Reviewing Summer Yarns

My experience with popular warm-weather fibers such as cotton, silk, and linen.

I’ve knit with a handful of summer yarns. Let’s get into each one and what my thoughts are on both their knitting and wearing experiences.

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Berroco Pima 100

Berroco Pima 100 is a 100% Pima Cotton, worsted weight yarn. In the 100g skein, you get 219 yds (200 m) of yarn and it has a pretty expansive color range. It’s a 4-ply yarn and the finish is somewhat matte.

Aosta Cami by The Knit Purl Girl, knit in Berocco Pima 100 in Wisteria

I knit 3 Aosta Camis by The Knit Purl Girl in this yarn. The pima cotton felt buttery smooth in my hands and created a sturdy but breathable fabric. I didn’t encounter any hand pain while using this yarn. Once blocked, the stitch definition of this yarn became very crisp. I enjoyed wearing this tank on hot summer days and did not encounter any issues with the straps stretching out, since they were tied and could be adjusted accordingly. For the pleasant knitting experience and comfortable wearing experience of this yarn, with bonus points for color range and value for price, I’d use Berroco Pima 100 again!

Sandnes Garn Line

Sandnes Garn Line is a blend of 53% cotton, 33% viscose, and 14% linen. It is a worsted weight yarn, and in the 50g ball, you get 110m. It is a 4-ply yarn that has some variance in all of the color ways, due to the different fibers accepting dyes differently. The yarn has a subtle sheen from the viscose but it isn’t overpowering.

I have knit the Anker’s Summer Shirt by PetiteKnit and the VEGAS Top by Susanne Müller in Line. Both were extremely pleasant knitting experiences. Line was not hard on my hands at all and created fabric that had both structure and drape. The fabric also felt cool to the touch. Line does show some imperfections in tension that don’t always come out with blocking. For example, it showed some rowing out on my VEGAS Top and if you look closely, you can see some stitch irregularities in the stockinette fabric of both pieces.

Some rowing out visible at the armholes with Sandnes Garn Line

I reach for Line again and again both to knit and to wear. I find my Anker’s Summer Shirt knit in Line is my most worn summer top! If only they made it in more colors…

Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton

Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton is a 100% mercerized cotton yarn. It’s worsted weight, and you get 186 yds (170m) per 100g ball. Mercerization is a chemical treatment that makes cotton more durable, allows it to dye more vibrantly, and gives it a smooth, shiny finish. The color line is a rainbow of bright colors with some neutrals as well.

I have used 24/7 cotton in a variety of both knit and crochet projects including the Portofino Bag by Two of Wands, the Cabin and Cottage Cloths by Two of Wands, the Sandbar Cardi by TL Yarn Crafts, and the Pike Place Market Bag by Bluebird Pine Shop. This yarn is incredibly sturdy and almost has a rope-like quality, making it great for bags and home accessories!

I enjoyed crocheting with 24/7 cotton, as it never splits and has great stitch definition. Knitting with it was OK, I didn’t love the stiffness but it created a good fabric for a kitchen hand towel. I would not recommend using this yarn for a next-to-skin garment. It doesn’t have much drape and projects can get very heavy due to the density of the yarn.

24/7 Cotton machine washes and dries INCREDIBLY well. While all the pieces I have made stretch out over time, I love that I toss them in the wash and they go back to normal. To me, it was the perfect yarn to use for a swimsuit cover up because it can be washed so easily after a long day at a sandy beach.

24/7 Cotton is great for certain applications. Stick to bags, home accessories, or beach accessories for this yarn, and it’s a great value!

Knitting for Olive Pure Silk

Knitting for Olive Pure Silk is a 100% silk yarn. It is fingering weight, and in the 50g ball you get 273 yds (250 m) of yarn. It’s a loosely plied yarn that has some texture visible in the yarn ball. The color range is decent. Plenty of neutrals, blues, and in general, pastels. But if you’re looking for purples, reds, and more saturated colors, there’s less of a selection.

