Your basket is empty.
Continue Shopping
Knitting With Cashmere Yarn: Sumptuous Softness + Beautiful Gifts
Cashmere is one of the finest, softest fibers in the world and one of nature’s most extraordinary gifts—a true pleasure for you who gets to feel the bliss of knitting with cashmere yarn, as well as for the lucky person who receives your hand-knit cashmere gift. Find out what makes cashmere so soft and so breathtakingly beautiful with our guide to knitting with cashmere yarn, then explore and shop our collection of exceptional cashmere yarns and cast on with joy!
What Is Cashmere And Where Does It Come From?
Cashmere is a rare natural fiber grown by a special class of goats. About 90% of the world’s cashmere—including all the fine cashmere we source for our cashmere yarns—comes from goats living in the wind-swept highlands of Inner Mongolia and Mongolia. To ensure that the goats are comfortable and unharmed, farmers wait until spring (when they are naturally shedding) to gently comb away the insulating undercoat the animals grew to survive the harsh winter of their mountain homes. Each goat yields only a few ounces of this precious fiber every year!
From there, the fiber is carefully sorted for fineness and staple length. Our partner mills source the finest of this beautiful cashmere to spin into yarn, and our pure cashmere yarns are washed multiple times at the mill to bring out the fiber’s legendary softness. The result is cashmere at its most extraordinary, making every stitch a moment of pure delight.
Properties Of Cashmere Yarn
The cashmere goat’s downy undercoat has evolved over thousands of years to keep the animals warm without weighing them down. These same natural properties make the fiber highly desirable for humans, and they’re the reason cashmere has been used to make yarns, textiles, and garments for centuries.
Nigh DK, our 100% Mongolian cashmere, light worsted/DK-weight yarn
While there are many types of cashmere yarn (more on that soon!), all yarns made with this remarkable fiber share a few essential properties knitters love. (For a deeper look at how fiber properties affect your knitting, be sure to explore our Complete Guide To Yarn article.)
How Soft Is Cashmere?
Cashmere is extremely soft, and this is immediately apparent the moment you hold a skein of cashmere yarn in your hands. This famous softness comes primarily from the fineness of the fiber, which knitters measure in microns. The lower the micron count, the finer—and softer!—the fiber. For example, baby alpaca has a micron count of about 19-21; fine merino is 18-19.5 microns; and high-quality cashmere ranges from 14-17 microns. It’s a whole other level of softness… Think puffy-cloud soft, baby-bunny soft, heart-breaking soft!
Simply The Best Cardigan For Babies + Toddlers pattern in Nigh DK
Naturally Lightweight + Insulating
Besides being marvelously soft, cashmere yarn is also remarkable for being low density (light relative to its volume) and naturally insulating. The fineness of the fiber contributes to the nearly weightless feeling of cashmere and so does the fact that its fibers are partially hollow with little air pockets, lightening the load even more while also providing excellent insulation.
In addition, cashmere fibers are naturally thermoregulatory, doing the same work for you that they do for goats: keeping you warm in the cold and comfortable in the heat. It’s totally amazing to experience the feather-lightness of a hand-knit cashmere scarf or sweater, how gently it weighs on you, while also feeling completely protected from whatever icy chill comes your way!
Free Pattern: Classic Ribbed Hat in Nigh Aran
Relaxed + Supple
Unlike wool yarn, which has a bounce in its step, cashmere yarn and knits have a more yielding and relaxed response. This goes back, again, to the structure of cashmere’s fibers, which are quite straight. Unlike wool fibers, which have a natural crimp that makes them spring back into shape, cashmere tends to be less elastic. Its beauty is in its gentle suppleness and fluidity, which you feel vividly as the yarn slides through your fingers with every stitch.
