Jamieson & Smith 2 ply Jumper yarn

100% Shetland Wool
118 metres (129 yards) per 25 gm ball

Available from www.shetlandwoolbrokers.co.uk

This wonderful pure shetland yarn, produced in Shetland is perfect for so many projects. Despite its name, it is a 4 ply weight yarn, but can be used on a wide range of needle sizes for different effects. Light yet warm, it is the perfect all season wool.

It is available in an enormous range of colours, including marls and naturals. We've shown it here in some beautiful spring time shades.

It has a good yardage per 25 gm ball, is very economical, and is a pleasure to knit with. It also responds really well to blocking and steaming so is a fantastic yarn for lace work.

If you have never tried this staple british yarn you really should.

Sublime Organic Cotton DK

100% organic cotton
110 metres (120 yards) per 50 gm ball

This organic cotton yarn has a very even tension when knit as stocking stitch which can often be a problem with cottons. The yarn is soft with a pleasant drape and yet feels firm enough to hold its shape. It is also lighter than some of its DK equivalents on the market.

Highly recommended.

Sublime Organic Merino Wool DK

100% organic merino wool
105 metres (113 yards) per 50 gm ball

This organic wool by the same company seems quite thick initially for a DK yarn but conforms to a DK tension when knitted, creating an even, dense fabric that is at the same time soft and lightweight. In a wide range of colours, this would be a very good wool for persuading a reluctant wool wearer how nice it can be - no itching or scratchiness on the skin. It would also be very good for children's and babywear.

Skein Queen Blush 4 ply

80% merino/20% cashmere
435 yards per 100 gm skein

This yarn by indie dyer, Skein Queen, is an absolute joy to knit with. The yarn is gloriously soft and silky to work with. I couldn't get over the feel of it as it ran through my fingers.

The stitch structure is even and firm. The moss stitch border on the sample also shows the yarn's ability to show texture well. Skein Queen's dyeing is subtle and extremely pleasing to the eye. This shade is called Soft Damson and is a delightful combination of rasberry, mulberry and old rose tones.

The meterage is also excellent. My only complaint is that I only have one skein. I need more!

Available from www.skeinqueen.co.uk

Lucky Ewe Designs
Pure Lancashire Wool DK & 4 ply

100% wool from Lancashire farms
Available in 50 gm balls

These yarns are the work of Kate Schofield who is trying to help farmers in the Lancashire region. The wools are either organic or the fleeces are chemical free. There is a choice of yarns from rare breed fleeces from Arnside, Silverdale and the Forest of Bowland, including a National Trust tenant farmer's flock and also yarns from a Farm Animal Sanctuary where the fleeces come from named sheep - in this case, Blossom and Basker.

I knitted a sample of both the 4 ply and DK yarns.

Both weights have a very even stitch and the DK yarn showed texture extremely well. I found the 4 ply a delight to work with. It was very easy to knit with, moving along the needle very smoothly and showing the lace stitch pattern beautifully. I couldn't bring myself to cast off this sample as I wanted to carry on knitting it!

We will bring you more about Lancashire farmers in future issues and applaud Kate's endeavours to highlight the problems experienced by british sheep farmers.

Available from Lucky Ewe Designs by email - schofield316@btinternet.com
or telephone +44 (0) 161 485 2551