How to Choose the Best Spring and Summer Yarns in 2024
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The key to choosing the best summer yarns boil down to two main factors: breathability and weight.
The best warm-weather yarns are both breathable and light. Your chosen stitch pattern will also play a part, but these two factors play the biggest role in keeping you cool during the summer.
Natural Yarns for Breathability
In warm weather, you want a yarn that allows air to circulate around your body. This prevents sweat build-up and keeps you cool. Natural fibers like cotton, linen, bamboo, and some types of wool excel in breathability.
Linen Yarn
This lightweight, breathable fabric is a summer staple. Its natural oils repel water and keep you cool in the sun, while its drape makes it perfect for breezy tops, dresses, and scarves. Look for yarns with a blend of cotton and linen for added comfort and durability.
Cotton Yarn
Cotton is soft, absorbent, and incredibly versatile. Its natural sheen adds a touch of elegance to summer pieces, while its ability to wick away moisture keeps you dry all day long.
Bamboo Yarn
This sustainable and eco-friendly fiber is another great summer yarn. Bamboo is lightweight, soft, and moisture-wicking, making it ideal for comfortable clothing that won’t trap sweat. Its natural antibacterial properties also keep you feeling fresh and clean. Look for yarns with a blend of cotton and bamboo for a balance of comfort and sustainability.
Hemp Yarn
This eco-friendly and sustainable fiber is gaining popularity due to its natural antibacterial properties and ability to wick away moisture. I recommend touching hemp yarn in-person, as it has a tendency to be scratchy. Everyone’s tolerance for scratchiness is a bit different though.
Wool Yarn
While wool is known for its warmth, it’s also incredibly breathable and can wick away moisture from your skin, keeping you cooler than some synthetic fibers.
Wool has insulating properties that can keep you cool in hot weather and warm in cooler temperatures. It’s truly an all-weather fiber!
It’s also odor resistant, making it a good choice for summer garments that will undoubtedly get sweaty.
Merino wool is the best choice for summer as its fine fibers make it very soft and comfortable against the skin. This fineness also contributes to better breathability compared to coarser wools.
A superwash merino yarn is the ideal wool option for summer as it can be machine washed, making it easy to care for.
My Favourite Natural Summer Yarns
- Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton is an affordable worsted weight cotton yarn with lots of colours [Amazon]
- Universal Yarns Bamboo Pop is a lovely DK weight that’s a machine-washable blend of cotton and bamboo [Amazon]
- Malabrigo Susurro this silk-merino-linen blend is a DK weight and hand-dyed with Malabrigo’s signature colours [Lovecrafts]
- Juniper Moon Farm Zooey is a sport -weight cotton and linen-flax blend. Strands have a slight uneven texture which gives it a homespun, boho vibe [Lovecrafts]
Yarn Blends: The Best of Both Worlds
Wool and Cotton Yarn
This classic blend combines the structure of wool with the breathability of cotton, making it perfect for layering during warm days. A merino wool and cotton blend is a particularly soft and breathable combination for summer knitting.
Acrylic and Cotton Yarn
Acrylic is a synthetic fiber that is both affordable and durable. Blended with cotton, it adds softness to the yarn. Acrylic and cotton blends are also easy to maintain because they can usually be machine washed,
Cotton and Linen Yarn
This blend combines the soft, breathable comfort of cotton and the crisp drape and cool feel of linen. The resulting fabric is lighter and often more breathable than pure cotton, while maintaining some of linen’s wrinkle resistance and elegant drape.
Wool and Silk Yarn
This luxurious blend combines the warmth of wool with the smooth sheen of silk. Silk is a natural fiber that’s both soft and shiny, adding a touch of elegance to your summer project. Lace shawls and light cardigans would knit up beautifully in a wool/silk blend.
My Favourite Summer Yarn Blends
- 4. Sandnes Garn Line (worsted weight) and Tykk Line (light fingering) are a beautiful blend of cotton, rayon, linen and flax with a large selection of earthy colours [Wool & Company]
- 5. Noro Natsumeki – named after the Japanese word for “summer,” this DK weight yarn combines cotton, silk and polyamide into a luxurious blend. Vibrant colours and subtle variations make this a perfect choice for summer [Lovecrafts]
- 6. Lana Grossa Ecopuno is a beautiful cotton-merino-alpaca yarn blend with a subtle halo. Alpaca adds to its drape and sheen while merino and cotton excel in breathability [Lovecrafts]
- 7. Debbie Bliss Piper is a versatile cotton-viscose blend yarn with a crepe texture and beautiful drape [Lovecrafts]
Tips for Choosing Summer Yarns
• Yarn Weight: For warm weather, choose a yarn that’s light and airy. An ideal yarn weight is from fingering weight to DK weight yarn. A yarn that’s thicker than DK weight might start trapping body heat, so stick with lightweight yarns.
• Yarn Drape: If you want your summer project to flow and drape, choose a yarn that has a loose weave or a light, airy texture. Silk, rayon and modal are known for their beautiful drape.
• Knit a Loose Gauge: to create a light fabric, consider knitting a looser gauge. This means using larger needles than what you’d typically use for the yarn.
For example, if knitting with fingering yarn you could use a 3.75mm or 4mm needle instead of a 2.75mm needle. Using larger needles creates a looser fabric that allows air to readily pass through. More air equals more ventilation! Just take this looser gauge into account when working a pattern.
• Wash and Dry instructions: Summer means sweating, so make sure the yarn you choose is easy to clean. Look for yarns that can be machine washed and dried on low heat. Most synthetic fibres like acrylic, modal and rayon can be machine washed and dried.
Cotton and bamboo can typically be machine washed on a cold cycle, but avoid washing or drying in heat as this can shrink or distort the knitted fabric. When in doubt, consult the yarn label.
Is Cotton Yarn Cooler Than Acrylic?
Yes, cotton yarn is generally cooler than acrylic yarn for two reasons:
• Fiber Properties: Cotton is a natural fiber that allows air to circulate through it more easily than acrylic, a synthetic fiber. This breathability keeps you cool in warm weather.
• Moisture Absorption: Cotton absorbs moisture (sweat) from your skin, which then evaporates, creating a cooling effect. Acrylic yarn, on the other hand, tends to wick away moisture but doesn’t absorb it as well, leading to a clammy feeling.
While cotton is preferable over acrylic, a cotton-acrylic blend can be the best of both worlds. Acrylic lends softness to the yarn while cotton’s breathability helps you stay cool in the heat. When two become one, everyone wins!
Free Summer Knitting Ideas
Now that you’ve got all this information about how to choose the best summer yarn, check out some free knitting patterns for summer!
I’ve rounded up my favourite 21 free knitting patterns for warm weather. They include the usual suspects like tank tops, beach wraps and shawls. But I’ve made some spicy additions like a bucket hat, knit cacti, market bags and more!
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