Pantone’s announcement of “Cloud Dancer” (a shade of white) as 2026 Color of the Year was met with mixed reactions from the fibre space community. (That’s putting it mildly.) But, we pulled data for our 50 top-selling yarns in 2025, and immediately wondered whether Pantone might be on to something. At this point we decided to have a yarn bracket challenge to let you all vote on your favorites. Welcome to fibre space’s 2026 fibre frenzy!
How to Play
Follow along on our Instagram Stories. We’ll have polls up for 24 hours for each round of playoffs. (Instagram limits polls and stories for 24 hours. We at fibre space can’t change this. Our job is yarn, not coding.)
You can vote on your favorites for match ups for the first round. We’ll publish the results the next day, and the challenge will proceed until one favorite is chosen.
Don’t participate on social media? You can still follow along on the Captain’s Log, right here! We will have updates for matches and rounds, and you can compare your bracket against the popular votes.
The Bracket and Round 1 Matches
PDF: Lighter v darker neutrals fibre frenzy bracket
Lighter Neutrals
Top seed: De Rerum Natura Gilliatt in Sel v 8th seed: Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair in Cream
The top seed of this group, De Rerum Natura’s Gilliatt in Sel was 2025’s best-selling yarn, and has the odds in its favor. But fans of mohair love a classic off-white/cream that goes with everything. Normally pretty cozy with this worsted heavyweight, don’t mistake Soft Silk Mohair’s gentle fuzz–it can stand on its own in any competition.
2nd: De Rerum Natura Ulysse in Poivre Blanc v 7th: De Rerum Natura Gilliatt in Poivre Blanc
We swear this wasn’t intentional, but the result of our very accurate rankings and traditional challenge-style setup! This battle of the off-white-with-just-a-touch-of-gray yarns is down to which weight of yarn stitchers prefer.
3rd: Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair Undyed v 6th: De Rerum Natura Ulysse in Sel
Another battle between friends! These two often work together for winter accessories and garments, but which one is truly the strongest competitor?
4th: Knitting for Olive Heavy Merino in Cream v 5th: Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair in Cloud
And yet another battle between two yarns that pair together beautifully. Many of you have held these two together for its sophisticated look, but today they fight to be named your favorite.
Darker Neutrals
Top seed: De Rerum Natura Gilliatt in Goeland v 8th seed: De Rerum Natura Gilliatt in Fusain
We think this is going to be a close one: this match-up of a medium gray versus a dark charcoal Gilliatt is one we’re watching closely. Both classics that go with everything, will the ease of seeing stitches in a lighter yarn give Goeland a slight advantage?
2nd: De Rerum Natura Gilliatt in Poivre v 7th: Knitting for Olive Merino Fingering in Licorice
This match feels like a true wildcard. The bouncy worsted Gilliatt in a light cool brown neutral versus a true, deep black in fingering weight is a fight that could go either way.
3rd: De Rerum Natura Ulysse in Fusain v 6th: De Rerum Natura Ulysse in Bouleau
Same sport-weight base, different shades of gray! The classic dark charcoal goes up against a popular of cool gray with just a touch of blue.
4th: De Rerum Natura Ulysse in Broulliard v 5th: Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair in Licorice
Another match-up we couldn’t have predicted. True black mohair against a perfectly fog-hued sport weight wool? We’re watching to see which team wins, and why.
PDF: Cool v warm fibre frenzy bracket
Cool Colors
Top seed: De Rerum Natura Ulysse in Tempete v 8th seed: Knitting for Olive Merino Fingering in Bottle Green
We’re feeling the dark, moody vibes here. Ulysse in Tempete was the second best seller of 2025 here at fibre space! We think that the Merino Fingering in a deep forest green has a good chance of topping the champion, though.
2nd: Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair in Deep Petroleum Blue v 7th: Knitting for Olive Merino Fingering in Slate Green
The top selling Mohair, and the third top seller overall has a shade so popular the world over, that Knitting for Olive itself sold out of it (you might remember this). Try not to hold that against it (even if you want to hold it with another yarn). Slate Green in Merino Fingering is another solid choice, though, perfect for lighter-weight accessories and garments.
3rd: De Rerum Natura Gilliatt in Cedre v 6th: Knitting for Olive Merino Fingering in Blue Tit
Back to our worsted weight bestie, Gilliatt, this time in the popular forest-y green Cedre. But, the surprisingly nuanced, not-quite-navy Blue Tit might topple that powerful tree with its featherweight Merino fibre.
