Sweaters and cardigans
Create comfortable crew necks, zip knits, cropped cardigans and relaxed layers with warmth, softness and clean structure.
Mode at Rowan Merino Soft
Everyday merino comfort with a beautifully polished finish
Mode Merino Soft is a luxurious 100% superwash merino wool yarn made for pieces you will genuinely want to wear. Smooth, softly springy and warm without feeling cumbersome, it gives modern garments excellent stitch definition and the comfort to move easily between seasons.
- 100% superwash merino wool combines softness, natural warmth and practical care.
- 80m per 50g ball creates a smooth, substantial Aran / 10 ply fabric.
- Natural elasticity supports neat ribs, defined texture and comfortable shape recovery.
- Eleven versatile shades cover polished neutrals, gentle colour and rich wardrobe accents.
100% MerinoSoft, warm and naturally elastic
80m / 50gSubstantial Aran coverage
6mmOfficial needle recommendation
16 x 22Reference gauge per 10cm
A true everyday-luxury yarn
Soft enough to enjoy, structured enough to rely on
Merino Soft balances comfort with performance. The smooth strand gives crisp stitch definition, while merino's natural elasticity adds bounce and helps the knitted fabric recover. The result feels refined rather than heavy, making it an excellent foundation for sweaters, cardigans, vests and accessories that earn regular wardrobe time.
- Soft, smooth handle for comfortable garments and accessories
- Warm yet breathable natural fibre for changing temperatures
- Clear definition for cables, ribs, moss stitch and stocking stitch
- Superwash-treated merino for more practical everyday care
- Dedicated Mode at Rowan patterns with size-specific ball counts
Luxury you can live in.
Polished enough for a special hand knit, practical enough for the sweater, cardigan or beanie you reach for again and again.
Where Merino Soft works beautifully
Cables and texture
The smooth merino strand lets moss stitch, ribs, geometric cables and subtle surface details remain crisp and easy to appreciate.
Accessories and gifts
Use the soft, substantial fabric for hats, scarves and cowls that feel polished, cosy and satisfyingly quick to finish.
Choose from all eleven Merino Soft shades
Build timeless knitwear with Ink, Camel, Charcoal, Snow and Sand, add wearable softness with Clay, Blush and Sage, or choose Skye, Denim and Plum for richer colour. Every tile uses the exact image assigned to that live Direct Sewing variant.
010Ink
011Clay
012Blush
013Skye
014Camel
015Charcoal
016Denim
017Snow
018Sand
019Sage
020Plum
Screens and lighting vary, so shade images are a guide. Match the shade number and dye lot when purchasing several balls for one project.
Patterns written for Mode Merino Soft
These printed Mode at Rowan patterns use Merino Soft alone or pair it deliberately with Alpaca Haze. Choose the design first and use the exact requirement for your size, especially where two yarns are held together.
Relaxed Sweater
Pedham MIP41
A timeless crew-neck sweater with softly puffed cuffs, using 9 to 17 balls by size.
Beginner Accessories
Holkham MIP42
A two-ball adult hat and seven-ball textured scarf, or nine balls for the complete set.
Cropped Cardigan
Perrin MIP84
A buttoned cardigan with an off-centre Argyle cable, using 9 to 17 balls.
Cable Vest
Oakley MIP82
A high-neck cable slipover with cap sleeves, using 13 to 21 balls by size.
Mens Sweater
Oulton
A clean crew-neck sweater in moss stitch, using 15 to 28 balls by size.
Mens Zip Sweater
Aldeburgh
A refined full-zip sweater with clean stitchwork, using 13 to 25 balls.
Two-Yarn Vest
Mirabelle MIP83
A relaxed V-neck vest holding Merino Soft and Alpaca Haze together.
Two-Yarn Cardigan
Winterton
A cape-style ribbed layer combining Merino Soft structure with Alpaca Haze halo.
How much Merino Soft will your project need?
Merino Soft comes in compact 50g balls with approximately 80m, so adult garments naturally use more balls than a 100g yarn. These examples come from the dedicated patterns above.
An approachable small project for experiencing the yarn and practising shaping.
A textured 26.5cm x 182cm scarf, or nine balls with the matching hat.
Adult sweater and cardigan totals vary by the selected size.
Oakley, Oulton and Aldeburgh use more yarn for cables, moss stitch or larger sizes.
For Mirabelle and Winterton: both Merino Soft and Alpaca Haze are required. Follow the separate quantity listed for each yarn and order the full amount for your size before starting.
