Discover the Beauty of Superfine Alpaca & Pima Cotton Boucle Yarn
A gorgeous textured yarn with so many possibilities……
If you're on the hunt for a yarn that combines luxurious softness, natural breathability, and stunning visual texture, look no further than this new yarn base….
Superfine Alpaca and Peruvian Pima Cotton Boucle
What Makes This Yarn Special?
1. Superfine Alpaca
Superfine Alpaca fiber is celebrated for its silky softness and exceptional warmth. Unlike regular wool, alpaca contains no lanolin, making it hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin.
2. Peruvian Pima Cotton
Often referred to as the "silk of the South America," Peruvian Pima Cotton is one of the finest cotton fibers in the world. It is stronger, softer, and more absorbent than conventional cotton.
The cotton adds a bit of strength and structure to the alpaca yarn and as it requires different dyes to the animal fibre content, in some hand dyed skeins the cotton remains in its natural colour which gives a beautiful marled effect. I had great fun experimenting with dyeing this base and combining the dyes for animal and plant based fibres.
3. Boucle Texture
Boucle yarn is looped or curled, giving it a nubby texture and subtle volume. This texture adds a unique character to your finished projects without requiring complex stitch work—perfect for beginner and experienced knitters alike. Now, I’m not going to lie, when I first worked with it my needle was getting caught in some of the loops and I initially thought I would find it too frustrating, however, picking a larger needle size and slowing down my movements meant this became a lovely mindful project and the resulting fabric is absolutely worth it.
Characteristics
Thanks to its soft fibres and elegant drape, this yarn will make a breathable yet cosy garment with an interesting texture that you can’t help but stroke! It is probably best suited to simple stockinette patterns. This is also a 100% natural non superwash yarn so care should be taken when washing it. It is a Chunky Weight yarn with 140 metres per 100 grams. I achieved a lovely fabric with a 5mm needle.
Tips for working with boucle
Boucle yarn can be a little tricky to work with if you're not used to it’s texture. Here are some helpful tips:
Use simpler stitch patterns to let the yarn’s texture shine.
Opt for larger needles to avoid catching loops.
Always swatch before starting your project to get a feel for how it knits up.
Pattern Suggestions
I’ve collated a list of patterns that use a similar weight and texture of yarn…….
Audrey Jacket
I’m almost finished the Audrey Cardigan by Cheryl Mokhtari. I used 300g of the boucle yarn and a 50g skein of double knit yarn for the icords and button bands. I knitted the size 3 which has a finished bust circumference of 94.5cm and the pattern is written for up to a size 150cm bust. I have probably made it a little more cropped than stated in the pattern but I’m quite short and I think it will look lovely over dresses and with high waisted jeans. I’m looking forward to sharing it with you soon.
Winter Chunky Jacket
There’s also the Winter Chunky Jacket by Grey Level Knitter. A beautiful aztec inspired design makes this a really interesting project. A real statement piece!
Extra Cowl
If you are looking for something smaller then there’s the Extra Cowl by Rastus Hsu. Again this project combines two contrasting colours but would be so cozy and soft against your skin.
Teddy Clutch
There’s also this cute Teddy Clutch by Petite Knit which is done on a tighter gauge.
Big Fat Sweater
Another lovely sweater idea would be the Big Fat Sweater by Sus Gepard. I was particularly drawn to the lower neckline version knitted by ‘WoollyKirstin’ on Ravelry. Love that colour too! This one uses a boucle yarn held alongside another strand of aran weight. I imagine this would be as close to wearing a hug as you get!
Big Bird Vest
The final pattern that REALLY caught my eye was the Big Bird Vest again by Grey Level Knitter. There are so many gorgeous versions of this on Ravelry and it really is such an innovative design and there’s a child sized version too.
I’d love to see what you make with this yarn so please do share it on Instagram and tag me or join the Cookston Crafters Facebook Group.