Knitting with FORTUNA

FORTUNA — Lang Yarns (review)

Some yarns are clever; a few are outright delightful. FORTUNA from Lang Yarns sits in that latter group — a 90% extrafine merino / 10% cashmere blend that combines airy softness with an unusual, printed surface that looks like semi-solid hand-dyed wool. Yes you read that correctly, this yarn is printed.  After knitting a snood and a cardigan (and following the useful tip about using two balls in tandem), I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how much personality this yarn delivers without demanding precious handling.

Quick specs

• Yarn name: FORTUNA — Lang Yarns

• Composition: 90% extrafine merino, 10% cashmere

• Length / Weight: 120 m / 50 g

• Construction / Weight: worsted / aran

• Needle size used: 5.0 mm

• Gauge (as tested): 17 sts = 10 cm

• Tested projects: Snood (two-ball technique); cardigan

• Care: Machine wash up to 30°C (anti-felting finish)

First touch

Unwinding the ball, the blend feels soft and buoyant. That 10% cashmere is noticeable — it adds a gentle silkiness to the merino body without turning the yarn into something overly delicate. The printed surface is the interesting part: it gives lively, surface-level colour effects while the core yarn keeps its airy loft.

How it knitted up

I used 5.0 mm needles and found FORTUNA to be straightforward to work with. The stitches have pleasing clarity and the fabric grows into a soft, springy cloth. The printing doesn’t obscure texture — instead it provides subtle visual movement that makes even plain stockinette sing. For the best, most balanced result, I followed the pro tip and alternated two balls every couple of rows: it smooths the colour distribution and prevents banding.

Wearability & performance

The finished cardigan and snood are both easy to wear. The fabric looks like a semi-solid, hand-dyed yarn but with the consistency and durability of a commercially finished product. The anti-felting treatment means you can machine wash at 30°C — a real practical benefit that makes these pieces genuinely wearable rather than just exhibition pieces. Colour effects remain attractive after washing and the cashmere content keeps the hand soft.

Techniques & tips

Two-ball alternating is not optional if you want even colour flow — it’s the difference between a patchy result and something that looks intentionally nuanced. Use the slightly larger needle to let the printed surface breathe and the merino-cashmere mix show its airy qualities.

Value judgement

At 120 m per 50 g, FORTUNA gives solid coverage for worsted/aran projects and saves you from complicated colour-work while still offering complex-looking results due to the semi-solid affect printing process that gives you the look of hand-dyed yarn without the unpredictability, plus the softness of cashmere, it’s a smart investment.

Final verdict

FORTUNA is where luck meets design: innovative printing, airy merino structure and a cashmere whisper combine to make a yarn that’s fun to knit and easy to wear. Try the two-ball technique and you’ll get results that look professional and feel like a small, everyday luxury.