The Wandering Flock Cotton Lino Review & Best Patterns for Breezy Summer Projects

The calendar may say midsummer, but in my knitting basket it’s officially Cotton Lino season. If you’re new to YoungFolk Knits—Welcome! I’m Kaci, a fiber-loving maker who splits her time between knitting, spinning, sewing, the occasional crochet detour, and wrangling life on a tiny farm in Arkansas. Today I’m sharing a deep dive into The Wandering Flock’s Cotton Lino base, the color palette that stole my heart, and the patterns that instantly leaped onto my must-knit list. Grab your iced tea (or a crumpet if you’re feeling fancy) and settle in—this one’s a doozy.

Meet The Wandering Flock

Geraldine, the creative mind behind Brooklyn-based indie brand The Wandering Flock, has a knack for curating color stories that feel both fresh and effortlessly cohesive. https://thewanderingflock.com When she introduced Cotton Lino last year I snapped up a sweater quantity, knit a few swatches, and promptly fell in love. Fast-forward to this summer: The Wandering Flock sent over the entire Cotton Lino rainbow for review, and I may have squealed loud enough to scare the chickens.

What Makes Cotton Lino Special?

Cotton Lino lives in that sweet sport-weight zone—light enough for summer, substantial enough for shoulder seasons. Each 100 g skein packs 328 yards (300 m) of the dreamiest plant-forward blend:

• 35 % Organic Cotton
• 30 % Mulberry Silk
• 20 % Linen
• 15 % Baby Alpaca

That 85 % plant fiber keeps things cool and breathable, while just a kiss of baby alpaca adds plush softness and the faintest halo. The result? A fabric that drapes like a summer breeze yet still feels elegant enough for year-round wear. Bonus points: the subtle variation between cotton, linen, and silk fibers lends gorgeous depth even in solid colorways.

Gauge Gymnastics

Sport weight is already versatile, but Cotton Lino goes the extra mile. I’ve knit it to a classic 24 sts = 4″ sport gauge, relaxed it up to 20 sts for DK patterns, and even sneaked it into fingering-weight designs when my tension runs tight. Bottom line: swatch for gauge, not for the yarn label, and a whole world of patterns opens up.

A Palette for Every Mood

Let’s talk color—because Geraldine outdid herself. Here are the ten shades currently on offer, complete with my stream-of-consciousness nicknames:

• Sand – That effortlessly chic neutral every wardrobe needs.
• Citrine – Zingy lime-meets-lemon; instant vitamin C for your knitting queue.
• Pyrite – Swampy pond green (in the best possible way). Earthy hearts unite!
• Khaki – The beige that secretly pulls every outfit together.
• Qing – Dusty sea-foam that straddles blue and green like a mermaid on vacation.
• Navy – Classic pea-coat depth; the dark neutral of dreams.
• Burnt Sienna – Rusty terracotta that makes me crave desert sunsets.
• Petal – Whisper-soft dusty rose, equal parts vintage and romantic.
• Poppy – Coral-leaning hot summer nails in yarn form.
• Lilac – Delicate, nostalgic purple that looks plucked from a cottage garden.

Mix-and-match possibilities are endless (Poppy + Lilac is my current obsession), but every shade sings on its own thanks to that silky drape.

Pattern Parade: Projects That Make Cotton Lino Shine

I built a giant Ravelry bundle with every pattern I unearthed (link in the YouTube description), but here are the standouts begging for a cast-on:

Pierre Sweater by Joanna Garish

Sport-gauge (24 sts), all-over lace, knit top-down for easy length tweaks. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pierre-sweater-2 Picture airy oversized stitches in Sand—neutral enough to style a million ways yet delicate enough to show off every yarn nuance. My friend is knitting one and gave it two enthusiastic thumbs-up, so mine is queued and ready.

Tea Time Sweater by Park Williams

Park actually designed this drop-sleeve beauty in Cotton Lino, so fabric success is guaranteed. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tea-time-sweater-131 Knit loosely on US 7s at 16 sts, it’s floaty, fast, and begging for bright Citrine or breezy King.

Farnham Tee by The Knit Purl Girl (Sophie)

Short sleeves, bold contrast straps, and shoulder shaping that flatters everyone. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/farnham-tee
I’m dreaming of Lilac body + Poppy straps for full summer joy—or go earthy with Khaki and Pyrite if neutrals call your name.

Rift Tee by Jac Cieslak

An older gem that wears like your favorite store-bought tee—only better. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rift-7 Bottom-up, twisted-rib cuffs, worked on US 8s for serious drape. Any single color works, but Burnt Sienna against sun-kissed skin? Chef’s kiss.

PineBerry Top by Audrey Borrego

Free pattern alert! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pineberry A clever wrap tee or cardi (your choice) that cinches to fit fluctuating sizes with ease. Two-color versions shine—imagine Poppy panels trimmed in Petal.

Darjeeling Top by Trust The Mojo

I’ve knit the blouse version and would happily make ten more. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/darjeeling-top Picot cast-on, simple lace hem, then breezy stockinette. Low yardage means even one skein stretches far; my next will be Burnt Sienna for vintage café vibes.

Audrey Top by Sari Nordlund

Minimalist sleeveless mock-neck that layers under blazers as easily as it pairs with linen shorts. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/audrey-top-3 Classic Sand or Navy nails the sophisticated palette, but a secret part of me wants one in zesty Citrine too.

BonBon Scarf by Sari Nordlund

The fastest bias-knit mini scarf—perfect stash buster and color-play canvas. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bonbon-scarf Two skeins, one weekend, endless possibilities. My first cast-on is Lilac + Poppy.

Party Line Scarf by Yours Truly

Shameless plug: my sport-weight one-skein pattern loves Cotton Lino. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/party-line-scarf I’m plotting multiple versions so I always have one to match the day’s outfit.

On My Needles: Citrine Renunculus Remix

Confession: I started a “summer” Renunculus in Citrine…then decided bracelet-length sleeves would make it wearable year-round. https://www.ravelry.com/projects/YoungFolkKnits/ranunculus-3 The drape is unreal, the color glows, and I can already picture it paired with high-waist shorts now and layered under a denim jacket come October. Versatility for the win.

Where to Buy & Stock Updates

Cotton Lino lives at thewanderingflock.com and flies off the shelves—Khaki vanished in record time during the last update. Geraldine is restocking all shades, and select LYS partners (shout-out to Black Mountain Yarn Shop) carry it too. If a hue calls your name, pounce before it disappears.

Let’s Talk Giveaway!

Because sharing is my love language, I’m gifting one lovely viewer a Ravelry pattern of their choice. To enter, simply drop a comment on my YouTube video: tell me which pattern you’d pair with Cotton Lino or share your own project experience if you’ve already knit with it. Digital patterns mean no shipping headaches, so this is open worldwide. Comment away!

Wrapping up

Soft yet structured, plant-rich yet touchably plush, Cotton Lino ticks every box on my ideal summer-to-winter yarn checklist. Whether you crave breezy lace sweaters, quick-knit tees, or color-popping accessories, this base delivers. I’m off to knit another repeat on my Pierre Sweater (those lace charts are addictive!). Until next time—happy knitting, y’all, and may your project bag always hold a skein that makes your heart skip a stitch.