Lang Yarns Knitting Patterns

Lang Yarns patterns, the Punto books and the free PDFs

This collection includes both the Punto series of pattern books and a large number of PDF Patterns. From the Punto series, you’ll find Punto 59 Poseidon, Punto 61 Orion, Punto 62 Cloud Tweed and their siblings — each one is a printed English-language pattern booklet, built around a season's yarns with a coherent set of garments and accessories. Alongside them sit a large number of single-design downloadable PDFs, many of them free, covering cowls, wristwarmers, hats, scarves, baby cardigans and wrap-around jackets. If you want a whole collection to work through, buy a Punto pattern book. If you have one ball of Merino 120 Dégradé and an evening, download a free PDF.

Knowing the Lang yarn ranges

• Merino 120 and Merino 150 — the core superwash merinos in the DK-ish and lighter brackets, with enormous shade ranges. These underpin most of the everyday designs here.
• Merino 120 Dégradé and Merino 150 Dégradé — the same base in long colour gradients, made for cowls and wristwarmers where the colour shift carries the design.
• Merino 400 Lace — a fine lace-weight merino for shawls and openwork pullovers.
• Baby Alpaca and Baby Alpaca Brush — soft, warm and drapey, best in relaxed shapes rather than fitted ones.
• Cashmere Classic, Yak and Novena — the luxury fibre end, used for hats, scarves and coats.
• Mille Colori, Mille Colori Baby and Mille Colori Big — self-striping ranges across several weights.
• Mohair Luxe Paillettes, Clown and Linda — sequinned, novelty and blended yarns for statement pieces.

Choosing a project by effort

Accessories dominate for good reason: a cowl or a pair of wristwarmers in Merino 120 Dégradé uses one or two balls, needs little to no shaping to speak of, and shows off the gradient perfectly. Hat and scarf sets in Cashmere Classic or Mille Colori Big are the next tier, adding decreasing in the round. Baby cardigans in Merino 150 come after that, and the pullovers, wrap cardigans and knitted coats are full garment projects with proper size runs. Lace-weight Merino 400 pieces are the longest haul — beautiful, but a lace pullover is measured in months.

Reading Continental pattern conventions

Lang is a Swiss brand, and a minority of designs in this collection are supplied in German — titles such as Jacke, Strickmantel, Pulswärmer, Wickeljacke or Ringelpullover are a reliable tell. Where a pattern is English, the file is normally marked EN. Continental patterns often give measurements in centimetres throughout, work tension over 10cm square, and describe sizing by finished chest rather than by a size label, so compare against a garment you own. Needle sizes are metric.

Substituting and finishing

If you cannot get the exact Lang yarn, match on ball-band tension and total metreage rather than gram weight, and stay in the same fibre family — swapping superwash merino for alpaca will change the drape of a fitted cardigan completely. Superwash merino blocks readily and holds its blocked shape, so wet-block finished pieces before seaming. Alpaca and mohair grow with wear; block them to size rather than beyond it. Wash by hand or on a wool cycle, dry flat, and never hang a wet knitted coat.

Lang Yarns pattern questions

Are Lang Yarns patterns in English? Most are, and English files are marked EN. A few remain in German — the title usually makes it obvious.

What is a Punto? Lang's printed seasonal pattern book, each one containing a full collection of designs in that season's yarns.

Are any of these free? Yes, a large share of the single-design PDFs are free downloads.

Can I use a different yarn? Yes, provided the tension and metreage match and the fibre behaves similarly.

Which Lang yarn is best to start with? Merino 120 or Merino 150 — easy-care, wide shade range and the base for most of the accessory patterns here.