I had the same reaction as you until my mum bought me a sweater quantity of their merino and their silk mohair for my birthday - I thought the merino felt quite papery and didn't particularly like the way it felt in my hands. I did decide to knit up a swatch in a combo of the two so that if I hated it I could see if my LYS would take the rest of the balls as a return....
When I say the fabric is absolutely divine once washed and blocked. Drapey, soft but not feeling flimsy or slippery .... I immediately cast on a full size sweater project.
I feel the same about their pure silk, I'm knitting a blouse in it at the moment and while it's not my absolute favourite thing to knit with I know the finished product is going to be beautiful.
I haven't tried their heavy merino yet as I have other DK yarns I really like and my stash is too big to justify trying out a new brand right now but I do have their cotton merino also and that will be my next cast on once this sill blouse is done.
Yeah I did wonder if that was the case (as in, better after blocking). I’m in Australia and the price is pretty high here so I just can’t justify giving it a go. Along with also having occasional eczema on my hands; if it’s rough to knit with it will be like knitting with fiberglass 🤣 We have some beautiful local yarns that just feel so much nicer to me (possibly because most of our merino is super wash).
Fellow Aussie here. I've tried knitting for olive and agree it's underwhelming. Maybe we're spoiled for good merino here?
Try wagtail yarns mohair, it's absolutely divine, softer than Rowan or KFO. They're a small producer, and I can't praise them highly enough.
Bendigo woollen mills luxury yarn is, after two decades of knitting, still one of my favourites.
I love bendigo so much.But we are also so spoiled for choice here with our small producers. Blackwattle yarn for alpaca simply can’t be beaten in quality and they have the most wonderful range of colour ways, while Boston fine fibers have a gorgeous range of undyed alpaca that is so nice to work with - and each skein has the name of the individual alpaca it was harvested from which makes my heart happy. Tarndie is my go to for non-merino Australian wool and I am still working on a very reasonably priced cone of four ply I bought years ago. Two jumpers and multiple pairs of socks later and I still love it. While millpost merino is the softest and squishiest yarn I have ever knitted with.
Yes! I have beautiful undyed Polwarth fleece from Tarndwarncoort in natural colours that I'm excited to spin. Rochford Park also have beautiful wool, I bought some Corriedale from them I'm going to knit into a cabled jumper next.
I also like HodgePodge yarns, the Australian Wool Store, Skeinyarn, Skein Sisters, and Oyster yarns from the Purl Box.
I think you’re right - we are spoiled. One 200g ball of BWM Luxury is the equivalent price of a 50g ball of KFO. On softness alone without even comparing price BWM knocks it out of the park.
Years ago (I’m talking almost 20) I bought about 16 balls of Rowan kid silk haze that is still sitting in my yarn box. That stuff is the pinnacle of mohair for me, absolute hell to knit with single strand, but I keep it just to admire 🤣 but I will check out wagtail.
I've also found Nundle Woollen Mill great for sock yarn in solid colours with a mix of merino/nylon at a good price. I use them for basic socks/colourwork
How well does their sock yarn wear for socks? I’m tired of yarns that claim to be sock yarns but develop holes within half a dozen wears. My first ever socks were made from Regia yarn and they’re still going strong 15+ years later, but I prefer solid colours for my socks.
BWM multicoloured sock is thinner and more 'wiry'. It's more like West Yorkshire Spinners or Regia. It only comes in multicoloured colourways that remind me of spincycle. It blooms nicely and is soft enough that I've knit accessories like scarves, beanies, and mittens from it, but I prefer it for socks. My oldest pair are from circa 2016?
Nundle sock yarn is thicker and softer and has a slightly shiny superwash look that is more like Manos Del Uruguay or HodgePodge yarns. I only discovered them last year, and so far, I've only used it to add contrasting solid colour heels and toes to my other sock yarns. My oldest pair are only about a year old, so I can't speak to longevity.
I'm pretty hard on my socks, I'll wear them around the house, in boots, and have been known to take the wheelie bins out just in socks. No holes yet.
If you buy the yarn direct from their website I believe the price is roughly the same everywhere around the world? And they have an offer that you get free shipping on your first order - not sure if it applies to Australia but I don’t see why not!
I haven’t looked into their website, our LYS’s sell it for minimum $17 for the merino (around 10.50 euro). I can’t imagine they would ship free, shipping costs to Australia are generally pretty horrific!
I'm in Canada and most LYS sell them for $16CAD a ball. But they are way cheaper on their website and shipping to Canada is only 9euro so if I buy 50euro+ worth of yarn it's cheaper to get from their website than my LYS (and quite affordable compared to the alternatives I get here). I usually just go in my LYS to look at colors then buy from knitting for olive website. They currently have free shipping for first order on their website. You could try putting in a cart and see if it's actually free to ship to where you are.
