Cottino Yarn Review: A Modern Cotton Merino Blend for Timeless Knits
Cottino by Two of Wands & Lion Brand Yarn launched January 16, 2026
If you love yarn that feels clean, modern, and quietly versatile, this one is worth a closer look. Cottino is a thoughtfully blended cotton and merino yarn with smooth stitch definition and an easy, wearable finish, making it especially appealing for polished, everyday knits. I was so drawn to it that I cast on a sweater almost immediately in the Eucalyptus shade, as I was finishing photographing the full palette.
A Modern Blend Designed for Everyday Makers
Cottino is the next chapter in the Two of Wands collection. It’s a DK weight cotton and merino blend dreamed up for makers who want style, softness, and good yarn care. It’s also a yarn that responds beautifully to wet blocking, helping stitches relax and the finished fabric settle into shape. With 55% cotton and 45% superwash merino, this fiber creates a yarn that offers breathable comfort, gentle warmth, and machine washable practicality in a way that feels both elevated and effortless.
It has a subtle marled finish, graceful drape, and a smooth, even structure that gives stitches beautiful definition. The fabric reads polished rather than fuzzy, which makes it especially well suited for simple textures and both minimalist and more expressive projects. It’s the kind of yarn that makes it easy to get excited about your WIP and settle into the rhythm of knitting.
This yarn is certified to OEKO TEX Standard 100 and made with intentionality and a nod to sustainability by creating a thoughtful balance between everyday function and modern luxury. Cottino is approachable enough for daily wear that can also be refined for special projects.
A Color Palette That Feels Curated, Not Crowded
The color palette is one of the standout features of this launch. The full range includes 24 curated shades that span grounded neutrals, softened pastels, and deeper statement tones that all feel wearable and cohesive.
A few personal favorites right away are Peony, a deep ballet pink; Goose Down, a warm cream with a hint of pink; Limestone, a warm taupe that pairs easily with almost anything; and Dove, a warm pale grey with a pinky grey twist. For bolder accents, Tomato delivers confidence as a fire engine red with a paler red twist; Onyx is a classic and solid ebony black, and Dill brings in a warm olive green with a paler twist that feels especially nice for garments and accessories. Another major standout is Sweatshirt which is a warm greige twisted with cool pale grey. There are even more shades in the complete line, which makes it easy to build color stories for everything from heirloom baby pieces to everyday sweaters and home favorites.
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The Design Vision Behind Cottino
Part of what makes Cottino especially interesting is the design philosophy behind it. The yarn’s designer, Alexandra Tavel of Two of Wands, shared that she wanted to create a yarn that blends luxury, practicality, and modern design sensibility. She aimed to create something that feels at home in a nursery, a curated wardrobe, and home décor projects.
Rather than separating “baby yarn” from “garment yarn” or “home yarn,” the goal with Cottino was to challenge that divide and offer a fiber that feels cohesive across projects and generations. With its cotton and superwash merino blend, easy care, and elevated palette, it’s designed to be both functional and refined. The result? A yarn you’ll reach for again and again.
Favorite Project Types for Cottino
From a project perspective, I especially like Cottino for transitional garments and refined accessories. Think: Sweaters (like a quick mod to The Citydream Sweater), scarves (like the Simple Season Warmer), scoodies (you could hold this double to make the Lakeshore Scoodie), modern tops, and layered pieces are all natural fits. The DK weight gives you enough substance for structure, while the cotton-merino blend keeps the fabric breathable and comfortable.
Because the yarn shows stitch detail so clearly, it pairs especially well with ribbing, stockinette, and subtle texture patterns where you want definition without bulk. It’s a strong choice for projects where you want the shape and finish to feel intentional and wearable.
How It Feels to Knit With
There’s something satisfying about how approachable this yarn feels in the hands. It moves smoothly on the needles and creates a fabric that feels soft and breathable with a nice, flexible drape. In my knitting, I didn’t experience any yarn splitting or dropped stitches, and the strand held up well through repeated rows. I was able to meet gauge comfortably on US 7 (4.5 mm) needles, which made the fabric feel balanced and consistent.
It’s especially nice for slow, meditative knitting, the kind where you can relax into the rhythm and trust that your stitches are going to look good. Between the fiber blend, stitch clarity, and drape, it’s easy to see this yarn becoming a go-to for polished everyday knits that still feel special.
For reference, Cottino is a DK weight yarn at 296 yards (271 m) per 100 g skein, with a knit gauge of 22 stitches and 30 rows on US 7 (4.5 mm) needles and a crochet gauge of 17 single crochet by 25 rows on a 4 mm hook. The current price point is 9.99 usd per skein, which makes it an accessible option for both garment and accessory projects.
Ready to Cast On?
If modern color, soft structure, and easy wearability are your style, Cottino is absolutely one to get excited about. It’s a cast-on-right-away yarn for winter, spring, and summer projects alike, and works beautifully across garments and accessories, from raglan sweaters and cardigans to baby blankets and small gift knits. It looks especially polished in clean stitch patterns and shows off ribbing and texture with beautiful clarity, giving finished projects a refined, intentional feel.
Cottino is made to be loved, used, washed, and worn — by every generation.
