Fall yarn: old favorites and new friends

Rowan Alpaca Classic

A blend to thrill you - cotton with a shot of alpaca softness

Deliciously soft, but with structure and drape, Rowan Alpaca Classic has all the qualities you love from a cotton yarn with extra cloudy softness and a gentle halo from 57% alpaca fiber. It’s a fingering weight yarn, and with 26 shades to choose from, it’s ideal for colorwork projects and finer knits. Cleverly, the lightness of this yarn brings two fabulous benefits - it is toasty and warm without being heavy to wear, and the yardage is extraordinarily good - 131 yrds in each 25g ball.  

Timely by Truly Myrtle

Without sounding too fangirl, we absolutely love Libby Jonson from Truly Myrtle! Her patterns are accessible and beautiful - and this gorgeous cardigan is a favorite. You can work the stripes in any of the Rowan Alpaca Classic shades - they’re all stunningly compatible.

Malabrigo Worsted

Artisan, hand dyed colorways

One of my personal favourites for fall and winter, this stunner never disappoints. Cozy, super soft and the heady hand dyed colorways are dreams come true. One skein is enough for a pair of mitts for gifting - or a hat that everyone will admire. Outrageously beautiful and great value, too.

Breathe Deep by Kirsten Kapur

You know you’ll never go wrong with a Kirsten Kapur pattern - and these gorgeous mitts make the most of the fabulous color variations in the Malabrigo hand dyed yarn.

Rowan Cosy Merino

Cozy, chunky paradise

Wool, cashmere and yak - what more can I knitter ask for? In barely-there pastels and neutrals, Rowan Cosy Merino has what looks like a boucle finish at first glance, but is actually just a beautifully plump twist that traps the air to keep you warm. The straighter yak and cashmere fibres contain less static, bringing clever drape with less cling. Lightweight, warm and infinitely flattering - a knitter’s dream.

Highland Fling by Stella Ackroyd

For a deliciously snug, textured yarn like Rowan Cosy Merino, choose a pattern that will show off that boucle-style to perfection. Stella Ackroyd’s Highland Fling has a simple lace edge and acres of gorgeous garter stitch that will bring that plump twist to life.

MillaMia Naturally Soft Super Chunky

Clouds of merino

MillaMia is a brand we love for its fabulous quality and rich Swedish tradition of keeping everyone warm! The Naturally Soft Super Chunky line is kitten-soft and full of heavenly loft - if you’re going to knit with a super chunky yarn this fall, make it this one! Signature MillaMia shades will draw the eye - I’m in love with Butternut but my dreams keep calling me back to Eau de Nil.

Margareta Moss Cowl

Super chunky but light as air to wear - that’s what you need from a big yarn like this, something that won’t weigh you down. The seed stitch panels really show off the gorgeous stitch definition in this big friendly yarn.

Erika Knight Wild Wool

Wild, woolly and exotic

In the search for a yarn made from sustainable, natural sources, Erika Knight has found the most unexpected source: nettles! Yes, you read that right! It’s not a new phenomenon - Napoleon’s soldiers’ uniforms were made of nettles - but in our modern world, nettles may well come to the rescue of over-farmed cotton to produce a luxuriously soft yarn! Blended here with wool, the result is sumptuous and lofty. The color palette, inspired by the English countryside, is muted, understated and rich.

Long walks in the grass by Elizabeth Feldgate

Don’t you love it when a designer plans for a knitter? The simple stitch repeat here is easy to memorize and Elizabeth says it’s perfect for travel knitting. The raglan shaping of these sleeves is very flattering for the shoulders, and there is optional waist shaping if you want to nip in further.

Cascade 220 Superwash

Everyday rainbows

If you’re after a rainbow you’ve come to the right place! Cascade are well known for their extraordinarily beautiful color palette - and although I am a huge fan of the heathered and melange shades, I love the solids just as much! For a fall sweater or cardigan that won’t let you down, ever, 220 Superwash is bound to have the shade you’re dreaming of - from rich deep jewels and earth tones to the palest pinks and unicorn purples.

The Weekender by Andrea Mowry

This is a sweater to fall in love with - you’ll never want to take it off. The dropped shoulder, boat neck shape flatters every body shape, and the faux seams and side notches are just adorable.

Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok

The wonder yarn

Inspired by hundreds, or even thousands of years of yarn making in Peru, the folk at Blue Sky Fibers have thrilled us with Woolstok, a new worsted weight yarn, Woolstok. The yarn is spun and dyed in Arequipa, and the sheep themselves are farmed in the craggy, unspoilt terrain of Puno, on the shore of Lake Titicaca in Southeastern Peru. Rich colors inspired by the landscape include solids and melange shades, which are created by dyeing the fibers and blending them before the final spin. It’s no surprise that Blue Sky Fibers call this ‘the wonder yarn’ - it truly is wonderful.

Vaughan Vest by Kristen Jancuk

A design with texture will show off this ‘wonder yarn’ and its stitch definition - and nothing is more versatile in fall than a cabled vest, or tank. This one has a v-neck that dips into a textured center panel with cables either side, and it’s versatile for early fall when you need something to keep the chill away under a jacket. I can see this knit up in the rich tones of Cranberry Compote or Wild Thyme, but it looks fabulous with trims in contrast colors.