We get a lot of questions about our yarns, their compositions and what projects they are good for. This made us think it would be helpful to have all the details in one place for easy reference.

Firstly, though, we have a few tips for how to use and care for your projects which applies to all of our yarns:
  • We recommend that you wash dark colours separately or wash a swatch before using dark and light colours together
  • We recommend handwashing all handknits/crochet, especially laceweight yarns, even where machine washing is indicated
  • With all hand dyed yarns, I would recommend that you use two skeins at a time, alternating from each one every couple of rows/rounds (unless it's a one-skein project)

 

Laceweight yarn

Yarn name Bowland Lace Eldwick
Lace
Lowther Lace Titus
Lace
Fibre blend 100% Superwash Bluefaced Leicester 72% Superkid Mohair, 28% Mulberry Silk 75% Baby Suri Alpaca, 25% Mulberry Silk 75% Superwash Extrafine Merino, 25% Mulberry Silk
Skein weight 100g 50g 50g 100g
Length 800m/872yds 420m/459yds 300m/328yds 800m/872yds
Recommended needle size 2.5 - 3.5mm needles
(US 1.5 - 4)
3 - 4mm needles 3 - 4.5mm needles
(US 2½ - 7)
2.5 - 3.5mm needles
Recommended 
hook size
2.5 - 3.5mm hook
(US B - E)
hook TBC 3 - 5mm hook hook TBC
WPI
(wraps per inch)
23 WPI 33 WPI (measured without leaving space for the fluffy halo) 18 WPI (measured including the fluffy halo) 28 WPI

 

Askham Lace
Askham Lace (formerly known as Pegasus Lace) is luxurious, soft, lustrous, and lovely to work with. It creates a warm yet lightweight fabric, with good stitch definition. The silk content adds strength and gives the yarn a gentle sheen. The fine baby alpaca makes it a bit fluffy without being itchy like some alpaca yarns. An item made in this yarn is a joy to wear - you hardly know it's there but can really feel the warmth from it. Handwash without soap or detergent.
Askham Lace has been discontinued.

Bowland Lace
Bowland Lace is a wonderful new addition to the Bowland range. Pure British Bluefaced Leicester wool beautifully spun to a 2ply lace weight. Being a lustre wool this yarn has all the shine you would expect but is gently woolly too. The fabric it creates is light, soft, and warm. It works well in garments and accesories and is perfect used on its own or held double with other yarns. We especially highly recommend using it held double with our fluffy Eldwick Lace (superkid mohair/silk) to create a really soft, cuddly, yet lightweight fabric.

This yarn knits and crochets to a standard 2ply laceweight tension/gauge although the wraps per inch are thicker than our other laceweights as it is a more woolly yarn. This plus the bounce and structure that it has make it easier and more versatile to use at a looser gauge. Held double with another laceweight (including fluff) it works up to approximately a standard 4ply/fingering weight gauge which might be helpful in selecting patterns. Handwash gently and lay flat to dry.

Eldwick Lace
Eldwick Lace is a luxuriously soft blend of kid mohair and silk. The mohair is naturally fluffly and gives this yarn its signature halo. This yarn is ideal for delicate lace designs in both knitting and crochet and can also be held double with other yarns to add the soft, fuzzy halo to larger garments. Handwash gently and lay flat to dry.

Lowther Lace
Lowther Lace is a sumptuous blend of baby suri alpaca and mulberry silk. The alpaca fibre gives this yarn a wonderful cloud-like fuzzy halo and offers a great alternative to mohair. This yarn is ideal for using on its own in both knitting and crochet and can also be held double with other yarns to add a wonderful soft, fuzzy halo. It does not have great stitch definition due to the fuzziness of the fluff so complex lace patterns might get lost in it. Handwash gently and lay flat to dry.

The fibre blend of Lowther Lace changed towards the end of 2020, from 74% Baby Suri Alpaca, 26% Mulberry Silk to 75% Baby Suri Alpaca, 25% Mulberry Silk

Titus Lace
The first of three weights of our merino and silk blend, Titus Lace was formerly known as Theseus Lace but renamed in 2017 for consistency with its 4ply and DK equivalents. This yarn is a beautiful, shimmery, soft and smooth 2ply laceweight. The merino is superwash and together with the silk content creates great stitch definition and a fabric with great drape. Handwash and lay flat to dry.

