The sun is back, the skies are blue! The birds are filling the air with their song. Spring is here and we love to see it, but are all these signs of spring making you wonder how and what to knit now winter is behind us? I am happy to help, this spring knitting yarn guide, from your 'always knitting' knitting teacher (that’s me!) will have you reaching for the perfect seasonal fibres and feeling excited to cast on exciting spring focused knitting projects. What do I love about knitting in spring? Being able to take my knitting outside, to the park, to hear the birds while knitting on a bench, by a lake, even on a walk! Feeling the sun on your face as you relax, unwind and create something beautiful for yourself or a loved one, is a wonderful way to de-stress and breathe nature in.
Spring Knitting: Knitting Project Inspiration
Spring is a funny time of year in terms of clothing, the sun is shining but it can still feel pretty fresh, bordering on chilly out there. Layering is key so you can adapt your comfort to whether you are experiencing sun or shade, or when the evening starts and the cooler temperatures set in.
In the hope of inspiring you to pick up your knitting and enjoy creating yourself some items to wear and enjoy throughout Spring, I have listed some spring seasonal project ideas to add to your dream knitting list:
T-shirts
Berets
Light Cardigans
Smock Tops
Sweater Vests
Cushion Covers
Beanies
Berets
Bonnets
Sleeveless Tops
Vest Tops
Shrugs Blankets
Baby Clothes
Socks
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Spring Yarns: The Basics
Before we get into the spring yarn guide, I wanted to highlight the two main knitting yarn categories and their benefits. If you are a beginner knitter, I encourage you to experiment, try different yarns and learn what you like and don’t like knitting with so much.
Natural Fibres and Their Benefits:
Natural meaning that the yarn comes from plants or animals. Examples include Merino, Cotton, Linen, Alpaca…the list goes on!
Sustainable: Natural fibres are generally sustainable, so for all my slow living advocates out there, this may be where you want to start. Be aware though, that the yarn’s sustainability depends on the farming process, dyeing process and more, but in comparison to the next yarn category they are more sustainable.
Biodegradable: Many natural yarns will decompose naturally, you can literally throw them in your compost or garden should you wish and over time, the fibres will break down. No landfill space required.
Breathable: Natural fibres have a fibre structure that allows them to circulate air, this makes wearing them infinitely more comfortable than non breathable fibres.
Synthetic Yarns and Their Benefits: These are man made fibres, often featuring a petroleum base, examples include acrylic, nylon, polyester.
Now for full disclosure, after nearly 20 years of knitting I will admit I am a bit of a yarn snob. I am a natural fibre gal, I like the quality, the feel of it in my fingers, the finished feel and the durability. Having said that, I started my beginner knitting journey knitting exclusively in acrylic yarn so I totally appreciate it’s many beginner friendly qualities, like those I have listed below. 1. Affordable: There’s no two ways about it, synthetic yarns are often cheaper than natural yarns, as they are cheaper to produce. This can be the difference between knitting and not knitting, especially when you want to have a go at your first big project of a sweater or blanket. If you prefer natural fibres and are on a budget, check out this blog post for some tips on how to make it affordable. 2. Easy Care: Unlike natural fibres, many synthetic knits can be washed in your machine as opposed to the careful handwashing natural fibres need. They are shrink resistant so can be easily dried. They also hold no appeal to moths so you are unlikely to discover that some critter has had a good munch on your beautiful handmade creation. Being water repellent they are also going to avoid falling prey to mildew should you wish to use your knitwear in a damp environment.
3.Vibrant Colour Range: Synthetic fibres are easier to dye than natural fibres, so you can find a tempting selection of rich colours very easily, plus some fun textures to explore your creativity with. They are also less likely to lose their colour after repeated washing.
Now that we have broken the two different yarn categories down, let’s look at some perfect spring knitting fibres and their benefits. Starting with 5 natural fibres, followed by 3 synthetic yarn options, so you have plenty to choose from on your next yarn buying excursion.
Spring Yarn Recommendations: Natural Fibres
COTTON
Cotton is light, breathable and absorbent, making it a perfect yarn choice for Spring knitting projects. Cotton allows air to circulate so it keeps you cool when the sun hits. It can create a lovely drape effect in knitting, so can be a wonderful choice for shawls and wraps. Would you consider casting on a spring tee using beautiful cotton?
LINEN
Linen is a beauty, identified by its subtle sheen and its slubby (ranges from thick to thin in the strand) quality, it gives your knitting a tactile and rustic look. Linen also gets softer and more flexible every wash and wear making it an increasing joy to put on. As a moth and mildew resistant fibre, linen is easy to store without the need for cedar balls. Plus it is highly absorbent and has brilliant airflow, making this a great spring yarn choice. Why not knit yourself a gorgeous cardigan or shrug in linen for Spring?
