Editors’ Picks: Our Favorite Sweater Yarns to Knit With

✓Let the Interweave Knits Winter 2024 issue transport you to a winter wonderland of cozy knits! This remarkable edition features 14 extraordinary projects to immerse yourself in the uniqueness of specially crafted yarns.

In the realm of sweater yarn, the choices are positively endless. It seems like there is a new yarn dropping every week, which we love. But when you get ready to start a new project and the recommended yarn is either out of reach or unavailable, making the right choice can be overwhelming. Where to even begin? Here!

The Interweave editors are avid sweater knitters, and today we’re sharing our favorite sweater yarns. We’ve divided the list based on estimated cost for a sweater quantity. Budget is a very personal consideration, and we aren’t here to judge. Our goal is to provide you with options that lead to a finished garment you’ll love, no matter the price point.

Sensible Budget-Savers

Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Sport

Fiber Content: 100% Peruvian highland wool
Put-up: 137 yd (125 m)/1¾ oz (50 g)
Gauge: 6 sts = 1″
Needles: sizes 3–5 (3.25 mm–3.75 mm)
Care: Hand wash. Lay flat to dry.

Wool of the Andes Sport is a classic yarn for lighter-weight sweaters. It is soft enough to wear against the skin, but sturdy enough for hardwearing children’s winter wear. Available in more than 30 shades, this yarn is beautiful in colorwork sweaters. Technical editor Sandi Rosner says “Enough high-quality 100% wool to make a sweater in my size for about $50? Count me in!”

Cascade 220

Fiber Content: 100% Peruvian highland wool
Put-up: 220 yd (200 m)/3½ oz (100 g)
Gauge: 4.5–5 sts = 1″
Needles: sizes 7–8 (4.5 mm–5 mm)
Care: Hand wash cold. Lay flat to dry.

For many knitters, Cascade 220 is their introduction to working with natural fibers. Widely available in yarn stores across the US, this worsted weight yarn is soft, lofty, and durable. The smooth, round 4-ply structure creates great stitch definition. With 180 colors to choose from, the hardest part of working with Cascade 220 is deciding which color to knit with first.

Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted

Fiber Content: 100% wool
Put-up: 220 yd (200 m)/3½ oz (100 g)
Gauge: 4.5 sts = 1″
Needles: size 7 (4.5 mm)
Care: Hand wash. Lay flat to dry.

Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted is a workhorse yarn that will earn its place in your stash. It’s our choice for both classic cabled pullovers and stripey cardigans that we’ll wear for years to come. Deluxe Worsted is Oeko-Tex certified to be free from harmful substances. The array of 90 colors will make you feel like a kid with a new box of crayons.

Sweet Spot Selections

Knit Picks Capra

Fiber Content: 85% fine Merino wool, 15% cashmere
Put-up: 123 yd (112 m)/1¾ oz (50 g)
Gauge: 5–5.5 sts = 1″
Needles: sizes 5–7 (3.75 mm–4.5 mm)
Care: Hand wash. Lay flat to dry.

Your weekly grocery run will feel like a special occasion if you’re wearing a sweater knit from Capra. The touch of cashmere in this yarn makes it feel like pure luxury, both in the knitting and against your skin. Capra is round and lofty, with a kitten-soft halo. Sandi chose Capra for her current project, the Tillage Sweater from Knits Winter 2024.

Knitting for Olive Merino

Fiber Content: 100% Merino wool
Put-up: 273 yd (250 m)/1¾ oz (50 g)
Gauge: 7 sts = 1″
Needles: size 3 (3.25 mm)
Care: Hand wash cool. Lay flat to dry.

This fingering-weight Merino is a joy to knit. The fiber comes from Patagonian farms that do not practice mulesing, and is RWS and Oeko-Tex certified. Knits editor Kerry Bogert says, “The Knitting for Olive palette is beautifully curated and perfect for colorwork projects.” The range of neutral colors is particularly seductive.

