Fiber Review: Rethinking Tweed

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When it comes to pairing yarns with projects, it has been said more than once, “Oh, but you wouldn’t want to use tweed for that.” What a shame! Tweed is a beautiful, complex fiber that shines in a variety of projects. Now is the time to rethink what tweed yarns are “good” for—from juicy cables to subtle textures—and show them off in your next handknit.

Above (left to right): Universal Yarn Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash, Atelier Zitron Tasmanian Tweed, Kelbourne Woolens Lucky Tweed, Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted Tweed

Here are a few tweed yarns we absolutely love:

Universal Yarn Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash

Content: 90% superwash wool, 3% viscose, 7% acrylic | Color: 418 Terra Cotta | Put-up: 284 yd (259 m)/3.5 oz (100 g) | Weight: DK

Neps, which are soft flecks of black, brown, and cream, dapple this blended tweed. When in need of a tweed with a touch of drape and breathability, even at a tighter gauge, this is the one to grab. The yarn is incredibly soft while still being rugged and durable. Available from universalyarn.com.

Atelier Zitron Tasmanian Tweed

Content: 95% Merino wool, 5% rayon | Color: 08 | Put-up: 116 yd (106 m)/1.7 oz (50 g) | Weight: Light Worsted

Like all Australian Merino, Tasmanian Merino is one of the softest wools in the world with a superfine micron count less than 18.5. This makes it next-to-skin soft and perfect for a variety of garments. Here, it pops in a large, 8-stitch cable that highlights its movement and subtle neps. Available from makersmercantile.com.

Kelbourne Woolens Lucky Tweed

Content: 100% Merino wool | Color: 345 Seaglass | Put-up: 210 yd (190 m)/3.5 oz (100 g) | Weight: Aran

If you’re looking for a traditional Donegal Tweed with a modern twist, Kelbourne Woolens Lucky Tweed is the way to go. This aran-weight yarn has a beautiful, saturated range of colors not typically associated with tweeds. It’s perfect for hats, mittens, garments, and more. Available from kelbournewoolens.com.

Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted Tweed

Content: 75% acrylic, 22% wool, 3% rayon | Color: 1363 | Oatmeal | Put-up: 200 yd (182 m)/3.5 oz (100 g) | Weight: Worsted

Plymouth Yarn’s popular Encore yarn gets a splash of tweedy neps in Encore Worsted Tweed. The high acrylic content makes it great for those who have sensitivities to all-wool yarns. It’s bouncier and plumper that the others shown here, allowing it to work well in textured projects. Learn more at plymouthyarn.com.

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Do you have a favorite tweed yarn? Have you used any of these in a project? Let us know in the comments!

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Originally published in Interweave Knits Fall 2022. Want more? Subscribe today to get a yarn review, along with beautiful patterns and intriguing articles, in your mailbox each quarter.

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