MERINO Merino is breathable, moisture wicking and very soft against skin. It is also very versatile, available in a range of yarn weights (thicknesses), so you can use it for cardigans to shawls and is great for layering. It is a great sock knitting yarn. It won’t make your feet sweaty and clammy, and comes in fine yarn weights allowing you to actually wear shoes over your hand-knitted socks. To make merino a good spring yarn option I encourage you to choose the finer weight categories, fingering, sock and sport. Anything thicker is more suitable for colder seasons.
BAMBOO Maybe the most sustainable spring yarn option due to the fast growing nature of bamboo and its low water and pesticides needs. With it’s soft drape qualities, bamboo is a great fibre to wear against skin. It is incredibly soft, almost comparable to silk or cashmere and it’s subtle sheen gives your knitting a lovely, luxurious finish. A good hypoallergenic choice too, the roundness of the bamboo fibres is a great fit for sensitive skin. Bamboo yarn would be a beautiful choice for a spring baby project.
SILK
We all know silk to be a luxurious fibre, but knitting with it is next level. A real joy in your fingers, it’s super soft feel, sheen and drape make it a perfect choice for special occasion knitting projects. Silk is surprisingly strong too, making your finished project durable for years to come. When you also consider its natural temperature regulation qualities, helping you cool off in warmer temperatures and retaining the warmth you need when it's cooler, it's pretty amazing.
All these natural spring fibre options are lightweight, breathable and will be a joy to knit with for your spring knitting projects. Are you drawn to one in particular? Not yet? Have no fear, next up are the synthetic yarn options.
Spring Yarn Tip: Look out for blended natural yarns, these can bring more beautiful elements to your knitting, for example Bamboo + Silk - divine!
Spring Yarn Recommendations: Synthetic Fibres
ACRYLIC A really good yarn option for budget friendly knitters, its affordability makes it a great yarn for beginners to learn with. Acrylic is available in a wide range of colours which also and important appeal factor when learning to knit.Choose acrylic knitting yarn for items that will get a lot of wear, maybe a blanket or cushion cover.
NYLON/POLYESTER
Often found as a blend in merino sock yarn, this fibre will help with elasticity and strength, so if not socks, great for those cool girl bonnets and soft toys. Spring projects that will appreciate a bit of structure..
BLENDS
I’ve softly (pun intended) introduced the idea of a fibre blend there and now I am going to bed the concept in a bit more.
Some terrific spring yarn options will be a blend between natural and manmade, combining the best of both. For example, cotton + acrylic, merino + nylon, these will give you all the qualities of the natural fibre along with the durability, elasticity or longevity of the synthetic element.
Spring Knitting: Colour Palettes Colour is of course up to you, the knitter. This is where your creativity meets your knitting skills and you get to shine. You determine your preferred colour combinations that you want to knit with, but for some inspiration, here are some popular spring colours you may want to explore next time you swing by your local yarn store.
It is always fun to experiment with colour, it can be very easy to get stuck into a go to selection. Think sky, sun, nature and all things fresh and you will be on your way to selecting a gorgeous spring colour combination. Spring Knitting: Yarn Weights I also want to raise the importance of choosing a seasonally appropriate yarn weight, by that I mean the thickness of the yarn. It will be of no surprise that chunkier yarns are more suited to autumn and winter projects but what are the yarn weight categories most suitable for Spring knitting?
Watch my yarn weight guide for an extensive tutorial on yarn weights and their uses HERE
Most Spring knitting projects will be to knit lightweight items and so you want to be looking at Fingering weight yarn, Sport weight yarn and DK weight for heavier pieces like cardigans and shrugs.
Knitting patterns will often recommend a yarn and a gauge (see a tutorial on that HERE), which you can treat as a guide on fibre and yarn weight if you need to substitute it with something else.
Spring into Your Knitting
I hope I have inspired you to use this spring knitting yarn guide as a springboard to explore some different knitting yarns, new colours or challenging projects. But whatever knitting fibre, project and colour you choose, enjoy it! Knitting is your creative expression and outlet. Just make sure that all your hard work results in something you feel joy and comfort in wearing or gifting.
Ready to Cast On your Spring Knitting Adventure?
Not yet a knitter but curious to try? Explore my online beginner and intermediate knitter friendly classes, from complete beginner to a knit-a-long sock knitting course.
Already a knitter but need help, guidance, or something knit related explained? Check out my Personal Project Sessions and let’s get you knitting that dream project with confidence.
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