Review: Universal Yarn (& Their Sub-brands)
Estimated reading time: 35 minutes
Intro:
Yarn comes in all different thicknesses textures and fibers, and most companies specialize in specific ones, however I have been very impressed with the diversity and quality of the Universal Yarn lineup. They seem to sell a bit of everything (Cotton, Superwash, Hemp, Linen, Bamboo pop, and lots more!), while keeping the costs affordable and the quality up.
I was fortunate enough to receive some samples of the natural fiber yarns which I hadn’t yet gotten a chance to try, so I have tested each one and listed my findings below. There are some which I absolutely loved which will immediately be added to my regular stash for upcoming projects, plus one or two which I didn’t like so much, but in all cases I have listed my honest opinions along with photos of the test swatch I did so that you can see how they knit up.
Universal Yarn Company Info:
Universal Yarn was established in 2005 by Hal Ozbelli who had a vision of bringing great quality yarns directly from the source to the US (and now Canadian!) markets. They are a relatively young company compared to some of the longstanding brands out there, however over the past 16 years they have grown into one of the big players in the yarn distribution industry, and they have gained a name for themselves through their high quality and affordable products.
Location:
Their head office and distribution center is located in Harrisburg North Carolina, and 95% of their manufacturing is done in Bursa Turkey (although they also just teamed up with an Italian mill to produce some lovely Italian made products as well).
Sub-Brands:
Universal Yarn is the umbrella company for many other yarn brands too: Fibra Natura, Nazli Gelin, Rico Yarns, Rozetti Yarns, & Wisdom Yarns.
Natural vs. Synthetic:
Universal yarn does produce some synthetic yarns however they carry a wonderful selection of natural options too! Because I try not to use synthetics in my craft projects any more than I need to I will only be going into detail on their more natural yarn lines.
For a full list of all of the yarn they sell, scroll down to the bottom of this page and check out the searchable table!
Customer Care:
I have been very impressed with the customer care team, and everyone I have spoken to at universal yarn, they are all very friendly and helpful and truly a pleasure to work with.
Universal Yarn Environmental Impact & Practices:
Overall Universal Yarn seems to be doing what they can to produce their yarns with the health of it’s users and the planet in mind.
Oeko-Tex Certification:
All of their yarns are certified by Oeko-Tex with a Class 1 certification (which is the strictest standard they offer, and approved for use directly against the most sensitive skin for garments like underwear and baby clothes etc).
ISO-9000 Certification:
The Universal Yarn factories and yarn also qualifies for the ISO-9000 classification, which is an international standard required in order to sell in the EU.
Coatings?
Universal Yarn mills do not use any coatings or polymers to treat their natural fibers (other than their superwash, but this is required in any superwash to achieve the washable wool product… more on that below).
Chemicals:
Any chemicals used, including dyes, are approved by ISO-9000 European standards, and Oecko Tex. And after the dying process, all of their yarns are washed multiple times, to prevent anything harmful from being left behind in the end product.
Overall:
Overall Universal Yarn has a very good selection of natural and recycled fibers available, and I have personally found that compared to products I have used from other companies, I find I often gravitate towards Universal Yarn because their quality to price ratio is good, and I appreciate the certifications they carry!
Superwash Yarn:
(I will go deeper into this topic in a review specifically on superwash, but for now here’s some quick info)
Unfortunately I have not been able to get any further information about Universal Yarn’s specific manufacturing process of their superwash… This is not terribly surprising because due to the proprietary nature of the processes used most manufacturers are not willing to share this data…
The benefit with Universal Yarn over many of their competitors is that all of their yarn including their superwash is processed to meet the Oeko-Tex Class 1 and ISO-9000 European standards. Which means that all of the additives and chemicals that they use to create their superwash must meet fairly strict standard.
Now I personally love superwash:
Superwash is awesome to use because it has the warmth of wool, but with the ability to be chucked straight into the washing machine (and often even the dryer)… However one of the main positives for me is the fact that it’s a natural fiber and renewable resource, but when I started doing a little research into the manufacturing processes used to create it I was not pleased to discover that there are some ‘not so eco friendly’ steps required to make this favorite yarn of mine…
How is superwash made?