Before we go any further it's worth pointing out now that ALL of our merino is mulesing-free (or 'cruelty-free'). Read more about that HERE

 

4ply/Fingering yarns

 

Yarn name Bowland 4ply Brimham Bio Fingering Brimham 4ply Brimham High Twist Carlisle Fingering
Fibre blend 100% Superwash Bluefaced Leicester 85% Superwash Extrafine Merino,
15% Biodegradeable Nylon
85% Superwash Extrafine Merino,
15% Nylon
85% Superwash Extrafine Merino,
15% Nylon
100% Superwash Extrafine Merino
Skein weight 100g 100g 100g 100g 100g
Length 400m/436yds 430m/470yds 400m/436yds 360m/394yds 400m/436yds
Recommended needle size 2.25 - 4mm needles
(US 1 - 6)
2.25 - 4mm needles
(US 1 - 6)
2.5 - 4mm needles 2.5 - 4mm needles
2 - 4mm needles
Recommended
hook size
2 - 4.5mm hook 2 - 4.5mm
hook
2.5 - 4mm hook 2.5 - 5mm hook
hook TBC
WPI
(wraps per inch)
15 WPI 18 WPI 17 WPI 16 WPI 18 WPI

 

 

Yarn name Harewood Fingering Hayton 4ply Keld Fingering Keld Twist Milburn 4ply
Fibre blend 100% Superwash Bluefaced Leicester 80% Superwash Extrafine Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon 90% Superwash Merino, 10% Linen 83.3% Superwash Merino, 16.7% Linen 85% British Bluefaced Leicester, 15% Mulberry Silk
Skein weight 110g 100g 100g 100g 50g
Length 385m/420yds 350m/380yds 360m/393yds 375m/410yds 200m/218yds
Recommended needle size 2.5 - 4mm needles 2.5 - 4mm needles 2.5 - 4mm needles 2.5 - 4mm needles 2.25 - 4mm needles
(US 1 - 6)
Recommended
hook size
3 - 5mm hook 3 - 4 mm hook 2.5 - 4mm hook 2.5 - 4mm hook 2 - 4.5mm hook
WPI
(wraps per inch)
15 WPI 15 WPI 16 WPI 15 WPI 15 WPI

 

Yarn name Nateby 4ply Oakworth 4ply Pendle 4ply Rosedale 4ply
Fibre blend 75% Superwash Extrafine Merino, 20% Nylon, 5% Silver Lurex 100% Superwash NZ Polwarth 100% Superwash Extrafine Merino 80% Superwash Extrafine Merino,
15% Nylon, 5% Gold Stellina
Skein weight 100g 100g 100g 100g
Length 400m/436yds 400m/436yds 400m/436yds 400m/436yds
Recommended needle size 2.5 - 4mm needles 2.5 - 4mm needles 2.5 - 4mm needles 2.5 - 4mm needles
Recommended
hook size
hook TBC hook TBC hook TBC 2.5 - 4mm hook
WPI
(wraps per inch)
15 WPI 18 WPI 17 WPI 16 WPI

 

Yarn name Silverdale 4ply Tempo 4ply Titus 4ply Titus
Fingering
Fibre blend 75% Superwash Extrafine Merino,
15% Nylon, 10% Silver Stellina
75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon 75% Superwash Extrafine Merino, 25% Mulberry Silk
75% Superwash Extrafine Merino, 25% Mulberry Silk
Skein weight 100g 100g 100g 100g
Length 400m/436yds 400m/436yds 400m/436yds 400m/436yds
Recommended needle size 2.5 - 4mm needles 2.5 - 4mm needles 2.5 - 4mm needles
2.5 - 4mm needles
Recommended
hook size
2.5 - 4mm hook hook TBC hook TBC hook TBC
WPI
(wraps per inch)
16 WPI 14 WPI 16 WPI 19 WPI
 

Askham 4ply
The first of our 4ply silk blends, the main constituent of Askham 4ply is baby alpaca. This is a really luxuriously soft yarn, with all the drape and shine that you should expect from baby alpaca and silk. It creates a fabric that is so light and soft, yet warm and hardwearing, making it ideal for a wide range of projects. It is equally good for outdoor activities as for a posh dinner. Handwash only. This is one of our mill-dyed yarns, which means it is available in large and consistent quantities.
Askham 4ply has been discontinued.