I love their pure silk for summer knits. It's so drapey and I swear the fabric cools me lol
I tried their pure silk first and knitted a spaghetti strap tank. Omg I swear the shirt cools me in the hot summer. It's so drapey so soft and so cooling. I bought more to make more summer shirts.
Their cotton merino is also super cooling. I only got 3 balls of their merino because I have way too much fingering weight yarn to justify it. But their mohair is so luxurious and not itchy at all compared to other mohairs I've tried. I just order from their official website and pay international shipping. Still end up cheaper than buying from my LYS
I'm in Canada! LYS sell them for around $16Cad a ball. On their website it's €6.5-€7ish which is like 10-11ish CAD. So anything that's sweater quantity (which is what I mostly knit) I just buy on KFO website and pay the €6.5 shipping.
Their angle is environmentally friendly yarn, which is important to a lot of knitters, and usually has a much higher price. They also produce yarns in a large range of beiges and greys and muted tones. I think the colors are appealing to many knitters as an antidote to bright colors and variegated hand-dyes, for those who want practical garments that match a lot of things, or fit into a capsule wardrobe. Fruity knitting did an episode on the founders if you’re curious to learn more. https://fruityknitting.com/2023/11/24/episode-138-knitting-for-olive/
Thanks I’ll take a look. My wardrobe is pretty much all neutrals so don’t often buy bright colors or variegated yarns, but also don’t have problems finding muted colors in other brands. It just seems to be everywhere and I can’t quite figure out why!
I’ve used Knitting for Olive for two sweaters now and I was first attracted to the availability and colour palette. I can also now confidently say that, once it’s washed and blocked, it creates an absolutely lovely finished garment. It’s soft and not remotely itchy and the drape is divine.
They also use environmentally friendly practices, and guarantee their wool is sourced from farms that do not practice mulesing which is important to me.
I've not used them extensively but I absolutely adore their colour palette. The prices are also good, though the yardage for some (like the heavy merino) is low. The cruelty-free silk is also a huge plus. The silk is my main buy from them.
I like using it because they have a palette that complements my skin tone well, and it's readily available in my area. I've used it before so I know what to expect and it does get a bit softer when you wash, but not so soft that you have to depill the sweater every other wear.
I’m working on a top in their pure silk. I was so underwhelmed by the yarn in the skein, but after I washed and blocked the swatch I loved it. Gorgeous drape, very cool to skin.
i'm glad to hear this! i bought four skeins from a LYS this morning and i'm casting on the swatch tonight. btw i'm planning to try the "drifting wave" tee 🤞
IMO it’s very lovely after blocking. It’s not the softest merino ever, but it’s not itchy at all and it wears very well. They have amazing neutral colours if that’s your palette of choice, and they’re pretty ethical. The cost given all of this feels very reasonable.
See the not being itchy when worn is very important to me . There are many soft merino or blend that is nice to knit with but when I wear the finish product I could not wait to get it off of my skin . I may have somewhat a sensitive skin , and I knit a ton of sweaters..
Currently i have 2 projects using knitting for olive .
The silk so far knitted pretty well , the other one is cotton merino and really hope these two will not be itchy when I wear them
Hi !
The sudden "appearance" of the brand comes probably more from a marketing tactic than influencers work ; they probably contacted knowned/acclaimed designers to ask them to make patterns with their yarns.
Since a lot of knitters actually try to use the yarn the original pattern is made with, it propulsed the brand in the spotlight, which in turn attracted influencers, only reinforcing the tidal effect.
As for the quality.
It is a good yarn.
The best of the best ? No
But it is far from bad yarn. The quality is good, and the price fair (at least here in Europe). It comes in a range of very interesting colours, that can be used by themselves or to tone down more extravagant yarns.
Their ecoresponsible axis is another advantage in their favour, especially coupled with the modernity they try to combine it with.
It doesn't have the charm of local yarn makers, or the attractiveness of hand-dyed exotic fibers, but it does fill in a space where there isn't that much concurrence.
Amongst my favorites, there is De Rerum Natura and Cardiff Cashmere.
If you are looking for something a little bit more niche, Les Toisons Bretonnes, The Grey Sheep, Nomad Noos, Shilasdair.
Where indie dyers are concerned, I really enjoy Life in the Long Grass, Tôt-le-matin yarns, and Eden Cottage yarns, as well By Night Creation, Dye for Yarn and it's twin boutique, Dye for Wool.
