In the picture: Wefan Tee
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Luxury fibres and special yarns hold such allure, adding sophistication and elegance to special projects and sensory delight to a favourite hobby. However, using luxury fibres can be daunting so let’s look at how to get started knitting and crocheting with luxury yarns without making expensive mistakes.
Understanding Luxury Fibres
In the picture: Persica Bag
Before starting a luxury yarn project, familiarise yourself with the characteristics of different fibres. Silk, prized for its lustrous sheen and smooth texture, adds elegance and drape to garments and accessories but it isn’t springy. Cashmere, known for its unparalleled softness and warmth, creates cosy heirloom-quality pieces but needs gentle care. Mohair offers a luxurious fluffy softness often at an affordable price but can be difficult to unpick if you make a mistake. Other luxury yarns include those hand dyed into carefully thought out colourways or ones spun to create unusual textures or include beads, tiny sequins or sparkle fibre.
Start small when first knitting and crocheting with luxury yarns
In the picture: Garter Lace Wrist-warmers
When new to luxury yarns, it's wise to start small to avoid costly mistakes. Begin with a small accessory project, such as a scarf, shawl, or hat, to learn the characteristics of the yarn, experiment with different stitch patterns and try out techniques. This allows you to gauge how the yarn behaves and whether it's suitable for bigger projects you have in mind before investing in larger quantities. You could also add a luxury yarn detail like a silk mohair ruffle or cashmere collar and cuffs to a garment made in a familiar yarn. Just test wash your swatch to make sure they’ll still look nice after washing.
Gain familiarity for reliable results
In the picture: Garter Lace Wrap Cardigan
Start with patterns specifically designed for the type of yarn you have in mind, as they will offer guidance on gauge, hook size, and stitch patterns that showcase the yarn's unique qualities. Swatching is essential when working with luxury fibres, allowing you to test the gauge, how springy or drapey the fabric is, the stitch definition, and overall feel to ensure the finished item meets your expectations.
Care and Maintenance
In the picture: Knit Picks Aloft yarn
Luxury fibres require special care to maintain their beauty and avoid disasters like colour run, felting or stretching out of shape and gradually spoiling like fading, loss of texture, bobbling etc. Before starting a project, familiarise yourself with each yarn's care instructions, including washing and blocking recommendations. Some luxury yarns may require hand washing (see my hand-washing video to learn how easy this can be!) and laying flat to dry to preserve their softness and shape. Invest in good quality laundry products and blocking tools to ensure your finished item looks its best. Proper care and maintenance will help prolong the life of your luxury fibre creations, allowing you to enjoy them for years to come.
Consider Budget-Friendly Options
In the picture: Candyfloss Cape
While working with luxury fibres can be a delightful indulgence, you may like to consider budget-friendly options to try this. Look for second hand yarn or watch for yarn sales, discounts, and clearance deals to buy luxury fibres at a fraction of their original cost. Or blend luxury fibres with more affordable options to achieve a luxurious look and feel without the hefty price tag. A laceweight luxury yarn (usually great value for the yardage) held double with a budget yarn can make a full size garment for a reasonable cost.
In the picture: Florina Cutaway Poncho
Working with luxury fibres in crochet is a rewarding experience that allows you to create quality pieces with wonderful softness, drape, and elegance. Following these tips, I hope you will enjoy working with luxury fibres without fear of making expensive mistakes.
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