Tag Archives: yarn

Choosing The Right Cotton Yarn For Your Projects

This time of year, cotton and cotton blends are often the go-to yarn of choice for many knitters – knitting or crocheting a lap full of wool in warm weather is not pleasant! However, swapping out a cotton yarn for wool isn’t as simple as it sounds. Cotton yarns have unique characteristics and properties that make it perfect for some, but not all, projects. I’ve put together some info and a list of of what kind of projects we recommend for our plant-based rockstars.

Colorful cotton yarns from Knit Picks

First, a brief overview of cotton yarn. Cotton is a strong, durable, and machine-washable fiber. It’s a great vegan fiber choice to use for people with wool sensitivities; plus, it’s wonderful for next-to-skin wear during warmer months. Because cotton is an inelastic fiber, it can be harder on the hands for some people; I recommend cotton blends because they’re easier to knit or crochet with. Cotton’s inelastic nature can also make difficult to use for cables or in color work projects; however textured stitches will show up beautifully!

And now, let’s talk about our yarns!

Yarn: Dishie
Weight: Worsted – Solid and Multi
Fiber content: 100% cotton
Details: Dishie is our classic, no-nonsense cotton yarn, now available in Solid and Multi colors. With a tight spin and high absorbency, it’s perfect for household and kids items that will be washed a lot, as well as for reusable market bags. It can also be used for easy care garments and accessories; however, because it is a heavier, slightly rougher yarn, a different yarn like Comfy or Shine may be a better choice for garments. Dishie is available in 190 yard skeins as well as in extra large Dishie Cones with 760 yards.
Recommended Projects: Dishcloths, towels, home decor, market bags, toys, bibs, children clothes.
Dishie Patterns

Yarn: Curio
Weight: Thread/Lace
Fiber Content: 100% Mercerized Cotton
Details: Curio is our crochet thread, but it can also be used for knit projects as well. Mercerized cotton gives Curio its lustrous shine and strength, making it perfect for beautiful and elegant home decor. It’s also wonderful for wearable lace work accessories and garments, with its crisp stitch definition.
Recommended Projects: Doilies, coasters, tablecloths, curtains, lace shawls, scarves, cowls, light garments.
Curio Patterns

Yarn: Comfy and Comfy Color Mist
Weight: Fingering , Worsted, and Color Mist Worsted
Fiber Content: 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic
Details: Pima cotton is extremely soft, durable and perfect for all sorts of next-to-skin projects. The small amount of acrylic in Comfy adds a bit of elasticity, which makes it easier to work with in both knitting and crochet. It’s perfect for kid items and warm weather wear since it is a breathable and easy care yarn. Comfy is also great for bath and spa items – anywhere you need a bit of softness. The colorful Color Mist variation is in a larger hank, perfect for garments and blankets (less ends to weave in!).
Recommended Projects: Baby and children’s garments and accessories, toys, adult garments and accessories, spa/wash cloths, home decor, blankets/afghans.
Comfy Fingering Patterns
Comfy Worsted Patterns
Comfy Color Mist Patterns

Yarn: Shine
Weight: Sport and Worsted.
Fiber Content: 60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal®.
Details: Modal® is a fine, smooth fiber made from beech trees – the wood is turned into pulp and then reconstituted so that it can be spun into yarn. These fibers are extremely smooth and soft, and blending them with cotton helps the yarn to stay soft and vibrantly colored. Our Shine yarn is cool and drapey with bright cheerful colors and is perfect for next-to-skin wear for both children and adults.
Recommended Projects: Baby and children garments and accessories, toys, adult garments and accessories, spa/wash cloths, home decor, blankets/afghans.
Shine Sport Patterns
Shine Worsted Patterns

Yarn: CotLin and CotLin Reflections
Weight: DK.
Fiber Content: 70% Tanguis Cotton, 30% Linen
Details: Blending linen with cotton gives our lightweight CotLin yarn extra strength and softness. Each time your project is washed, it will only get softer, which makes it wonderful for kitchen and bath accessories, as well as for garments for kids and adults. CotLin Reflections is available in a 100g hank with unique dye effects, perfect for lightweight summer scarves and shawls.
Recommended Projects: Spa/wash cloths, hand towels, curtains, home decor, baby and children garments and accessories, toys, adult garments and accessories.
CotLin Patterns
CotLin Reflections Patterns

Yarn: Lindy Chain
Weight: Fingering.
Fiber Content: 70% Linen, 30% Pima Cotton.
Details: The construction of a chainette yarn makes it lightweight, while giving your projects a wonderful sheen and crisp stitch definition. Lindy Chain is perfect for warm weather because of this reason, and with the high linen content, the projects will be softer and drapier overtime. Hand washing is recommended for Lindy Chain projects, due to the delicate nature of the yarn.
Recommended Projects: lightweight scarves and light accessories, shawls, tanks, t-shirts, shrugs, sleeveless tops.
Lindy Chain patterns.