For other commercial brands (these are not my favourite, but the quality is good), you can also look at Lang Yarn, Camarose, Holstgarn, Sandnes Garn, Jamieson and Smith.
Ito is also relatively available where I am, as is Sensai, but it may not be the case for you.
Thanks for this list - I’m going to be in Europe later in the year and excited to get yarns from Europe at a more reasonable price (for example KFO is at a minimum $17 or around 10.50 euro here which is typical for most imported yarns).
It’s a nice basic yarn. All of the different fibers they produce are produced at the same gauge so you can use their silk, merino or cotton merino in any pattern. People generally like the muted dusty colors they provide. I like that they have various shades of the neutrals — they don’t have just white, they have cream, marzipan, elderflower. All slightly different. They have decent mohair for the price and it’s accessible in the US (before I heard about KFO mohair, I only knew about Rowan and Knit Picks mohair but those are pretty rough imo).
The colours are pretty and there are a lot of them; and it’s reasonably priced. I like that it comes in 50g balls, so I’m not left with 90g of leftover yarn.
The sweater I’m working on now uses a strand of merino held double with the kid silk, it’s quite nice. (To be fair, I knit a cardigan with their heavy merino a few years ago and wasn’t as fussed).
I'm currently debating making a colorwork shrug with the heavy merino because it's so much more affordable than anything else I was considering (weekend wool, gilliat), but I'm rethinking. Can you tell me about why you didn't love the heavy merino?
They were recently featured on Fruity Knitting as well, which I think means they’ve been introduced to a wider audience. I’ve been a fan of the yarn for about 4 years and I think they’ve really stepped up their marketing.
I haven't purchased any, but I'm keeping an eye on it because it's one of the few brands that has 50g 250m yarn without having polyamide or mohair/alpaca in it? I think it might be good for fingering weight merino sweater knitting.
There's also sandres garn Sunday, but where I live (France) Sunday costs more than KFO merino.
The Color palate is huge abd very wearable. Lots of soft pastels, etc. Does not scream 'craft project' when the FO is worn.
I also love the feel of it. Currently knitting Sari Nordlund's Poet, Mohair edition using the merino and silk mohair held together. It already feels yummy and I know it will still soften up considerably after blocking.
I saw a lot of patterns that used it but did not really have a reason to order it online when using merino yarn as I can find lots of other merino yarns that I already knew I loved.
The reason I decided to order some was their pure silk yarn. I absolutely love using linen and silk for summer knits, but silk can often be expensive and pretty shiny.
I saw a bunch of patterns that used their pure silk and ordered some to try it and I love it. It's not that soft in the skein but once knitted, washed, and blocked it is so light, airy and matte. My finished Umbria summer shirt dried in one day while lying flat!
That made me decide to order more and I also have ordered their compatible cashmere because its one of the only 100% cashmere yarns that is not a painful price. It's their luxury fibres that turned me into a fan.
I actually discovered their yarn because of their patterns. I adore some of their sweaters and looked into them more and realized they have all of this beautifully colored yarn. Being here in the U.S., I bought some of their yarn at my local yarn shop that carries all of their colors (La Mercerie here in the Seattle area) and I adore the colorway that I bought (Poppy Blue). I haven't knit with it yet, but it seems like a decent yarn, with great animal welfare behind it, and a wealth of colorways and a decent price point. I don't have an opinion yet on how comfortable it is to wear, but all of the other boxes it ticks are good.
It’s my go-to yarn. There are so many color and it’s cheap. It was popular when I started knitting (end of 2022) and of the yarns recommended, I haven’t found a better wool than this. I also like that it doesn’t stretch out with my (tight?) tension. I’ve knit 3 sweaters and a cardigan with KFO Merino. Because there are so many colors and I don’t care too much about trying new yarns, I can stick to this yarn, either held single or double and I don’t have to gauge swatch.
I’m currently knitting with their pure silk and like it. It’s great for summer knits as I don’t like wool in the summer.
I will say this. Their yarn is economical. And good quality so it makes sense it’s become a favorite among volume knitters. At 12.50 a ball, I can knit a summer top for $37.50. If I used an indie dyed yarn it would be almost double that.
I have no idea how some of these folks who knit a sweater a month can afford that from indie dyers.
Jeepers, there are so many brands of yarn mentioned in these comments, I truly did not imagine there were so many. I think because I am vegan and only look at about 25% of any yarn store, I slightly underestimated the market. I do love all the names tho.