4th: Knitting for Olive Heavy Merino in Poppy Blue v 5th: Knitting for Olive Fingering in Navy
Poppy Blue is definitely the brightest out of all of these competitors’ conferences, and some yarnistas are die-hard fans of it. But can it hold its own against a classic navy–and which of these Knitting for Olives bases will move to the next round?
Warm Colors
Top seed: Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair in Bordeaux v 8th seed: Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair in Red Currant
Things might get a little hairy in this battle of the Soft Silk Mohair reds: will you choose the deep wine shade of Bordeaux or the unstoppable Red Current for your choice of fuzzy goodness?
2nd: Knitting for Olive Heavy Merino in Bordeaux v 7th: Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair in Pink Daisies
Some yarnistas insist that neons are neutrals, and Pink Daisies, a fuzzy hot pink best-seller, suggests some of you agree! But, can it topple the deep autumnal hue of the worsted-weight Bordeaux that’s perfect for just about any project in your queue?
3rd: Knitting for Olive Merino Fingering in Red Currant v 6th: Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair in Pomegranate
Another bright versus neutrals, we’ve got the fingering weight version of this statement red against the subtle, slightly oranged-toned Mohair. We’ve definitely seen them paired together for depth and halo, but we’re interested to see who comes out on top.
4th: De Rerum Natura Gilliatt in Aubepine v 5th: Spincycle Dream State in Royal Mile
This is the one we couldn’t have predicted: De Rerum Natura Gilliatt in Aubepine is a jewel-toned, burgundy powerhouse. But the true outlier in this challenge, Spincycle Dream State in Royal Mile represents the strong and determined small business ethic of your favorite local yarn store! Will you choose the multicolored teal, orange, and brown color-changing yarn from our fellow woman-owned small business in Seattle, or the classic neutral red in our most popular overall yarn?
Methodology
Our very, very official and scientific methods for a fair competition involved dividing the yarns into four main color groups: Lighter Neutrals, Darker Neutrals, Cool Colors, and Warm Colors. We divided by color—not by yarn weight, fibre content, brand, or other criteria, because it made the most sense to us.
fibre space’s Top Selling Yarns of 2025
- De Rerum Natura Gilliatt Sel
- De Rerum Natura Ulysse Tempete
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Deep Petroleum Blue
- De Rerum Natura Gilliatt Cedre
- Knitting For Olive HEAVY Merino Poppy Blue
- Knitting For Olive MERINO Fingering Navy Blue
- De Rerum Natura Ulysse Poivre blanc
- Knitting For Olive MERINO Fingering Blue Tit
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Undyed
- De Rerum Natura Gilliatt Goeland
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Bordeaux
- Knitting For Olive HEAVY Merino Cream
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Cloud
- Knitting For Olive HEAVY Merino Bordeaux
- De Rerum Natura Ulysse Sel
- Knitting For Olive MERINO Fingering Slate Green
- Knitting For Olive MERINO Fingering Red Currant
- De Rerum Natura Gilliatt Poivre blanc
- Knitting For Olive MERINO Fingering Bottle Green
- De Rerum Natura Gilliatt Aubépine
- De Rerum Natura Gilliatt Poivre
- De Rerum Natura Ulysse Fusain
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Licorice
- Spincycle Yarns Dream State The Royal Mile
- De Rerum Natura Ulysse Brouillard
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Cream
- De Rerum Natura Gilliatt Fusain
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Lavender Blue
- Knitting For Olive MERINO Fingering Petroleum Green
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Artichoke Purple
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Pomegranate
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Pink Daisies
- Knitting For Olive HEAVY Merino Slate Green
- De Rerum Natura Ulysse Bouleau
- Knitting For Olive HEAVY Merino Blue Jeans
- De Rerum Natura Gilliatt Foret
- De Rerum Natura Gilliatt Tempete
- De Rerum Natura Ulysse Biche
- Knitting For Olive MERINO Fingering Clover Green
- Knitting For Olive MERINO Fingering Undyed
- Knitting For Olive HEAVY Merino Undyed
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Dusty Dove Blue
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Dusty Aqua
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Soft Blue
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Red Currant
- Knitting For Olive MERINO Fingering Dusty Artichoke
- Knitting For Olive MERINO Fingering Licorice
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Clover Green
- Knitting For Olive MERINO Fingering Poppy Blue
- Knitting For Olive Soft Silk MOHAIR Navy
