Welcome to Ask Olga! In this regular new feature, we’ll sit down with our friend Olga Buraya-Kefelian to discuss design trends and more. This month, we talked about cozy vibes and high-volume fibres!
Hi Olga! What’s your favorite design trend this winter?
It might be my own nostalgia, wanting to bundle up in a cozy blanket during freezing winter months. But, to me, fluffy sweaters create that same coziness with their unique, subtle texture. Luckily, floofy fibres are trending again! Whether made in Angora mohair or bouclé, this ethereal volume is everywhere this season.
As a stitcher, however, achieving this effect can be a bit of a challenge without access to very specific yarns. The easiest and most affordable way to achieve this texture is by using mohair yarns. Mohair is a fibre that is produced by Angora goats, and is often referred to as “diamond fiber” for its exceptional sheen, strength, and luxurious feel. But don’t mix it up with angora fiber, which is produced from a specific breed of Angora rabbits, and spun directly as the rabbits shed. (Yes, it’s confusing!)
High-volume worsted/Aran and bulky yarns
At fibre space, we have numerous options for you to achieve different levels of floofy volume! We have the wonderful Loopy Mango Mohair So Soft, a bulky-weight yarn that allows quick and easy knits. It is incredibly warm and textured, and allows for a wide range of gauges without losing the properties of this wonderful fibre. I used this yarn to design Squish House Socks and the TRUSS headband, snuggly accessories that are warm and soft. (You check out samples of both in the shop!)
We also have Julie Asselin Bouclé, which is composed of 70% alpaca and 30% Highland Peruvian wool. This worsted-weight yarn creates a slubby, squishy, but lofty texture, and an incredibly warm fabric, as alpaca is 30% warmer than wool. The Sunnydale Sweater is a perfect match for this yarn–there’s also a sample for you to see in store, as well!
And, there’s the stunning shades of blue in Kokon Bleu Mohair Slub Chunky yarn, which is 76% Mohair, 13% wool, and 9% nylon, which is also washable! We carry it in both semi-solid, speckled, and tie-dye colorways.
Holding a strand of mohair, single or double
There’s also the ever-popular method of combining silk mohair yarns with another fingering or sport-weight yarn. I’ve found that holding a strand of mohair double with another yarn is easier than it sounds, thanks to mohair clinging to the other yarn. However, if you are seeking a lighter-weight fabric for layering, you can easily get it by knitting with a single strand of lace or fingering-weight silk mohair blends, such as De Rerum Natura’s Bérénice or Knitting for Olive’s Soft Silk Mohair. Knit loosely on US#6 (4 mm) or US#7 (4.5 mm) needles to achieve the most loftiness
How to plump up the volume with brushing
If you would like even more volume, you can take an additional step. Brace yourself! You can do what I do and use Cocoknits’ Sweater Care Brush to raise the pile on both sides of the fabric, creating more volume and achieving a distinctive all-over halo for that magical texture.
See the example below of the brushed and unbrushed swatches of De Rerum Natura Bérénice!
The difference is pretty dramatic! The trick with brushing your mohair fabric is to go slowly. Below, I have a video to show you how to do this on your own. It will also be available on the fibre space Instagram and Facebook accounts!
Don’t be afraid to experiment and swatch so you can get a feel for what you like!
You can find out more about Olga, as well as her designs, on her site, on her Ravelry page and on Instagram