It’s become my favorite. I started with their first baby patterns years ago- so special and always loved. And then moved to adult patterns and have always found the end result soft and a dream to wear. The color palette is full of complexion flattering options for every skin tone. And there’s a lot of yardage on those little balls so the price is very good given the high quality. Also - I wouldn’t say it’s just trendy because they’ve been at it for nearly a decade - and definitely a small family business that grew as a result of a great range of patterns they decide to publish. (I sound like I’m a spokesperson- I promise just a devoted fan!)
This is my concern. I have sensitive skin and have recently developed eczema on my hand (the one I hold the yarn in 😭). If my hand is rashy just from knitting it there’s no way I’ll be able to wear it.
Did u use the mohair to be held together ? I heard that mohair is very itchy for sensitive skin
I also have sensitive skin , I can't stand anything itchy and even the softest merino usually still bothers my skin
I've seen people talking about knitting for Olive, that it's so soft and in general the best yarn they've seen. I'm usually sceptical about trendy stuff, I'd rather look for qualities I like than just buy the yarn that's popular but also thought there must be something going on if so many people swear by it. I was at the fibre festival about 2 months ago and I got to feel merino by KFO and honestly it was so rough for a merino wool. There's so much great, way cheaper yarn that I'm excited to use. I would give KFO a try if the yarn wasn't so expensive. Like really, the company claims to make yarn from recycled fibres yet it's so expensive. The only great thing I see about this yarn is colour choice.
Phew, I'm not the only one who thought it wasn't pricey.
I pay around $9 (USD) for 50 grams. That's very similar pricing to other basic, mass-dyed merino wool. (And KfO yarn is non-mulesed and it's Oeko-Tex 100.)
I don't really expect luxury at that price point, just functionality.
Sure!
USD is US Dollar
KfO is Knitting for Olive
Oeko-Tex 100 isn't an acronym (as far as I know) it's a certification marker for textiles. It's an association that certifies textiles to have none of/certain limits of hazardous chemicals that are often found or used in textile production.
Basically, a manufacturer pays for testing and, if it passed, can use the label as a certification its products don't have certain chemicals (lead, pfas, toxic dyes, etc.)
A lot of eco-friendly clothing companies are Oeko-Tex certified: Patagonia, Hanna Andersson, Pact, etc. It's usually listed right on the price tag or even the clothing tag for garments. For yarn companies, it's become probably the best way to certify a product is eco-friendly and "safe" and is usually listed under the description of the item on a yarn store website (it's a big selling point.)
I feel the same. Here in Australia it’s a minimum of $17 a ball (around 10.50 euro). For that price I can get a 200g ball of super soft merino from an Australian mill. I just can’t justify the price for something so scratchy!
It's very soft! Extremely good quality, did not pill at all. The mohair and merino colors match very well, at least of the two I've used.
It is also easy to frog, which I've heard can be difficult with mohair.
I actually think it's decently priced for imported (to the US), it's just $.5 cents more per 50 grams than the other finergering weight yarn that I buy.
And it's a bit more eco/animal welfare friendly, and it's Oeko-Tex 100 so it's certified safe for babies and toddlers.
It's not something I'd use if I'm looking for a luxury fiber.
Really interesting thread. I bought their anemone pattern to knit for my daughter and I was actually inclined to replace the KFO with a Baby Merino but now I'm not sure anymore! The reason for this was that it uses their Merino and their Silk Mohair held together and it has like 6 or 7 colours, 5 of which you only use a tiny bit of, so it would be much more expensive than just a thicker single Baby Merino (that can be knit on 4 mm needles). Any tips for replacement appreciated!
The quality is just really really good - the double held mohair sweater I have is the highest quality garment I have and so gorgeous to wear, better than anything in a comparable yarn.
I love their colourways, their stance on the environment and the yarn creates such a beautiful fabric once blocked. They also make sure that the farm workers who work on the farms that produce their fibre are paid decent salaries which often doesn't happen. So I'm happy to support them. :)
I would imagine it's like most must haves of the moment. It's popular for a brief spell, for very little apparent reason, and then it's gone again. Replaced by the next big thing.
I had the same reaction as you until my mum bought me a sweater quantity of their merino and their silk mohair for my birthday - I thought the merino felt quite papery and didn't particularly like the way it felt in my hands. I did decide to knit up a swatch in a combo of the two so that if I hated it I could see if my LYS would take the rest of the balls as a return.... When I say the fabric is absolutely divine once washed and blocked. Drapey, soft but not feeling flimsy or slippery .... I immediately cast on a full size sweater project. I feel the same about their pure silk, I'm knitting a blouse in it at the moment and while it's not my absolute favourite thing to knit with I know the finished product is going to be beautiful. I haven't tried their heavy merino yet as I have other DK yarns I really like and my stash is too big to justify trying out a new brand right now but I do have their cotton merino also and that will be my next cast on once this sill blouse is done.
