Best Yarn for Knitting a Jumper: Snö, Scandi Soft XL or Scandi Wool?

There is a moment before every new jumper that I love more than almost any other. The pattern is open on the table, the light is low, and five soft balls of yarn sit in a row waiting to be chosen. It is the quietest part of knitting — and one of the most important.

Because the yarn decides so much. How the fabric falls over your shoulders. How it feels against your neck on a cool evening. Whether your first rows look forgiving or fussy. So before you cast on, I want to show you the three yarns I design with — and which one I would choose for the jumper you have in mind.

Snö and Scandi Soft XL are both 10 ply and knitted on 6 mm needles. Scandi Wool is finer, knitted on 5 mm needles. All three are machine washable knitting yarns, which makes them easy to live with.

Snö, Scandi Soft XL and Scandi Wool at a glance

The tension on the ball band is a starting point, not a promise. Two yarns with the same tension can still behave differently because of their texture and drape — so always knit a tension square before you begin.

Snö — a soft, fluffy finish with a quiet shimmer

Snö is soft and fluffy, with a fine shimmer running through it. It is never glittery — in daylight it reads as texture, and under a lamp it catches the light. Its chain construction means it does not split, so it stays easy to handle on big needles.

• 67% nylon, 23% acrylic, 10% wool
• 100 g ball, approx. 230 m · pack of 5 balls (500 g)
• 6 mm needles · 16 sts × 20 rows = 10 cm
• Shades: Mulberry, Silver, Turquoise, Marina, Amethyst, Forest, Ice

Snö is what I reach for when a plain shape needs to do a little more. The yarn carries the detail, so the jumper does not have to. My #150 Hedda Cable Roll Neck is designed for it, and so are #145 Runa Icicle Sweater and #304 Nova Basic Sweater — all three are intermediate patterns.

See the shades on the Snö yarn page.

Scandi Soft XL — the beginner's choice

If this is your first jumper, this is the yarn I would put in your hands. Scandi Soft XL has a soft, slightly fuzzy halo — the look of mohair without the prickle. It grows fast on 6 mm needles, and the halo softens the stitches just enough to forgive an uneven tension.

• 80% acrylic, 20% wool
• 100 g ball, approx. 180 m · pack of 5 balls (500 g)
• 6 mm needles · 16 sts × 20 rows = 10 cm
• Shades: Aqua, Chartreuse, Olive, Putty, Wild Berry

My #183 Meja Feel Good Sweater was made for exactly this. It is a relaxed jumper in stocking stitch, written for beginners, in seven sizes (bust 96–152 cm). It takes 4–7 balls, and sizes S to XL need just one pack. When you are ready for more, #130 Hooded Cardigan and #149 Ingrid Lace Jumper are also designed for Scandi Soft XL.

See all the colours on the Scandi Soft XL yarn page.

Scandi Wool — stitch definition and shades that belong together

Scandi Wool is the finer of the three, and the workhorse of the range. Half wool, half acrylic, it is soft against the skin and holds its shape — and every stitch stays clear, so cables, lace and texture really show.

• 50% wool, 50% acrylic
• 50 g ball, approx. 100 m · pack of 5 balls (250 g)
• 5 mm needles · 17 sts × 22 rows = 10 cm
• Shades: Toffee, Eucalyptus, Dark Grey, Linen, Denim, Ecru

I chose the shades to sit together, so two or three in one jumper always work. For a first project, start with #158 Vilde or #165 Elsa — both beginner patterns. When you want something to get stuck into, #168 Pia Cable Lace Roll Neck is waiting.

See the shades on the Scandi Wool yarn page.

Easy care for all three

A handknitted jumper should be worn, not saved for best. All three yarns are machine washable:

• Machine wash at 30°C on a gentle wool cycle
• Do not bleach or tumble dry
• Dry flat in the shade — never hang a wet jumper
• Cool iron if needed

Which yarn should you choose?

• Your first jumper: Scandi Soft XL with #183 Meja.
• A plain shape with a little sparkle: Snö.
• Clear stitches and colours that work together: Scandi Wool.

You will find every shade in the yarn collection, and every design in my knitting and crochet patterns. Each pattern is a PDF, delivered as an instant download.

Launch offer — until 24 October

To celebrate the new shop: buy any yarn pack and choose up to three patterns for free. The discount is applied automatically at checkout — no code needed. Patterns are 5 EUR each, and the offer ends at midnight Swedish time on 24 October.

Whichever yarn you choose, I hope the first rows feel like the start of something lovely.

Happy Knitting!
Anette