Askham 4ply (hand dyed)
Askham 4ply is well known and loved as our mill dyed range that is no longer available. As the stock comes to an end we have decided to try it as a hand dyed offering and see how you all like it! This yarn is soft, snuggly and luxurious making it ideal for a wide range of projects, and creates a fabric which is light and soft, yet warm and hardwearing too. It has drape, but is still perfectly usable for colourwork, hats, other accessories, garments, and more - it does make a really special cardigan or shawl though. Pair it with beads for something really amazing, or dress it down for a practical and warm item. It works either way!
Askham 4ply (hand dyed) has been discontinued.

Bedale 4ply

Another silk blend, this time with equal quantities mulberry silk and baby yak giving a beautiful and subtle yarn. The silk gives it a gorgeous shine, the yak is really buttery soft and being worsted spun makes it smooth and drapey. It is ideal for tops, shawls, and other accessories. Hand wash and lay flat to dry. Unlike our other hand-dyed yarns, Bedale 4ply is sold in 50g skeins.
Bedale 4ply has been discontinued.

Bowland 4ply

Bowland 4ply is pure Bluefaced Leicester and was formerly known as BFL Sock, renamed in 2017 for consistency with its DK counterpart. This is a good all-round yarn, which is soft (it fluffs out more after washing), pretty hard wearing, has a beautiful gentle sheen, and is fine and drapey. This makes it great for a really wide range of projects, including accessories and garments. I find it fine for socks, but being a pure fine wool, it may not be hardwearing enough for you, so please bear that in mind. Machine washable on a gentle cycle. Lay flat to dry.

Brimham Bio Fingering
Brimham Bio Fingering is a light fingering weight yarn and is a blend of superwash extrafine merino with biodegradable nylon. Biodegradable nylon is as durable and long-lasting while in standard use but will break down entirely within five years in landfill conditions. (For more information about biodegradable nylon see our blog post - coming soon). Light fingering weight yarn is slightly thinner than a standard 4ply/fingering weight but thorough group testing found that it is still suitable to use in fingering weight patterns for both knitting and crochet. This yarn has good drape and really clear stitch definition, working well for lace, brioche and cables but some of our testers said they thought it didn't have much 'give'/stretch. This yarn is machine washable on a cool gentle cycle, but we still recommend handwashing if possible for best results and longevity.

Brimham 4ply*
Brimham 4ply is a soft and bouncy sock yarn. The fine merino wool is the same quality as you will find in our Pendle, Titus, Hayton, Nateby, and Carlisle yarns with the addition of nylon making it especially hard wearing if it's going to be well-worn and washed a lot. It’s great for a really wide range of projects, especially socks, and being machine washable (at 40 degrees or less) makes it very practical.

Brimham High Twist*
This is a sister yarn to our Brimham 4ply - this version is a two ply high twist yarn with the same fibre content. The two strands twisted tightly together give it a different texture, and make it a good solid yarn with plenty of structure. It's smooth and soft enough for next to skin wear as well. Worked at a looser gauge it has enough drape for lace, and it has very crisp stitch definition for cables and lace. Machine washable.

Carlisle Fingering*
Carlisle Fingering is our superwash merino singles yarn and is soft, smooth, smooshy, and cloud-like. It knits/crochets into a soft, snuggly fabric with a little bit of a fluffy halo but nonetheless good stitch definition. It comes out light and airy but warm and cosy at the same time. Handwash only and lay flat to dry; although it is superwash merino we really wouldn’t recommend machine washing it.

Coniston Fingering
Coniston Fingering is Carlisle Fingering's posh sibling! It is a blend of beautiful extrafine merino with luxurious superkid mohair (the finest and softest fibres obtained from the first shearing) all lovingly spun into a singles yarn. It gives you the effect of holding Carlisle Fingering double with a strand of Eldwick Lace but in a single yarn. We just love the combination of a single ply with a beautiful mohair halo. It is soft, fuzzy, drapey but with a little bounce too, and just a sheer delight to work with. We have tested it at a tighter gauge where it behaved well with firmness and bounce, up to a large loose gauge where it created a very light and soft fabric with drape. Handwash only and lay flat to dry.
Coniston Fingering has been discontinued.