I have knit the Camisole No. 4 by My Favourite Things and the Cumulus Tee by PetiteKnit in Pure Silk. Both patterns suggest Pure Silk as the recommended yarn.

My knitting experience with Pure Silk was alright. I found it to be pretty tough on my hands, especially during purl rows. Knitting in the round in stockinette was manageable, but this yarn truly has no elasticity or bounce. Stitches on the needle would flatten a bit instead of staying round, leading to occasional splitting.

Despite the less-than-ideal knitting experience, this fabric is a DREAM to wear. It is so comfortable, I barely feel the fabric on my skin. I often reach for my Cumulus Tee year round and it is my second most-worn knit tee. Both pieces have stretched out a bit width-wise since casting off, so keep that in mind for your own garments.

I’ve noticed that the Pure Silk pills a bit more than I would like. The fabric looks pretty worn down even though I’ve only had my Cumulus Tee for a year, and the underarms have a lot of pilling.

Many pros and cons to Pure Silk, but I would knit with it again.

Lion Brand Truboo

Lion Brand Truboo is a 100% Rayon from Bamboo yarn. At a DK weight, you get 241 yds (220 m) per 50g ball. This is the slinkiest yarn I have ever felt, and incredibly shiny. It comes in a wide range of colors including brights and neutrals.

I crocheted a tank top that was based on both the Deco Tank by Two of Wands (kit here) and the Chasing Summer Light Tank by Janine Myska. This yarn is known for being splitty, so I had to crochet slowly to be sure I wasn’t splitting the yarn.

Tank crocheted out of Lion Brand Truboo in Mushroom

The final tank was cool to the touch, had incredible drape, and was very comfortable to wear. However, this yarn does not hold its shape well. I was grateful for side seams on my tank that keep the body in shape, but it quickly widened where there weren’t any seams. Additionally, those straps were done for after 1 wear in terms of stretching out. Although comfy to wear, I knew this tank wouldn’t last long in my closet. I ended up donating it as it stretched out too much. I did find that it machine washed really well though!

Lion Brand Coboo

Lion Brand Coboo is a 51% Cotton, 49% Rayon from Bamboo yarn. It is a DK weight yarn and you get 232 yds (212 m) per 100g ball. Its color selection includes some neutrals and pinks and blues.

I knit the Streamline Tank by Two of Wands in Coboo in the color White (kit here). I really enjoyed the knit! Coboo has potential for splitting but I didn’t encounter that issue in my project. It has great stitch definition, and the finished fabric is really nice. I’d describe the fabric as somewhat brushed and with drape, but still some structure thanks to the cotton.

Streamline Tank knit with Lion Brand Coboo in White

This tank was seamed at both the sides and the straps, so it’s held up well throughout the few years I’ve worn it. It is really comfortable to wear on very hot days, as it is breathable and another fabric that is cool to the touch.

For its value, knitting experience, and finished fabric wearability, I’d suggest Lion Brand Coboo if you looking for a cool DK fabric with lots of drape.

Kelbourne Woolens Mojave

Kelbourne Woolens Mojave is a 60% cotton, 40% linen yarn. Versatile to be a Sport through DK weight yarn, you get 185 yds (169 m) in the 50g skein. The cotton in the yarn is pima cotton, and the yarn is made of 5 sets of 2-plies. This yarn comes in a limited color selection of brights and just a couple of neutrals.

I knit the Poppy Tee by PetiteKnit with Mojave. The Poppy Tee is a sport weight knit, and I thought this yarn was a great choice for the project in this fun Electric Blue color! When I first wound up my yarn, I immediately noticed the shedding of this bright blue yarn on my work surface. Presuming from the linen, that shedding carried through the knitting experience as well.

Poppy Tee by Petite Knit in Kelbourne Woolens Mojave in Electric Blue

Besides the shedding of bright blue fiber dust, I had a generally good experience knitting this yarn. It was not tough on my hands at all, leading me to knit up the tee really fast! The resulting fabric has great stitch definition, has drape, and was comfortable to wear on moderately warm spring days. I found this tee to be heavy and hot to wear on hot summer days, and if I got sweaty in it, I’d find blue fiber dust on my skin later! Despite being an overall enjoyable yarn, compared to my other knit tees, I don’t reach for this fabric to wear as much. It doesn’t have that cool-to-the-touch feeling a lot of my other projects have. Overall, I think this yarn is a great choice for sport-DK weight garments for transitional seasons!

