Silk Yarn

Characteristics Of Silk Yarn

Silk yarn, as well as being luxuriously soft, is very durable. You can get 100% silk yarn but it is generally blended with other fibres to add a subtle sheen and durability. Silk yarn can be a little slippery to work with so we recommend using wooden or bamboo needles when working with silk and silk blend yarns. 

Benefits of Silk Yarn

The main feature of silk yarn is its glorious sheen and luxurious feel however the main benefit of silk is the added strength. Silk is often added to more delicate fibres such as mohair and merino to make these yarns easier to work with and care for. Silk fibres can also be added to sock yarns to make them more durable without the need for synthetic fibres to be added. 

Silk is also great at keeping you cool in summer with its ability to absorb moisture but also keeps you warm in winter with its insulation properties. Silk is also naturally mildew and moth resistant.

Uses of Silk Yarn

Silk yarns really are a luxury so we recommend them for statement garments and accessories. They can also be used for baby knits as they are soft and comforting against the skin.

If you are using 100% silk yarn we recommend sticking to shawls as the yarn is fairly inelastic so getting a good fit can be difficult.

Care of Silk Yarn

While silk yarn is resistant to pilling, when blended, the delicate other fibres can still pill. Silk is also more fragile when wet so care needs to be taken when washing. Hand wash in a delicate detergent and dry flat to avoid stretching. Dyed silk can also fade much more easily than other fibres so make sure you dry and store your finished items out of direct sunlight. 

Selecting the right yarn

When selecting yarns it's important to be aware all yarns handle differently and will give varied textures and drape. This is why it's important to knit or crochet a gauge swatch. This allows you to both check the feel of the fabric and the needle size to use (again all knitters have a slightly different tension)

For more information about substituting yarns click here.

For more information about gauge swatching click here.

If you need more help finding a yarn for your project feel free to send us a message, and we’ll get back to you with our expert advice or even pop into your local store.

FAQs

What is silk yarn?

Silk yarn is made from spinning the fibres collected from the cocoon of the silkworm which is a type of caterpillar. The cocoon is made from a very fine thread by the silkworm and is then carefully unravelled and turned into yarn.  Silk yarn is some of the strongest in the world and is often used to strengthen yarns made with other fibres such as mohair. It also has a beautiful sheen and lustre making any garment knitted using silk yarn very luxurious. 

Can you crochet with silk yarn?

Yes you can crochet with silk yarn. Silk yarn has a beautiful drape so pick a pattern where the stitches are not too tight and use a larger hook for the weight of yarn to maintain the soft finish. 

What is silk yarn good for?

Silk yarn is great for shawls and scarves as it has a lovely drape and sheen. When blended with other fibres it is great for garments and can even be used to knit socks due to its high strength.