Dalton 4ply
This is a supremely soft and smooth pure extrafine merino yarn which is not superwash treated; meaning it is just washed to remove any dirt then combed and spun. The fibre is our favourite extrafine merino which comes in at 19.5 microns and is some of the finest commercially merino available to us. When washing items made in this yarn please note that agitation and sudden temperature changes are what cause wool to felt, so it's best to use room temperature water and be gentle with it. We suggest soaking it then rolling up the item in a towel and standing on it to squeeze out excess water. Then lay flat to dry as usual, pinning it to shape if necessary.
Handwash only and lay flat to dry.
Dalton 4ply has been discontinued.

Harewood Fingering

Another superwash Bluefaced Leicester fingering weight yarn, Harewood Fingering actually comprises of two strands not four. The high twist creates a lovely fabric with great stitch definition, and this wool is naturally shiny and drapey. This yarn is not regularly in stock as it can be hard to get hold of. Machine washable on a gentle cycle. Lay flat to dry.

Hayton 4ply

Hayton 4ply is a beautiful mix of smooth, bouncy merino, a little nylon to make it more hard wearing, and a dash of cashmere for the ultimate luxury. This three-fold yarn spun to a 4ply thickness knits with both bounce and drape in equal measure - using larger needles and a lacy pattern creates drape, whilst smaller needles and a closer stitch type creates a nice warm, cosy fabric. The mix of fibres combines the best of both worlds.

The merino is actually superwash merino (ie 'shrink resist'), however due to the cashmere content I have found that this yarn will felt a bit in the washing machine, hence my recommendation to handwash only. Pin out flat to dry.

Keld Fingering
Keld Fingering is a beautiful blend of superwash merino with linen. The linen stands out on medium-dark colours as it doesn't take the dye the same as the wool, so on a lot of colourways it has a marled effect. This gives it a beautiful rustic appearance but it's got all the softness that you'd expect from the merino. It's ever so gorgeous and is ideal for summer accessories and garments, working well at a loose gauge as well as a standard 4ply gauge. If you fancy something a bit different, this is your yarn! Handwash only and lay flat to dry.

Keld Twist
Keld Twist is the same wonderful blend of superwash merino with linen as found in Keld Fingering and Keld Aran. The linen stands out on medium-dark colours as it doesn't take the dye the same as the wool, so on a lot of colourways it has a marled effect. The overall look is a slightly uneven yarn (it does have some gentle slubs) with linen fibres providing a little fluff, depth, and texture. Keld Twist is two plies spun together giving this yarn and the resulting fabric a bit more structure than the singles fingering weight. It's ever so gorgeous and is ideal for summer accessories and garments, working well at a loose gauge as well as a standard 4ply gauge. Handwash only and lay flat to dry.

Keswick Fingering
Keswick Fingering is a base of soft superwash merino with neps blended in for a unique texture and colour effect. The neps appear throughout the skein as little pops of black, brown and cream. They are made of polyamide which doesn't take the dye, meaning every skein will have these multi-toned flecks. In lighter yarns the darkers neps are more prominent and in darker colours the lighter neps are more visible. They don't particularly interfere with the knitting or crochet experience, and with being so soft they blend in to the yarn, so you can't really feel them. The yarn is a high twist merino base so it is soft and smooth, but it's also firm when knitted or crocheted at a tighter tension, and lovely and drapey when the tension is more loose. It's a versatile base which works for garments, accessories, and socks amongst other things! Handwash only and lay flat to dry.

Although the merino in this yarn is superwash I would recommend handwashing finished items if possible.
Keswick Fingering has been discontinued.

Linton Fingering
Another merino yarn, Linton Fingering is from the Falklands and was initially stocked as Falkland 4ply. This is a squidgy, cushiony soft yarn which is rather more plump than most of our other 4ply bases, this is due to the fibre being a little fuzzy and trapping air between strands. The yarn is actually spun as 2 ply in a fingering weight. This yarn is technically machine washable, however we recommend that you hand wash and lay flat to dry. Due to the plumpness this yarn could possibly be used in place of 5ply/Sport weight yarns, however we would always recommend checking your gauge with a tension square before starting a project. 
Linton Fingering has been discontinued.

Milburn 4ply

Milburn 4ply is our exclusive blend of Bluefaced Leicester and Mulberry Silk. This yarn is so light to wear, and yet lovely and warm and hardwearing, with gorgeous, rich depth of colour. It's great for a really wide range of projects, and being machine washable makes it potentially a bit more practical, particularly for socks. If you do wash this in a machine we advise using a gentle/wool cycle. Lay flat to dry. This is one of our mill-dyed yarns.

