Tag Archives: yarn

Introducing Salvage: The Sustainable Yarn with a Story

At Knit Picks, we’re always on the lookout for ways to innovate and bring you yarns that not only inspire creativity but also make a positive impact on our planet. We’re thrilled to introduce Salvage, our newest addition to the yarn family. Salvage is a sustainably sourced cotton yarn that redefines traditional cotton by incorporating recycled denim fibers, giving new life to old materials and reducing waste.

A New Chapter for Denim

The journey of Salvage begins with something as simple as an old pair of jeans. Instead of ending up in a landfill, these jeans are collected and transformed through a meticulous process. First, the jeans are stripped of their metal parts—zippers, buttons, and rivets. Then, they are broken down into fibers using specialized machinery. These reclaimed fibers are then spun into fresh yarn, ready to be transformed once again, this time into your next knitting or crochet project.

Unique Texture and Color Variations

One of the standout features of Salvage is its uniquely rustic texture. The incorporation of recycled fibers gives this yarn a distinct character, with each skein carrying subtle variations that tell the story of its past life. As a result, the final composition and color of Salvage may vary slightly from one lot to another, making each project truly one-of-a-kind. Whether you’re crafting lightweight garments, summer shawls, or breezy accessories, Salvage ensures that your creations will have a unique, artisanal touch.

Eco-Friendly and Versatile

Salvage isn’t just about recycling; it’s about reimagining what cotton yarn can be. This eco-friendly yarn offers a versatile range of colors, all of which are derived from the original denim, giving them a natural, earthy appeal. The yarn’s lightness makes it ideal for warm-weather projects, allowing you to create comfortable garments and accessories that are perfect for summer.

Commitment to Sustainability

We’re proud to offer a yarn that aligns with our commitment to sustainability. The process used to create Salvage is certified under the Textile Exchange’s Recycled Claim Standard (RCS), ensuring that the recycled content is verified and traceable throughout the supply chain. By choosing Salvage, you’re not only embracing creativity but also supporting practices that are better for the environment.

Why Choose Salvage?

  • Sustainable: Made from recycled denim fibers, Salvage helps reduce waste and supports a circular economy.
  • Unique: Each skein features subtle variations in texture and color, making your projects truly one-of-a-kind.
  • Versatile: Ideal for lightweight garments and accessories, Salvage is perfect for warm-weather crafting.

Embrace the beauty of sustainability with Salvage. Elevate your crafting experience with a yarn that has a story to tell—one that you can continue with your own hands. Discover Salvage today and see how recycled fibers can create something entirely new.


Introducing: Yakish – A Knit Picks Yarn

Discover the Luxurious Yakish Yarn: A Blend of Softness, Warmth, and Versatility

Knitters and crocheters, prepare to fall in love with our latest yarn sensation, Yakish. This new offering from Knit Picks is an exquisite blend of 55% Baby Alpaca, 35% Superwash Merino Wool, and 10% Yak, available in 15 stunning colors. With its unique composition, Yakish offers an unparalleled combination of softness, warmth, and versatility that will elevate your knitting and crochet projects to new heights.

The Ultimate in Softness and Comfort

The foundation of Yakish is Baby Alpaca, a fiber renowned for its incredible softness and hypoallergenic properties. This fine fiber creates a yarn that feels luxuriously soft against the skin, making it perfect for garments and accessories that prioritize comfort. As Barbara Robertson, one of our sample knitters, raves, “I really like, love, adore the Yakish! Knitting with it is so enjoyable, and the fabric feels and looks incredible after washing and blocking.”

To further enhance this softness, Superwash Merino Wool with a 20.5-micron count is incorporated into the blend. This addition ensures elasticity and resilience, allowing your finished pieces to maintain their shape and plush texture even after multiple washes. Mary Hansen, another sample knitter, was thrilled with the results: “I love working with Knit Pick’s new Yakish yarn. It is so soft to the touch, stitch definition is great, and the color I used was so rich!”

Exceptional Warmth and Insulation

One of the standout features of Yakish is the inclusion of Yak fiber, known for its exceptional warmth and thermal-regulating properties. This fiber effectively traps body heat, keeping you cozy without the bulk. Whether you’re crafting cozy sweaters, scarves, hats, or mittens, Yakish ensures that your creations will keep you snug and stylish all winter long.

Versatility for All Seasons

Despite its warmth, Yakish is versatile enough to be used year-round. The natural breathability of Baby Alpaca ensures comfort even in warmer weather, making this yarn suitable for lightweight tops, shawls, and accessories. The subtle halo and gentle sheen of the blend add an elegant touch to your projects, whether you’re knitting for winter or summer.

Ethical and Sustainable Sourcing

At Knit Picks, we’re committed to ethical and sustainable sourcing practices. The fibers used in Yakish are responsibly harvested and processed, so when you choose this yarn, you’re supporting environmentally-friendly and socially responsible production methods.

Experience the Pinnacle of Knitting Luxury

Yakish is more than just a yarn; it’s an experience. Sample knitter Annette King sums it up perfectly: “This yarn is just heavenly to work with. It blocks wonderfully and has marvelous drape. I’m looking forward to using this lovely yarn in many future projects.”

With its luxurious texture, exceptional warmth, and versatile applications, Yakish is destined to become a favorite among knitters and crocheters alike. Whether you’re crafting a luxurious sweater for a special event or a cozy accessory to ward off the winter chill, Yakish is the perfect choice. Discover the unmatched quality and elegance of Yakish, and let your creativity shine.

Fiber Content: 55% Baby Alpaca, 35% Superwash Merino Wool (20.5 microns), 10% Yak
Weight: Sport
Knitting Gauge: 5.5-6 sts = 1″ on #4-6 needles
Crochet Gauge: 16 – 21 sc = 4” on E-H (3.5-5mm) hooks
Yards: 123
Grams: 50
Care: Hand Wash Cold / Dry Flat
Unit Retail: $11.99


Team USA’s Paris Blazers!

The Paris Olympic Games have begun, and you may have seen the blue wool blazers worn by Team USA athletes. Designed by Ralph Lauren, we think they’re quite striking. Of course, you may be wondering why we are talking about something that doesn’t seem to have any connection to Knit Picks or even knitting. Well, you guessed it! There is a connection, and it’s one we’re pretty proud of.

Our much-beloved, 100% American-made (and soon to be RWS certified) High Desert wool yarn is sourced from the same Oregon wool company that Ralph Lauren used for the Team USA blazers. Our partnership with Shaniko Wool Company is one we cherish and share with pride. While we may never get our hands on one of those stunning blazers, we’re pretty sure we know just how soft and high-quality the wool is.

Now who is knitting or crocheting during the Summer Games?

(This was originally published for our Knit Peeks substack subscribers. Want keep up with all the news? Join us!)


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!