How to Choose Yarn for Knitting: A Guide to Fibre, Weight and Feel

Choosing yarn is one of the loveliest parts of knitting. It's also one of the most bewildering when you're faced with shelves of beautiful skeins, unfamiliar fibre names and more shades of blue than you knew existed.

Should you choose merino wool or a blend? What's the difference between DK and sock yarn? Why would you add silk, yak, linen or mohair to a yarn? And how do you know which yarn will work best for the project you've been dreaming about?

At Prosper Yarn, we believe the right yarn is about more than colour. Fibre, yarn construction, weight and the fabric you want to create all influence how your finished project looks, feels and wears.

We're a hand-dyeing studio in Auckland, New Zealand, and we work with a range of yarn bases chosen for their different qualities. Here's our guide to understanding them, finding the right fit for your project and discovering a few of our favourites along the way.

Start with your knitting pattern

Before falling in love with a particular skein, take a look at your pattern (although, there's no hard and fast rule that you can't fall in love with the yarn first and find a pattern to suit).

The recommended yarn weight, fibre, gauge and meterage are useful starting points. You don't always need to use the exact yarn specified by a designer, but any substitution needs a little thought. Be aware that names of yarn weights can be region specific. Something we consider a "DK' weight here in New Zealand will not be the same as a DK in Europe (look at meters/grams, and the texture).

For example, a pattern written for DK yarn will generally call for a different amount of yarn and produce a different fabric from one written for laceweight yarn. Even two yarns of the same weight can behave differently because of their fibre content and construction.

If you're planning a sweater, check the pattern's recommended gauge and how much yarn you'll need for your chosen size. Designers, especially for garments use gauge (created by combining yarn and needle size) to create drape, or add structure, emphasie textured patterns, or how the garment sits on and moves with the body. For a shawl or scarf, you may have more freedom to experiment with drape, texture and colour.

And if you'd like a hand choosing, we're always happy to help you put together a yarn bundle for your pattern.

What is DK yarn, and what can you knit with it?

DK, or double knitting, is a popular yarn weight. In New Zealand, you'll often see it described as 8 ply.

It's a versatile choice for sweaters, cardigans, shawls, scarves, hats and other accessories. Its stitches are usually easy to see, making DK yarn a comfortable option for knitters who are still learning.

Prosper DK: our superwash merino

Our Prosper DK superwash merino is grown and milled in Aotearoa New Zealand, then hand-dyed in our Auckland studio.

It's a soft, springy merino yarn with the bounce that makes wool so enjoyable to knit. Each 100g skein provides approximately 225 metres, and the yarn is suitable for projects including sweaters, shawls, scarves, hats and baby items. It's incredibly soft, and wools' springy nature means your finished object will keep its shape well.

Because it's superwash treated, Prosper DK can be machine washed on a gentle wool cycle, with the finished item dried flat. We recommend an unscented wool wash (as essential oils may sometimes weaken the dye bonds of hand-dyed yarns as they are not commercially fixed with harsh chemicals). Always follow the care instructions for your project.

If you're looking for a versatile merino yarn in beautiful hand-dyed colours, Prosper DK is a wonderful place to start.

Explore Prosper DK hand-dyed merino yarn.

What does merino wool feel like in a knitted fabric?

Merino is loved for its softness, warmth and versatility. But not all merino yarns create the same fabric.

The way a yarn is spun, the number of plies, its weight and how tightly you knit all influence the finished result.

Beaut: a single-ply merino yarn

Beaut Merino Singles is made from 100% superwash merino in a single-ply construction.

With approximately 366 metres per 100g skein, Beaut is suitable for projects such as sweaters, baby clothes, blankets and hats. Its softness, drape and bloom make it an appealing choice when you want a fabric that feels gentle and has a lovely fluid quality.

Single-ply yarns have a different appearance and structure from traditional multi-ply yarns, so it's worth considering the texture you want in your finished project.

Discover Beaut Merino Singles.

Why choose a merino and linen yarn?

Sometimes the most interesting yarns come from combining fibres with different characteristics.

Merino wool is naturally springy, while linen brings a different character to the fabric, including a more pronounced drape and a distinctive visual texture.

Bach DK: organic merino and Belgian linen

Our Bach DK Organic Merino Linen combines 70% GOTS-certified organic merino with 30% Belgian linen.