- Superwash is created by stripping the barbs off the individual strands of fiber (usually using chlorine)
- Then once that is done they use a polymer blend (otherwise known as plastic) which is applied to the fibers to ‘fill the voids and pits’ left after the chlorine treatment, to help prevent felting…
- Â
Now as far as superwash yarn goes I would say that Universal is absolutely one of my favorites, and because it is made following the European standards it will likely be better than some of the other versions out there, however now that I know that it is made with chlorine and polymers superwash is not quite so high no my list of favorites (although I still do love working with it, and in my opinion it’s still going to be better than acrylic or other fully synthetic yarns)…
 *I don’t know how much polymer is required by weight to achieve superwash ability, however I would guess that it would likely be in the order of 5% to 10% by weight? (I wish it was required that companies list the % of polymer on the labels just like any other fiber within a blend, but unfortunately it appears that this is not required at this point.
My Yarn Findings for specific Universal Yarn (and their sub-brands):
OK So Universal Yarn carries a very wide array of different fibers, and I have created a searchable table below which lists them all, however I have only tested their more natural lines because I don’t personally use synthetic fibers in my crafting when I can avoid it.
I am also focusing primarily on easy care yarns, although I have included a couple of hand wash yarns as well just because I had them.
*Yarn preferences are subjective, I have included my comments and ratings below for each of the yarns I tested, and I tried to include some information on the feel and look of each fabric, however these are just my opinions from my point of view, so don’t take my word for it, when in doubt try it out! 🙂
Cottons - Universal Yarn
Universal Yarn Cotton SupremeBuy at my store |
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Composition: 100%  Cotton Care & Washing: machine wash warm. Tumble dry, low |
Needle Size: 4.5mm Ball Size: 100g (Hank) Length: 180yd/165m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Purple (513) |
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My Comments:
I really like this yarn and will definitely be using it again soon! It knits up beautifully and has wonderful drape and stitch definition. The fabric it creates is very soft and would be lovely even directly against skin or used in baby clothes.. And the colors are beautiful and vibrant! |
Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme DKBuy at my store |
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Composition: 100% Â Cotton Care & Washing: Machine wash warm. Tumble dry, low |
Needle Size: 4.0mm Ball Size: 100g (Hank) Length: 230yd/210m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Hosta (732) |
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My Comments: This is very soft and beautiful to knit with, very similar to it's Worsted weight cousin, this also has lovely stitch definition and drape. The finished fabric is of course a little lighter then the worsted version, but it has the same lovely soft texture and would make lovely shirts and baby items. (I plan to make a blanket using one of these cotton supreme weights, so keep an eye out for the pattern next year!) |
Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme Waves (DK)Buy at my store |
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Composition: 100% Â Cotton Care & Washing: Machine wash warm. Tumble dry, low |
Needle Size: 4.0mm Ball Size: 100g (Cake) Length: 230yd/210m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Prism (909) |
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My Comments: Another Cotton Supreme DK. This yarn has the same lovely feel and texture as the others in it's familial group, and can be used interchangeably with Cotton Supreme DK. The only difference with this one is that it has color changes... (As you can see from the test swatch I did the stripe pattern changes are not super close together, so this would be better used on medium and larger works to get the full effect of the stripes!). |
Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme Sapling |
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Composition: 100% Cotton Care & Washing: Machine wash warm. Tumble dry, low |
Needle Size: 6.0mm-6.5mm Ball Size: 100g (Hank) Length: 109yd/100m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Hosta (808) |
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My Comments: Again this is another member of the Cotton Supreme family. I am not a huge fan of this style of yarn, it's essentially a roving yarn with a thin spun strand wound around it to hold everything in place, which creates a bumpy texture, that I am sure has a purpose, but I find it a little less pleasant to knit with. The finished fabric is very soft, but it's extra bumpy which I'm sure would be perfect for some projects, but for what I tend to do I personally like cleaner lines :). |
