Linen Yarn

Linen yarn is a yarn for knitting and crochet made from linen on its own or blended with cotton and viscose. Here you will find pure linen Katia Lino 100%, the Drops Belle and Bomull-Lin ranges, Yarn Art Linen Soft and Intense Linen, Schachenmayr Cotton Bambulino as well as Urth Yarns Etesia. Linen is strong, feels cool and absorbs moisture well, which is why it is used for knitting summer tops, T-shirts and bags, as well as tea towels and placemats. Your main choice is between pure linen with its characteristic texture and a softer blend with cotton.

Pure linen or linen with cotton?

• Pure linen – Katia Lino 100% (50 g ≈ 150 m, needles 5 to 5.5 mm). The knitted fabric is firm and cool, has a natural texture and softens with washing.
• Linen with cotton – Drops Bomull-Lin (50 g ≈ 85 m, needles 5 mm) and Urth Yarns Etesia (100 g ≈ 250 m, needles 3.5 to 4.5 mm). Cotton adds softness, while linen adds strength and a matte look.
• Linen with cotton and viscose – Drops Belle (50 g ≈ 120 m, needles 4 mm), Yarn Art Linen Soft (100 g ≈ 272 m) and Schachenmayr Cotton Bambulino (50 g ≈ 160 m). Viscose gives a subtle sheen and a fluid drape.
• Linen with viscose – Yarn Art Intense Linen (50 g ≈ 175 m, needles 3 mm) for fine, lightweight knits.

What is linen yarn good for?

Linen yarn works well for pieces that need to breathe and stand up to frequent washing. With finer ranges such as Intense Linen or Cotton Bambulino, you can knit summer tops and T-shirts. Thicker ones such as Bomull-Lin or Katia Lino 100% suit bags, tea towels and placemats. Linen has almost no stretch, so keep your tension even while knitting and wash your swatch before you measure it.

If you are looking for yarn made only from cotton, take a look at our cotton yarn. Summer ranges for T-shirts and tops are on the summer yarn page, and you will find every type in the knitting yarn category.