Free Pattern: Shawl Collar Shawl in Nigh DK
Halo + Bloom
Another real pleasure of knitting with cashmere yarn is its tendency to halo and bloom. Because cashmere often has a shorter staple length (that’s fancy fiber-talk for the fibers being on the short side!) than, say, merino wool, its ends tend to free themselves from the yarn’s spin. The result is a diaphanous fuzziness that seems to float on the surface of the finished fabric, what knitters call a “halo.” This effect has a wonderful way of diffusing light, giving cashmere knits a delicate glow. Those short fibers also cause cashmere yarn to “bloom” when you wash and block it, which means the stitches plump up and fill in the space between them.
How Does Cashmere Compare?
| Fiber | Softness | Staple Length | Density | Insulation | Elasticity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cashmere | Exceptional | Shortest | Lowest | Very High | Low |
| Fine Merino | Very Soft | Short | Low | High | High |
| Baby Alpaca | Very Soft | Long | Moderate | Highest | Low |
| Kid Mohair | Soft | Longest | Very Low | Very High | Lowest |
All these properties, plus some intangible things that we’ll chalk up to mystery, knitting with cashmere yarn really is an extraordinary experience and profound joy!
Should I Knit With Cashmere Yarn?
Cashmere is unmatched for softness, warmth without weight, and heirloom beauty. No other fiber feels quite like it against the skin, and a well-made cashmere knit only becomes more beautiful with time and wear. For all these reasons, cashmere yarn is an investment, so it’s worth taking the time to choose a project that suits it best.
Free Pattern: Cloudberry Bandana in Nigh DK
Cashmere is perfect for…
- Next-to-skin accessories like scarves, shawls, and hats that you’ll wear close to your face and neck
- Lightweight warmth—cashmere’s exceptional insulation-to-weight ratio means you’ll stay cozy without the feeling of wearing something heavy and bulky
- Special gifts and heirloom knits, especially for babies, where that extraordinary softness really makes a difference
- Anyone who runs cold and wants the warmest, most comfortable fiber available
You may want another yarn if…
- You’re knitting something that will see heavy abrasion, like everyday socks
- You need lots of elasticity—for ribbed sock cuffs, for example—in which case a wool yarn or a cashmere-wool yarn will serve you better
- You’re planning intricate colorwork or highly textured stitch patterns, where cashmere’s soft halo can obscure the detail
If you’re substituting cashmere yarn for a yarn made with another fiber, be sure to consider how the cashmere yarn’s lower density and inelastic structure will impact your project. Check out our yarn substitution guide for lots more information to help you make these kinds of decisions!
Tips For Knitting With Cashmere Yarn
Many knitters—especially beginners—find themselves holding onto that precious skein of cashmere yarn, waiting until they feel skilled enough to do it justice. But here’s the thing: cashmere is no more difficult to knit with than any other fine yarn, and with just a little care, even the simplest stitches will look like an heirloom. Don’t save it for someday!
Free Pattern: Near + Dear Cowl in Nigh DK
Here are a few tips to get you started…
- Try out different knitting needles. Some knitters find cashmere slippery and prefer wood or bamboo needles for a bit more grip, while others prefer metal to avoid abrasion on the yarn. Using blunt-tip needles will help if you’re having trouble with “splitting” the yarn as you knit.
- Be sure to swatch for gauge, as cashmere yarn may require a different needle size than wool yarn of the same weight to get your desired gauge (read our All About Gauge article for tips!).
- Wash and dry your gauge swatch the same way you will care for your finished knit. Fine cashmere yarns have a tendency to bloom and soften dramatically after washing, so your finished knit will look and feel even better than it does on the needles. Find more tips on care and washing below!
- Keep your tension loose—consider knitting at a looser gauge to allow the yarn to bloom.
Most importantly, enjoy knitting with this incredibly special fiber!
Best Knitting Projects For Cashmere Yarn
From toasty winter accessories to the softest baby knits, cashmere brings breathtaking beauty to every project. A handknit cashmere gift is truly in a class of its own, and our cashmere yarns will make your creations feel and look like true heirlooms.
Free Pattern: Warm Wishes Hot Water Bottle Cover in Nigh DK
Here are just a few ideas…
- Knit a beautiful, practical, and deeply personal gift like our Warm Wishes Hot Water Bottle Cover in Nigh DK.