Nateby 4ply*
Sparkle yarn, need I say more?? Oh, ok then… This fabulous yarn is a luxurious blend of superwash merino giving softness, nylon for durability and a strand of silver lurex large enough to sparkle without being scratchy. Unlike other yarns the sparkle is spun into the yarn so that it doesn’t stick out. It has got a bit of squidge to it, as well as drape, so it is ideal for everything from socks to garments. Our colourways on this yarn tend to be more noticeably semi-solid or a little variegated compared to most of our other bases due to the way it takes dye; we think this is a lovely part of its charm. This means it is more strongly advised to alternate skeins in larger projects when using this yarn. Machine washable on a gentle cycle. Lay flat to dry.

Oakworth 4ply
Oakworth 4ply is a gorgeous, crisp, bouncy and smooth superwash Polwarth wool yarn, which has great stitch definition. It is perfect for socks, being hardwearing, but also perfect for shawls, hats, fingerless mitts, cardis, sweaters and more- it softens with washing. Machine washable.

Pendle 4ply

Pendle 4ply is our third pure merino yarn. It is a gorgeous, smooshy, soft, bouncy and smooth superwash merino yarn, which has great stitch definition. It is perfect for a wide variety of projects, although may be too soft for socks (or you may want to reinforce heels and toes with nylon thread held alongside the yarn). Machine washable on a gentle cycle.

Rosedale 4ply*
This fabulous yarn is a luxurious blend of superwash merino giving softness, nylon for durability and a strand of gold stellina giving a subtle sparkle. It's soft, and has got a bit of squidge to it as well as drape, so it's ideal for everything from socks to garments. Machine washable on a gentle cycle.

Silverdale 4ply
This fabulous yarn (the sister to Rosedale 4ply) is a luxurious blend of superwash merino giving softness, nylon for durability and a strand of silver stellina giving a subtle sparkle. It's soft, and has got a bit of squidge to it as well as drape, so it's ideal for everything from socks to garments. Machine washable on a gentle cycle.
Silverdale 4ply has been discontinued and is only available to Wholesale customers.

Tempo 4ply*

Tempo is a brilliant all-round 4ply sock yarn - it softens considerably after washing for next-to-skin wear. With the nylon content being paired with a more coarse/less fine merino fibre, it is especially hard wearing and well suited if it's going to be well-worn and washed a lot. It is ideal for things like cardis, hats, shawls and gloves, though I recommend you put it through the washing machine at least once to soften it. Machine washable.

Titus 4ply

Hands down our most popular yarn. The first thing you notice about this beautiful and subtle yarn is the shine that comes from the silk, especially in dark or rich colours. The luxurious blend of superwash merino and mulberry silk is ideal for all sorts of projects, from socks to garments and everything in between. It washes well in the machine, and the silk gives it strength so it can take a lot of use - it's great for socks if you are unsure about pure wool yarns being hard wearing enough. Machine washable.

Titus Fingering
Titus Fingering is a beautiful luxury singles yarn which has that classic shine and lustre from the silk, but also has the structure and bounce of merino wool. It strikes us as primarily a garment and shawl yarn, but testing is showing that it works really well at a much tighter gauge too for things like fingerless mitts, hats, and cowls. The only thing I really wouldn't recommend it for is socks. This yarn is fairly fine as fingering weight (equivalent to 4ply) yarns go, due to it being lustrous and singles-spun (the fibres are very smooth so they're not fluffed out). It will substitute in place of most fingering/4ply weight yarns but please be aware that you might think it looks a bit thin compared to more traditional 4ply yarns. Also note that although the merino in this yarn is superwash and you may get away with a machine wash, we recommend handwashing as a preference.

