Knitting in Hot Weather: The Best Yarn Bases for Summer Projects
Working with Mulberry Silk Fingering and Suri Lace during the hotter months is the best move because lace and fingering weights keep yardage in your hands to a minimum. Mulberry silk wows with its beautiful drape and coolness against the skin — and you'll be surprised how breathable suri alpaca is, wearing light and airy against the skin rather than heat-trapping. Both are worth casting on this summer
Why Hot Weather Feels Harder to Knit (and How to Work With It)
Yes, you can knit outside, even on a hot day when it feels like it might be harder. Here's what to know and how to prepare: Yarn sticks to warm hands, heavy skeins can feel like a lap blanket, and big WIPs will often lose their appeal. The sweaty hands and yarn grime are real, I know! At our studio in Pensacola, Florida, we've learned a thing or two about knitting in heat and humidity. So here's what to do: Go with a lighter weight so there's less yarn in your hands at any moment; choose fibers that don't trap heat against the skin; and plan for smaller, low-pressure projects to keep the reward loop short — in the best way.
Which Yarn Bases Actually Breathe? (The Honest Breakdown)
Mulberry Silk Fingering (our summertime hero)
Silk is a protein fiber with natural temperature-regulating properties, so expect it to sit light on your needles and drape easily. Our Mulberry Silk Fingering collection is made from 100% Grade A Mulberry Silk (438 yards in 100g). At $44 per skein, it's BSY's premium tier for good reason — get ready for pure shiny luxury.
We love how this silk doesn't stick to warm hands the way wool can. It asks for a little extra care at the end, and it's oh-so worth it: wash your finished Mulberry silk project by hand and steam block.
Suri Alpaca / Suri Lace (the counterintuitive summer buddy)
Yes, alpaca yarn can be surprisingly breathable! Most people assume alpaca is a warm fiber, but suri holds a surprise — its long, silky, low-crimp fibers drape open and airy instead of trapping heat close to the body the way a lofty, air-trapping wool does. That drape (plus the silk in the blend) is what makes it wear cool.
BSY's Suri Lace collection is a lovely, pill-resistant 74/26 Suri Alpaca/Silk blend. Each skein clocks in at 328 yards in 50g. For summer in particular, we love using it as a standalone lace-weight project base, not held double. When you're ready, make sure to hand wash only and steam block.
Standard Fingering and Sport weight (superwash merino)
Ah, superwash merino, the classic everyday workhorse. While it's not as naturally breathable as Mulberry silk or suri, the lower gauge means projects work up faster and feel less heavy in your hands. Our Standard Fingering weight collection is a 75/25 Superwash Merino/Nylon (462 yards/100g) — and our Sport weight collection is made from 100% SW Merino (328 yards/100g). Both are lighter-fabric choices than DK or worsted. That means thinner stitches, and less yarn in your lap.
We love pairing these two with summer-ready patterns like shawls, socks, and lightweight accessories. We wouldn't use them for warm-weather sweaters unless the pattern is very open or lacy.
Cotton and Linen
Cotton and linen get a lot of attention for summer knitting, and deservedly so. Both are light, airy, and breathable. But if your stash is all hand-dyed silk and merino, don't worry: you're not missing out. You might just need to rediscover these skeins as summer allies, not just cool-weather companions.
What to Make This Summer (Projects That Actually Make Sense in the Heat)
These just might be the quintessential summer projects according to the BSY flock.
Shawls and wraps
A fingering-weight shawl shows off lightweight yarn and an interesting construction like nothing else. BSY's Mulberry Silk Fingering produces a particularly beautiful drape for triangle and asymmetric shawl shapes. Plus, you can wear it in warm climates — during the evenings, in air conditioning, or on a sunny beach day when shielding shoulders is paramount. Check out our companion read, Silky Projects, for more inspiration.
Socks
Socks work well for both knitters and crocheters — they are portable, engaging, and fast enough to finish before September. Crochet sock patterns are out there and worth trying!
When it comes to knitting, we favor merino fingering if silk feels too special for socks, though silk socks are totally valid; just keep in mind that they won't hold their shape because there is no elasticity and they will wear out much faster than merino wool.
Market bags and lightweight accessories (crochet-forward)
Crocheters, this is your season for market bags and open-stitch wraps that turn heads at the farmers market. BSY's sport weight works beautifully for crocheted accessories with an open stitch pattern. Some of you go hard on lightweight summer tops (peek our lovely Margot Tee crochet pattern), and we are so here for it. Browse all our crochet patterns for more inspo.
Mini skein and fade projects
Summer is when colorway experimentation feels easiest for us. Our mini skeins are definitely the move if you want low investment with high color payoff. And if you've been eyeing our colorways but feel hesitant, minis are a great way to get a taste without committing to a full skein. Feel free to explore our minis collection for a kaleidoscope of moods and colors.
Summer colorway browsing
We have sooo many summer coded colorways, it can be tough to pick. We think our June Summer Palette Feature, along with our Spring and Summer Collections, makes choosing a little easier. Oh, and if you're the kind of person who reads at the beach (heyyyy!), our Beach Reads Set already knows what you're doing this summer.
Practical Tips for Knitting When It's Hot and Humid
You should reach for Mulberry Silk Fingering and Suri Lace for your summer knitting because they both wear cool and keep yardage to a minimum. Mulberry silk is quite cool against the skin, and suri alpaca's silky, low-crimp drape wears airy rather than heat-trapping. Mulberry silk is slippery (in the best way), so it does best on wooden or bamboo needles — metal is too slick and stitches slip off; suri grips more and is happy on either. Living in humid Pensacola has certainly been a crash course in summer knitting know-how!
Use a project bag that breathes
We recommend a bag made of mesh, cotton, or canvas. A zippered plastic pouch, while tempting, will trap moisture.
Keep hands cool
Run cold water over your wrists before sitting down to knit, point a fan at your hands, or knit in an air-conditioned room.
Use bamboo or wood needles for silk
Silk is slippery (in the best way), so it benefits from more textured needles. Metal needles are fine for superwash merino though.
Wind your skeins before summer
If you haven't caked your skeins yet, now is the time. When you're ready, check out our low-pressure tutorial: How to turn your BSY yarn into a perfect cake.
Steam blocking for suri lace
Maybe you've been working on a suri shawl all spring — the hotter months are a great time to steam block and show it off before fall arrives.
Give yourself permission to slow down
Summer's slow pace is ripe for a low-effort, high-impact creation. Don't guilt yourself out of crafting because the pace is slower than usual, just embrace it!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best yarn for knitting in hot weather?
Use Mulberry Silk Fingering and Suri Lace for summer knitting because they both wear cool and keep yardage to a minimum. Mulberry silk is cool against the skin and boasts a beautiful drape, while suri alpaca's silky, low-crimp fibers wear airy rather than heat-trapping. Both are worth having in your summer rotation.
Can I knit with wool in the summer?
Yes — especially at lighter weights like fingering-weight superwash merino. Compared to worsted, its thinner gauge means less yarn in your hands and a lighter fabric. We love socks, shawls, and accessories in fingering weight for practical summer projects (even with merino bases).
Does alpaca yarn work for summer knitting?
Yes, suri alpaca lace weight hits the summer knitting sweet spot. Suri specifically is more breathable than most people expect — its silky, low-crimp fibers drape open rather than trapping heat against your skin the way a lofty wool does. And we love that it's pill-resistant. See this lace weight up close and browse the Suri Lace collection.
By Marcie, founder of Bad Sheep Yarn.
Last updated: July, 21, 2026.
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