Knitting for Olive Cotton Merino

Knitting for Olive Cotton Merino is a 70% cotton, 30% wool yarn. It is a light fingering weight yarn and you get 273 yards (250 m) per 50g ball. Cotton Merino is advertised as having the wearability of cotton with the elasticity of wool due to the fiber blend.

I knit Camisole No. 5 by My Favourite Things in Cotton Merino in the color Dusty Blue Whale. I really enjoyed knitting with this yarn! It felt like I was knitting with wool and not cotton, in a good way. The yarn has very similar bounce, twist, and elasticity as a 100% wool so I am surprised it boasts a 70% cotton content. The fabric blocked nicely but some irregularities with my tension were still visible after blocking.

Camisole No. 5 by My Favourite Things Knitwear in Knitting for Olive Cotton Merino, color Dusty Blue Whale

I really enjoy wearing this cami, it’s comfortable on hot summer days. It has stretched out a bit since casting off, but not to the point where I am unhappy with how it has stretched. If it does continue to stretch, I am curious if washing will help it spring back to its original size. Since the Cami No. 5 is all 2x2 rib, I feel like I don’t know how much drape this yarn will have in stockinette. I look forward to using this yarn again in the future!

Sandnes Garn Tynn Line

Sandnes Garn Tynn Line is a blend of 53% cotton, 33% viscose, and 14% linen. It has the same fiber content as Line, but at a fingering weight, you get 241 yds (220 m) in the 50g ball. A 3-ply yarn that has some depth in the color ways due to the fibers taking the dye differently, this Tynn Line boasts a lot of sheen.

I knit the Kuutar Top by Sari Nordlund in Tynn Line in the color Pearl Grey. My thoughts on this yarn are very similar to Line. Great knitting experience without splitting or hand pain.

The finished fabric from this yarn, since it’s fingering weight, is very flowy. It has more shine than Line, and might be a bit see-through in the lighter color ways. Compared to KFO Pure Silk, it feels lighter and less stiff. It also seems less likely to pill and has a smooth finished texture. Overall, I love Tynn Line for a super flowy, lightweight fabric that is perfect for hot summer days.

Kuutar Top by Sari Nordlund in Sandnes Garn Tynn Line, color Pearl Grey

Quince & Co Sparrow

Quince & Co Sparrow is a 100% linen yarn. It’s a fingering weight and you get 168 yds (154 m) per 50g skein. It has a stiff texture that is somewhat shiny.

I knit the Audrey Top by PetiteKnit in Sparrow in the color Eclipse. PetiteKnit knit her Audrey top from a different 100% linen yarn, so I wanted to match with my yarn choice. For this pattern, I held the yarn double to knit at a DK weight gauge.

Linen is notorious for being hard on the hands. I was worried that a 100% linen yarn would be brutal to knit both in the round and flat. It’s very slippery so I used my wooden needles rather than my go-to metal needles, and thankfully did not experience any hand pain while knitting this top! It might be due to holding the yarn double. In general the yarn is stiff to work with, but I found it wasn’t difficult to get an even tension in the fabric.

For the finished fabric, you NEED to wash it. Linen softens immensely with washing, and immediately after the initial block I could feel the difference. It became soft instead of stiff and gained some drape. I loved wearing this tank on the hottest of days last summer! It did stretch out a bit with wear, but I would just toss it in the washer and dryer and it would go back to its original size. The color does fade a bit with washing though.

I like Sparrow, but it definitely has a toughness that makes it difficult to knit with. The finished fabric is so worth the effort though! I could wear this tank on hot summer days. See below a pic of me on the Cape in the heat of August!

I wouldn’t use it for all my summer knits, but in the right project it can create a wonderful piece. I wish it came in more colors!