Superwash Merino: My Go-To Yarn

I first started knitting with LB Collection Superwash Merino because it was the perfect yarn for a sweater I wanted to make.  It was a DK weight, it knit to gauge, and I loved the Wild Berry color.  So I bought my yarn, making sure I had enough for whatever size I would end up needing, and got started on my Rusted Root (pattern available from Zephyr Style).

Upon finishing this sweater (my first finished sweater, in fact), I realized I had purchased too much yarn. I loved working with it so much that instead of returning it, I promptly starting making a hat.  I had been planning on making a Rose Red (pattern available from Ysolda) for my sister’s birthday, and the LB Collection Superwash Merino was the perfect yarn: soft, warm, and great stitch definition!  My sister was hesitant about me using wool, but I assured her that it would be super soft (and it was)!

After I finally used up all my Wild Berry, I had another pattern that happened to be perfectly suited to the Superwash Merino: the Marigold Sweater from Interweave Knits, Summer 2010.  Because I wouldn’t be finishing it in time for summer, I wanted a yarn that could keep me warm into the fall.  This time I chose Dijon for my perfect fall cardigan.

On my last trip to visit my family, my sister fell in love with the Rusted Root sweater and the Dijon color.  So my most recent project in my new favorite yarn is a Dijon Rusted Root for her.

Quick tip for working with the LB Collection Superwash Merino: Block your gauge swatch!  All of my projects have looked like new after being machine washed and dried, but I was surprised by how much my projects grew after getting wet.  For more information about superwash wool, check out Jess’s blog post “What is Superwash Wool?“

What is your go-to yarn?  Post in the comments below.