As spring has sprung and the days are getting longer dark yarn has become a little less intimidating. Black yarn has a mixed reception amongst crafters, it looks so beautiful and chic knitted up but it sure is tricky on the eyes. Absorbing every little bit of light making fine intricate stitches almost impossible to see, especially on dark evenings. Convinced to knit with black yarn yet? Despite this we get lots of requests for black yarn and for good reason, a simple black garment is an elegant wardrobe staple. To navigate the eye numbing progress of knitting with it, choose patterns that have simple stitches or textures that can play further with the light and shadow created by the yarn. Further more yarns with high silk content or a natural sheen bring their own ‘light’ to the knitting while still keeping the moody depths of colour.

So as spring has arrived and the world is blooming into colour, I’m diving into a dark realm of inky blacks and charcoals. Of course blacks make a great contrast yarn to bounce bright colours off making them seem even more intense. Join me on this colourless adventure and embrace black yarn for your next knitting project.

Above are a selection of black yarns from top to bottom:

Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk Forgarn in Koksgrå – Forgarn in 100% Norwegian Autumn Wool is a soft and squishy pre-yarn which means the fiber has been carded but no twist has been added, so the strands remain unspun.

Hillesvåg Sølje in 2109 Svart – 4ply 100g – 100% Norwegian Pelt Wool. Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is a traditional Norwegian family owned wool spinning mill founded in 1898. Spun from fibre from the Norwegian pelssau breed.

Hillesvåg Tinde in 2109 Svart – DK 100g – 100% Norwegian Pelsullgarn. Traditionally spun by the family owned mill Hillesvåg, in lustrous Norwegian Pelt wool, Tinde is an DK weight yarn in a colour palette which richness is unlike anything else.

Fyberspates Scrumptious 4ply in 342 Noir – 4ply 100g – 55% Superwash Merino / 45% Silk. A high twist high shine yarn, hand dyed in Peru and spun to perfection as a light weight multipurpose yarn perfect for showing off lace and cabled knits.

Tukuwool DK in Sysi – 100g DK – 100% Wool. Spun and dyed in Finland from 100 % Finnish wool, Tukuwool DK is a woolen spun two-ply yarn which is a delight to knit.

Hélène Magnússon Katla Sokkaband in Raven Black – Sport 100g – 100% Icelandic Lambswool. Katla is just as strong and durable as any other sock yarn blended with synthetic fibers, four strands of her Love Story single ply lace tightly spun together.

Fyberspates Cumulus in 941 Noir – Lace 25g – 74% Baby Suri Alpaca, 26% Mulberry Silk. Cumulus is a deliciously soft, heavy lace weight baby alpaca yarn with a wonderful halo.

Hélène Magnússon Gilitrutt Tvíband in Raven Black – Lace 25g – 100% Icelandic Lambswool. Gilitrutt’s two plies give it strength while maintaining a surprisingly soft hand and beautiful halo.

Now we have looked at the yarns lets take a look at some potential projects:

Camisole No. 9 (link to designers website) by My Favourite Things. This classic camisole shape is worked from the top down. Simple but with nice details. It would be lovely in Fyberspates Scrumptious 4ply.

Suri Shirt (link to designers website) by Caidree. This relaxed drop shoulder t-shirt top is simply knit from the top down. With options to knit in multiple lengths and finished off with a split hem. It has a more of a summery feel so I’m leaning towards Fyberspates Scrumptious 4ply again.

The Classic (link to Ravelry) by Espace Tricot. A staple piece for your wardrobe in the form of this raglan jumper with large cosy neck. Worked from the top down in one piece and knit with two strands of yarn. I’m feeling a combination of the more rustic Hillesvåg Sølje paired with the beautifully soft Fyberspates Cumulus.

Audrey Top (link to designers website) by PetiteKnit. Another simple summer top, this one has i-cord straps which complete the simple design. Depending on how woolly you want it I might be tempted with the Hélène Magnússon Katla Sokkaband of course there is Fyberspates Scrumptious 4ply again if you want some soft luxury.

Ridge Sweater (link to Ravelry) by Hiromi Nagasawa. The graphic ridges on this top look striking in this dark yarn. Knit in the round from the top down with raglan shaping highlighted with the dense striped ridges. Try this in Hillesvåg Sølje.

Constellation Sweater (link to designers website) by Ozetta : Hailey Smedley. This oversized jumper looks really comfortable. Knit from the top down starting with the ribbed collar and finished with a split hem. I’m wondering if a combination of Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk Forgarn and Fyberspates Cumulus would work for this.