The sweater you reach for all winter starts with a decision made before the first stitch: how do you want it to feel when you wear it?
A neat layer under a coat needs a different fabric from an oversized Sunday cardigan. A scarf sits against your neck; socks rub against your shoes. Choosing by colour alone can leave you with beautiful knitting that does not quite suit its job.
Here is how to choose from Lang Yarns at Leo Hobby—with six yarns to consider, the trade-offs that matter and a few checks that can save you a sweater’s worth of unravelling.
Choose the fabric first
| If you want… | Start by considering | Check before casting on |
|---|---|---|
| A smooth everyday sweater or clearly defined texture | MERINO 120 | Your washed stitch count and the extra room between your body and the finished sweater |
| A substantial cardigan with merino and alpaca | CARPE DIEM | How the washed fabric hangs, especially at the shoulders |
| A bold knit worked on large needles | PHOENIX | Fabric openness and whether it fits comfortably under your coat |
| A light, fluffy finish or a strand to combine with another yarn | MOHAIR LUXE | Skin comfort, combined gauge and metres needed for each strand |
| Colour movement in a simple stitch | PRISMA | How the colours develop across the width of your project |
| Socks with reinforced heels and toes | JAWOLL | The chosen ball’s label, sock-pattern gauge and finished fit |
1. For the sweater you will wear most: MERINO 120
A crew neck, buttoned cardigan or ribbed hat in a favourite colour can become your most-used winter knit.
100% extrafine merino, superwash treated · approx. 120 m / 50 g · needles 3.5–4.5 mm
Choose it for a smooth fabric that shows ribbing, cables and textured stitches clearly.
Knitting tip: use a plain shade to highlight texture. Include your pattern stitch in the test sample: cables pull the fabric in more than plain knitting.
For sweater bodies and sleeves, explore our circular knitting needles. If you regularly change needle sizes, consider a knitting needle set; always choose the size that gives your pattern’s gauge.
2. For a generous winter cardigan: CARPE DIEM
For a cardigan worn over a thin top, consider both softness and how the fabric hangs.
70% extrafine merino, 30% alpaca · approx. 90 m / 50 g · needles 6 mm
A thicker option for larger stitches and a generous winter cardigan.
Knitting tip: hold your washed, dry sample upright to see how it hangs. For a long cardigan, consider the finished weight and choose a pattern designed for this yarn thickness.
3. For large stitches and a striking silhouette: PHOENIX
Large needles let a simple sweater shape and bold stitches take centre stage.
93% extrafine merino, 7% nylon · approx. 270 m / 100 g · needles 7–8 mm
Its length per ball is a reminder that metreage alone does not determine needle size.
Knitting tip: hold the sample against the light, then over the top you will wear underneath. Check whether the spaces between stitches give you the coverage you want.
MERINO 120Smooth merino for everyday winter knittingExplore colours →
CARPE DIEMExtrafine merino with alpacaExplore colours →
PHOENIXMerino-rich yarn for large-needle projectsExplore colours →
4. For a soft-focus finish: MOHAIR LUXE
Mohair adds a halo—a fine, fluffy surface—to your knitting. Held with another yarn, it can soften colours and change stitch size, skin comfort and how easily mistakes unravel.
77% superkid mohair, 23% silk · approx. 175 m / 25 g · needles 3–3.5 mm when used alone
A pattern using two yarns held together may specify a different needle size.
Knitting tip: test the exact yarn combination. Similar shades blend together; contrasting shades give a two-tone effect. Check the washed sample against your neck before knitting a scarf or high collar.
If your pattern requires 1,000 metres worked with one main strand and one mohair strand held together, you need approximately 1,000 metres of each yarn. For MOHAIR LUXE, 1,000 ÷ 175 = 5.72: round up to six balls before considering any extra allowance. Follow the pattern’s quantities and allow for your swatch and changes in length.
5. For changing colours from one ball: PRISMA
PRISMA twists together strands with four colour gradients, creating shifting colour without the need to juggle separate yarns.