Fibra Natura Radiant CottonBuy at my store |
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Composition: 100% Egyptian Cotton Care & Washing: Machine wash cold. Tumble dry, low. |
Needle Size: 3.75mm (used 3.5 for swatch) Ball Size: 100g (Hank) Length: 203yd/186m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Cabernet (825) |
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My Comments: This yarn has a lovely sheen to it, and the stitch definition is amazing. I quite enjoyed working with it and could definitely see using it again on future projects... It wouldmake lovely light clothing or any number of other soft cotton items. The fabric it creates is a little shiny and quite soft with a beautiful smooth feel to it. |
Rico Ricorumi |
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Composition: 100% Â Cotton Care & Washing: machine wash, warm. Tumble dry, medium |
Needle Size: 3.0mm Ball Size: 25g (Skien) Length: 62.8yd/57.5m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Aqua (074) |
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My Comments: The yarn itself is really quite nice, and I enjoyed knitting with it, however the little 25g balls are itsy bitsy! 🙂 These would likely be good for colourwork on baby clothes etc, but for anything larger you would need a huge number just to finish even a modest sized project. The fabric it creates is beautiful though, and I love the stitch definition and the lovely smooth soft texture. |
Fibra Natura Cotton True Sport Buy at my store |
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Composition: 100% Cotton Care & Washing: Machine Wash Warm. Dry Flat |
Needle Size: 4.0mm Ball Size: 100g (Ball) Length: 262yd/240m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Stormy Blue (110) |
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My Comments: This is a lovely fine cotton which would be ideal for baby clothes or a nice soft spring top! It's very enjoyable to knit with, the only negative for me is that I noticed that this yarn seems to have a habit of getting twisted (likely due to the way it is constructed), but it didn't hamper my knitting abilities so I don't mind. The resulting fabric is lovely and soft with a nice drape, and a beautiful soft feel to it. |
Universal Yarn Clean Cotton |
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Composition: 85% Recycled  Cotton 15% Recycled Polyester Care & Washing: Machine wash warm. Tumble dry, low. |
Needle Size: 4.5mm Ball Size: 75g (Skein) Length: 131yd/120m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Blue Bell (116) |
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My Comments: This yarn is ok, and it knits up nicely, however personally if given a choice I would choose any of the 100% cotton options over this one every time... The fabric created with this yarn is not quite as soft as their other cottons, and personally I would rather avoid the polyester whenever possible even if it is recycled. |
Universal Yarn Clean Cotton Big |
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Composition: 85% Recycled Cotton 15% Recycled Polyester Care & Washing: Machine wash warm. Tumble dry, low. |
Needle Size: 10.0mm – 12.75mm Ball Size: 200g (Cake) Length: 57yd/50m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Daiquiri (104) |
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My Comments: For super bulky yarn it's often hard to find washable natural fibers, so this is actually a nice one in my opinion, and the fact that it's recycled is a nice bonus too! I found knitting with it to be a bit cumbersome, but I think that's par for the course with yarn this thick... The yarn itself is an almost braided round strand which seems to lend itself to knitting quite well. The finished fabric is very thick and cushy. |
Other Natural Fibers - Universal Yarn
Universal Yarn Bamboo Pop |
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Composition: 50% Bamboo 50% Cotton Care & Washing: Machine Wash, warm (gentle/delicate). Dry flat. |
Needle Size: 3.5mm Ball Size: 100g (Ball) Length: 292yd/266m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Bright Spot (212) |
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My Comments: Lovely to work with, and has a beautiful drape. I quite like the color pattern as well and I can see using this yarn for projects in the future for sure! The resulting fabric is very soft and light, and would make a great summer top or baby items. The color changes are short and very frequent, so this could be used on large or small items depending on your desired results. |
Universal Yarn Bamboo Pop Sock |
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Composition: 55% Bamboo 37% Cotton 8% PBT Care & Washing: Machine Wash, warm (gentle/delicate). Dry flat. |
Needle Size: 2.25mm Ball Size: 100g (Ball) Length: 492yd/450m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Egg Tempura (405) |
