π The quiet luxury of cashmere yarn
"Luxury to me is not about buying expensive things; β Oscar De La Renta β Hello there fellow knitter! This is The Yarnist. The daily newsletter that makes you love knitting the same way Marilyn Monroe loves diamonds. Here's what we've got for you today...
β Disclaimer: This newsletter may contain sponsored ads and affiliate links. β Knitspirationπ The quiet luxury of cashmere yarnI recently came across the term "quiet luxury" while browsing YouTube. Evidently this has been a big trend in the fashion world over the past year, but as I am not quiet nor luxurious I had no idea. Here's how Wikipedia describes the concept: β
Quiet luxury is a lifestyle characterized by understated elegance and refined consumption, emphasizing exclusivity and discerning taste without overt displays of wealth.
Now, if I were wealthy, I'd like to think this is how I would live my life. It got me thinking about how this idea relates to knitting... A lot of what I see knitters knitting is anything but quiet. They prefer bold, loud colors with lots of pattern and texture. There's certainly nothing wrong with that. Knit what you love I say! But a quick search on Ravelry also shows the most popular patterns easily fall into this category of quiet luxury. They're simple, elegant, in muted colors that look like they belong in a Kinfolk magazine. Is that what people are actually knitting? Maybe... Or maybe it's what they aspire to. In a world that can feel unpredictable and chaotic, the idea of sitting and knitting in quiet luxury is quite appealing. So what does one knit with if they are seeking a luxury experience in the knitting world? There's one obvious choice: Cashmere What is Cashmere?Cashmere, often heralded as the jewel in the crown of natural fibers, is renowned for its softness, warmth, and luxurious feel. This sumptuous fiber is harvested from the undercoat of the Cashmere goat, primarily found in the mountainous regions of China, Mongolia, and the Himalayas. Each goat produces a small amount of this fine undercoat, making cashmere a rare and valuable commodity. How is cashmere yarn made?The harvesting process of cashmere is intricate and labor-intensive. During spring, when goats naturally shed their winter coats, herders comb the fine undercoat, carefully separating it from the coarser guard hair. This process ensures the preservation of the fiber's natural softness and loftiness. Each hair is incredibly fine, typically ranging from 14 to 19 microns in diameter, much thinner than human hair. This fineness, coupled with the fibers' natural crimp, creates an unparalleled softness and insulating capacity. Fun Fact
β
βDid you know that it takes the fleece of approximately four to six cashmere goats to make just one cashmere sweater? β Each goat only produces about 150 grams of the fine undercoat annually, which after processing, yields only about 50 grams of clean cashmere. A brief history of Cashmere yarnCashmere has a long history as a luxury good, going back thousands of years. For decades, the locals hunted hircus goats for their long, warm, and silky coat fibers, which helped the animals withstand the cold winter weather. Early records from the fifteenth century spoke of the superior quality of the fiber produced by the Kashmir region's goats. As a result, the name Kashmir (anglicized to cashmere) became common. Moving on into the 18th century traders from imperial nations transported Kashmiri products from China to Europe and the Americas over the Silk Road. Initially, Kashmir was only available to monarchs and members of high society. It was seen as the peak of luxury, with cashmere shawls or 'pashminas' in particular serving as a status symbol and the apex of a stylish aristocratic woman. In the nineteenth century the Industrial Revolution started a new cashmere craze. Manufacturing boomed in areas such as Scotland, and the cashmere sweater and twin set (sweater and cardigan) became items that everyone desired to wear. Sadly interest in cashmere started to dwindle by the 1980s. By then high end fashion houses claimed the rare fiber for themselves, putting a real cashmere sweater out of reach for the common person. Today supply cannot keep up with demand, as only 6500 tons of textile grade cashmere fiber is produced each year. This has kept items made with it at a premium. Luckily knitters can still get their hands on some of this precious fiber. Benefits of Cashmere yarnThe allure of cashmere lies in its unique combination of properties:
Drawbacks of Cashmere yarnDespite its many benefits, cashmere does have some drawbacks:
Our Favorite Cashmere YarnsOk, so obviously cashmere yarn is not cheap. The good news is 100% cashmere yarn is as rare as the fiber itself. That means you can find plenty of options with a *touch* of cashmere to suit your budget. Here are a few of our favs: β βCapra DK by Knit Picks (Currently on Sale!)CYC #3 (DK) β’ 85% Fine Merino Wool, 15% Cashmere (123yds/50g) This elegant Merino and cashmere wool yarn, is as pleasurable to knit with as it is to wear. Its DK weight is perfect for garments intended to be worn next to the skin, or special cold-weather accessories. If you think this yarn feels soft in the skein, wait until you hand wash your project! After the yarn blooms, you won't be able to keep your hands off of Capra! β βCotton Cashmere by RowanCYC #3 (DK) β’ 85% Cotton, 15% Cashmere (137yds/50g) A perfect summer yarn, with an added touch of super-soft luxury, Rowanβs Cotton Cashmere is definitely one to try. Fresh cotton fibers have been blended with 15% cashmere in this superior DK-weight yarn. The collection of pastel shades will create dreamy tops, cardigans, and accessories. β βTrinity Cashmere by Yarn CitizenCYC #1 (Fingering) β’ 49% Super Baby Alpaca, 39% Mulberry Silk, A delightful and heavenly blend of Super Baby Alpaca, Mulberry Silk, and Cashmere. This yarn was created to be worked alone or held double with the Harmony and Unity bases - giving each a beautiful, fuzzy halo! Sourced from a fair trade mill in Peru, these yarns are priced consciously too! Yarn Citizen believes that something good for the planet, doesn't have to be bad for your wallet (and we say that's a win, win, WIN!). β βCaprino by Malabrigo YarnCYC #2 (Sport) β’ 80% Superfine Merino Wool, 20% Cashmere (159yds/50g) Caprino is the newest addition to Malabrigo's yarn line and it's destined to be a new favorite! Its blend of Merino wool and cashmere combines with the stunning hand-dyed colors we know and love from Malabrigo to create a must-have yarn. Sumptuously soft and extremely versatile at a sport-to-DK weight, Caprino is an excellent yarn for cardigans, pullovers, cowls, and moreβanything that needs to be next-to-the-skin soft! β βββββββCashmere Premium by Lang YarnsCYC #3 (DK) β’ 100% Cashmere (126yds/25g) A beautifully soft & sturdy luxury cashmere with a versatile DK weight gauge. Cashmere Premium is light & airy, yet very warm. This is due to the 6-ply, chainette construction of the yarn that allows air between the strands providing an insulating quality similar to double pane windows. The chainette construction also helps garments keep their shape, as well as resist pilling. β ConclusionSo what do you think? Are you going to be enjoying some quiet cashmere luxury? Have you made anything with cashmere before? Hit reply and let us know your thoughts! β Announcementsπ€© More than half way there!This year we're trying something new to ensure you get more from our newsletter than ever before. We're raising $16,000 to fund our next season of Yarnist content and we need your help! If you'd like to show your support for our work, we've got some great gifts to say thank you. PLUS, I'm going to give away a LIFETIME Yarnist+ membership to one lucky person. Of course this is entirely optional, but if you are able to contribute it's greatly appreciated!
β Daily StitchDouble Moss StitchWe're continuing our exploration of knits and purls with today's take on a grid texture. By squaring our knits and purls (2x2) our pattern opens up into something more flexible than the regular moss stitch. This is great for tea towels and wash cloths, but makes beautiful blankets as well.
β Yarnist Insider Bonus
β
β Daily Yarn Dealβ Members Onlyβ Pattern PickScrappiest Happiest Blanket by Jessica PotaszGrab your colorful yarn and have fun with this modern take on a scrap yarn throw! Full of happy texture and hues, itβs a cozy, whimsical blanket for any space. Feel free to be creative with your color choices!
β
The Pour Over Newsletter
Not Conservative. Not Liberal. Just Christian. Trust in media is at an all-time low (shockingβ¦ we know) but why don't we keep βwalking around completely uninformedβ as a backup plan. The Pour Over provides concise, politically neutral, and entertaining summaries of the worldβs biggest news paired with reminders to stay focused on eternity. Subscribe 100% FREE in just one click!
β Knits & Gigglesβ Thanks for reading!β Before you go...below you'll find a few ways we can work together, and other bits & bobs:
Here's some ways to take our relationship to the next level:
Yarnist+ Member Status: You're not a member! π±
Your Email Preferences: You're receiving this email because you signed up for the Yarnist, a daily digital newsletter for Fearless Knitters. If you don't remember doing that, you might have had a little too much wine that night...or it could be Gremlins. Can't stand those guys. Always causing mischief. Your email address is Reader and your first name is Reader. To update your info click here. Daily emails too much? Get our Sunday Weekly Update Only. Still want out? No problem! Unsubscribe here.
β Look at you reading all the way to the end! Here's a bonus video with this incredible arial footage of sheep being herded. π€― β Made with ππ€π€ in Tallinn, Estonia Narva Mnt 15, Tallinn, 10120 |