Lately, we’re daydreaming about warmer weather and picking out projects for spring and summer. (Honestly, we could all use a pick-me-up right now). Another fibre space favorite yarn is back in stock: Knitting for Olive Pure Silk! This 100% pure raw silk fingering weight yarn is perfect for lightweight garments and scarves. It offers a soft and solid fabric with a slightly rustic texture due to the raw nature of the silk. This means that it’s not quite as slippery to knit with!
We love working with Pure Silk and the range of colors it offers. One of the additional reasons we love it is that Knitting for Olive’s spinning mill follows ethical, technical, and environmental standards, creating yarns free from harmful chemicals. The little butterfly on the label indicates that the chrysalids were allowed to escape the cocoon before they were harvested, allowing them to complete their life cycle.
Perfect for transitions between seasons, silk has extensive heat-regulating qualities and can, therefore, be used in garments all year round. Silk can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture while still feeling dry against your skin, so it is especially suitable for summer wear. At the same time, silk, like wool, has insulating properties, retaining heat in cold weather. Our pattern picks below feature some classic favorites with this yarn as well as new designs for knitting and crochet!
Yarn Details
- Fingering weight
- 100% silk
- 273 yards per 50 gram ball
- 28 stitches and 38 rows = 4” x 4 “ on a US#2-3 needle
- Hand wash in cool water, lay flat
- $13.50, available in store and in our online Knitting for Olive shop
Our Pattern Picks
Camisole No. 11

Sizes
XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL)
Final Measurements
- Circumference: 34.75 (36.25) 38.25 (40.5) 42.5 (47.75) 52 (56.25)”
- Length (measured mid front): 18 (19) 19 (19.75) 20.5 (20.5) 21.25 (22)”
Yarn
4 (4) 4 (5) 6 (6) 7 (7) balls of Knitting for Olive Pure Silk, worked with two strands of yarn held together
Needles
- US#7 16″ circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
- US #7 32″ or 40″ circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge
18 stitches and 28 rows = 4 x 4″ in pattern using US#7 needles, after washing and blocking.
Riccia

Note This pattern will be released on February 7, 2025
Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
Finished Bust Measurements
40 (44½, 48, 52½, 56, 60½) (64, 68½, 72, 76½, 80)”. Size 2 shown with 13″ positive ease in photo above
Yarn
MC: 1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2) (2, 2, 3, 3, 3) balls or approximately 235 (260, 300, 325, 360, 400) (440, 465, 525, 555, 600) yards Knitting for Olive Pure Silk
CC1: Approximately 350 (385, 455, 500, 555, 625) (690, 735, 835, 885, 960) yards silk mohair. We suggest 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3) (3, 4, 4, 4, 5) balls of Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair (70% mohair, 30% silk; 245 yards per 25 gram ball), available in store and online
CC2: 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2) (3, 3, 3, 3, 3) balls or approximately 240 (265, 310, 340, 380, 430) (470, 505, 570, 605, 655) yards of Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair
Needles and Notions
- US#4 (3.5 mm) 32” (or longer) circular needle
- US#3 (3.25 mm) 32” (or longer) circular needle or double pointed needles (DPNs)
- One extra needle in size US 4 (3.5 mm) for 3-Needle Bind-Off, or r, needles required to obtain gauge
- Stitch marker
- Stitch holder
- Tapestry needle
- Waste yarn
Gauge
22 stitches and 34 rows = 4” x 4” with US#4 needles, after blocking
Camisole No. 2

Sizes
XS (S) M (L) XL
Finished bust measurements
28 (32) 35 (37) 41 inches, designed to fit with 0-4 inches negative ease
Yarn
2 (2) 3 (3) 4 balls Knitting for Olive Pure Silk
Needles
- US#2.5 24”, 32” or 40” circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge
- US#1.5 24”, 32” or 40” circular needle circular needle , or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge
28 stitches and 32 rows = 4” x 4” in 3 x 3 rib
Colette

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9)
Finished bust measurements
39.75 (43, 46.5, 49.5, 56.25) (59.75, 63, 66.25, 69.75)” with intended positive ease of 8-12”
Yarn
6 (7, 7, 8, 9) (9, 10, 11, 12) balls, Knitting For Olive Pure Silk
Needles and notions
- US#2.5 16″ or longer circular needles for the neck ribbing, or size needed to obtain gauge
- US#2.5 DPNs or circular needles with a cable suitable for small circumference knitting for the cuffs, such as 9″, or size needed to obtain gauge
- US#2.5 32″ or longer circular needles for the hem, or size needed to obtain gauge
- US 4# DPNs or DPNs or circular needles with a cable suitable for small circumference knitting for the sleeves, such as 9″, or size needed to obtain gauge
- US#4 32″ or longer circular needles for the body, or size needed to obtain gauge
- Highlighter Tape
- Cable Needle
- Magnetic Pattern Holder
- 1 stitch marker
- 4 locking markers
- Waste yarn
- Tapestry needle
Gauge
19 stitches and 28 rows = 4” x 4” in charted pattern on larger needles, after blocking
Kahena (crochet)