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My Comments: This sock yarn is quite nice to knit with, it has a bit of a bumpy texture due to it's construction, but it's nice and even, and in this case I actually like the texture. As you can see from the little swatch I created the colors change quite frequently which keeps it interesting, and would mean that it would be great for small projects! It would make lovely socks for spring summer and fall. The resulting fabric is very soft and has an almost slippery texture, and white speckled texture/colour! |
Fibra Natura JavaBuy at my store |
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Composition: 100% Â Hemp Care & Washing: Machine Wash, (gentle/delicate). Tumble Dry Low. |
Needle Size: 4.0mm Ball Size: 100g (Ball) Length: 219yd/200m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Riviera (107) |
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My Comments: I do love hemp yarn for its durability and strength, however it can be quite scratchy and rough to work with and this one is no exception (although compared to some other hemp yarn I have seen this one is actually not too hard on the hands). The muted colors are beautiful, and the durability of hemp just can't be beat! The finished fabric is quite open and rough, so it's definitely not something you would want to wear against your skin, however there are lots of applications for household items I can think of (check out my free dishcloth patterns for scrubbies!). |
Fibra Natura FlaxBuy at my store |
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Composition: 100% Â Linen Care & Washing: Machine wash, warm. Tumble dry low. |
Needle Size: 3.75mm (swatch knitted on 3.5mm) Ball Size: 50g (Hank) Length: 137yd/125m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Mineral (20) |
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My Comments: Oh how I love natural fibers! The strength and durability of linen is legendary and while it starts off a little firm it tends to get softer with use. Not nearly as rough as Hemp, and much easier to work with. I actually quite enjoyed knitting the swatch and as you can see in my Eco Dishcloth/Scrubby Trio Pattern. The fabric created with this yarn is a little more open a weave then cotton and some of the softer yarns, but it actually feels somewhat soft (and as with all linen it's likely to soften more with use). Would make a lovely summer top or other cool article of clothing. |
Fibra Natura Unity |
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Composition: 36% Wool 28% Cotton 18% Linen 18% Bamboo Care & Washing: Hand-wash. Dry Flat. |
Needle Size: 4.0mm Ball Size: 100g (Skein) Length: 262yd/240m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Stone Blue (104) |
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My Comments: Personally this is not a yarn I would choose to use... I wanted to love it because I love the fiber's it's made from, however it is very uneven, with extremely chunky sections right down to super fine sections, (plus, hand-wash only is another minus in my books, which I can overlook if I love the yarn, but in this case it's just not for me)... However after speaking with Universal Yarn they have assured me that the uneven texture is by design, and that they are aware that this yarn is in the 'love it or hate it' category. Apparently there are lots of people who love it for it's unique character and varying texture, and I do agree that the fiber mix is awesome! If you like the rustic and unique look (which lots of people do!) then you might be in the "love it" group, but for me it's just not my cuppa-tea :). |
Fibra Natura PapyrusBuy at my store |
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Composition: 78% Cotton 22% Silk Care & Washing: Machine Wash, Cold (gentle/delicate). Lay flat to dry. |
Needle Size: 4.0mm Ball Size: 50g (Ball) Length: 131yd/120M Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Tempest 229-16 |
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My Comments: This one feels lovely to work with, I could see making a nice summer top or a lovely fall/spring scarf! The finished fabric is soft with great stitch definition, I could definitely see working more with this in the future! |
Superwash - Universal Yarn
Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted SuperwashBuy at my store |
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Composition: 100% Â Superwash Wool Care & Washing: Machine wash, warm. Tumble dry low. |
Needle Size: 4.5mm Ball Size: 100g (Ball) Length: 218yd/ Yarn Size: |
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Swatch Colour = |
My Comments: This is one of my favorite yarns to work with, I only wish they didn't have to use chlorine and polymers to make superwash, (see information above about how superwash is made). But even with that I still love this yarn, and it makes lovely hats and blankets and many other cozy winter warmers! The fabric this yarn creates is lovely and soft with great stitch definition. I have tested this yarn in the washing machine and it actually holds up great, and I have even tested they dryer, and it seemed totally fine there too (although I prefer hanging to dry just to be safe :)). |