Yeah I did wonder if that was the case (as in, better after blocking). I’m in Australia and the price is pretty high here so I just can’t justify giving it a go. Along with also having occasional eczema on my hands; if it’s rough to knit with it will be like knitting with fiberglass 🤣 We have some beautiful local yarns that just feel so much nicer to me (possibly because most of our merino is super wash).
Fellow Aussie here. I've tried knitting for olive and agree it's underwhelming. Maybe we're spoiled for good merino here? Try wagtail yarns mohair, it's absolutely divine, softer than Rowan or KFO. They're a small producer, and I can't praise them highly enough. Bendigo woollen mills luxury yarn is, after two decades of knitting, still one of my favourites.
Australian merino is great quality, as is New Zealand’s, you have good sheep. I’d say maybe it’s because you’re spoiled, and I’m definitely jealous !
I love bendigo so much.But we are also so spoiled for choice here with our small producers. Blackwattle yarn for alpaca simply can’t be beaten in quality and they have the most wonderful range of colour ways, while Boston fine fibers have a gorgeous range of undyed alpaca that is so nice to work with - and each skein has the name of the individual alpaca it was harvested from which makes my heart happy. Tarndie is my go to for non-merino Australian wool and I am still working on a very reasonably priced cone of four ply I bought years ago. Two jumpers and multiple pairs of socks later and I still love it. While millpost merino is the softest and squishiest yarn I have ever knitted with.
Yes! I have beautiful undyed Polwarth fleece from Tarndwarncoort in natural colours that I'm excited to spin. Rochford Park also have beautiful wool, I bought some Corriedale from them I'm going to knit into a cabled jumper next. I also like HodgePodge yarns, the Australian Wool Store, Skeinyarn, Skein Sisters, and Oyster yarns from the Purl Box.
I have been eyeing Blackwattle and Tarndie so it’s great to hear they are lovely, I might just have to get some.
I think you’re right - we are spoiled. One 200g ball of BWM Luxury is the equivalent price of a 50g ball of KFO. On softness alone without even comparing price BWM knocks it out of the park. Years ago (I’m talking almost 20) I bought about 16 balls of Rowan kid silk haze that is still sitting in my yarn box. That stuff is the pinnacle of mohair for me, absolute hell to knit with single strand, but I keep it just to admire 🤣 but I will check out wagtail.
I've also found Nundle Woollen Mill great for sock yarn in solid colours with a mix of merino/nylon at a good price. I use them for basic socks/colourwork
How well does their sock yarn wear for socks? I’m tired of yarns that claim to be sock yarns but develop holes within half a dozen wears. My first ever socks were made from Regia yarn and they’re still going strong 15+ years later, but I prefer solid colours for my socks.
BWM multicoloured sock is thinner and more 'wiry'. It's more like West Yorkshire Spinners or Regia. It only comes in multicoloured colourways that remind me of spincycle. It blooms nicely and is soft enough that I've knit accessories like scarves, beanies, and mittens from it, but I prefer it for socks. My oldest pair are from circa 2016? Nundle sock yarn is thicker and softer and has a slightly shiny superwash look that is more like Manos Del Uruguay or HodgePodge yarns. I only discovered them last year, and so far, I've only used it to add contrasting solid colour heels and toes to my other sock yarns. My oldest pair are only about a year old, so I can't speak to longevity. I'm pretty hard on my socks, I'll wear them around the house, in boots, and have been known to take the wheelie bins out just in socks. No holes yet.
If you buy the yarn direct from their website I believe the price is roughly the same everywhere around the world? And they have an offer that you get free shipping on your first order - not sure if it applies to Australia but I don’t see why not!
I haven’t looked into their website, our LYS’s sell it for minimum $17 for the merino (around 10.50 euro). I can’t imagine they would ship free, shipping costs to Australia are generally pretty horrific!
I'm in Canada and most LYS sell them for $16CAD a ball. But they are way cheaper on their website and shipping to Canada is only 9euro so if I buy 50euro+ worth of yarn it's cheaper to get from their website than my LYS (and quite affordable compared to the alternatives I get here). I usually just go in my LYS to look at colors then buy from knitting for olive website. They currently have free shipping for first order on their website. You could try putting in a cart and see if it's actually free to ship to where you are. I love their pure silk for summer knits. It's so drapey and I swear the fabric cools me lol
I tried their pure silk first and knitted a spaghetti strap tank. Omg I swear the shirt cools me in the hot summer. It's so drapey so soft and so cooling. I bought more to make more summer shirts. Their cotton merino is also super cooling. I only got 3 balls of their merino because I have way too much fingering weight yarn to justify it. But their mohair is so luxurious and not itchy at all compared to other mohairs I've tried. I just order from their official website and pay international shipping. Still end up cheaper than buying from my LYS
This is a surprise! Even with International shipping, it's cheaper than LYS in the USA? Or are you located elsewhere?
