Self-striping worsted yarn: wool-acrylic blend
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There's a particular kind of exhaustion that hits mid-project when you're juggling three balls of yarn just to get stripes. Cake Ottley skips all of that. The colour shifts happen on their own as you work, which means your full attention stays on the stitch pattern — or, honestly, on the podcast you've been saving for a long WIP session.
The 90% acrylic content keeps care genuinely easy. Toss the finished piece in the machine on a gentle cycle and you're done — no anxious hand-washing, no laying flat to dry on a towel for two days. The 10% wool is there for a reason though: it gives the yarn a little body and warmth that a straight 100% acrylic doesn't quite replicate. If you've ever knitted something in a cheap acrylic and watched it go limp and pill after a few washes, you'll feel the difference immediately. For a wool-free alternative at the same worsted weight, Favorite is our go-to 100% acrylic worsted — it's incredibly consistent and easy on the wallet for larger projects.
Beginners do really well with this one. Worsted stitches are big enough to read clearly, so you'll catch a dropped stitch before it becomes a whole frogged row. The smooth twist means the yarn doesn't split under your needle the way a loosely-plied yarn might, which is a small thing until it isn't. Each ball is 150g and 350m, and since the pack comes with two, you've got 700m in hand before you even cast on — comfortably enough for a hat-and-cowl set or a solid baby blanket. For a full adult pullover you'd generally want two packs (the extra yardage also gives you a margin for swatching properly). If you want a wool-acrylic with more fibre content and a slightly lighter weight for shawls or accessories, Mirage Color is a 50/50 wool-acrylic DK worth keeping in the queue. And for something at the same worsted weight with a softer alpaca-blend drape — great when a project calls for a bit more elegance — Zerda Alpaca is worth a look.
Colorways available right now are Orange Shades, Blue Shades, Green, Brown Shades, and a mixed Orange/Turquoise/Green option. Stock on outlet yarns moves, so if a shade is calling to you, grabbing it sooner rather than later is the safer bet.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Fiber Composition | 10% Wool, 90% Acrylic The acrylic carries the bulk of the durability and easy-care properties; the wool adds natural warmth and a little structure you won't get from a straight acrylic. |
| Weight / Ply | 4 Medium: Worsted, Afghan, Aran An everyday worsted — works up fast, holds stitch definition well for cables or simple textures, and suits a wide range of patterns. |
| Yardage per Ball | 350m / 382.76yds Generous for a worsted ball — one ball alone can get you through a good-sized hat or a large cowl. |
| Weight per Ball | 150g / 5.29oz A hefty cake format means fewer joins on big projects like blankets or sweater panels. |
| Package Content | 2 balls per pack (700m / 765.52yds total) Buying as a pair means you can plan a mid-sized project knowing you already have enough yardage on hand. |
| Brand | Ice Yarns Our own label — spun to our specs and checked before it ships. |
| Yarn Type | Self-striping Colour shifts happen automatically as you knit or crochet — no need to cut yarn or wrangle multiple balls to get a striped effect. |
| Available Colorways | Orange Shades, Blue Shades, Green, Brown Shades, Orange/Turquoise/Green No dye lot details listed — check the product page for current stock on each colorway as availability moves quickly on outlet items. |
| Recommended Needle Size | Not specified For standard worsted weight, most knitters start with a 4.5–5.5mm needle — always knit a gauge swatch first and adjust from there. |
| Recommended Hook Size | Not specified A 5.0–6.0mm hook is a common starting point for worsted-weight yarn — swatch to confirm your tension before committing to a full project. |
| Gauge | Not specified Always work your own gauge swatch, especially for garments — tension varies by crafter, needle brand, and working style. |
| Care Instructions | Not specified Check the ball band when your order arrives; high-acrylic blends like this are generally machine washable on a gentle cycle. |
| Country of Origin | Not specified |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many packs of Cake Ottley do I need for an adult sweater?
A standard adult sweater in worsted weight typically needs somewhere between 800m and 1200m depending on your size, sleeve length, and the pattern. Each pack of Cake Ottley gives you two 350m balls, so 700m total per pack. For most adult sizes you'll want two packs, landing you at 1400m with a comfortable margin for your gauge swatch and any minor mistakes. Smaller sizes or cropped styles might manage with one and a half packs, but on self-striping outlet yarn we'd always say buy the extra pack upfront. Running short mid-back is frustrating enough on any yarn — on a colourway that may not be restocked, it's genuinely risky. Child's sizes and baby cardigans can usually get by on a single pack.
Will the 10% wool content cause irritation for someone with sensitive skin?
For most people, no — and here's why. At 90% acrylic, the fibres your skin actually contacts are mostly synthetic, which is significantly smoother than a pure wool worsted. The 10% wool brings structural benefits to the yarn without dominating what you feel against your wrist or neck. That said, if you have a confirmed wool allergy rather than just a general texture sensitivity, it's worth knitting a small test swatch and wearing it against your inner wrist for a day or two before starting a garment. Reactions vary from person to person. Anyone who needs to stay fully wool-free can look at our Favorite worsted — it's 100% acrylic and works at exactly the same weight class.
