Luxury Yarn For Knitting: Best Luxurious Fibers To Knit With

By Jodie Morgan

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Luxury yarn is more expensive than the average person wants to pay. But it’s worth it for the joy of knitting with high-quality fiber. My guide has the best luxury fibers so you can knit your next project in style! Here are my favorites.

Luxury Yarn For Knitting

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These luxurious yarns are incredibly soft, beautiful blends. Good for crochet too.

My Quick Recommendations

I reviewed, fact checked and updated this post on May 14, 2023.

Table Of Contents

What To Look For In Luxury Yarns

Here are some key decision-making factors to consider when choosing the best luxury yarn.

What Kind Of Care Does It Need?

With most luxury yarns, handwash and dry flat in the shade. This way, your beautiful knits from the best wool yarn last for decades. Most luxury merino yarn is made from fine merino wool, not superwash merino wool, so handwashing is necessary. I’d also recommend handwashing alpaca yarn.

With arm knitting yarn, it’s usually wool roving, which you need to handwash. Use it when learning how to knit with your arms.

What’s It Made Out Of?

Luxury fibers come from animal fibers: Qiviut – Muskox, Mohair – Goats, Merino – Sheep, and Silk – Silkworms. Also, superfine alpaca.

How Much Yardage?

The pattern determines the yardage depending on the project you want to knit. Luxury fibers are usually sold in smaller yardages per skein.

What Yarn Weight Is Best?

The yarn weight varies in luxury yarn. Your knitting pattern will guide you.

What’s Your Budget?

Regarding price, luxury yarn is called that for a reason! “How much I am willing to spend?” is something only you can answer. Luxury yarns are beautiful and definitely worth the investment.

Alaska Qiviut Deep Blue

Alaska Qiviut Deep Blue Yarn
Image Credit: Coyote Trail Farm and Fiber Mill from Alaska Natural Fibers

This luxury brand yarn is hand combed by Inuit villagers from Nunivak Island Muskoxen pelts. It’s taken to a small mill only using Alaskan fibers for processing.

How Does It Compare?

  • Care Instructions – Hand wash, dry in the shade.
  • Made Of – 80% Qiviut, 20% merino
  • Yardage – 200 yds
  • Yarn Weight – 0 Lace /2ply
  • Skein Weight – 1 ounce

Pros

  • Never stretches, felts, or shrinks with proper care
  • Super soft
  • Long-lasting

Cons

  • Only one color

Naturally-Dyed Mohair

Humanalana Naturally Dyed Mohair and Silk Yarn
Image Credit: Julie from Humanalana

This ethical mohair fiber yarn is uniquely soft. Light and luxurious.

How Does It Compare?

  • Care Instructions – Gentle hand wash in lukewarm water with mild wool detergent. Dry flat away from direct sunlight.
  • Made Of – 72% Kid Mohair, 28% Mulberry Silk
  • Yardage – 438 yards (400m)
  • Yarn Weight – Lace
  • Skein Weight – 1.8 ounces (50g)
  • Suggested Needle – US 1.5 (2.25mm

Pros

  • A luscious feel
  • Natural dyes
  • Better for the environment
  • Knit in a single thread or double

Cons

  • Limited stock
  • Colors may look different from the image in reality

Majestic Midnight Hand-Dyed Yarn

Majestic Midnight Yarn The Zippy Zebra
Image Credit: Krista Pagan of The Zippy Zebra

Lovely hand-painted yarn available on many luxury bases. This yarn is dyed to order. Choose from 18 different blends. Including:

  • Baby Alpaca
  • Brushed Suri Silk
  • Alpaca/Silk
  • Alpaca/Silk/Linen

How Does It Compare?

  • Care Instructions – Hand wash and dry flat to air dry
  • Made Of – Depends on your choice
  • Yardage – Varies with the yarn base. The Baby Alpaca Sock Weight is 429 yards
  • Yarn Weight – Fingering to chunky
  • Skein Weight – 50g to 100g

Pros

  • Amazing texture
  • Vibrant colors
  • Attention to detail
  • Excellent customer service
  • Each skein is hand-painted, so it’s one-of-a-kind

Cons

  • As with most hand-dyed yarns, each skein differs slightly.
  • No returns or cancellations.