 

* These yarns are also available as mini skeins

Yarn name Brimham 4ply Brimham HT Carlisle Fingering
Fibre blend 85% Superwash Extrafine Merino, 15% Nylon 85% Superwash Extrafine Merino, 15% Nylon 100% Superwash Extrafine Merino
Skein weight 20g 20g 20g
Length 80m/87yds 72m/78yds 80m/87yds
Recommended needle size 2.5 - 4mm needles 2.5 - 4mm needles 2 - 4mm needles
Recommended 
hook size
2.5 - 4mm hook 2.5 - 5mm hook hook TBC
WPI 
(wraps per inch)
17 WPI 16 WPI 18 WPI

 

Yarn name Nateby 4ply Rosedale 4ply Silverdale 4ply Tempo 4ply
Fibre blend 75% Superwash Extrafine Merino, 20% Nylon, 5% Silver Lurex 80% Superwash Extrafine Merino, 15% Nylon, 5% Gold Stellina 75% Superwash Extrafine Merino,
15% Nylon, 10% Silver Stellina
75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon
Skein weight 20g 20g 20g 20g
Length 80m/87yds 80m/87yds 80m/87yds 80m/87yds
Recommended
needle size
2.5 - 4mm needles 2.5 - 4mm needles 2 - 4mm needles 2.5 - 4mm needles
Recommended 
hook size
hook TBC 2.5 - 4mm hook 2.5 - 4mm hook hook TBC
WPI 
(wraps per inch)
15 WPI 16 WPI 16 WPI 14 WPI

 

Sport yarns

Yarn name Pendle Sport
Fibre blend 100% Superwash Extrafine Merino
Skein weight 100g
Length 300m/328yds
Recommended needle size 3 - 5mm needles
Recommended
hook size
3 - 5mm hook
WPI
(wraps per inch)
13 WPI

 

Pendle Sport
Pendle Sport is the same super soft and bouncy extrafine merino found in our other Pendle yarns. It is robustly structured but also has some drape (depending on the gauge it's used at), and is lovely and soft and smooth.
Our yarn testers found that as a sport weight yarn this can also be substituted in for 4ply/fingering weight yarns assuming you can make gauge. It has great stitch definition and works beautifully for cables. Ideally handwash but should also survive a gentle machine wash cycle; lay flat to dry

 

DK yarns

Yarn name Bowland DK Brimham DK Hayton DK Milburn DK
Fibre blend 100% Superwash Bluefaced Leicester 85% Superwash Extrafine Merino, 15% Nylon 80% Superwash Extrafine Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon 85% British Bluefaced Leicester, 15% Mulberry Silk
Skein weight 100g 100g 100g 50g
Length 225m/245yds 225m/245yds 225m/245yds 112m/122yds
Recommended needle size 3.5 - 4.5mm needles
(US 4 - 7)
3.5 - 4.5mm needles
(US 4 - 7)
3.5 - 4.5mm needles
(US 4 - 7)
3.5 - 4.5mm needles
(US 4 - 7)
Recommended 
hook size
3.5 - 5.5mm hook (US E-4 to I-9) 3.5 - 4.5mm hook 3 - 4.5mm hook 3.5 - 5.5mm hook (US E-4 to I-9)
WPI
(wraps per inch)
12 WPI 12 WPI 12 WPI 12 WPI

 

Yarn name Oakworth DK Pendle DK Titus DK
Fibre blend 100% Superwash NZ Polwarth 100% Superwash Extrafine Merino 75% Superwash Extrafine Merino, 25% Mulberry Silk
Skein weight 100g 100g 100g
Length 225m/245yds 200m/218yds 225m/245yds
Recommended needle size 3.5 - 4.5mm needles
(US 4 - 7)
3.5 - 4.5mm needles
(US 4 - 7)
4 - 5mm needles
Recommended 
hook size
hook TBC hook TBC hook TBC
WPI 
(wraps per inch)
12 WPI 11 WPI 13 WPI

 

Bowland DK
This is our ever-popular, pure Bluefaced Leicester wool yarn, which is beautiful and soft to knit with, yet conveniently superwash. It gets softer with wear, and has a gentle lustre. This gorgeous superwash wool is a firm favourite - it's super-soft, smooth, and silky. It's ideal for such a wide range of knitting/crochet projects - being machine washable plus next-to-skin soft means it's perfect for babies and adults alike. It does grow when you wash and block it, and has a gorgeous silky drape. Machine washable on a gentle cycle only. Lay flat to dry.

Brimham DK
Like its lighter weight counterpart Brimham DK is a very soft, squishy yarn which has just the right amount of bounce but also a little drape. The extrafine merino is the best quality we can get, and it has a little nylon added for extra strength and durability. This makes it very versatile for all sorts of projects from accessories to garments. Machine washable on a gentle cycle only. Lay flat to dry.