Purl Soho Yonder

Fiber Content: 50% highland wool, 50% alpaca
Put-up: 140 yd (128 m)/ 3½ oz (100 g)
Gauge: 4.25–4.5 sts = 1″
Needles: sizes 7–8 (4.5 mm–5 mm)
Care: Hand wash. Lay flat to dry.

This lofty and soft new yarn from Purl Soho has us scanning our queues for the perfect pattern match! A 3-ply worsted-weight beauty, Yonder is a Fair-Trade Certified yarn milled in Peru. The palette begins with four natural undyed colors. These colors are overdyed to create a total of thirteen rich and earthy hues. Both plain stockinette and textured stitches shine in Yonder.

Swoon-Worthy Splurges

Mountain Meadow Cora

Fiber Content: 100% Merino wool
Put-up: 210 yd (192 m)/ 3½ oz (100 g)
Gauge: 4.25–4.5 sts = 1″
Needles: sizes 7–8 (4.5 mm–5 mm)
Care: Hand wash. Lay flat to dry.

Mountain Meadow Wool is a spinning mill set in the western plains of Wyoming. Their 3-ply worsted weight Cora is made with Wyoming grown wool that is processed, spun and dyed entirely in-house. Sandi used Cora to knit the Essential Cardigan, and loves the resilient fabric and superior stitch definition created by this yarn.

Ancient Arts Lascaux DK

Fiber Content: 25% Manx Loaghtan wool, 75% Punta Arenas Wool
Put-up: 273 yd (250 m)/3½ oz (100 g)
Gauge: 5.25–6 sts = 1″
Needles: sizes 5–7 (3.75 mm–4.5 mm)
Care: Hand wash. Lay flat to dry.

Lascaux blends Old World Manx Loaghtan wool with New World Corriedale from Chile to create a lovely DK-weight yarn. Digital editor Andrea Lotz says, “It’s super sheepy, and the Manx Loaghtan wool in the blend makes these lovely brown flecks that add so much depth to the color.” That color is hand dyed by the artisans at Ancient Arts in a huge range of solid and variegated colors.

Purl Soho Hedgerow

Fiber Content: 93% Merino wool, 3.5% cashmere, 3.5% mulberry silk
Put-up: 243 yd (222 m)/ 3½ oz (100 g)
Gauge: 4.75–5.25 sts = 1″
Needles: sizes 6–7 (4 mm–4.5 mm)
Care: Hand wash. Lay flat to dry.

Hedgerow is spun in County Donegal, Ireland, where they know a thing or two about tweed. Instead of traditional Irish wool, this yarn is spun with soft Merino, cashmere, and silk for a sweater that looks nubbly, but feels like heaven! Sandi knit not one, but two sweaters with Hedgerow last winter. Purl Soho offers Hedgerow in a palette of classic neutrals and exciting brights that will be the stars of your winter wardrobe.

We hope you find a new favorite from among the yarns on this list. If you try one, let us know what you think.

Do you have a favorite sweater yarn we missed? Tell us about it in the comments!

Note: This article contains affiliate links to products independently chosen by our editors. If you choose to purchase through our links, we may receive a small commission. Thank you!

Cast On for Your Next Sweater!

Editors’ Picks: Our Favorite Sweater Yarns

Sensible Budget-Savers

Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Sport

Cascade 220

Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted

Sweet Spot Selections

Knit Picks Capra

Knitting for Olive Merino

Purl Soho Yonder

Swoon-Worthy Splurges

Mountain Meadow Cora

Ancient Arts Lascaux DK

Purl Soho Hedgerow

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Interweave Favorites: Sweater Pattern Collection

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Editor's Picks

Sensible Budget-Savers

Sweet Spot Selections

Swoon-Worthy Splurges

Interweave Favorites: Knitted Cardigans Pattern Collection

Interweave Favorites: Sweater Pattern Collection

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Editor's Picks

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