Lauren Aston Designs (LAD) merino chunky yarn is my all-time favourite chunky yarn. It’s colourful and soft and Lauren is a knitting queen. I get a fair amount of questions about it so here is my in-depth review which will hopefully answer any questions you have and maybe convince you to give it a go.

Need to know
Price : £13.00 for 200 g (130 m). 4 hanks for £46 (12% off).
Fibre : 100 % merino wool
Needles: 10 -15 mm (I like to use 12 mm).
Colours available : 25
Suitable for felting: Yes

This yarn isn’t plied but is spun and is light and fluffy despite being a chunky yarn. It’s very easy to knit with, even with unhappy hands from all the hand washing. Click here to browse.

Colours
The super chunky merino is available in 25 colours and they’re all available pretty much most of the time (which can’t be said for We Are Knitters and Wool And The Gang). The photos of the yarn on her website are true to life and the range is excellent. If you sign up to one of the subscription boxes there are secret limited edition colours which you can order anytime so really, the crafting possibilities are endless.
My favourite colours: Mink Blush, Lilac, Sky and Soft Peach.

Texture
The LAD chunky merino is chunky but it is much lighter than other chunky yarns. It’s nice to wear under a coat without feeling like a toddler in a one-piece ski onesie and it’s very soft against your skin. Every person is different but I have very sensitive skin and chronic, persistent eczema and it doesn’t irritate me at all and I can wear it with nothing underneath. It will need de-bobbling with wear but this is the same for any chunky wool based yarn but if you look after it well, it will stay looking lovely for a long time.

The company
In addition to having excellent products and patterns, LAD have really good customer service. They reply to emails pretty quickly (especially current circumstances considering - we’re currently in the third UK lockdown because Covid. If you reading this from far away in the future, be proud of yourself that you made it ❤) and if there are any issues with your order, they keep you updated and are very considerate of you as a customer. The yarn is packaged all with recyclable packaging and it looks beautiful and is very much a gift for yourself.

Recommended projects
If you’re looking for a knit kit using this yarn, I’d recommend the Button (Kn)it Up Cardigan. It’s a really good project for beginners but also a great TV knit for more experienced knitters. An alternative if you just want to purchase the yarn, is the Seaside cardigan which is available for free on this site. It uses simple techniques and 12 mm needles so it’s a great beginners project.

FAQ

How does this yarn wash?
This yarn needs to be hand washed and with a wool friendly detergent. It will take a long time to dry - several days and possibly longer if it’s chilly. I recommend spot washing where possible and if it smells worn to air it out before putting into storage.

How does this yarn wear?
Very well. It behaves like wool does and needs a little extra looking after. This little extra care will ensure your garment will last and this is what slow fashion is really about.

How accurate are the images online?
Very. The colours are exactly how they look online.

What about crocheting?
I’ve tried crocheting a kind of granny square jumper with it and it didn’t work out so well. But I would like to try again. I think perhaps a chunky crochet cardigan so watch this space.

Summary
I love this yarn. The only downside is that the price isn’t that accessible but considering it’s 100 % merino, you couldn’t shop-buy a knit for £46 (4 hanks are needed for a cardigan) made of the same fibre. I have no criticisms of it and in my opinion, it’s the best chunky yarn out there.

Other makers’ projects

Left - right - @maisieknitsx in the dreamy cardigan @knit.one.purl.one in her own design in and @_abbycreates in her brioche scarf and rainbow cardigan.

Note: All opinions my own, I’m in no way affiliated with Lauren Aston Designs - I’m just a huge fan girl.