Yarn: Billow
Weight: Bulky
Fiber Content: 100% Pima Cotton.
Details: Billow is a super soft thick and thin yarn, made up of 8 piles of of pima cotton, creating a texture that is both rustic and modern. Since it’s a bulky weight yarn, your projects will work up quick and will be perfect for those with sensitive skin. Hand washing is recommended for Billow projects, due to the delicate nature of the yarn.
Recommended Projects: Cowls, wraps, afghans, blankets, pullovers, cardigans, tees, and tanks.
Billow Patterns.

Yarn: Snuggle Puff
Weight: Heavy Worsted/Aran
Fiber Content: 70% Pima Cotton / 30% Nylon.
Details: The name says it all! This yarn is made to be snuggled, with a unique yarn construction of Pima cotton fibers blown into a nylon tube, creating a lightweight and lofty yarn. While it is excellent for baby hats and blankets as well as cuddly toys, it’s also perfect for chemo caps and other wool free accessories for anyone with extra sensitive skin.
Recommended Projects: Baby and children garments and accessories, toys, adult accessories
Snuggle Puff Patterns.

Have further questions about cotton yarns? Leave a comment below!


Introducing CotLin Reflections

Our latest Special Reserve Collection, CotLin Reflections, is everything I love in yarn. Inspired by the iconic hues of Indigo dyeing traditions, the collection was designed to highlight the stunning contrasts between snowy white fiber, indigo blue, and all those lovely shades in between. And boy, does it! Reflections is downright gorgeous, and the fact that it’s a summery cotton and linen blend just makes it absolutely perfect in my book.

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Free Downloadable April 2019 Calendar

It’s April! The sun is shining … some days. Up here in the Pacific Northwest, it’s that time of year where we see both sun and rain on most days. So, here’s a rainbow-inspired calendar wallpaper with some of our new warm-weather-friendly cotton yarn!

To get the April 2019 calendar background of your choosing (smart phones, tablets, or desktop computers), simply click the applicable device icon below. Enjoy!

Desktop wallpaper calendar for mobile 2015
Desktop wallpaper calendar for tablet 2015
Desktop wallpaper calendar for desktop 2015

Red and Pink Yarn Sale

Our annual red and pink yarn sale is live! Save up to 40% off our favorite rosy red and pink yarns* (over 200 colors to choose from, to be exact). So if you’ve got a sweater planned in these colors, or you feel the absence of them in your stash, now is the time to stock up!

With these gorgeous yarns at such low prices, this is the perfect opportunity to knit something for that someone special. Or for Galentine’s Day, your best gal would love to sport these cheery shades. Here are some of my favorite easy to knit projects that you can make in time for Valentine’s Day.

Clacton Scarf

Knit in Wool of the Andes Superwash Bulky, this bold scarf is perfect for your friend that likes to make a statement. Not only is it undeniable squishy, the easy to memorize colorwork pattern makes this such a fun project.

Strata Sweater

This sweater is perfect for your littlest gal. Never crocheted a sweater before? This knit-look sweater is simple to crochet and appropriate for adventurous beginners and intermediate crocheters. It features an innovative stitch pattern (with video tutorial) used to achieve this modern knit look.

 

Ribbon Wrap

Can’t choose just one shade of pink or red for your project? Why not use all of them! Knit entirely in Garter Stitch on the bias with constant changes in color and construction, the Ribbon Wrap is an easy but engaging knit that works up quickly in Swish Worsted.

 

You can find all of the red and pink yarns on sale HERE.

What’s your favorite? Mine is Preciosa in the colorway Dusty Rose. So, so gorgeous!

*Sale ends Feb. 6, 2019. Select yarn colors only, limited to stock on hand. No adjustments to prior purchases or to purchases made after this promotion expires.


Sock Labs: December

Like a fresh summer breeze, our newest sock lab will take you right back to summer. Inspired by bright ice cream flavors, these two new colors come to you on our supple Stroll yarn.

 

The bright pops of speckles and gorgeous hand-painted hues would look so pretty knit into the Mock Turtle Socks. I can’t wait to knit the Greater Than the Sum Cowl with these new yarns too! The unique slip stitch pattern will highlight the pretty yarn and let the hand-painted section shine. It will be super warm and soft, and it will transition into cool Spring weather perfectly. For the little gal in your life, how about knitting the Little Sweetheart Knee Socks in either color? I know my spunky niece would love to rock those bright pink lacy hearts to school.

Let us see what crazy creations you come up with featuring our sock lab colors! Share your projects with us on Instagram with #socklabs (don’t forget to tag us @knit_picks) and on our Facebook page!

Hurry though! Don’t miss your chance to cozy up your stash with these limited edition colors before they blow out of here!

 


Swish Bulky Returns

swish bulky

Swish Bulky

Rejoice, Swish lovers, Swish Bulky is back in nine lovely colors ranging from our most popular rich and delicious jewel toned heathers to our subtly sophisticated complementary neutrals. A virtue of being a bulky in this ever-versatile fine superwash merino fiber means this yarn will work up fast, making it an excellent choice for beginners and experts alike.