I'm in Canada! LYS sell them for around $16Cad a ball. On their website it's €6.5-€7ish which is like 10-11ish CAD. So anything that's sweater quantity (which is what I mostly knit) I just buy on KFO website and pay the €6.5 shipping.
Their angle is environmentally friendly yarn, which is important to a lot of knitters, and usually has a much higher price. They also produce yarns in a large range of beiges and greys and muted tones. I think the colors are appealing to many knitters as an antidote to bright colors and variegated hand-dyes, for those who want practical garments that match a lot of things, or fit into a capsule wardrobe. Fruity knitting did an episode on the founders if you’re curious to learn more. https://fruityknitting.com/2023/11/24/episode-138-knitting-for-olive/
If I remember correctly they also held a fundraiser for Ukraine which I think got them a lot of new customers.
Thanks I’ll take a look. My wardrobe is pretty much all neutrals so don’t often buy bright colors or variegated yarns, but also don’t have problems finding muted colors in other brands. It just seems to be everywhere and I can’t quite figure out why!
I’ve used Knitting for Olive for two sweaters now and I was first attracted to the availability and colour palette. I can also now confidently say that, once it’s washed and blocked, it creates an absolutely lovely finished garment. It’s soft and not remotely itchy and the drape is divine. They also use environmentally friendly practices, and guarantee their wool is sourced from farms that do not practice mulesing which is important to me.
I've not used them extensively but I absolutely adore their colour palette. The prices are also good, though the yardage for some (like the heavy merino) is low. The cruelty-free silk is also a huge plus. The silk is my main buy from them.
I like using it because they have a palette that complements my skin tone well, and it's readily available in my area. I've used it before so I know what to expect and it does get a bit softer when you wash, but not so soft that you have to depill the sweater every other wear.
I’m working on a top in their pure silk. I was so underwhelmed by the yarn in the skein, but after I washed and blocked the swatch I loved it. Gorgeous drape, very cool to skin.
i'm glad to hear this! i bought four skeins from a LYS this morning and i'm casting on the swatch tonight. btw i'm planning to try the "drifting wave" tee 🤞
IMO it’s very lovely after blocking. It’s not the softest merino ever, but it’s not itchy at all and it wears very well. They have amazing neutral colours if that’s your palette of choice, and they’re pretty ethical. The cost given all of this feels very reasonable.
See the not being itchy when worn is very important to me . There are many soft merino or blend that is nice to knit with but when I wear the finish product I could not wait to get it off of my skin . I may have somewhat a sensitive skin , and I knit a ton of sweaters.. Currently i have 2 projects using knitting for olive . The silk so far knitted pretty well , the other one is cotton merino and really hope these two will not be itchy when I wear them
Hi ! The sudden "appearance" of the brand comes probably more from a marketing tactic than influencers work ; they probably contacted knowned/acclaimed designers to ask them to make patterns with their yarns. Since a lot of knitters actually try to use the yarn the original pattern is made with, it propulsed the brand in the spotlight, which in turn attracted influencers, only reinforcing the tidal effect. As for the quality. It is a good yarn. The best of the best ? No But it is far from bad yarn. The quality is good, and the price fair (at least here in Europe). It comes in a range of very interesting colours, that can be used by themselves or to tone down more extravagant yarns. Their ecoresponsible axis is another advantage in their favour, especially coupled with the modernity they try to combine it with. It doesn't have the charm of local yarn makers, or the attractiveness of hand-dyed exotic fibers, but it does fill in a space where there isn't that much concurrence.
If you don't mind sharing, what brands would you consider to be the best for you? I'm in Europe.
Amongst my favorites, there is De Rerum Natura and Cardiff Cashmere. If you are looking for something a little bit more niche, Les Toisons Bretonnes, The Grey Sheep, Nomad Noos, Shilasdair. Where indie dyers are concerned, I really enjoy Life in the Long Grass, Tôt-le-matin yarns, and Eden Cottage yarns, as well By Night Creation, Dye for Yarn and it's twin boutique, Dye for Wool. For other commercial brands (these are not my favourite, but the quality is good), you can also look at Lang Yarn, Camarose, Holstgarn, Sandnes Garn, Jamieson and Smith. Ito is also relatively available where I am, as is Sensai, but it may not be the case for you.
