The ultimate yarn review of Knit Picks CotLin
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 Knit Picks CotLin
If I've learned anything while living in Charleston, SC it's how to dress for real seasons, particularly hot & humid summer spring and summer temps. You can see what I've learned reflected in my yarn stash and project queue: a focus on natural fibers like cotton, linen, bamboo, and silk with openwork stitches or st st worked on a larger gauge for additional breathability.
Knit Picks CotLin is a special blend of cotton and linen that is super smooth against the skin, feels like wearing your favorite faded t-shirt, works up quickly in it's DK weight. Plus it comes in a delightful array of colors. Whatever your summer knitting plans may look like, you should definitely consider adding CotLin to your stash.
Knit Picks Cotlin: The Details
$5.29/ball
50 Colors, my Sencillo samples are knit with Swan and Piroutte though I also have some in stash in Mustard Seed that I'm dying to add to my wardrobe.
70% Tanguis Cotton / 30% Linen
DK weight
123 yards / 50 g
Characteristics of the Yarn
Tanguis (tan-gwiss) cotton has a very soft hand, excellent absorption, and a high affinity for dyes because it is a naturally white fiber. Belgian linen adds characteristic flecks and additional absorbency with very low elasticity, helping to alleviate stretching in the finished knit. Summer linen has an extended growing period, which results in a longer, stronger fiber. When blended with the already strong Tanguis cotton, it makes a durable, wearable, and soft yarn. The knit fabric will get softer with each wash, too.
Receiving the Yarn
KnitPicks ships all the yarns very reliably. Everything arrives dry, clean, and in a clear plastic bag to keep everything secure. If you're itching to cast on a project quickly, it might be worth paying the expedited shipping costs.
Winding the Yarn
One of my favorite features about Knit Picks CotLin (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!
Swatching with the Yarn
I love seeing KnitPicks CotLin on Stockinette stitch, lace stitches, and light texture stitches. It would be interesting to see KnitPicks CotLin used on a cabled project as the cables would look less dense and squishy than you'd get with a wool-blend yarn.
Needle Choice
The heavier DK weight of CotLin works great on a needle range of US 5 - 7 (3.75mm—4.5mm). For example, the suggested needle size for the Sencillo Pullover is US 6, and I wouldn't recommend going much lower than that. A US 7 or 8 would keep the fabric from feeling see-through but would add a touch more drape to the resulting fabric.
Blocking the Yarn
As always, I highly recommend blocking all of your projects. With CotLin, wet blocking and steam blocking will even out your stitches and fabric and will add just an extra touch of softness.
Give it a try for yourself with the Sencillo PUllover
Design Information
Sencillo is the Spanish word for “simple,” and this pullover & tee set is delightfully simple with the right amount of thoughtful details to nail that effortless fit. The easy shape, classic v-neck, and scoop neck options, and casual drop shoulders combine to create a perfect three-season pullover or tee. Knit in a dk-weight cotton & linen blend, you’ll find yourself reaching for the pullover or tee when you just want to look and feel good.
Sencillo is worked flat in pieces from the bottom up with side slits trimmed in garter stitch. Worked in Stockinette stitch, Sencillo features two neck opening options - a classic v-neck that is the perfect depth for summer and a flirty yet functional scoop neck.
Armhole shaping keeps the drop shoulder seam location consistent across the size range. The drop shoulders are shaped with a sloped bind off, and instructions are provided for optional cup shaping with short rows.
Once the pieces are completed, blocked, and seamed, stitches are picked up around the neckline to work the stockinette stitch neckband. There are cleverly placed decreases in the neckband to keep it from rolling.
The summer-friendly samples are knit with Knit Picks CotLin, a 70% cotton, and 30% linen blend dk-weight yarn perfect for spring, summer, and fall wear. Wear the pullover under a denim jacket for cool spring evening walks, or wear the tee over your favorite pair of jeans or shorts for a summer luncheon.
The Pirouette (Purple) sample features short sleeves, cup one bust shaping, and the scoop neck option. The Swan (White) sample features long sleeves, cup one bust shaping, and the v-neck option.
The fall-friendly samples are knit with Purl Soho Knitting Yarn, a 100% merino wool dk-weight yarn that is soft, sturdy, and delightfully springy. You’ll want to wear this sweater on your way to get your favorite latte. Or any day, really.
The North Sea (Navy Blue) sample features short sleeves and the scoop neck option. The Acorn Brown (Brown) sample features long sleeves and the v-neck option.
The Sencillo Pullover & Tee set will be a must-bring wherever you're headed. Please share your progress on Instagram by tagging me @kirstenjoel_designs and using the hashtags #sencillopulloverkjd and #sencilloteekjd. I love to see all of your works in progress and finished projects!
Taking Care of CotLin
Thanks to its cotton and linen content, CotLin is suitable for washing in your washing machine. You should be able to dry it on your delicates setting, but I tend to lay it flat to dry on a blocking mat to ensure my measurements remain the same.
Yarn Substitution
HJERTEGARN Cotton Linen
Katia Linen
Cascade Yarns Hampton
Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/6 (note: This is a 100% cotton yarn, but the gauge is spot on, and there are a lot of colors to choose from!
Rowan Summerlite DK: a higher-end swap and less dense, but would have a lovely drape.