I know, we missed the bulky version too.

Swish Bulky

That’s why we timed our relaunch to coincide with the wintery months in the Northern Hemisphere, as it is a perfect time to cozy up with this yarn and get (re)acquainted. Whether you are making some last minutes gifts or another blanket for yourself to curl up under, Swish Bulky has you covered. Personally, I jumped at the chance to reknit the Seed Stitch Cowl and Hood, and I could not be happier with the results. This yarn is a breeze to work with, and this pattern perfectly accentuates the complexity of the blue-green tones found in Marine Heather. I honestly can not wait to make one in every shade; it really is that much fun.

Seed Stitch

Seed Stitch Cowl and Hood

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Close-Up of the Seed Stitch Cowl and Hood Knit in Swish Bulky Marine Heather

 

Give it whirl and let me know what you think, or try out one of these many patterns that have been patiently awaiting its return:

Seed Stitch Cowl and Hood

Point the Way Scarf

Falling Leaves Throw

Maddie Hoodie

District Jacket

 

 


Summer Yarn Sale: Super Tuff Puff

One of the reasons I love knitting over crochet is the amazing texture that knit stitches have. When using a super chunky yarn, the texture is amplified! That is why I love our Super Tuff Puff yarn. At an astonishing one and a half stitches per inch, project knit up in no time at all. The 100% wool in a single ply with a slight twist, this yarn is perfect for making amazingly chunky home decor and accessories.

My favorite chunky yarn “hack” is knitting smaller patterns in chunky yarn for a super sized project! I recently knitted our Mini Kitty Poufs in Super Tuff Puff and am in LOVE with the results. This large kitty is so cuddly and the Super Tuff Puff makes it so soft!

Super Tuff Puff is also perfect for making poufs, baskets and other home decor items. They knit up so fast and are sturdy enough to use as functional storage. The fun, bright color palette will add some punch to your home decor too!

With our Summer Yarn Sale, you can save 30% on this fun yarn. Stock up on your favorite colors and explore some fun chunky knit projects!


Eco-friendly Simply Yarns

“It is always the simple that produces the marvelous.”

Amelia Barr

Knit Picks Simply Wool Yarns

Oh, life. Why can’t you consist of endless cups of coffee and an abundance of yummy yarn? Oh, wait. You CAN. Enter our Simply Yarns: simplicity at it’s finest! It doesn’t get much purer than our Simply Wool, Alpaca, & Organic Cotton yarns. The colors that you see are just as nature intended them to be. These eco-friendly varieties offer a subtle spectrum of earthy colors and textures, perfect for adding some neutral foundation pieces to your wardrobe.

Simply Wool

Knit Picks Simply Wool

With names like “Wilhemina” and “Wilbur”, the family of Simply Wool yarns is both endearing and perfect for a classic cardigan or wrap, like the  Straight and Arrow Cardigan or the Laura Shawl.

Simply Alpaca

Knit Picks Simply Alpaca

This is the softest of the soft, the coziest of the cozy, the smooshiest of the smooshy.  However you describe this über natural fiber, one touch of our Simply Alpaca and you’ll be scrambling to make ALL the things with this yarn.  No dyes or bleach are used to process the yarn; a full spectrum of natural shades are created by meticulously sorting the fiber. Surround yourself in its warmth with the Cavendish Wrap or the Portree Poncho, both projects well suited for this yarn line.

Simply Organic Cotton

Knit PIcks Simplay Cotton project

Luxurious, super soft, and easy to work, our 100% Organic Simply Cotton Yarns are good for you AND Mother Earth. No dyes or bleach are used to process the yarn, and since the color is naturally occurring, some variation from skein to skein is normal. Perfect for neutral baby gifts, like this sweet + classic Simply Seamless Baby Blanket or everyday wearables like the Calm Tide Cardigan. With summer just around the corner, this yarn* will be a major player in my project queue. Plus, for all you indie dyers, this cotton acts as a wonderful base for your personal color touches!

*Note: Because it is cotton, we highly recommend knitting a swatch and washing and drying it the way you intend to wash and dry the final project to check shrinkage and gauge before knitting your project. You mayexperience a 5-10% shrinkage in length of knitted fabric.

 

 

 


Green Yarn Sale!
“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.”
Pedro Calderon de la Barca
It’s the Green Yarn Sale! Over 175 yarns are on sale, up to 40% off! Give your stash a refresh with botanical hues the likes of spruce, lichen, avocado, & more.
Knit Picks Green Yarn Sale

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February Launch: New Yarns, New Collections, New Fun

Knit Picks faux fur pom pom

Early February can be a mixed bag, depending on where you reside in the world. Still technically winter, the first signs of spring (yay!) are beginning to show themselves, and that has us bubbling over with inspiration. Come along with me as I highlight our latest pattern collections and say ‘hello’ to the return of some new and improved yarn lines.

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