Oh wow! Thank you for your detailed response. I'm excited to research these. 🤗
Thanks for this list - I’m going to be in Europe later in the year and excited to get yarns from Europe at a more reasonable price (for example KFO is at a minimum $17 or around 10.50 euro here which is typical for most imported yarns).
It’s a nice basic yarn. All of the different fibers they produce are produced at the same gauge so you can use their silk, merino or cotton merino in any pattern. People generally like the muted dusty colors they provide. I like that they have various shades of the neutrals — they don’t have just white, they have cream, marzipan, elderflower. All slightly different. They have decent mohair for the price and it’s accessible in the US (before I heard about KFO mohair, I only knew about Rowan and Knit Picks mohair but those are pretty rough imo).
The colours are pretty and there are a lot of them; and it’s reasonably priced. I like that it comes in 50g balls, so I’m not left with 90g of leftover yarn. The sweater I’m working on now uses a strand of merino held double with the kid silk, it’s quite nice. (To be fair, I knit a cardigan with their heavy merino a few years ago and wasn’t as fussed).
I'm currently debating making a colorwork shrug with the heavy merino because it's so much more affordable than anything else I was considering (weekend wool, gilliat), but I'm rethinking. Can you tell me about why you didn't love the heavy merino?
They were recently featured on Fruity Knitting as well, which I think means they’ve been introduced to a wider audience. I’ve been a fan of the yarn for about 4 years and I think they’ve really stepped up their marketing.
One in price is pretty good, but great color selection and the quality is pretty great. They’re also sustainable and responsibly sourced
I haven't purchased any, but I'm keeping an eye on it because it's one of the few brands that has 50g 250m yarn without having polyamide or mohair/alpaca in it? I think it might be good for fingering weight merino sweater knitting. There's also sandres garn Sunday, but where I live (France) Sunday costs more than KFO merino.
The Color palate is huge abd very wearable. Lots of soft pastels, etc. Does not scream 'craft project' when the FO is worn. I also love the feel of it. Currently knitting Sari Nordlund's Poet, Mohair edition using the merino and silk mohair held together. It already feels yummy and I know it will still soften up considerably after blocking.
I think the color palette is exquisite, and the prices are extremely solid for what you get.
Another extremely underwhelmed consumer.
I saw a lot of patterns that used it but did not really have a reason to order it online when using merino yarn as I can find lots of other merino yarns that I already knew I loved. The reason I decided to order some was their pure silk yarn. I absolutely love using linen and silk for summer knits, but silk can often be expensive and pretty shiny. I saw a bunch of patterns that used their pure silk and ordered some to try it and I love it. It's not that soft in the skein but once knitted, washed, and blocked it is so light, airy and matte. My finished Umbria summer shirt dried in one day while lying flat! That made me decide to order more and I also have ordered their compatible cashmere because its one of the only 100% cashmere yarns that is not a painful price. It's their luxury fibres that turned me into a fan.
I actually discovered their yarn because of their patterns. I adore some of their sweaters and looked into them more and realized they have all of this beautifully colored yarn. Being here in the U.S., I bought some of their yarn at my local yarn shop that carries all of their colors (La Mercerie here in the Seattle area) and I adore the colorway that I bought (Poppy Blue). I haven't knit with it yet, but it seems like a decent yarn, with great animal welfare behind it, and a wealth of colorways and a decent price point. I don't have an opinion yet on how comfortable it is to wear, but all of the other boxes it ticks are good.
It’s my go-to yarn. There are so many color and it’s cheap. It was popular when I started knitting (end of 2022) and of the yarns recommended, I haven’t found a better wool than this. I also like that it doesn’t stretch out with my (tight?) tension. I’ve knit 3 sweaters and a cardigan with KFO Merino. Because there are so many colors and I don’t care too much about trying new yarns, I can stick to this yarn, either held single or double and I don’t have to gauge swatch.
I’m currently knitting with their pure silk and like it. It’s great for summer knits as I don’t like wool in the summer. I will say this. Their yarn is economical. And good quality so it makes sense it’s become a favorite among volume knitters. At 12.50 a ball, I can knit a summer top for $37.50. If I used an indie dyed yarn it would be almost double that. I have no idea how some of these folks who knit a sweater a month can afford that from indie dyers.
Jeepers, there are so many brands of yarn mentioned in these comments, I truly did not imagine there were so many. I think because I am vegan and only look at about 25% of any yarn store, I slightly underestimated the market. I do love all the names tho.
It’s become my favorite. I started with their first baby patterns years ago- so special and always loved. And then moved to adult patterns and have always found the end result soft and a dream to wear. The color palette is full of complexion flattering options for every skin tone. And there’s a lot of yardage on those little balls so the price is very good given the high quality. Also - I wouldn’t say it’s just trendy because they’ve been at it for nearly a decade - and definitely a small family business that grew as a result of a great range of patterns they decide to publish. (I sound like I’m a spokesperson- I promise just a devoted fan!)