Universal Yarn Deluxe DK Superwash |
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Composition: 100% Â Superwash Wool Care & Washing: Machine wash, warm. Tumble dry low. |
Needle Size: 4.0mm Ball Size: 100g (Ball) Length: 284yd/259m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Petrol Blue (814) |
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My Comments: The little sister to their Worsted superwash, with the same beautiful stitch definition and feel it's just a little more delicate and would make wonderful spring and fall layers to take the chilly edge off. The finished fabric holds it's shape nicely and feels lovely. All of these Deluxe Superwash yarns feel nice and soft on the hands, but do have that slight scratchy feeling you get from wool (although less than plain wool) when worn directly against sensitive skin. If you are sensitive to wool it might be best to use this for outer layers. |
Universal Yarn Deluxe Bulky Superwash |
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Composition: 100% Â Superwash Wool Care & Washing: Machine wash, warm. Tumble dry low. |
Needle Size: 6.5mm Ball Size: 100g (Ball) Length: 106yd/97m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Petrol Blue (814) |
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My Comments: If the Deluxe DK is the Little sister to the Worsted then this one is the Big Brother! I personally find that I tend to prefer finer yarns just because you get more yardage to a ball, however even with its bulky consistency, this yarn knits up beautifully with full stitch definition, and I can tell that it would make lovely articles of clothing or blankets. The finished fabric this yarn creates is the same soft springy texture as it's smaller 'siblings', but this one just has extra bounce and thickness to it. It would make super quick hats and other bulky outerwear that would knit up fast and keep you warm all winter! |
Universal Yarn Deluxe Stripes |
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Composition: 75% Superwash Wool 25% Nylon Care & Washing: Machine wash gentle. Hang to dry |
Needle Size: 4.5mm-5.0mm Ball Size: 100g (Skein) Length: 218yd/200m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour =Nebula (308) |
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My Comments: Quite similar in look and feel to the other Deluxe Superwash wool by Universal, however this one has some nylon in it. The bold colors are nice, and the color change is quite tight, so it would work fine for any sized project large or small depending on the look you are going for. I could see using this yarn to make a hat or gloves, or even a nice warm vest to keep you warm. The finished fabric has a nice cushy feel to it and the stitch definition is beautiful, but I personally prefer the 100% superwash yarn. |
Fibra Natura DonnaBuy at my store |
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Composition: 100%Â Extra Fine Merino Superwash Care & Washing: Machine wash. Dry Flat |
Needle Size: 4.0mm Ball Size: 50g (Ball) Length: 126yd/115m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Purple Beet (116) |
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My Comments: This yarn has a beautiful feel to it, with a lovely springy texture. It would make a wonderful scarf or other cool weather items to keep you warm! The stitch definition is amazing, and I could defiantly see myself using this yarn in the future. The fabric it creates would be lovely and warn without as much bulk as some of the other superwash yarns, and it's very soft and pleasant against the skin, so a scarf made from this would be amazing! |
Universal Yarn Bella Cash |
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Composition: 60% Fine Superwash Merino 30% Nylon 10% Cashmere Care & Washing: Machine wash, cold (gentle/delicate). Dry Flat |
Needle Size: 3.25mm Ball Size: 50g (Ball) Length: 230yd/210m Yarn Size: |
Swatch Colour = Amethyst (122) |
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My Comments: Very nice to knit with, and it has lovely stitch definition. Because the yarn is fairly fine the resulting fabric is actually quite light, and could make nice spring or fall clothing. The fabric it creates is quite soft and feels like it would be nice and warm without the bulk. |
Here's a searchable list for all of Universal Yarn Products
The table below is fully searchable (ie if you are looking for Linen Yarn all you have to do is type Linen into the search box below and it will show all of their yarn with Linen as a component).
You can also sort the table by a specific attribute by clicking on the header cells (ie if you would like to sort the table by Needle size just click where it says “US Needle Size”) and the table will sort for you.
