Madeline Tosh Merino Light has been a staple of our selection since it first arrived, and we absolutely love it. This 100% superwash merino wool yarn is a single-ply, fingering-weight yarn that shows off colour beautifully and knits up into a gorgeous lightweight fabric. Though not a good choice for socks (the single ply means they would wear out quickly), Merino Light is perfect for shawls and light sweaters — how lucky that it's the same base used for Madeline Tosh's Unicorn Tails, making it easy to add stripes to your projects without ending up with too many leftovers.
Naturally, we have some favourite projects for this gorgeous yarn, and with spring right around the corner (and temperatures on the plus-side of the thermometer forecast for next week!) we're keeping it light this week.
- Tosh Merino LIght in Robin's Egg, Hosta Blue, and Seawash
Sweaters: With warmer weather around the corner, we're naturally turning our attention to lightweight cardigans and pullovers. The best thing about these pieces is that they're year-round staples, so there's never a bad time to cast one on! Our current favourites are Lifesavers (so many stripey possibilities!), Louise Light (with or without the contrasting borders, though we quite like them), Stratum (those stripes offers such subtle texture), and of course, Raindrops, which we just love.
- Left: Raindrops in Tosh Merino Light (Tart). Right: Holden in Tosh Merino Light (Stargazing)
Shawls: An absolute wardrobe essential as far as we're concerned, Merino Light can be knit up into a dense or very light fabric, depending on what you're looking for. We're especially partial to the Fo' Shawl! (that contrast border is so fun), Masgot (the short-row bursts of colour are stunning), Moonraker (those colour bursts!), and our perennial favourite, Holden (we've made it what, four times now? We still can't get enough).
- Tosh Merino Light in Amber Trinket, Magnolia Leaf, and Bark
Blankets: We often think about blankets as cold-weather projects, but this is the best time to start one because you can work on it in the background during the warm weather and then finish it up just in time for the cold weather to arrive again! Plus, because blankets are often worked in pieces, they're great projects to carry around. Tosh Merino Light crochets beautifully, and with so many colours to choose from, it's a lot of fun to put together a colour palette. We would love to snuggle under any of these blankets: Granny Stripe Blanket (our longest-standing WIP, and a great beginner crochet pattern), the Meditative Blanket (simple squares are perfect for showing off solid or variegated colourways), The Beekeeper's Quilt (get ready for a hexipuff obsession), and Quill (technically a shawl, but definitely big enough to serve as a blanket).