Lion Brand Heartland Yarn [Yarn Review]
It is clear that I love to knit, I love to travel, and I love the outdoors. With this in mind, it’s no wonder that Lion Brand Heartland Yarn caught my eye. It’s a line of yarns inspired by US National Parks!
Lion Brand Heartland Yarn
I’m no yarn snob, but I do have my favorites. Lion Brand Heartland Yarn is quickly moving to the top of that list. I’ve already used this yarn in a handful of projects and I’m happy to report that it is fantastic!
This medium-weight acrylic yarn is incredibly soft, strong, and hard-wearing. It’s excellent for garments or projects in a single color, since none of the colors are actually singular. The colorways are a variety of tweeds and heathers. The blends provide depth and interest to each colorway.
Each colorway is inspired by a different national park. I think this is the best feature of this line of yarns! It’s such a fun detail to include.
The recommended needle size for this yarn is a US 9 (5.50 mm), but I typically use a US 8 (5.00mm) needle because it just fits a letter better with my tension. For ribbing on hats, sweaters, and mittens, I use a US 6 (4.00 mm).
You can find Lion Brand Heartland Yarn at big box craft and yarn shops as well as on Amazon. Each 5-ounce skein contains 250 yards and sells for around $5.99.
Heartland Yarn Colorways
This colorway is white with flecks of cream. It is similar to Great Sand Dunes, but slightly lighter and whiter. These colors reflect the rocks below the Bass Harbor Head Light of Mount Desert Island.
Acadia National Park | Maine | website
This colorway is a deep flecked red, so deep it’s almost purple. These colors are reminiscent of the vibrant reds of the rock formations at Badlands National Park.
Featured Project: Modified Flax Sweater (with cables)
Badlands National Park | South Dakota | website
Black Canyon (& Black Canyon Tweed)
This colorway combines shades of charcoal and black. The tweed also has flecks of red, turquoise, mustard, and green. These colors represent the dark colors the steep walls of Black Canyon.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park | Colorado | website
This colorway is heathered yarn, warm brown and gold. It trends toward the orange end of gold. The colors mirror those of the Paunsaugunt Plateau at sunrise.
Bryce Canyon National Park | Utah | website
This colorway is a medium golden yellow and brown. It trends toward the yellow end of gold. The colors reflect those of the mesas and buttes along the Colorado and Green Rivers.
Featured Project: Molly Weasley Jumper (detail)
Canyonlands National Park | Utah | website
This colorway is a medium blue, similar to denim. The colors reflect the blue pools of Carlsbad Caverns.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park | New Mexico | website
This colorway is made of heathered, delicate pinks. The colors reflect the pink sandstone, though you’ll also find formations with red and green tints at Capitol Reef.
Capitol Reef National Park | Utah | website
This colorway is a heathered, faint green, a nod to the lush flora that covers California’s Channel Islands.
Channel Islands National Park | California | website
This colorway is a light dusty blue-green, likely named for the Congaree Blue River Trail, a 50-mile paddling trail.
Congaree National Park | South Carolina | website
This colorway is made of heathered teal and turquoise. The colors are reminiscent of the Cuyahoga River and its waterfalls.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Ohio | website
This colorway is a dusty, creamy taupe. It reflects the colors of the sands of the keys of the Dry Tortugas.
Dry Tortugas National Park | Florida | website
This colorway is a bold orange and brown heather. The colors reflect the sunset around the arch and the golden city lights below the arch.
Gateway Arch National Park | Missouri | website
This colorway is medium blue and grey heather. The blend of snow and the limestone of Glacier Bay inspired this colorway.
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve | Alaska | website
This colorway is a blend of golden taupe and grey. It looks most like the colors of the sandstone formations seen from the West Rim of the canyon.
Grand Canyon National Park | Arizona | website
This colorway is heathered tan and ivory. The colors reflect the inspiration: massive sand dunes.
Great Sand Dunes | Colorado | website
This colorway is made of medium and charcoal greys. These colors are designed to reflect the haze that hangs above the Great Smoky Mountains.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park | North Carolina, Tennessee | website
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited park in the United States! In fact, the millions who visited last year included us!
This colorway is made of deep royal purples that are almost black and flecks of medium purple. The Hot Springs aren’t actually purple, but the park is home to purple flowers, lichens, and butterflies.
Hot Springs National Park | Arkansas | website
This colorway is a blend of medium and olive greens. These are the colors of the iconic Joshua Tree.
Joshua Tree National Park | California | website
This colorway is made of emerald and forest greens. This colorway reflects the leaves of the giant sequoia trees that line the canyon.
(Sequoia &) Kings Canyon National Park | California | website
This colorway is made of medium purples and eggplant. Though the park itself is largely sandy and monochromatic, the Kobuk Locoweed produces purple flowers each summer and can only be found at the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes.
Kobuk Valley National Park | Alaska | website
This colorway is a heathered deep navy blue, like the waters of Lake Clark.
Lake Clark National Park | Alaska | website
This colorway is made of taupe and dark browns. This reflects the limestone and sandstone layers of the Mammoth Cave’s passageways
Mammoth Cave National Park | Kentucky | website
Mount Rainier (& Mount Rainier Tweed)
This colorway is made of medium and light grey blends. The tweed also has flecks of red, turquoise, and mustard. These colors reflect the colors of the Ohanapecosh Glacier.
Mount Rainier National Park | Washington | website
This colorway is a blend of deep and vibrant blues, the colors of the waters at the Pacific coastline park.
Featured Project: Molly Weasley Jumper (main color)
Olympic National Park | Washington | website
This colorway is a heathered rich, dark green, perhaps for the plants that thrive in this painted desert.
Petrified Forest National Park | Arizona | website
This colorway is a blend of medium and dark reds and it really pops! Like the redwood trees and the forest bed around them, the reds of this yarn blend beautifully.
Redwood National & State Parks | California | website
This colorway is a heathered deep green with hints of blue. These colors are those of the trees, mountains, and skies near Bear Lake.
Rocky Mountain National Park | Colorado | website
This colorway is chocolate brown with golden brown highlights. The bark of the gorgeous trees that the park is named for bear these colors.
Sequoia (& Kings Canyon) National Park | California | website
This colorway is a light greyish sky blue. These colors reflect the lakes of Voyageurs National Park, most of which straddle the US-Canadian border.
Voyageurs National Park | Minnesota | website
This colorway is a heathered pale grey, like the sands of the White Sands Missile Range. It almost has a bluish tint.
White Sands National Park | New Mexico | website
This colorway is a heathered brownish grey. It reflects the colors of the Filene Center, a giant outdoor stage and amphitheater made of wood in natural colors.
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts | Virginia | website
This colorway is made of medium and burnt oranges. It reflects the colors of the natural firefall at Yosemite Falls.
Yosemite National Park | California | website
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