- Whip up a luxuriously soft hat or cowl to keep or give, like our Classic Ribbed Hat in Nigh Aran.
- Treat yourself to an elegant scarf like our Daily Scarf in Echo Cashmere, and revel in the beauty of simple stitches in a stunning yarn.
- Stitch up a baby gift like our Simply The Best Cardigan For Babies + Toddlers in Nigh DK—impossibly soft against delicate skin.
- Craft a stunning shawl or wrap, like Ksenia Naidyon’s incredible Moonvine Shawl in Nigh Fine—the perfect showcase for cashmere’s natural drape and halo.
Each of our cashmere yarns has beautiful free knitting patterns we designed to maximize cashmere’s amazing softness, drape, and beauty. Check them out for so many more incredibly inspiring ideas!
Free Pattern: Moonvine Shawl by Ksenia Naidyon in Nigh Fine
How To Care For Cashmere Handknits
Blocking and washing cashmere handknits does wonders! They soften and relax; the fibers bloom; and a beautiful, delicate halo arises on the surface of the fabric.
- To get started, pick up our very gentle Sweater Soap and follow along with our How To Hand Wash A Sweater Tutorial for step-by-step instructions and tips to avoid felting or overstretching.
- After some wear, light and gentle strokes with our Sweater Comb will tame pilling and give your fabric a fresh finish.
- Both the soap and comb are included in our handy Wool Care Kit, along with Spot Soap for focused stain removal and a Sweater Rake that is better reserved for hardier knits.
- You may also want to buy some Sweater Storage Bags to protect your precious cashmere from moths (who seem to appreciate cashmere as much as we do!)
With a little bit of care, your cashmere knits will become more and more beautiful with time… In fact, true heirlooms!
Types Of Cashmere Yarns
100% Cashmere Yarn
First, there are 100% cashmere yarns. These are the purest and tend to also be the most expensive. But even 100% cashmere yarns come in a range of micron counts and quality. The best cashmere yarns are more carefully sorted for fineness, purity, and longer staple length.
Two beautiful 100% Mongolian cashmere yarns, Nigh Fine and Nigh DK
Our Nigh DK, Nigh Aran, and fingering-weight Nigh Fine yarns are 100% Mongolian cashmere and will give you a wonderful idea of what it’s like to knit with the best cashmere yarn in the world! You can make an incredible gift with just a skein or two. Explore our Nigh DK knitting patterns, Nigh Aran knitting patterns, and Nigh Fine knitting patterns for some fabulous ideas!
Recycled Cashmere Yarn
Recycled cashmere yarn gives a beautiful new beginning to fiber that deserves a second life. Recycled cashmere yarn, like our fingering-weight Echo Cashmere, is made with excess fiber from the production process of cashmere sweaters and yarn, as well as with cashmere from recycled sweaters.
Echo Cashmere, 95% recycled cashmere yarn in a fingering-to-sport weight
For this reason, recycled cashmere usually has a small percentage of “other fibers” in the mix but is often at least 95% cashmere. It also tends to be less expensive than 100% cashmere, making recycled cashmere yarn a more accessible way to get your hands on some lovely cashmere… Our Echo Cashmere knitting patterns will put you on the path!
Free Pattern: Daily Scarf in Echo Cashmere
Cashmere-Blend Yarn
Adding cashmere to other fibers always brings depth and beauty to a yarn, but when you blend it with a fiber that is super special in its own right, they truly bring out the best in each other.
DK-weight Cashmere Merino Bloom, 75% extra fine merino and 25% cashmere
For example, our DK-weight Cashmere Merino Bloom yarn starts with the highest quality extra fine merino wool in the world, which contributes its own softness, as well as elasticity and structure. The addition of 25% cashmere brings over-the-top softness, a gentle halo, and beautiful bloom. Check out our Cashmere Merino Bloom knitting patterns and find out all the gorgeous things you can make with the yarn!
Free Pattern: Two-Color Brioche Hat in Cashmere Merino Bloom
Even just a tiny bit of cashmere can transform a yarn. Worsted-weight Hedgerow and laceweight Spindle, both made in Ireland’s County Donegal, use a touch of cashmere to give a soft hand feel to this traditional Irish tweed yarn. The best of both worlds!
