Yesterday, we shared a little about Laxtons, an incredible heritage brand that we’re now stocking. Today, we’re talking about one of their yarns now on our shelves: Wooltrace DK, 100% British wool, spun and dyed by Laxtons in West Yorkshire.

Wooltrace DK is a bouncy, textured traditional British yarn, that is both soft to the touch but also structured enough for cables and other stitches to shine. The palette ranges from traditional woolly neutrals and pastels to deeply dyed jeweltones.

More companies are creating traceable production cycles to ensure transparency and accountability. We love to see it! But Laxtons took this a step further, creating Wooltrace, a group of British farmers paid fair prices who are committed to traceable, transparent practices in raising sheep and producing wool. In fact, Wooltrace yarn is traceable by you, the stitcher—as in, you can use your phone to scan the QR code on the skein in your hands. When you follow the code, you’ll learn all about the farm from where your skein originated.

Wooltrace DK is perfect for a range of garments and accessories, but we especially love it for classic jumpers! Now’s a great time to get started for sweaters that will be ready to wear this fall! Below are some of the yarnistas’ pattern picks for inspiration. Let us know how you’ll be using Wooltrace DK, too!

Yarn Details

• 246 yards (225 meters)/100 grams
• 100% British Wool
• DK weight
• US#6 (4mm) needles or US G (4mm) crochet hook
• Gauge: 22 stitches x 28 rows = 4” x 4”
• Hand wash or gentle cycle, dry flat
• $23 and in-store only

Our Pattern Picks

Colour Block Vest

Sizes

To fit chest: 32-38(40-46, 48-54, 56-62¼)”

Finished Measurements

Finished chest: 45 ½ (52, 57 ¾, 64 ¼)”

Length (front): 27 ½ (28 ¼, 29 ¼, 30)”

Length (back): 30 (30 ¾, 31 ½, 32 ¼)”

Yarn

Color A (shown in Claret) 2 (2, 2, 3) hanks of byLaxtons Wooltrace DK 100% British Wool or approximately 480 (480, 480, 720) yards of DK weight wool

Color B (shown in Poppy) 2 (2:2:2) hanks or approximately 480 (480, 480, 480) yards of DK weight wool

Color C (shown in Sunset) 2 (3:3:3) hanks or approximately 480 (720, 720, 720) yards of DK weight wool

Color D (shown in Warm Blush) 2(2:3:3) hanks or approximately 480(480, 480, 720) yards of DK weight wool

Needles and Notions

• US#6 (4mm) needles
• US#5 (3.75mm) needles
• Stitch markers
• Stitch holders
• Tapestry needle

Gauge

27 stitches and 28 rows = 4” x 4” in cable pattern

Caprina

Sizes

To fit bust 81cm (32in) – 130cm (51.5in)

Yarn

byLaxtons Wooltrace DK (100% traceable British wool, 240 yards/100 grams)

Needles

• US#6 (4mm)

Blatna

Sizes

1 (2, 3, 4, 5) 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Finished Bust Circumference

35.75 (37.75, 42, 44, 48.25) 50.5, 54.5, 56.75, 60.75, 63”

Recommended to be worn with 4” of positive ease at the bust.

Yarn

1200 (1260, 1320, 1365, 1510) 1585, 1690, 1785, 1880, 2000 yards of Wooltrace DK byLaxtons (100% traceable British wool, 240 yards/100 grams) or other DK weight yarn

Needles and Notions

• US#5 (3.75mm) 32” or longer circular needle with a cable length of at least (or needle size to obtain gauge)
• US#5 (3.75mm) double pointed needles (or needle size to obtain gauge)
• US#4 (3.5mm) 16” circular needle or double pointed needles (or needle one size smaller than main needle to obtain gauge)
• Blocking tools (blocking mats, t-pins)
• Cable needle
• Darning needle
• Scrap yarn and/or 2 stitch holders
• Stitch marker
• Tape measure

Gauge

19 stitches x 27 rows = 4 x 4” (in the round and worked flat, in stockinette stitch, on larger needle, after blocking)

29 stitches x 27 rounds = 4 x 4” (in the round, in Chart A, on larger needle, after blocking)

25 stitches x 29 rounds = 4 x 4” (in the round, in 1×1 rib, on smaller needle, after blocking)

Solair

Sizes

1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Finished Measurements

Chest circumference: 36.75 (38.5, 42.5, 46.5, 49.5, 55.25, 58.5, 62.5)”

Upper arm circumference: 11.5 (13, 13.25, 15, 17, 18.5, 21, 21)”

Neck circumference: 17.5, (17.5, 18.5, 18.5, 18.5, 19.75, 19.75, 21)”

Total length center front down excl. collar, incl. hem: 18 (20, 22, 23, 24, 24, 25, 26)”

Sleeve length: 17 (18, 18.5, 18.5, 18.5, 19, 19.5, 19.5)”

To be worn with approximately. 4” positive ease for chest and 3” positive ease for sleeves.

Yarn

Main color: approximately 810 (952, 1208, 1280, 1444, 1586, 1772, 1903) yards of Wooltrace DK byLaxtons (100% traceable British wool, 240 yards/100 grams) or other DK weight yarn

Contrast color: approximately 87 (98, 120, 142, 153, 175, 197, 208) yards of Wooltrace DK byLaxtons (100% traceable British wool, 240 yards/100 grams) or other DK weight yarn

Needles

For plain stockinette

• US#5 (3.75 mm) 32” circular needle
• US#5 (3.75 mm) 16” circular needle or of 40” circular if you use the magic loop, or double-pointed needles

For stranded colorwork

• US#6 (4 mm) 32” circular needle
• US#6 (4 mm) 16” circular needle or 40” circular needle if you use the magic loop, or double-pointed needles

For ribbing

• US#2 (2.75 mm) to US#3 (3 mm) 32” circular needle
• US#2 (2.75 mm) to US#3 (3 mm) 40” circular needle if you use the magic loop or double-pointed needles

Gauge

Stockinette: 20 stitches x 26 rows = 4 x 4”

2 x 1 Ribbing: 24 stitches x 36 rows = 4 x 4”

Stripe Hat

Size

One size to fit average adult head, approximately 21-22”

Finished Measurements

Circumference (unstretched): approximately 15 ¾”

Length: approximately 11”

Yarn

1 hank of Wooltrace DK byLaxtons (100% traceable British wool, 240 yards/100 grams) or 240 yards of DK weight yarn

Needles and Notions

• US#5 (3.75mm) 16” circular needles
• US#5 (3.75mm) 24” circular needles for crown
• Stitch marker
• Large-eyed blunt-tipped sewing needle