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)(7, 8, 9, 10)
Finished bust circumference
33 (37.5, 41.25, 44.75, 50)(53, 56.75, 61.75, 65.5, 68.5)”, designed with 3-5” of positive ease
Yarn
6 (6, 7, 8, 8)(9, 10, 11, 11, 12) balls Knitting for Olive Pure Silk
Hooks
- US E/4 (3.5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
- US G/6 (4 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge
- 24 stitches x 26 rows = 4”x 4” measured over front panel pattern rep using E hook, after blocking
- 26 stitches x 21 rows = 4”x 4” measured over linen stitch using G hook, after blocking
Camisole No. 9
Sizes
XS (S) M (L) XL
Finished bust measurements
28 (32) 35 (37) 41″, designed to fit with 0-4″ negative ease
Yarn
2 (2) 3 (3) 4 balls of Knitting for Olive Pure Silk
Needles
- US#2.5 24”, 32” or 40” circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge
- US#1.5 24”, 32” or 40” circular needle circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge
28 stitches and 32 rows = 4” x 4” in 3 x 3 rib
Cloud Top


Sizes
XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL)
Measurements
- Bust circumference: 32¼ (34¼) 36¼ (38¼) 40¼ (44) 48 (52) 56 (59¾)”
- Length: 18½ (19) 19¼ (20) 21¼ (22) 22¾ (24) 25¼ (26)” (measured mid back excl. collar)
- Armhole depth: 7¾ (8¼) 8¾ (8¾) 8¾ (9) 9 (9½) 9½ (9½)”
- Shoulder width: 13¾ (14¼) 15 (15¾) 16¼ (16½) 17 (17¼) 17¼ (17¾)”
Yarn
4 (4) 5 (5) 5 (6) 6-7 (7) 8 (8) balls of Pure Silk by Knitting for Olive
Note: Two strands of yarn are held together throughout. The given yardage amounts are the total yardage needed
Needles
- US#6 16″ circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge
- US#6 24″ circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge 24 and 32 or 40 inches]
- US#6 32″ or 40″ circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge
20 stitches x 27 rows = 4″ x 4″ in stockinette stitch, on a US#6
Blouse No. 1

Sizes
XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL)
Bust size: 31.5-33.5 (33.5-35.5) 35.5-37.5 (37.5-39.5) 39.5-43.25 (43.25-47.25) 47.25-51.25 (51.25-55)”
Note: Blouse No. 1 has a tight fit. Calculate a negative ease of approx. 4”. For example, 34.5” at your bust – 4” for negative ease = 30.5,” which means you would choose a size S with a circumference of 30”.
Finished Measurements
- Circumference: 28.25 (30) 32.25 (34) 37.75 (44.5) 47 (49.25)”
- Length (measured at the center front): 19 (19.25) 19.75 (20.5) 21 (21.75) 22.5 (23.25)”
Yarn
Blouse No. 1 is originally marled – ie. where you hold two strands of yarn in different colors together. The two-colored version requires more yarn than the single-colored version.
Two-colored version
Work your blouse holding two strands of yarn together.
- Color 1: 3 (4) 4 (4) 4 (5) 5 (5) balls of Knitting for Olive Pure Silk
- Color 2: 3 (4) 4 (4) 4 (5) 5 (5) balls of Knitting for Olive Pure Silk
Single-colored version
6 (7) 7 (8) 8 (9) 9 (10) balls of Knitting for Olive Pure Silk. Work your blouse holding two strands of yarn together.
Needles
- US#8 32″ or 40” circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge
- US#6 16″ or 24” circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge
19 stiches and 27 rows = 4” x 4” in stocking stitch using US#8 needles
Yolanda Head Scarf (crochet)

Sizes
S/M (L/XL). The sizes are meant to fit a head circumference of 20-22.5 (22.5-25)”
Yarn
1 ball Knitting for Olive Pure Silk
Hooks and notions
- Crochet hook US C (2.75 mm) crochet hook or any other hook needed to obtain gauge
- Scissors
- Tape measure
- Stitch markers
- Darning needle
Gauge
28 stitches and 38 rows = 4″ x 4″