Our Irish tweed lace-weight Spindle, merino wool yarn with a touch of cashmere and silk
Dive into our Hedgerow knitting patterns, as well as our Spindle knitting patterns, to experience the power of a smidgen of cashmere!
Explore All Our Gorgeous Cashmere Yarns
Hedgerow
93% Merino Wool, 3.5% Cashmere, 3.5% Mulberry Silk | Worsted-Weight Yarn
Nigh Aran
100% Cashmere Aran-Weight Yarn
Nigh Fine
100% Cashmere | Fingering-Weight Yarn
Echo Cashmere
95% Recycled Cashmere | Fingering- to Sport-Weight Yarn
Cashmere Merino Bloom
75% Extra Fine Merino, 25% Cashmere | DK-Weight Yarn
Nigh DK
100% Cashmere | DK-Weight Yarn
Shop all of our cashmere yarns, including the ones above, and all of our other inspiring yarn, too… You’ll find a wide variety of fiber blends and spins and hundreds of spectacular colors!
Cast On With Cashmere!
Free Pattern: Vessel Cowl in Nigh Aran
Soft beyond measure, featherlight, and endlessly beautiful, cashmere is a fiber unlike any other—one that rewards every stitch with a joy that’s hard to put into words. Whether you’re knitting a treasured gift, a personal heirloom, or a simple scarf that happens to feel extraordinary, cashmere elevates every project it touches. Browse our collection of inspiring knitting patterns, then dive in and find the perfect cashmere yarn to bring your next heirloom project to life!
Article written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our knitting patterns (including tons of free knitting patterns) and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Enjoyable read with informative content. Thank you!
Thank you for this helpful article. I’m wondering if you can tell me what pattern was used for the orange colored scarf on the echo cashmere photo in this article. Thank you so much.
Hi Christy,
That’s our Simplicity Scarf!
All the best,
Lili
I’d love to make some cashmere socks but worry the fiber won’t hold up in the toe and heel. Am I wrong? Is there a cashmere or cashmere blend out there up to the task?
Appreciate any comments. 🙂
Hi Lexymarty,
Thanks for writing in! Cashmere yarn would make super warm and cozy lounge socks! You’re right though, because cashmere is such a soft fiber, and our cashmere yarns have no reinforcing nylon in them, it might not be the best choice for socks that get a lot of wear and tear. If you want to add some durability to the sock though, another option is to hold the yarn together with a nylon thread!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you, Lili, for your insight and reply! Really helpful 🙂
Strange to think that, the higher quality the yarn, the more likely it is to pill. One would think the opposite.
Hi Judith,
We’re glad you wrote in about this! There are many reasons why a yarn could be more prone to pilling than others, but the reason why may surprise you…
It isn’t necessarily an indication of poor yarn quality and is instead related directly to how the yarn is plied. Yarns with fewer plies and more loosely spun yarns, for example, allow for more friction between the fibers, which is the main cause of pilling. Cashmere in particular has a natural “halo” of fiber that rises above the stitches. This can be mistaken for pilling, but it’s more of a cloud-like layer that adds to the extreme softness cashmere is famously associated with.
I hope this extra context helps encourage you to give our cashmere a try! If you’re ever curious about the differences between any of the yarns we carry though, we’re more than happy to do a deeper dive!
All the best,
Lili
Cadhmere is my very favorite yarn to knit with. I love Purl Soho’s Nigh DK. It is a scrumptious yarn to knit with. The projects feel absolutely great. Thank you for selling this wonderful yarn and offering it at 20% off.
This is so helpful!
What is the pattern used for the garment in the photo captioned “Our Cygnet fingering-weight yarn, 70% cashmere and 30% baby alpaca (both undyed)”
Hi Jackie,
I’m so glad! Those are our Soft As A Cloud Cowls!
