Léttlopi is the most versatile weight of Iceland’s unique and ubiquitous national yarn. While classed as a heavy worsted, it knits into beautiful fabrics across a wide range of gauges. It’s the star of Field Guide No. 17: Lopi, featuring designs by Mary Jane Mucklestone.
Substituting Léttlopi for the Crowberry Sweater? Scroll down for Léttlopi skein quantities.
We have loved knitting with Léttlopi for years now. It is the featured yarn for Mary Jane Mucklestone’s exuberant designs in Field Guide No. 17: Lopi, and a great substitute for the Crowberry Sweater in Field Guide No. 26: Moss.
This marvelous yarn is spun from the double-layered fleece of Icelandic sheep, a robust breed that has spent 1,100 years on the island, adapting to its rough topography and cold, wet climate. Icelandic wool takes dye beautifully—just look at Léttlopi’s glowing colors, from pastels and brights to jewel tones and rustic landscape neutrals.
Léttlopi has another intriguing characteristic: It is a gauge shifter, which means that for cold-weather accessories and outwear, it can be knit to the firm, dense gauge stated on the label, or to a looser gauge for sweaters and scarves that are light and warm but comfortable indoors. Several of the designs in Field Guide No. 17 are knit to this lighter—and speedier—gauge.
Léttlopi is a yarn of character, hardwearing and resistant to pilling. Although definitely a rustic wool, a wash will leave it soft enough for most wool wearers.
To know Léttlopi is to love it. If it’s a new yarn to you, we recommend starting with two balls in different colors and a quick, small project, such as Mary Jane’s Jaunty Beanie or Trinket Mittens.
Using Léttlopi for your Crowberry Sweater or vest? Here are the skein quantities, with shade suggestions based on the photography samples:
Sweater
A 5 (5, 5, 6) (6, 7, 7) (7, 8, 9) skeins Apricot or Rust