*Each of the Yarns which I have tested and reviewed above, have a little Happyknitting logo on the left
Reviewed Above? | Company/ Sub-Company | Yarn Name | Composition/ Fibre | US Needle Size | Yarn Weight | Grams/ Ball | Yards/ Ball | Number of colors Available |
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Universal Yarn | Adore | 55% Superwash Merino 45% Acrylic | 5 | 3 - Light | 100 | 273 | 32 | |
Universal Yarn | Bamboo Bloom Handpaints | 48% Bamboo 44% Wool 8% Acrylic | 9 | 5 - Bulky | 100 | 154 | 22 | |
Universal Yarn | Bamboo Pop Solid / Multi / Dots | 50% Bamboo 50% Cotton | 6 | 3 - Light | 100 | 292 | 42 solid 25 multi 6 dots |
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Universal Yarn | Bamboo Pop Socks | 55% Bamboo 37% Cotton 8% PBT | 1 | 1 - Super Fine | 100 | 492 | 16 | |
Universal Yarn | Be Wool Solids | 40% Wool 60% Acyrlic | 17 | 5 - Bulky | 200 | 94 | 12 | |
Universal Yarn | Be Wool Multis | 40% Wool 60% Acyrlic | 17 | 5 - Bulky | 170 | 80 | 6 | |
Universal Yarn | Bella Cash | 60% Fine Merino Superwash 30% nylon 10% cashmere | 3 | 2 - Fine | 50 | 230 | 26 solid | |
Universal Yarn | Bella Chenille | 100% Polyester | 10.5 | 6 - Super Bulky | 100 | 131 | 29 | |
Universal Yarn | Bella Chenille Big | 100% Polyester | 13 | 6 - Super Bulky | 200 | 87 | 14 | |
Universal Yarn | Clean Cotton | 85% recycled Cotton 15% recycled Polyester | 8 | 4 - Medium | 75 | 131 | 21 | |
Universal Yarn | Clean Cotton Multi | 85% recycled Cotton 15% recycled Polyester | 8 | 4 - Medium | 55 | 96 | 15 | |
Universal Yarn | Clean Cotton Big | 85% recycled Cotton 15% recycled Polyester | 15 | 5 - Bulky | 200 | 55 | 8 solids 8 multis |
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Universal Yarn | Colorburst | 65% Superwash Fine Merino Wool 35% Acrylic | 6 | 3 - Light | 200 | 656 | 17 | |
Universal Yarn | Cotton Supreme | 100% Cotton | 8 | 4 - Medium | 100 | 180 | 45 | |
Universal Yarn | Cotton Supreme Sapling | 100% Cotton | 10 | 5 - Bulky | 100 | 109 | 17 | |
Universal Yarn | Cotton Supreme DK | 100% Cotton | 6 | 3 - Light | 100 | 230 | 32 | |
Universal Yarn | Cotton Supreme Waves | 100% Cotton | 6 | 3 - Light | 100 | 230 | 19 | |
Universal Yarn | Deluxe Worsted | 100% Wool | 8 | 4 - Medium | 100 | 220 | 148 | |
Universal Yarn | Deluxe DK Superwash | 100% Superwash Wool | 6 | 3 - Light | 100 | 284 | 61 | |
Universal Yarn | Deluxe Worsted Superwash | 100% Superwash Wool | 8 | 4 - Medium | 100 | 218 | 72 | |
Universal Yarn | Deluxe Bulky Superwash | 100% Superwash Wool | 10.5 | 5 - Bulky | 100 | 106 | 52 | |
Universal Yarn | Deluxe DK Superwash Tweed | 90% Superwash Wool 7% Acrylic 3 % viscose | 6 | 3 - Light | 100 | 284 | 20 | |
Universal Yarn | Deluxe Worsted Superwash Tweed | 90% Superwash Wool 7% Acrylic 3 % viscose | 8 | 4 - Medium | 100 | 218 | 20 | |
Universal Yarn | Deluxe Stripes | 75% Superwash Wool 25% Nylon | 8 | 4 - Medium | 100 | 218 | 6 | |
Universal Yarn | Major | 100% Acrylic | 10 | 5 - Bulky | 200 | 328 | 38 | |
Universal Yarn | Nordic Tapestry | 70 % Acyrlic 30 % Wool | 8 | 4 - Medium | 200 | 437 | 7 | |
Universal Yarn | Penna | 50 % Baby Suri Alpaca 28% Extra Fine Merino 22% Nylon | 0-2 | 1 - Super Fine | 25 | 186 | 16 | |
Universal Yarn | Ready To Dye 01 Bamboo/Merino/Nylon | 50% Merino Wool 25% Rayon from Bamboo 25% Nylon | 0-2 | 1 - Super Fine | 100 | 459 | 1 | |
Universal Yarn | Ready To Dye 02 Wool/ Nylon Sock Weight | 75% Superwash Merino Wool 25% Nylon | 0-2 | 1 - Super Fine | 100 | 450 | 1 | |