The merino contributes softness and elasticity, while the linen creates a beautiful contrast in texture and drape. Linen also takes dye differently from wool, giving this hand-dyed yarn a distinctive appearance.

Bach DK is worth considering for sweaters, hats and shawls when you want something a little different from a conventional all-merino yarn. We especially love it for lace work as the linen keeps its shape after blocking, and also for any textured work.

Because this yarn is untreated, it needs more careful handling than a superwash yarn. Follow the recommended hand-washing and drying instructions.

Explore Bach DK organic merino and linen yarn.

What makes a luxury yarn blend special?

Blending fibres lets yarn makers bring together different qualities. Silk, yak, mohair and merino each contribute something different, so the best blend depends on the fabric and feel you're after.

Legend: merino, silk and yak

Our Legend Merino Silk Yak yarn brings together three luxury fibres in one hand-dyed base.

When choosing a blended yarn, think about the characteristics you want in your finished project: softness, drape, warmth, sheen or texture. The proportions of each fibre, along with the yarn's construction, will influence the result.

Legend is a lovely base to explore if you're curious about knitting with a more unusual luxury blend.

Discover Legend merino, silk and yak yarn.

What is mohair yarn used for?

Mohair is loved for the soft, airy halo it creates in knitted fabric. Silk blends add their own sheen and drape, making laceweight mohair yarns useful in several different ways.

Mint: kid mohair and silk

Our Mint Mohair Silk Lace is made from 70% super kid mohair and 30% silk.

The mohair creates a soft halo, while the silk adds sheen and drape. Mint can be knitted on its own for lightweight projects, held double for a different fabric, or paired with another yarn to introduce softness, warmth and a halo.

It's a particularly useful base for knitters who enjoy experimenting with colour and texture.

Glow: mohair, silk, merino and sequins

If you'd like to add a little extra character to your knitting, Glow combines super kid mohair, merino, silk and sequins.

It's a more decorative yarn, ideal for exploring texture and a subtle sparkle in projects where those details are part of the design.

Explore Mint Mohair Silk Lace and Glow.

How do you choose a sock yarn?

Sock yarn needs to suit both the pattern and the way the finished socks will be worn. Fibre content, yarn construction, gauge and durability all matter.

Many sock yarns combine wool with nylon to help the finished fabric withstand regular wear. This is one reason we also love Eco Sock for garments, especially children's clothes. The merino is incredibly soft, perfect for next to skin.

Eco Sock: merino and recycled nylon

Our Eco Sock yarn combines merino with post consumer recycled nylon.

It's an option to consider for projects where you want the qualities of wool alongside a synthetic reinforcement fibre. As with any sock yarn, check your pattern's gauge and construction requirements before substituting.

Discover Eco Sock merino and recycled nylon yarn.

Does the origin of your yarn matter?

For us, knowing where our fibres come from is part of what makes choosing yarn meaningful.

Some of our yarn bases use locally grown and milled yarns from Aotearoa New Zealand, while others bring together carefully selected luxury fibres (with OEKO-TEX certification) from further afield. All our yarns are hand-dyed in our Auckland studio.

We love working with beautiful fibre and creating colours that inspire people to make things by hand. Every base has its own character, and exploring those differences is part of the pleasure of choosing yarn.

If you'd like to explore more, browse our complete collection of hand-dyed yarns.

Still not sure which yarn to choose?

Start with your pattern, look at the designer's recommended yarn's meterage per 50g or 100g as a point of comparison to our yarns, think about the fabric you'd like to create, and then explore the fibres and colours that appeal to you. Sometimes it can be a combination of two yarns that will create the fabric and gauge you're after (we love Beaut + Mint to get a DK gauge).

You don't have to work it all out alone.

At Prosper Yarn, we're a friendly bunch, and we love helping knitters find the right yarn for their next project. If you have a pattern in mind, we can help you choose a suitable base, work out how much yarn you'll need and put together a colour bundle.

You can visit us at our shop in Ponsonby, Auckland, or get in touch through the chat on our website if you're further afield.

Beautiful projects begin with yarn you love. Explore Prosper Yarn's hand-dyed yarn collection and find the fibre that inspires your next cast-on.

Prosper Yarn — Live long and knit.