Review & Giveaway: Knit Picks’ Hawthorne Fingering Kettle Dye Yarn

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I am so excited to finally share with you a Knit Picks yarn review! Knit Picks is one of the first yarn companies that I felt like understood me as a knitter in my early 20s (we’re talking 10 years ago now). They not only offered supplies that were a step above the big box needles and yarns I’d worked with as a kid/teen, but they were still within the realm of affordable for a young woman balancing college debt and scraping by with a couple retail shifts a week during the recession.

That genuine gush of gratitude aside, let’s take a look at Knit Picks Hawthorne Fingering Kettle Dye Yarn today! They generously sent me a skein of Picnic (the lovely red) and Wisp (the light celestial blue) to try, and after swatching in knit and crochet for this here review, I 100% cast on a sweater using the remainder of both skeins. (I’ll save my in-depth analysis of said sweater for a Handmade Wardrobe post when it’s finished. )

THE YARN: Knit Picks’ Hawthorne Fingering Kettle Dye Yarn

Colorways pictured: Picnic (red) & Wisp (light blue)
Skein details: 357 yards/326 meters per skein // 3.5 ounces/100g per skein // 80% Fine Superwash Highland Wool, 20% Polyamide (Nylon) // Fingering Weight
Knitting needles: US 1 – 3 / 2.25 – 3.25 mm // 28-32 stitches = 4 inches (10 cm)
Crochet hook: US B – E / 2.25-3.5 mm // 21 – 32 sc = 4 inches (10 cm)
Cons: By nature, superwash wool with a bit of nylon isn’t the softest thing ever, so it might not be the best fit for every single project.
Pros: Retailing at $13.99 per 100g skein, this yarn is pretty affordable for its quality! A superwash wool/nylon blend (and here’s the other side of the con coin above), this yarn is a great workhorse for sweaters and especially socks.
Pattern Ideas: Rick & Roll Socks would be perfect for this yarn! Crocheters, making a finer-gauge version of the Moss Stitch Cowl would be adorable!

Rick & Roll Socks by Heidi Gustad - Try out this colorful, fun-to-make and beginner-friendly sock knitting pattern! — Rick & Roll Socks

This cute, two-color cowl is crocheted with just two 50g balls of 100% wool yarn. Get the free Moss Stitch Cowl pattern from Hands Occupied. — Moss Stitch Cowl

THE GIVEAWAY

Enter to win a skein of Alma to try! Up for grabs: two skeins of Knit Picks Hawthorne Fingering Kettle Dye Yarn, one each in the Picnic and Wisp colorways. Giveaway is open to U.S. only. Enter in the box provided below or here.

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