All the best,
Lili
I’ve used Echo Cashmere to make the Simplicity Scarf—easy and very pretty. I’d like to make another, but only two colors are left in this yarn and neither works for me this time. This pattern calls fingering weight-to -sport weight yarn. Any other suggestions?
Hi Jane,
Thank you for writing in! Line Weight or Wigeon could both work well with this pattern!
All the best,
Gavriella
Hi All,
Do you recommend Echo Cashmere just for scarves or is it suitable for sweaters which receive more strain? I’m thinking of a cardigan if you have any suggestions to offer.
Very pretty and substantial yarn, by the way.
Thank you,
Kay
Hi Kay!
Thanks so much for writing in with your question! I’m so glad you love the Echo Cashmere as much as we do.
That’s a wonderful idea, it would make a lovely cardigan or sweater. It’s very soft, and woolen spun so I would consider swapping out a typical long-tail cast-on for the backwards loop cast-on. Blocking will add extra strength and durability to the fabric as well!
I’m afraid we don’t currently have a sweater pattern available which features Echo Cashmere, but we would love to see the final results! I’d always recommend knitting a gauge swatch to ensure you can achieve the gauge given in the pattern, and that you like the look and feel of the resulting fabric. With that in mind, I’d recommend the Top-Down Turtleneck Cardigan!
I hope this helps! Please feel free to reach out with any other questions you might have!
Happy knitting
Hills
Dear Hillary,
I like that suggestion because I have been looking forward to knitting the Topdown Turtleneck Cardigan. The Echo Cashmere seems a bit stiff when knitted to the gauge, so my latest plan is to make the gauge 1 stitch larger (i.e. 24 sts ) for a bit more drape to the fabric. There are only 5 skeins (no more of the color seems to be available) so the project will be a squeaker for my size, the 38. I’ll be using that test swatch! Also, thanks for your suggestions about cast on and blocking. The notes about cashmere yarn are appreciated.
Yours with thanks,
Kay
Hi Kay!
Thanks so much for your reply! I’m so glad swatching seemed to work out for you and the tips were helpful. Great work on adjusting your gauge to create a fabric you like!
I just wanted to check-in real quick to see if you had washed and blocked your swatch? Echo Cashmere should bloom and soften when blocked, so hearing that it’s feeling a bit stiff makes me wonder if it might be unblocked? It might also adjust your gauge!
Also, please feel free to email us at [email protected] with a little note, and we’d be happy to look into the Echo Cashmere you’re working with to see if we can get you an extra skein or two!
I hope you enjoy knitting the Topdown Turtleneck Cardigan! We’d love to see the final result!
Happy knitting!
Hills
Dear Hills,
Good reminder to block that swatch! I will do so. This is my first foray into knitting with cashmere so suggestions are welcome. As a hair I note it has less spring than wool, but already the softness and density are apparent. The sweater will be like a warm hug.
Hi Kay!
I’m so glad this was helpful! Your thoughts on cashmere are spot on, it’s slightly less elastic and has stunning drape. I can’t wait for you to finish you warm hug sweater!
I hope you enjoy the project…happy knitting!
Hills
Regarding your two lighter weight cashmere yarns, I was wondering why there are no lacy patterns. Does cashmere not lacy well?
Hi Cathy!
Thanks so much for writing in with your question. Cashmere can create a beautiful lace fabric… I’ll pass along your interest to our design team!
We do have the Eyelet Cowl, which features Spindle (a cashmere blend) and eyelets (a key component to lace work). It’s written for a lace-weight gauge. We also feature Spindle in the Lace Margins Wrap! Our fingering weight cashmere, could likely knit up to gauge for either of these patterns, but I would recommend knitting a gauge swatch to see if you achieve gauge and like the look and feel of the fabric.
I hope this helps! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with us! Please feel free to reach out with any other questions or comments you might have.
Happy knitting!
Hills
Thanks Hills, I appreciate your input. I’ll let you know how the yarns works out. First I’ll Knit the small scarf identified in patterns for the DK cashmere and take it from there.
Always happy to help, Cathy! That sounds like a great plan, we’d love to see the finished product!
Happy knitting!
Hills