Hayton DK
Hayton DK, like its 4ply counterpart, is a beautiful mix of smooth, bouncy merino, a little nylon to make it more hard wearing, and a dash of cashmere for the ultimate luxury. It knits with both bounce and drape in equal measure - using larger needles and a lacy pattern creates drape, whilst smaller needles and a closer stitch type creates a nice warm, cosy fabric. The mix of fibres combines the best of both worlds.

The merino is actually superwash merino (ie 'shrink resist'), however due to the cashmere content it is likely that this yarn will felt a bit in the washing machine, hence my recommendation to handwash only. Lay out flat to dry

Keswick DK
Keswick DK is a base of soft superwash merino with neps blended in for a unique texture and colour effect. The neps appear throughout the skein as little pops of black, brown and cream. They are made of polyamide which doesn't take the dye, meaning every skein will have these multi-toned flecks. In lighter yarns the darkers neps are more prominent and in darker colours the lighter neps are more visible. They don't particularly interfere with the knitting or crochet experience, and with being so soft they blend in to the yarn, so you can't really feel them. The base yarn is smooth and firm, so at a tighter tension you get a pretty solid fabric, but at a more loose tension it creates a fabric with stretch and drape to it. Handwash only and lay flat to dry.

Although the merino in this yarn is superwash I would recommend handwashing finished items if possible.
Keswick DK has been discontinued.

Milburn DK
Our newest mill-dyed yarn and the big brother to Milburn 4ply. This yarn is so light to wear, and yet lovely and warm and hardwearing, with gorgeous, rich depth of colour and a beautiful sheen from the silk. It's great for a really wide range of projects, and being machine washable makes it a bit more practical. Machine washable on a gentle/wool cycle. Lay flat to dry.

Oakworth DK

As the name suggests, this yarn is 100% superwash Polwarth and the thicker counterpart of Oakworth 4ply. A smooth, crisp yarn with great stitch definition and next-to-skin softness.

Polwarth is a breed of sheep with a long, soft, fine fleece, which is the result of cross breeding merino with Lincoln sheep (developed in Australia during 1880). This yarn is a nice firm, crisp, bouncy yarn, which has great stitch definition and is next-to-skin soft. Machine washable on a gentle cycle. Lay flat to dry.

Pendle DK

Due to the popularity of Pendle 4ply and Pendle Aran, we extended the range to include DK and Chunky. Pendle DK is our pure merino yarn, which is a soft, cosy yarn; and is incredibly squishy. It has good structure and a fairly matt appearance, showing stitches well. This yarn feels slightly thicker than most of our other DK yarns so if you want something a bit more solid but also super-soft, this would be ideal. Machine washable on a gentle cycle. Lay flat to dry.

Silverdale DK
Just like our other merino sparkle yarns, Silverdale DK is a blend of superwash merino for softness, nylon for durability and a strand of silver stellina giving a subtle sparkle. It's smooth and squishy - just what you'd expect really, and is perfect for garments, shawls and pretty much anything else! Machine washable on a gentle cycle. Lay flat to dry.
Silverdale DK has been discontinued.

Titus DK
The thickest of our superwash merino and mulberry silk blend yarns. This beautiful and subtle yarn is very luxurious with a gorgeous shine (especially in dark or rich colours). It is ideal for all sorts of projects, from socks to garments and everything in between. It washes well in the machine, and the silk gives it strength so it can take a lot of use - it's great for socks if you are unsure about pure wool yarns being hard wearing enough. Machine washable.

Whitfell DK

Pure baby alpaca, this yarn is super soft and fluffy, making it a joy to work with. Whitfell DK creates a warm and lightweight fabric and is ideal for a wide range of projects. Handwash only. This is one of our mill-dyed yarns.
Whitfell DK has been discontinued.


Aran yarns

Yarn name Bowland Aran Brimham Aran Keld Aran Pendle Aran
Fibre blend 100% Superwash Bluefaced Leicester 85% Superwash Extrafine Merino, 15% Nylon 90% Superwash Merino, 10% Linen 100% Superwash Extrafine Merino
Skein weight 100g 100g 100g 100g
Length 166m/180yds 180m/196yds 180m/196yds 166m/180yds
Recommended needle size 4.5 - 5.5mm needles 4.5 - 5.5mm needles 4.5 - 5.5mm needles 4.5 - 5.5mm needles
Recommended 
hook size
TBC 4.5 - 5.5mm hook 4.5 - 5.5mm hook TBC
WPI 
(wraps per inch)
8 WPI 10 WPI 10 WPI 9 WPI

 

Askham Aran
This soft, dreamy yarn is such a joy to work with and wear - it creates a warm, fluffy, and drapey fabric which can feel heavy to work with but is still lovely and light to wear. The gentle sheen shows through the alpaca fluff, meaning that stitch definition is not crisp but is still visible. Handwash and lay flat to dry
Askham Aran has been discontinued.