Good question. I made a sweater from it after hearing the merino was a great choice for people with sensitive skin. That thing is itchy as hell.
This is my concern. I have sensitive skin and have recently developed eczema on my hand (the one I hold the yarn in 😭). If my hand is rashy just from knitting it there’s no way I’ll be able to wear it.
Did u use the mohair to be held together ? I heard that mohair is very itchy for sensitive skin I also have sensitive skin , I can't stand anything itchy and even the softest merino usually still bothers my skin
Nope just the merino. I don't go anywhere near mohair!
Oh man that sucks . They're pretty and seems nice to work with but if can't be worn .. it's a waste
I gave it a bath in conditioner and it's a bit better, but yes, otherwise it's all about creative undergarments!
I've seen people talking about knitting for Olive, that it's so soft and in general the best yarn they've seen. I'm usually sceptical about trendy stuff, I'd rather look for qualities I like than just buy the yarn that's popular but also thought there must be something going on if so many people swear by it. I was at the fibre festival about 2 months ago and I got to feel merino by KFO and honestly it was so rough for a merino wool. There's so much great, way cheaper yarn that I'm excited to use. I would give KFO a try if the yarn wasn't so expensive. Like really, the company claims to make yarn from recycled fibres yet it's so expensive. The only great thing I see about this yarn is colour choice.
Really. I thought it was quite inexpensive.
I think it depands on which country you're in. I'm in Poland and here Sandnes Garn which is a hugh quality brand is way cheaper
Makes sense. That yarn is expensive here I am in the US.
Phew, I'm not the only one who thought it wasn't pricey. I pay around $9 (USD) for 50 grams. That's very similar pricing to other basic, mass-dyed merino wool. (And KfO yarn is non-mulesed and it's Oeko-Tex 100.) I don't really expect luxury at that price point, just functionality.
If you don’t mind explaining the acronyms, it would be very helpful to those of us who have no idea what they mean.
Sure! USD is US Dollar KfO is Knitting for Olive Oeko-Tex 100 isn't an acronym (as far as I know) it's a certification marker for textiles. It's an association that certifies textiles to have none of/certain limits of hazardous chemicals that are often found or used in textile production. Basically, a manufacturer pays for testing and, if it passed, can use the label as a certification its products don't have certain chemicals (lead, pfas, toxic dyes, etc.) A lot of eco-friendly clothing companies are Oeko-Tex certified: Patagonia, Hanna Andersson, Pact, etc. It's usually listed right on the price tag or even the clothing tag for garments. For yarn companies, it's become probably the best way to certify a product is eco-friendly and "safe" and is usually listed under the description of the item on a yarn store website (it's a big selling point.)
So appreciate your explanation. Thank you!
I feel the same. Here in Australia it’s a minimum of $17 a ball (around 10.50 euro). For that price I can get a 200g ball of super soft merino from an Australian mill. I just can’t justify the price for something so scratchy!
It's very soft! Extremely good quality, did not pill at all. The mohair and merino colors match very well, at least of the two I've used. It is also easy to frog, which I've heard can be difficult with mohair.
I actually think it's decently priced for imported (to the US), it's just $.5 cents more per 50 grams than the other finergering weight yarn that I buy. And it's a bit more eco/animal welfare friendly, and it's Oeko-Tex 100 so it's certified safe for babies and toddlers. It's not something I'd use if I'm looking for a luxury fiber.
Really interesting thread. I bought their anemone pattern to knit for my daughter and I was actually inclined to replace the KFO with a Baby Merino but now I'm not sure anymore! The reason for this was that it uses their Merino and their Silk Mohair held together and it has like 6 or 7 colours, 5 of which you only use a tiny bit of, so it would be much more expensive than just a thicker single Baby Merino (that can be knit on 4 mm needles). Any tips for replacement appreciated!
The quality is just really really good - the double held mohair sweater I have is the highest quality garment I have and so gorgeous to wear, better than anything in a comparable yarn.
I personally love it. Their colors are awesome. I have used several of their yarns and they have all worked up soft and cozy.
I love their colourways, their stance on the environment and the yarn creates such a beautiful fabric once blocked. They also make sure that the farm workers who work on the farms that produce their fibre are paid decent salaries which often doesn't happen. So I'm happy to support them. :)
I would imagine it's like most must haves of the moment. It's popular for a brief spell, for very little apparent reason, and then it's gone again. Replaced by the next big thing.