When the weather warms up, cotton makes far more sense than wool — breathable, cool against the skin, and machine washable. Rico Essentials Organic Cotton DK is 100% organic bio cotton in a 50g / 105m ball, knitting to standard DK tension on 4mm needles at £3.95 per ball. In this post we cover how cotton behaves differently from wool (the inelasticity, the stitch definition, the weight and drape), what it is best suited to — summer garments, baby items, home accessories, crochet, bags — and everything practical including care, tension, and what to expect from your first cotton project. In stock at Craft and Canvas, Hebden Bridge.

Malabrigo's three bases — Rios, Arroyo, and Ultimate Sock — cover worsted, sport, and fingering weight respectively and suit quite different projects. Rios is the versatile workhorse in 100% superwash merino at 210 yards per skein. Arroyo is a lighter sport weight at 335 yards per skein, ideal for drapey garments and fine colourwork. Ultimate Sock adds 25% nylon for durability at 420 yards per skein. This post compares all three clearly, covers what each is best suited to, and helps you decide which to start with. All at £14.95 per skein at Craft and Canvas.

Few yarn brands inspire the devotion that Malabrigo does — and understanding why requires understanding the story behind it. Founded in 2005 in Montevideo, Uruguay, by two brothers-in-law dyeing wool in a kitchen pot, Malabrigo has grown into one of the world's most recognised artisan yarn companies while retaining the hand-dyed quality, colour complexity, and almost unreasonable softness that made knitters fall in love with it in the first place. This post covers the full brand story — the founding, the kettle-dyeing process, the Uruguayan merino wool and free-range sheep, the ethical production practices, and why we stock it at Craft and Canvas. Rios, Arroyo, and Ultimate Sock all at £14.95 per skein.