Bitterroot Rainbow 

Bitterroot Rainbow Yarn
Image credit: Caryll McConnell of Mocoqiviut

Super soft and produces remarkable warmth when made into garments. Also, the finished object is lightweight.

How Does It Compare?

  • Care Instructions – Use a mild shampoo to gently wash in warm water, squeezing carefully to remove excess moisture. Roll in a towel to further remove excess moisture. Lay flat to dry.
  • Made Of – 70% Qiviut (Muskox) 20% Australian Merino 10% Cultivated Silk
  • Yardage – 300yds
  • Yarn Weight – Lace
  • Skein Weight – 1 oz
  • Suggested Needle – US0-US5 depending on the fabric you wish to create.

Pros

  • So soft
  • Beautiful colors of green, red, yellow, and blue
  • Hand-painted
  • Doesn’t pill
  • Lovely against the skin
  • Suitable for any knitter!
  • Perfect for neck warmers and cowls

Cons

  • Limited supply

Roving Merino Wool

Shepwol Roving Merino
Image Credit: ShepsWool

Super-soft extreme-sized wool for felting, spinning, weaving, and wall hangings.

How Does It Compare?

  • Care Instructions – Hand wash and dry flat
  • Made Of – 100% Merino Roving
  • Yardage – 96 yards
  • Yarn Weight – Jumbo
  • Skein Weight – 8 lbs

Pros

  • Soft and fluffy
  • Excellent for all projects

Cons

  • Only in natural cream
  • Be gentle as it can tear

To Live Would Be An Awfully Big Adventure 

To Live Would Be An Awfully Big Adventure 
Image credit: Megan of Retold Yarns

This yarn is a delightful blend of wool and Silk. Blueface Leicester wool is known for its beautiful luster, sheen, and drape.

How Does It Compare?

  • Care Instructions – Machine wash on delicate cycle and tumble dry on low
  • Made Of – 55% Superwash Blueface Leicester and 45% Silk
  • Yardage – 231 yards
  • Yarn Weight – Light worsted

Pros

  • Dyed with environmentally friendly products
  • Beautiful colors
  • Clever name

Cons

  • Limited stock

Which Of These Yarns Is Best For Knitting?

  • Alaska Qiviut Deep Blue – Knitted garments close to the skin
  • Naturally-Dyed Mohair – For lace shawls and sweaters
  • Majestic Midnight Hand-Dyed Yarn – If you are looking for a range of luxury bases
  • Bitterroot Rainbow – For delightful softness and sheen
  • Merino Roving Wool – Arm Knitted Blankets
  • To Live Would Be An Awfully Big Adventure – Adds sheen with beautiful drape

Comparable Products To Consider

Take a look at the gorgeous Cashmere yarns I’ve reviewed. Cashmere is a luxury yarn knitters highly recommended. Checking out Orchidean Luxury Yarns might be good too. Knit Picks has some luxury yarns, and offers free shipping in the US.

FAQS About Luxury Yarn

Where To Get Luxury Yarn?

Local Yarn stores stock a range of luxury yarns. Etsy has a beautiful range of options from talented yarn dyers. Larger online retailers specialize in these types of yarns.

What Is The Best Place To Buy Cheap Luxury Yarns?

To buy cheap luxury yarns isn’t easy. Luxury yarns are made of expensive fibers. However, they will be your most treasured knitted items. Unfortunately, luxury and cheap don’t go together.

What Are The Top Luxury Yarns On A Low Budget?

Top luxury yarns on a low budget aren’t an option.

Who Sells Diamond Luxury Collection Llama Soft Yarn?

Diamond Yarns have discontinued this yarn line.

Conclusion

If luxury is what you’re after, luxury yarns are perfect. They come in a range of fibers and colors to make your knitting experience unforgettable. Do you have a favorite? Tell me in the comments.

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About The Author

Jodie Morgan From Knit Like Granny

Jodie Morgan (Author & Founder)

jodie@knitlikegranny.com | Lives In: Regional Australia

Author: Jodie Morgan is a passionate knitter and blogger with 40+ years of experience currently living in regional Australia. Taught by her mother and wonderful grandmother “Mama”, she fell in love with crafting from a young age. When she’s not knitting, you’ll find her enjoying a cup of coffee with cream, or sharing helpful resources and tips with the online knitting community. Get to know Jodie and the team on our meet the team page.

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