Pretty in pinks
From 4plys to arans, solids to variegateds, there’s plenty of new yarns to get excited about this month
MCINTOSH CALM
Cast on with this light, marl-e ect yarn and you’ll soon realise your knitting is going to be as light as a feather. As its DK weight moves through your hands, words like ‘lace-weight’ come to mind. With up to 150m per 50g ball, this is a unique o ering from McIntosh, all possible because of the yarn’s unique construction – spun with Z and S twists for more stitch definition. Its smooth, airy finish makes Calm particularly satisfying for luxury knitting. Choose from 20 bold, neutral, pastel and vivid shades – the perfect complement to your needles, not to mention your wardrobe.
RRP £25 WEIGHT DK BALL 50g/150m NEEDLE 4mm CONTENT 80% extra fine Merino, 20% cashmere CARE Hand wash in cool water, lay flat To buy visit www.knitmcintosh.com.
SCHEEPJES DOWNTOWN
Inspired by the colourful buzz of a city centre, this easy-to-knit yarn delivers a bounty of vibrant hues in every stitch. Once knitted, your fabric is a flurry of well-themed colour changes that’ll look great in a number of pattern options. Manufactured with a 75% blend of Merino extra fine wool, this yarn has a light halo which adds to its softness and knits up into a lightweight drape which will add warmth to your garments and accessories. The colour above is Sunset, but variegated fans will also fall in love with the other 18 shades, such as moody After Dark, pastel Baker’s Corner and gritty Sidewalk.
RRP £5.99 WEIGHT Fingering BALL 50g/200m NEEDLE 2.5-3mm CONTENT 75% Merino extra fine wool, 25% nylon CARE Machine wash at 40°C To but visit www.blacksheepwools.com or call 01925 764231
JODY LONG MY LITTLE SUNSHINE
At first touch this yarn feels cotton-rich and strong, all in one generous 330m/100g ball. Created from organic cotton and coloured with eco-friendly dyes, this top buy is mainly available from the US, but would be a welcome addition to your knitting baskets, and is worth hunting down. My Little Sunshine comes in 22 saturated colours that guarantee to deliver a rich colour quality to whatever you decide to knit. We particularly love the vibrant Playtime and Happy for perfect summer knits. As with many cottonheavy yarns, when you’re done wearing your chosen knitted garment you can machine wash your knits at 30°C.
RRP £7.30 WEIGHT Sport BALL 100g/330m NEEDLE 3.25mm CONTENT 60% cotton, 40% acrylic CARE Machine wash at 30°C To buy visit www.knittingfever.com
SIRDAR SNUGGLY CASHMERE MERINO SILK
Are you in the mood for something beautifully balanced? Snuggly Cashmere Merino Silk yarn has a super-smooth and luxurious composition. Its 70% wool, 20% silk, 5% cashmere mix adds to its ultra-soft texture making it great for an extensive range of knits, but particularly for special gifts for babies and children – it will feel delightful against their skin. The mellow shade mixes in this range are muted and pretty, including Little Piglet (seen here) and Pixie Dust. With 23 overall shades to choose from, and a range of inspiring patterns, there’s plenty to keep you interested.
RRP £5.79 WEIGHT 4ply
BALL 50g/116m NEEDLE 4mm CONTENT 75% extra fine Merino wool, 20% silk, 5% cashmere
CARE Machine wash very mild at 30°C To buy visit www.woolwarehouse.co.uk.
BERGÈRE DE FRANCE SPORT
This amazingly colourful yarn is created with speed, colour and texture in mind. Wonderful to knit with, its combined composition and easy-care nature are a little bit of knitting heaven when considering some winter warmth. As you knit, the yarn feels substantial moving through your fingers, helping you to create fabrics that have neat, strong stitches and a heavy drape. Combined with acrylic, this yarn’s aran weight is a great option for quick, robust winter knits, which you can knit in 32 attractive colours chosen from all corners of the rainbow. This yarn is machine washable at a practical 30°C too.
MARRINER YARNS MERMAID 4PLY
Marriner Yarns’ Mermaid 4ply, with its 100% acrylic composition, is the epitome of beautiful budget knitting at its most impressive. Light and fluid in the hand, it knits up into a fun, squishy texture that’s unsurprisingly neat and tidy. Garments knitted in this top yarn have a light drape and a smooth, soft texture. Tension-wise this yarn knits up as a generous 4ply weight and flies o the needles quickly. Its fabulously fun shade range has five exciting variegated mixes, each one perfect for young and old – we love Sunrise (above), purpley Rhumba and colour-explosion Carnival. Why not cast it on for all your summer knits?
RRP £6.95 WEIGHT 4ply BALL 500g/1950m NEEDLE 2.75-3.25mm CONTENT 100% acrylic CARE Machine wash at 40°C To buy visit www.marrineryarns.com.