Note: This post was not sponsored or paid for. All thoughts & opinions are my own. The yarn photographed was purchased by me.

Let’s talk yarn

You’re busy and don’t have the luxury of overthinking which yarns to use for your projects. If you’re lucky enough to have a LYS (local yarn store) near you, with your schedule, you rarely get to visit and shop in person.

You rely on a few favorite online brands and shops and use a select few favorite yarns. Now and then, you want to try something new, but you worry about whether or not you’ll actually like it.

That’s where I come in.

Let me be your trusted advisor by sharing honest & thorough yarn reviews so you’ll be confident when you try a new yarn. Because you deserve to enjoy it from cast on to bind off. Oh, and you’ll love wearing it, too.

With each pattern released, you’ll find a corresponding review of the yarn specified in the pattern so you can cast on with confidence.

Why You Should Knit a Kirsten Joel Designs Pattern

My vision is to create knitting & crochet patterns that fit seamlessly into your everyday life. Never feel over- or under-dressed again when you wear a KJD pattern. And be confident in knowing that the pattern instructions will be clear and well-fitting.

Why I Write Yarn Reviews

You are deep in the day-to-day tasks of managing a household, wrangling kiddos in the morning to get to school on time, and are knee deep in projects at work. The last thing you have time for is to spend hours online reading yarn reviews before casting on your next project. I’m here to simplify that for you. I stand by all the yarns I use for my projects, but they might not be the best fit for you.

Why I chose Purl Soho Knitting Yarn

I loved the cotton-linen version of the Sencillo Pullover so much that I wanted to make one more suitable for fall and winter. Wool is my favorite fiber for daily wear, especially when the temps dip, and I knew I wanted the second Sencillo to be a wardrobe staple. Wool seemed like a no-brainer as it can withstand heavy use, grabby toddler hands, and make layering super easy. Once I had settled on wool, I started researching DK-weight wool options. Purl Soho is one of my go-to places for beautiful, quality yarns at an approachable price point. They had recently launched their Knitting Yarn, which just so happened to be a DK weight.

Lucky me!

I ordered the Acorn Brown colorway and eagerly waited for the yarn to arrive.

Purl Soho Knitting Yarn: The Details

• $14/ball

• 24 Colors, my Sencillo sample is knit with Acorn Brown and I also have my eye on North Sea, a rich heathered navy blue.

• 100% merino wool

• DK weight

• 219 yards / 100 g

Characteristics of the Yarn

Knitting Yarn is 100% merino wool and is spun in four plies, which knit up into a smooth fabric with lovely stitch definition. It has a pleasant toothiness and a cushiony feel that you will love.

Knitting Yarn is a light worsted (DK)-weight yarn, best knit on US 6 to 8 needles, and it comes in generous, ready-to-knit balls.

Receiving the Yarn

Purl Soho’s packaging is simple yet elegant, the balls are either secured in a plastic or waxed paper bag and there is always a fun postard insert that is visually inspiring. I typically ship Purl Soho yarns with their cheapest choice and my yarn arrives relatively quickly through USPS.

Winding the Yarn

One of my favorite features about Purl Soho Knitting Yarn (besides the fiber content, obviously) is that it already comes in balls so you don't have to wind your yarn! You can cast on as soon as you open your mail, which I know busy moms everywhere will appreciate.

Swatching with the Yarn

I love seeing Purl Soho Knitting Yarn on Stockinette stitch, lace stitches, and texture stitches. It would be especially lovely on a cabled project with dense, plump cables.

Needle Choice

The heavier DK weight of Knitting Yarn works up great on a needle range of US 6 - 8 (4mm - 5mm). For example, the suggested needle size for the Sencillo Pullover is US 6 and while the fabric is a little dense, it's quite warm which is exactly what I was going for. I highly recommend ordering one ball first and swatching to see what your gauge is and if you like the resulting fabric.

Blocking the Yarn

As always, I highly recommend blocking all of your projects. With Knitting Yarn, wet blocking will even out your stitches and fabric and will add just an extra touch of softness. I'd recommend wet blocking over steam blocking to really allow the fiber to bloom.

Taking Care of Knitting Yarn

Due to the 100% merino wool content, you should handwash your projects with cold or cool water and lay them flat to dry on a towel and blocking mat.

Yarn Substitution

Here are my best suggestions for alternative yarn choices to Purl Soho Knitting Yarn based on how close of a match I think they will be in fiber content, gauge, and fabric density & drape.

• Knit Picks Capra DK

• Knit Picks Merino Style DK - Bare

• Brooklyn Tweed Arbor

• Jamieson's Double Knitting

• The Fibre Co Lore

• Kelbourne Woolens Scout

• Cascade Eco Merino DK

• Berroco Vintage DK