Knitting for Olive Cotton Merino Yarn – 70% Organic Cotton 30% Merino Wool, Fingering Weight

$14.00
Color
Mole

Technical Specifications

• Fiber: 70% OCS-Certified Organic Cotton, 30% RWS-Certified Merino Wool
• Yarn Category: Fingering / Super Fine — Weight 1
• Yardage: 273 yards (250 m)
• Skein Weight: 50 g
• Recommended Needles: US 2.5 (3 mm)
• Recommended Knitting Gauge: 28 stitches x 38 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)
• Certification: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
• Fiber Certification: Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) & Organic Content Standard (OCS), Certified by Control Union CU 1276494
• Animal Welfare: Non-Mulesed Merino Wool
• Care: Hand Wash in Cool Water, Lay Flat to Dry

Category reference: Fingering / Super Fine (Weight 1): 27–32 stitches per 4 inches, US 1–3 / 2.25–3.25 mm. These are category guidelines, separate from this yarn's listed recommendations. Swatch to match your pattern's gauge.

Product Description

Knitting for Olive Cotton Merino is a beautifully balanced fingering-weight yarn that combines the breathability of organic cotton with the softness and elasticity of fine merino wool. The result is a lightweight yarn that feels comfortable against the skin while offering the resilience and stitch definition that pure cotton often lacks.

The blend of 70% OCS-certified organic cotton and 30% RWS-certified merino creates fabrics that are soft, breathable, and comfortable to wear throughout the year. The merino wool adds gentle bounce and elasticity, helping finished garments maintain their shape while remaining light and airy.

Produced to rigorous environmental and ethical standards, Cotton Merino is made with non-mulesed merino wool and is free from harmful chemicals. The yarn is independently certified to both the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) and Organic Content Standard (OCS), and is also certified to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 for added peace of mind.

Whether you're knitting a lightweight sweater, children's clothing, accessories, or everyday wardrobe staples, Cotton Merino creates soft, versatile fabrics you'll reach for season after season.

Why We Love It at A Show of Hands

Cotton Merino offers the best qualities of both fibers. The cotton keeps garments cool and breathable, while the merino provides just enough elasticity to make knitting more enjoyable and finished pieces more durable.

We also appreciate Knitting for Olive's commitment to thoughtful sourcing and sustainability. The combination of certified organic cotton, responsibly sourced merino, and OEKO-TEX® certification makes this a yarn you can feel good about using for garments worn close to the skin.

Perfect For

• Lightweight sweaters and pullovers
• Cardigans
• Children's garments
• Baby garments
• Summer and transitional knitwear
• Hats and accessories
• Everyday wardrobe staples
• Year-round knitting
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Pay with Apple Pay We offer Apple Pay as a swift and secure way to make a payment at checkout.
Order online, collect in-store Choose in-store collection at checkout to pick up your order at select Fresh locations.
Gather and craft Join us in our store for crafting, to ask questions, or dream up new projects!

We’re here for the love of it and the fun of it. For the craft that connects us to something older than any of us.

Fiber Information

Yarn Weight + WPI

Yarn weight refers to the thickness of a yarn. Thickness determines appropriate needle or hook size, finished fabric density, and yardage requirements. Standard weight categories from thinnest to thickest: lace, fingering, sport, DK, worsted, bulky, super bulky.


Weight labels on yarn are approximate. Wraps per inch (WPI) gives a more precise measurement. To measure WPI: wrap yarn snugly around a ruler for one inch, without overlapping strands or stretching. Count the wraps.


WPI reference:

  • 30+ WPI: lace
  • 20–28 WPI: fingering
  • 14–18 WPI: sport
  • 11–14 WPI: DK
  • 9–11 WPI: worsted
  • 7–8 WPI: bulky
  • Fewer than 7 WPI: super bulky

WPI is most useful when a label is missing, when substituting yarns, or when working with handspun yarn.

Gauge and Sett

Gauge is the number of stitches and rows per inch in a knitted or crocheted fabric. It is determined by yarn weight, needle or hook size, and individual tension. A pattern’s gauge is the measurement the designer used to calculate sizing. If your gauge does not match the pattern, your finished dimensions will differ. A small difference over many inches makes a big difference in fit.

To adjust gauge: a smaller needle or hook produces more stitches per inch; a larger needle or hook produces fewer. The goal is to match the pattern’s gauge, not its suggested needle size.


Sett is the weaving equivalent of wraps per inch (WPI). Sett controls how open or dense the finished woven cloth will be. A standard starting point for sett is half the WPI for a balanced plain weave. Twill structures generally require a slightly closer sett; lace structures a more open one.


Both gauge and sett are starting points that need to be confirmed by sampling. Calculate first, then verify with a swatch. Record what you find; your future self will thank you.

Wet Blocking

Blocking is the process of wetting a finished piece, shaping it, and allowing it to dry. It evens out stitches, sets the final dimensions, and for lace, opens the pattern fully.


For protein fibers (wool, alpaca, cashmere): soak in cool water with a small amount of wool wash until fully saturated, typically 15 to 20 minutes. Gently press out water without wringing. Roll in a towel to remove excess moisture. Lay flat, shape to finished measurements, and pin if needed. Allow to dry completely before moving.


For lace pieces, blocking wires threaded through edge stitches produces cleaner lines than pins alone.


Fiber-specific notes:

  • Wool holds its blocked shape well once dry.
  • Silk and silk blends block well and dry quickly.
  • Linen and cotton do not respond to blocking the same way protein fibers do, but wet finishing still softens and settles the fiber.
    Steam blocking is appropriate for fibers that should not be fully saturated. Hold the iron several inches above the surface. Do not press down on wool -- direct pressure and heat flatten the fiber's loft.

    Block to finished measurements, not to the dimensions of the piece as it came off the needles or loom.