100% extrafine merino, superwash treated · approx. 180 m / 100 g · needles 4.5–5.5 mm
Prefer a plain colour? Lang Yarns identifies MERINO+ as an alternative of the same thickness for its designs; check your stitch count before substituting.
Knitting tip: let the colours shine in a simple stitch. Colour changes can look different across a narrow sleeve and a wide body, so consider where each section begins.
See PRISMA colours → · Explore MERINO+ →
6. For winter socks: give heels and toes their own attention
Socks need a close fit inside shoes and fabric that withstands friction at the heel and toe.
75% virgin wool, 25% nylon · 50 g ball · check the ball label for length and recommended needles
Each ball includes a small spool of reinforcement yarn. Work this extra strand into heels and toes as directed by your sock pattern.
Knitting tip: calculate quantities from the length on your ball label. Follow the sock pattern’s stitch count for a close, durable fabric.
Explore JAWOLL → · Browse sock yarns →
Find a pattern for your next project
LANGYARNS has a dedicated selection of free knitting patterns. Browse the designs, then check the recommended yarn, size, quantities and available languages on the pattern page.
Browse free patterns at LANGYARNS →
LANGYARNS also regularly shares free patterns through its newsletter. Some designs elsewhere on its website are paid patterns.
Found a favourite? Send us the pattern link and your size for help choosing yarn from our collection.
For JAWOLL socks, browse double-pointed sock needles, or choose a suitably long circular needle if your pattern uses the magic-loop method.
The small swatch that protects a big project
A swatch is a small test piece; gauge is the number of stitches and rows in a measured area. Make a sample larger than 10 × 10 cm in your planned stitch, wash and dry it according to the label, then measure the centre. For a garment knitted in the round, test in the round too.
A small difference has a visible consequence. At 20 stitches per 10 cm, 200 stitches make 100 cm of fabric. At 22 stitches per 10 cm, the same 200 stitches make about 91 cm. That is roughly 9 cm of lost width before you have changed a single instruction.
Check rows per 10 cm too, especially for shaped armholes and yokes. Finally, ask: do I like this fabric? The right stitch count matters only if the fabric suits the garment.
A measuring tool helps you check the centre of your sample accurately. Use blocking tools when your pattern calls for shaping, without stretching the fabric to force the stitch count.
Buy by metres, then round up to balls
Use the yarn quantity for your size in the chosen pattern. If you are substituting, matching the original total metreage is a starting estimate, not a guarantee: fibre, construction, gauge and stitch pattern can change consumption.
For a project that genuinely requires 1,200 metres of MERINO 120, the calculation is 1,200 ÷ 120 = 10 balls of 50 g. Add any allowance needed for swatching, a longer body or sleeves, and buy the same dye lot where possible. This is a calculation example, not a universal sweater quantity.
Useful tools for your winter knit
- Stitch markers & row counters — keep track of repeats, shaping and rounds.
- Stitch holders & cable needles — hold sleeve stitches or work cable patterns.
- Tapestry & sewing needles — weave in ends and sew seams.
- Needle cables & connectors — choose cables compatible with your interchangeable tips.
Make it a knit you can live with
Read the care label before choosing the yarn, particularly for a gift. Superwash does not automatically mean tumble-dryer safe. Lang Yarns advises suitable wool or delicate detergent without fabric softener for the yarns discussed here; follow the individual label for washing and drying.
Keep the yarn label, spare yarn and notes on needles, washed stitch count and adjustments for next time.
What would you like to wear this winter?
A smooth merino sweater, a generous alpaca-blend cardigan, a colourful weekend knit or a pair of carefully finished socks: start with the garment, then choose the yarn that helps you make it.
Explore the Lang Yarns collection at Leo Hobby →
Need help choosing? Send us your pattern name, size and recommended gauge, and tell us how you would like the finished fabric to feel.
Yarn specifications checked against Lang Yarns’ official information in October 2026. Project recommendations and calculation examples are Leo Hobby’s editorial guidance. Check the product page for colour availability and the ball label for current specifications.