Earthspun Nettle Yarn

Composition: 75% cotton, 25% nettle | Yarn weight: about 200 meters for 50 g / 219 yards for 1.8 oz

Yarn category: Worsted, Afghan, Aran | Knitting gauge swatch: 17 stitches and 21 rows in stockinette stitch for 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 in | Crochet gauge swatch: 15 stitches and 18 rows in single crochet for 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 in

Earthspun Nettle is a yarn designed to highlight the beauty of natural fibers. Cotton and nettle are twisted together to create a smooth, consistent yarn with subtle variations in thickness created by its unique spinning technique. The result is a fiber that feels organic, earthy, and durable while remaining easy to work with.

This yarn is crafted in a traditional style that is simple yet full of character and is available in a minimal, timeless color palette. The strength of nettle combined with the softness of cotton makes it ideal for garments, accessories, and home décor projects. It is also a beautiful choice for coiled baskets, adding natural texture while helping create a sturdy finished basket.

Earthspun Nettle works well with medium sized knitting needles and crochet hooks, around size 5. Even though the yarn is loosely twisted, it remains compact and easy to handle. It can be used for knitting, crochet, weaving, macramé, and coiled basket projects. The natural structure of the fiber gives baskets a firm shape and a beautifully rustic look.

Tips:

With knitting needles: This yarn works well in stockinette stitch, although slight skewing may occur, and also performs beautifully in openwork and textured stitches. Relief stitches become very defined with this fiber, so it is best to balance them thoughtfully across the fabric.

With crochet hooks: Basic single crochet can easily be replaced with taller stitches or textured techniques such as popcorn stitches, peanut stitches, or stitches worked along the post. When there are several loops on the hook, simply be mindful to pick up both strands of each stitch. Tunisian crochet also works very well with this yarn.

For coiled baskets: Earthspun Nettle pairs nicely with cotton filler cord or other cores to create strong, structured baskets. Its natural texture adds visual interest while the cotton and nettle blend helps the basket hold its shape, making it great for both decorative and functional baskets.

On the loom: This yarn can be woven on a rigid heddle loom with a 32:10 reed (3.2 ends per cm). It works well as both warp and weft and is easy to handle. The finished fabric has a dry yet pleasant feel and is suitable for garments as well as home accessories like placemats, runners, and cushions.