Universal Yarn | Ready To Dye 03 Superwash Merino Sock Weight | 100% Superwash Merino Wool | 0-2 | 2 - Fine | 130 | 370 | 1 | |
Universal Yarn | Ready To Dye 04 Superwash Merino Worsted Weight | 100% Superwash Merino Wool | 8 | 4 - Medium | 100 | 180 | 1 | |
Universal Yarn | Ready To Dye 05 Superwash Merino / Nylon / Angora Sock | 50% Superwash Merino Wool 30% Nylon 20% Angora | 0-2 | 1 - Super Fine | 100 | 460 | 1 | |
Universal Yarn | Ready To Dye 08 Linen DK Weight | 100% Linen | 7 | 3 - Light | 100 | 275 | 1 | |
Universal Yarn | Ready To Dye 09 Merino/Silk Sport Weight | 75% Merino Wool 25% Silk | 4 | 3 - Light | 100 | 330 | 1 | |
Universal Yarn | Uptown Baby Sport | 100% Acrylic (Anti Pilling) | 4 | 2 - Fine | 100 | 361 | 27 | |
Universal Yarn | Uptown Super Bulky | 100% Acrylic (Anti Pilling) | 13 | 6 - Super Bulky | 100 | 87 | 19 | |
Universal Yarn | Uptown DK | 100% Acrylic (Anti Pilling) | 6 | 3 - Light | 100 | 273 | 55 | |
Universal Yarn | Uptown Worsted | 100% Acrylic (Anti Pilling) | 8 | 4 - Medium | 100 | 180 | 71 | |
Universal Yarn | Universe | 42 % Linen 41% Combed Cotton 8% Polyamide 9% Glitter | 1 | 1 - Super Fine | 50 | 246 | 10 | |
Universal Yarn | Wool Pop | 35% Superwash Wool 50 % Bamboo 15% Polyamide | 6 | 3 - Light | 100 | 284 | 30 | |
Universal Yarn | Yashi | 100% Raffia | 9 | 4 - Medium | 40 | 99 | 17 | |
Universal Yarn | Yashi Iro | 100% Raffia | 9 | 4 - Medium | 50 | 124 | 4 | |
Fibra Natura | Cashmere Lusso | 50% recycled Cashmere 50% Virgin Cashmere | 3 | 2 - Fine | 50 | 246 | 15 | |
Fibra Natura | Cotton True Sport | 100% pima cotton | 3 | 2 - Fine | 50 | 197 | 21 | |
Fibra Natura | Dona | 100 % Extra Fine Merino Superwash | 6 | 3 - Light | 50 | 126 | 38 | |
Fibra Natura | Donina | 100 % Extra Fine Merino Superwash | 3 | 2 - Fine | 50 | 180 | 25 | |
Fibra Natura | Flax | 100% Linen | 5 | 3 - Light | 50 | 137 | 35 | |
Fibra Natura | Flax Lace | 100% Linen | 2 | 1 - Super Fine | 100 | 547 | 19 | |
Fibra Natura | Java | 100 % Hemp | 6 | 4 - Medium | 100 | 219 | 12 | |
Fibra Natura | Kingston Tweed | 50% wool 25% alpaca 25% mixed fiber | 5 | 3 - Light | 50 | 194 | 15 | |
Fibra Natura | Papyrus | 78% cotton 22% silk | 6 | 3 - Light | 50 | 131 | 22 | |
Fibra Natura | Radiant Cotton | 100% Egyptian Cotton | 5 | 3 - Light | 100 | 203 | 32 | |
Fibra Natura | Ravello | 75% cotton 16% extra fine merino 9% recycled cashmere | 3 | 2 - Fine | 50 | 207 | 16 | |
Fibra Natura | Unity | 36% wool 28% cotton 18% linen, 18% bamboo | 6 | 3 - Light | 100 | 262 | 15 | |
Fibra Natura | Unity Beyond | 36% wool 28% cotton 18% linen, 18% bamboo | 6 | 3 - Light | 100 | 262 | 9 | |
Fibra Natura | Whisper Lace Solid/Multi | 70% Wool 30% Silk | 2 | 1 - Super Fine | 50 | 440 | 14 solid 13 multi |
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Rozetti | Cinema | 70% wool 25% nylon 5% cashmere | 10 | 5 - Bulky | 100 | 109 | 10 solids 5 multi |
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Rozetti | Cotton Gold | 65% Cotton 27% Payette 8% Metallic | 1-3 | 1 - Super Fine | 25 | 200 | 10 | |
Rozetti | Nymph | 84% Cotton 16% Polyamide | 6 | 3 - Light | 50 | 125 | 15 | |
Wisdom | Allegro | 93% Acrylic 7% PBT | 2 | 1 - Super Fine | 100 | 470 | 9 | |
Wisdom | Pix | 75% Superwash Wool 25% Nylon | 1 | 1 - Super Fine | 100 | 459 | 8 | |
Wisdom | Wacki Saki | 50% Superwash Merino 25% Nylon 25% Bamboo | 0-2 | 1 - Super Fine | 100 | 462 | 8 |
In Summery:
Universal Yarn produces some lovely fibers which I am proud to use and recommend (and a few that are not my #1 choice too, but no company is perfect!).
