) Tension 20-26 sts and 28-36 rows to 10cm Fibre content 75% superwash merino wool, 25% nylon Care Machine wash 30°C RRP £5.85 Contact 07546 948 378 www.fyberspates.com/retailers The new heavier-weight sister to CoopKnits’ hugely popular 4ply, Socks Yeah! DK is a beautifully spun and dyed yarn that is a true pleasure to knit with. Full of life and spring, it works up into a fabric with fantastic handle. Stitches are even and well-defined, making it perfect for cables and textured knits. The 10 shades range from soft neutrals to zingy brights.