Bowland Aran
This gorgeous superwash wool is quickly becoming as firm a favourite as its lighter counterparts. It is super-soft, a bit woolly, and silky. It's ideal for such a wide range of cosy knitting/crochet projects - being machine washable plus next-to-skin soft means it's perfect for babies and adults alike. It does grow when you wash and block it, and has a gorgeous silky drape. 
Machine washable on a gentle/wool cycle only. Lay flat to dry.

Brimham Aran
Brimham 4ply is a soft and bouncy sock yarn. The fine merino wool is the same quality as you will find in our other merino yarns with the addition of nylon making it especially hard wearing if it's going to be well-worn and washed a lot. It’s great for a really wide range of projects, especially socks, and being machine washable (at 40 degrees or less) makes it very practical.
Machine washable

Keld Aran
Keld Aran is a beautiful yarn - it is next-to-skin soft as you might image from the merino; and the linen content adds a gorgeous visual interest. In darker colourways it is more visible as white-ish fibres which are spun in but also are present on the surface. The linen can't be felt so it doesn't take anything away from the softness of the wool. As well as being soft and fairly drapey, this yarn is quite sturdy too - knitted or crocheted at a medium to tighter gauge it has good structure. The stitch definition is great, and this yarn is an absolute joy to both work with and wear. Handwash only and lay flat to dry.

Keswick Aran
Keswick Aran is a base of soft superwash merino with neps blended in for a unique texture and colour effect. The neps appear throughout the skein as little pops of black, brown and cream. They are made of polyamide which doesn't take the dye, meaning every skein will have these multi-toned flecks. In lighter yarns the darker neps are more prominent and in darker colours the lighter neps are more visible. They don't particularly interfere with the knitting or crochet experience, and with being so soft they blend in to the yarn, so you can't really feel them. The base yarn is soft and squishy but also quite firm, making it gorgeous for a wide range of projects.

Although the merino in this yarn is superwash I would recommend handwashing finished items if possible. Lay flat to dry.
Keswick Aran has been discontinued.

Pendle Aran

With the expansion of the Pendle range, Langdale Superwash Aran was renamed as Pendle Aran for consistency, so that the super soft squishiness can be attributed across the yarn weights. Pendle Aran is a fantastic all-round machine washable pure merino yarn. It is squishy, smooth and soft whilst retaining a bouncy and hard wearing quality. Machine washable.


Chunky yarns

Yarn name Pendle Chunky Whitfell Chunky
Fibre blend 100% Superwash Extrafine Merino 100% Baby Alpaca
Skein weight 100g 100g
Length 100m/109yds 100m/109yds
Recommended
needle size
6 - 8mm (US 10 - 11) needles 5.5 - 6.5mm needles
Recommended 
hook size
5.5 - 9mm (US I9 - M13) hook hook TBC
WPI 
(wraps per inch)
6 WPI 7 WPI

 

Pendle Chunky
Pendle Chunky is a fabulous addition to the Pendle range. It is a smooshy, soft, warm, bouncy and smooth superwash merino yarn, which has great stitch definition making it perfect for a wide variety of projects. Machine washable on a gentle/wool cycle.

Whitfell Chunky
Pure baby alpaca, this yarn creates a gorgeous drapey fabric. Knitting garments can feel heavy but they're not heavy to wear, and this yarn is perfect for Icelandic Lopi-style sweaters. Being worsted-spun reduces the amount of pilling, and means it has good stitch definition. Handwash and lay flat to dry. This is one of our mill-dyed yarns.
Whitfell Chunky has been discontinued.

 


2 comments


  • Hi
    Can I ask where you source your baby alpaca from. Is it ready spun for the Whitfield chunky or do you do that yourself. Thank you.
    Kind regards
    Judith

    Judith Orr on

  • My Hayton 4ply seems to be spun with 3 plies. Is this right? Is your 4ply a weight rather than actual description of plies? Thank you for your response. Stay safe!!

    Deena Maniscalchi on

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published