4 Yarn Types for Your Spring Knitting
Have you noticed all of the lovely trees in bloom? The pretty, yellow daffodils? The weather has warmed up and I’m excited! I usually start designing my spring projects right after the holiday season so I can be ready to launch a spring KAL and have fun with all of you.
I love how spring presents the opportunity to work with lighter yarns and knit drapey fabric. Thankfully, we’ve got a nice range of quality yarns to work with as the weather warms up. If you’re joining me for the Palm Canyon KAL, you’ll love both yarn options suggested for the pattern.
I can’t wait to get started on this project with you all, our community is so supportive. Especially during this time of social isolation, it’ll be great to come together online and enjoy our love for knitting.
Let’s explore 4 different types of yarn that you’ll love for your warm-weather knitting:
01 Plant Fibers & Blends
In the warmer weather, you’ll definitely want to try a yarn mostly comprised of a plant fiber. Cotton and linen are great choices to wear in warmer weather. They are breathable, cool, smooth and light. Cotton is a common plant fiber used in spring and summer; it’s not too pricey and has a bunch of color choices. However it tends to “grow” as it’s heavier than other fibers and it doesn’t have “memory” or bounce-back when stretched out. Compared to cotton, linen is a lighter fiber that’s drapier, and it softens with every wash. To balance the useful properties of these plant fibers, a blended yarn really comes in handy, especially for garments.
One of the yarn I chose for the Palm Canyon KAL is Nina, by Stacy Charles Fine Yarns. It’s 77% Linen and 23% Cotton. With a chainette construction, this yarn will work up into lightweight garments that are perfect for layering and have a beautiful drape. Nina has 14 color options to select from for your sweater.
For my Roselle Tee, I used Valley Yarns Granville, which is a gorgeous blend of Pima cotton and Merino wool. 90% Pima Cotton with 10% Merino Wool.
This yarn is super soft and great for t-shirts, tanks, and cardigans. Since it’s mostly cotton and wool, the breathability is excellent. This’s a great yarn option for a summer shawl or a lacy knitting project!
02 Animal Fibers & Blends
You may think that you’d want skip animal fibers in spring due to their warmth, but the right wool is actually a good warm-weather fiber. Superwash merino is good for spring, especially when blended with other light fibers. Since superwash merino is treated to be machine washable, it’s softer, machine washable, and still capable of wicking away moisture. A wool blend is also nice for cool evenings in spring. Let’s not forget that wool is very easy to work with and looks flattering on many different body types.
In my Seagate sweater kit, I work with Anzula‘s Squishy yarn, which is hand-dyed and 100% made in America. Squishy is 80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon, and 1000% AMAZING.
The other yarn selection for the Palm Canyon KAL is Northfield by Valley Yarns. It has a slight sheen from the silk, adding a touch of sophistication to this delightful yarn. 70% Merino Wool/ 20% Baby Alpaca/ 10% Silk.
03 Recycled & Organic Fibers
Besides the classic options, consider other environmentally friendly fibers, such as organic or recycled yarns. Certified organic yarns are not treated with chemicals and use organically raised fibers. Recycled fibers use materials such as textile off-cuts, leftover materials, and recycled plastics.
Tahki Yarns Cotton Ball is a 100% organic cotton that’s perfect for year-round comfort. Because of its chainette construction, it’s super soft and creates supple, airy fabrics.
Amazingly, each hank of HiKoo PopCycle recycles two plastic bottles! HiKoo PopCycle is a fingering weight blended yarn, made of 50% bamboo and 50% Polyester from recycled bottles. It’s a smooth, cool, and excellent wool-free choice that can be considered to use in your spring knitting projects.
04 Rayon from Bamboo & Blends
Bamboo fiber can be found in a lot more blends these days. It’s a luxurious renewable option that’s commonly blended with cotton. Bamboo is a popular and relatively eco-friendly choice in socks and baby projects because it is flexible, strong and soft to touch. But let me warn you, when you work with a yarn that’s 100% bamboo, the fabric will grow and stretch out with wear. You need to think about the fabric you plan to make and if bamboo would be the best option for it.
Looking for yarn with a soft touch and slinky shine for your light warm-weather projects? You can check out Bamboo Pop by Universal Yarn. The self-striping yarn has a ton of color options, also most importantly, it is machine-washable!
Big Box of Knitting Mistakes: It’s a Grower — Read about what happened when I wore a top knit with 100% bamboo yarn, within a matter of a few hours.
Want to learn more about the Secrets of Yarn Substitution? Click here for more information from my digital webinar.
Knitting comforts me and puts me at ease; I look forward to doing a lot more of that in the coming days. I’ll be keeping in touch with you through my online resources, chats in Ravelry, and on social media. I encourage you to partake in the fun and join my latest KAL Palm Canyon. Don’t miss the fun in our Ravelry group!
Let me know what you all are doing to stay positive, healthy and sane.
Wash your hands, don’t touch your face, and knit on!
Thank you, Patty, for sharing your talents and words of knitting wisdom. WBUR posted an article which may interest you. “Lost Income Due To COVID-19? Here Are Grants And Resources For Artists And Nonprofits” https://tinyurl.com/w82csvd Perhaps this info could help you and others in your situation?
Thanks so much.