Swatch for the fabric, not only the number
Let the pattern gauge guide the fit
Rowan's reference tension is 16 stitches and 22 rows per 10cm using 6mm needles. Individual patterns may use smaller needles, textured stitches or two yarns held together, so work the exact pattern swatch, wash it as directed, dry it flat and measure the relaxed fabric.
Merino tip: the fibre's spring can make an unwashed swatch look tighter than the finished fabric. Measuring only after washing and drying gives a more dependable guide to fit and yarn usage.
16 x 22Official reference stitches and rows per 10cm using 6mm needles. The chosen pattern always takes priority.
Turn pattern metreage into the right ball count
Find your exact size
Use the size-specific ball count whenever the pattern is written for Merino Soft.
Divide metres by 80
When substituting into a compatible pattern, 800m equals 10 balls before any allowance.
Round up and match the dye lot
Order enough together, include your swatch allowance and compare every label before casting on.
Three luxurious fibres with different strengths
Merino Soft for smooth everyday comfort
Choose this superwash 10 ply merino for polished garments and accessories with softness, bounce, clear stitch definition and practical care.
Alpaca Wool for a lighter 8 ply
For a finer alpaca and wool blend with versatile DK weight, explore Mode at Rowan Alpaca Wool.
Softest Alpaca for brushed luxury
For an airy alpaca-rich Aran yarn with a soft halo, explore Mode at Rowan Softest Alpaca.
Verified yarn details
Mode at Rowan Merino Soft specifications
| Brand and range | Mode at Rowan Merino Soft |
|---|---|
| Fibre content | 100% superwash merino wool |
| Yarn weight | Aran / 10 ply equivalent |
| Ball weight | 50g |
| Ball length | Approximately 80m / 87yd |
| Recommended knitting needles | 6mm / UK 4 / US 10 |
| Reference tension | 16 stitches x 22 rows per 10cm |
| Handle and fabric | Smooth, soft and springy with natural warmth, breathability and clear stitch definition |
| Care | Gentle wash up to 40C; dry flat in the shade; do not bleach or tumble dry; low iron and suitable professional dry cleaning are permitted; always follow the ball band |
| Live Direct Sewing shades | Eleven |
Help your merino knit retain its softness and shape
Wash at up to 40C on a gentle or wool setting with a suitable wool cleanser. Avoid harsh agitation and sudden temperature changes.
Support the wet item, smooth it back to its intended measurements and dry flat in the shade. Do not tumble dry.
Fold garments rather than hanging them, clean them before long-term storage and use suitable protection against clothes moths.
Before you cast on with Merino Soft
Is Mode Merino Soft a 10 ply yarn?
Yes. It is sold in New Zealand as an Aran / 10 ply equivalent. Use the official 16-stitch gauge and your pattern tension when checking compatibility, as regional ply names are only a guide.
Is this 100% merino wool?
Yes. Rowan lists the fibre as 100% superwash merino wool.
What does superwash mean?
The wool has been treated to make washing more practical and reduce felting under the recommended care conditions. It still deserves a gentle wash, careful handling and flat drying.
Is Merino Soft suitable for next-to-skin garments?
It is designed for exceptional softness and comfort, but sensitivity varies. If you are very sensitive to animal fibres, wear a washed swatch against the skin before planning a close-fitting garment.
Is it suitable for beginners?
Yes. The smooth strand and substantial gauge make stitches easy to see, and the Holkham hat or scarf offers an approachable dedicated pattern. Swatch carefully when making a fitted garment.
Can I crochet with Merino Soft?
Yes. It can create warm garments and accessories when the crochet pattern gauge and metreage suit an Aran / 10 ply yarn. Crochet may use more yarn than knitting, so follow the stated quantity.
Can it be combined with Alpaca Haze?
Yes. Mirabelle and Winterton are designed with one strand of Merino Soft and one strand of Alpaca Haze held together. Use the exact combined gauge and buy the separate quantity required for each yarn.
How many balls do I need for a sweater?
The dedicated adult patterns shown here use from 9 to 28 balls depending on design, stitch pattern and size. Use the exact pattern requirement rather than a general estimate.
Should I buy all the balls together?
Yes. Ordering the full quantity together gives the best chance of receiving one dye lot. Check every label before starting and alternate balls if slight variation is visible.
Are the online colours exact?
The colour card uses the exact live variant images, but screens and lighting differ. Use the shade number as the most dependable reference and allow for dye-lot variation.
Knit the kind of luxury you will actually wear
Pick one of eleven Mode shades, pair it with a dedicated Merino Soft pattern and create a garment with the softness, stitch definition and practical comfort to become a genuine wardrobe favourite.
Return to the Colour Card