New Yarn: Cattail Silk
Our new Cattail Silk may change the way you think about silk. Unlike the glossy, delicate silk who wants you to take it to opening night of the ballet, Cattail Silk is a more take-me-anywhere kind of yarn. It loves the ballet, but it loves the tops of mountains and the challenges of work, too!
Cattail Silk is one hundred percent pure silk, dyed and spun in Japan. It has a very subtle shine, a wonderfully earthy texture, and a casual spin speckled by little nubs of color. We love its self assurance and offhand elegance, its warm and welcome attitude.
Created in Japan, this yarn is steeped in the traditional craftsmanship of its home. Like a shibori scarf or sumi-e painting, Cattail Silk reflects its natural origins with its free expression and uninhibited beauty.
We named this yarn collection and its entire palette after Japanese traditional colors, an ancient list of nearly 500 time-honored tones. Names like Distant River Brown and Thin Cloud Gray are like tiny, little poems with the same subtly as the yarn itself.
Ranging from a sport to a fingering weight and happy on needles from US size 2 to 5, Cattail Silk has lots of looks! Knit up as a nice, firm fabric, it makes lovely spring hand warmers or a baby cardigan, while at a looser gauge, it is an amazing wrap or sweater.
And one more thing… Each skein of Cattail Silk is a very generous 600-plus yards! Start with two or three skeins and cast on for the Goode Dolman-sleeved pullover, designed by Julie Hoover for Purl Soho. It’s the perfect sweater for spring and for the distinctive beauty of Cattail Silk!
Will this new yarn work for your pattern “over the top tee”?
Hi Carolynn,
Thank you for the question. You could hold the yarn double and it would get a similar gauge to the Over the Top Tee. I’d do a gauge swatch and see how you fare. Thanks again!
Adam
This yarn looks so beautiful, but why are there no greens?
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for the lovely compliment! There are no greens this season but maybe in the future. We’ll see! Stay tuned!
Adam
This is the most beautiful presentation of any yarn, so much so that I am tempted to buy some. Your presentation entices people to buy and have no regrets for the cost. The colour range is superb so there will be no excuse for “I couldn’t find what I wanted”.
Hi Heather!
Thank you for the wonderful compliment! I hope you like the yarn and decide to make something with it that you’ll have for a lifetime!
All the best,
Adam
Please let me know how much to buy for sweater before I order. Thank you.
Hi Dor,
Thanks for your interest in this yarn! Click here to buy it!
Adam
This is beautiful; I wish I was well enough set to buy some. If I were it would be the peach; nice soft color.
This yarn is gorgeous! I am definitely going to buy some. Ironically, I just finished making Julie Hoover’s Goode’s dolman sleeve pullover so I’d love a few other garment suggestions that lend themselves to this yarn. Please advise so I can get started. Thanks
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in and for the kind words! We just came out with our Circular Yoke Summer Sweater using this lovely yarn! Our Box Pleat Top would also be lovely using Cattail Silk!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Would this yarn work for the open air wrap? I’ve had great success making the wrap with the linen quill but have a request from a friend allergic to wool. If you don’t think the cattail silk is a good choice could you suggest a different natural non wool option. If you do think it’s a good choice could you please tell me how you think the overall feel and look will compare with the linen quill version. Many thanks.
Hello Weir,
Thank you for reaching out! I think the Open Air Wrap would be beautiful in our Cattail Silk. It will be a bit less stretchy due to the nature of the yarn, but It will have a beautiful drape to it.
Happy knitting!
Marilla
Hello,
Could you please tell me if the yarn feels soft? I am planning to knit the knit-and-fold bandana. I’m sensitive to rougher textures, such as wool. I don’t like my knits to have a scratchy-quality to them. What do you think?
Thank you.
Hi Siobhan,
Thanks for reaching out! I find Cattail Silk truly comfortable and pleasant to wear! The surface texture of the yarn is quite nubbly, especially before it has been knit or blocked, but because there are no animal fibers, it’s definitely not itchy or scratchy. After blocking, and especially after a trip through the washer and dryer, the knitted fabric blooms beautifully and has an almost velvet-like texture! I am sure you will love it!
All the best,
Julianna
Just finished knitting a sweater in cattail silk. Any suggestions for how to block it?
Hi Madeline,
Thanks so much for writing in! We block all of our projects using a wet block, and it will work for Cattail Silk as well. We have a neat tutorial on the method we use, at How To Hand Wash A Sweater. I hope this helps!
Best,
Cassandra
I have never used Purl SoHo’s silk before. I would like to know
many feet are in each skein? I have a pattern and I need to purchase
Enough yard.
Thank you
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for reaching out! Each skein of Cattail Silk has 618 yards. You can find the full details on our product page!
Best,
Julianna
How would this do on a loom? I’m a weaver and this yarn is so beautiful, I’m in love. Would it be strong enough for warping?
Thank you!
Hi Cyd,
Thanks for reaching out! Silk is a surprisingly strong fiber, so I believe using Cattail Silk for weaving would work out wonderfully!
Please let us know how this works out!
Warmly,
Gianna
Beautiful! Looking for a true pale pink. No orange or peach undertones. Which one would you recommend? Thanks!
Hi Judy,
Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend Cattil Silk in Cherry Blossom for a true pale pink, or even Pale Rose!
I hope this helps!
Gianna