YARN REVIEWS
Our pick of the best seasonal yarns include beautiful hand-dyed delights, soft wool blends, and a silky laceweight
We test the latest yarns
LIFE IN THE LONG GRASS Merino Linen Singles
Shade pictured Soft Day
Skein weight/length 100g/366m
Needle size 3-4mm (UK 11-8/US 2-6)
Tension Approx. 28-32 sts and 36-40 rows to 10cm Fibre content 90% superwash merino wool, 10% linen Care Hand wash RRP £28.50 Contact www.loopknittingshop.com www.litlg.com
This singles yarn offers a wonderful softness and drape, and will work perfectly for special shawls and accessories. It’s fascinating to watch the variegated fabric develop as you knit, creating speckles and patches of warm colour. This 4ply yarn combines ethically sourced non-mulesed merino with a touch of linen, and is hand-dyed in the Irish countryside.
GORGEOUS YARNS 100% Organic Merino 4ply
Shade pictured Madder Skein weight/length 100g/400m Needle size 3.25-3.5mm (UK 10-9/US 3-4) Tension Approx. 24 sts and 40 rows to 10cm Fibre content 100% organic merino wool Care Hand wash RRP £15 Contact www.gorgeousyarns.co.uk 01326 564211
Caroline of Gorgeous Yarns specialises in natural fibres dyed using plant materials, and this lovely merino 4ply yarn has a delicate salmon-pink colour produced from madder root. When knitted up, the fabric feels beautifully soft and smooth, and offers good stitch definition. It would be a great choice for textured cardigans, sweaters and shawls.
RICO DESIGN Superba Alpaca Luxury Socks
Shade pictured Pink (002)
Ball weight/length 100g/310m
Needle size 2.5-3.5mm (UK 13-9/US 1-4)
Tension 24 sts and 32 rows to 10cm
Fibre content 62% virgin wool, 23% polyamide, 15% alpaca Care Machine wash 30°C RRP £12.50 Contact www.rico-design.com www.blacksheepwools.com
Create sumptuously cosy socks for the colder months ahead with this fantastic yarn from Rico. Wool, polyamide and alpaca are plied together, and the result gives a fabric that feels plump and warm, with a soft haze. There’s a palette of six classic colours, including neutrals, dark blue, and the pink of our sample, and each has a slightly semi-solid appearance.
UNDER THE OLIVE TREE KNITS Peristera Lace
Shade pictured Ghost
Skein weight/length 100g/600m
Needle size 2-3.5mm (UK 14-9/US 0-4) Tension Approx. 27 sts and 42 rows to 10cm
Fibre content 55% Bluefaced Leicester wool, 45% silk Care Hand wash RRP £17 Contact www.undertheolivetreeknits.com 07525 416394
This laceweight yarn has an elegant sheen, thanks to the combination of silk and Bluefaced Leicester wool - the knitted fabric really gleams! It offers a fine drape and excellent stitch definition, too, so will showcase your lace patterns perfectly. Peristera Lace is hand-dyed in a range of sophisticated hues, and can also be dyed to order in a colour of your choice.
LANG Oslo
Shade pictured Jeans (034)
Ball weight/length 50g/150m
Needle size 3-3.5mm (UK 11-9/US 2-4)
Tension 26 sts and 34 rows to 10cm
Fibre content 46% extrafine merino wool, 42% cotton, 12% camel Care Machine wash 30°C RRP £7.99 Contact www.langyarns.com www.lovecrafts.com
A fine choice for summer projects as well as garments and accessories for autumn, Oslo is a sportweight blend of cotton, extrafine merino and camel. It feels incredibly smooth to knit with, and produces a lightweight, flexible and soft fabric. The colour palette includes neutrals and brighter shades, and the yarn is machine-washable on a delicate cycle.
COLOURWORKS Wool & Bamboo DK
Shade pictured Madder Red
Skein weight/length 100g/225m
Needle size 4mm (UK 8/US 6)
Tension Approx. 21 sts and 30 rows to 10cm
Fibre content 80% superwash merino wool, 20% bamboo Care Hand wash RRP £15 Contact www.colour-works.co.uk
07814 065719
A DK-weight blend of merino wool and bamboo, this yarn offers a wonderful softness and a slight fluffiness. It knits up into a plump, bouncy fabric for cosy and comfortable sweaters and accessories. It’s available in a hand-dyed palette of soft shades which are produced using plant dyes including madder, tansy, walnut husks and onion skins.