I love that they have such a wide variety of fibers to choose from, and that their price point reasonable.
There are tons of other brands out there who sell similar products, here’s a list of just a few of the ones I know of off the top of my head.
Some other yarn brands are:
Patons: these guys are probably best known for their Kroy Superwash sock yarn (and rightly so, because it’s great to work with!). They also appear to have some other wool and bamboo options, but I have not personally used anything other than their sock yarn. (Kroy sock yarn is wonderful for making socks, gloves and hats though!)
Bernat: Lots of Acrylic yarns, but they do have some Cottons, and their prices are quite reasonable. Their yarns tend to be readily available at most large craft stores like Michael’s etc. (I use their 50g cotton skeins for making dishcloths etc because they are cheap and knit up nicely, and tend to last a long time).
Cascade Yarns: Similar product diversity to Universal Yarn’s lines, however they tend to be more expensive in my experience, and personally I have found that the quality between Cascade and Universal seems quite comparable although I haven’t tested Cascade as extensivly.
Berroco Yarns: this company has been around since the 1800’s so they know a thing or two about textiles! They have a great selection of natural fiber yarns, a few of which I have used over the years, but most of them I haven’t. They have everything from Cotton merino and wool, to Linen Mohair and Silk, and they seem to be reasonably priced (I hope to do a review on their yarns in the future!).
King Cole Yarn: I have not personally used any of their products, but they seem to have some cottons and a few other natural fibers which look like they would be nice to try and at a reasonable price.
Plymouth Yarns: lots of bright colors and they seem to be competitively priced. I have not had a chance to test these, but they seem to have some natural options (cottons, wool, alpaca, merino, and even linen… as well as lots of acrylic).
Lily Sugar ‘n Cream: cheap cotton options, good for dishcloths etc.
Lion Brand: These guys have been around a long time, and carry a wide arrangement of options that tend to be readily available in larger craft stores, however again most of their options are synthetic. Luckily they do have some cotton, wool, and bamboo options too (again I haven’t had a chance to test any out myself, but I will let you know when/if I do).
Naro Yarn: This is a neat company with lots of natural fibers in fun colors although they appear to be in the more expensive price ranges (I haven’t had a chance to test any of their products yet either)
Paint Box Yarns: Their prices seem quite reasonable, and they have fun and bright colors available in all of their lines. With wool and Cotton options (again I haven’t tested these)
Rowan Wool & Yarn: This is a British company which appears to produce some lovely Cotton, wool, alpaca, merino and other natural fiber yarns… One day I hope to test them all!
Schachenmayr Yarn & Wool: is a German based company and has been in operation a very long time. They appear to have some lovely 100% cotton options and a few other natural fibers (I will definitely be keeping an eye out for their product to test in a future review)
These are just a few of the many many companies out there selling yarn.
I personally use a lot of Universal Yarn, because I trust their quality and the price point is generally in my price range whereas many others are a lot more expensive for similar products. Plus I appreciate that they certify their yarn with OEKO-TEX and ISO-9000, which not all companies do.
That’s it for my comments on Universal Yarn!
I hope this review has helped to give you some insights into Universal Yarn (and maybe some other yarn companies too!).
Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think!