Polyester Yarn

The four families of polyester yarn

Polyester is a synthetic fibre that takes texture extremely well, which is why this collection looks so different from a shelf of wool. Broadly there are four types here, and they behave nothing like each other. Chenille and blanket yarns, such as Bernat Blanket, Bernat Baby Blanket, Paintbox Chenille and King Cole Yummy, are thick velvety cords made by trapping short fibres between twisted plies. Eyelash and feather yarns, including Flutterby Chunky, Sirdar Alpine, Sirdar Snuggly Snowflake DK and Chunky, and Bernat Pipsqueak, have long fibres standing out from a thin core. Metallic and tinsel yarns like King Cole Tinsel Chunky, Glitz DK, Baby Glitz, Shine DK and Anchor Artiste Metallic carry a reflective strand. And faux fur yarns such as Lion Brand Go For Faux give long pile for trims and toys.

What each type is good for

• Chenille and blanket yarn — baby blankets, cushions, amigurumi with a plush finish, and quick chunky throws.
• Eyelash and feather — trims, cuffs, collars, toy manes and fluffy scarves; also excellent held together with a plain yarn to add halo.
• Tinsel and glitter — Christmas decorations, party garments, festive toys and anywhere you want sparkle without beading.
• Faux fur — hoods, bag trims, animal toys and cuffs.
• Boucle and slub polyester blends such as Lion Brand Homespun and Schachenmayr Tahiti — textured afghans and homeware.

Working with fluffy and velvet yarns

These yarns are worth the effort, but they are not beginner-friendly in the usual sense. You cannot see your stitches, which means counting by feel and by row counter rather than by eye. Two habits fix most problems. First, place a stitch marker every twenty stitches on a long row, so a lost stitch is a small correction rather than a full unpick. Second, work at a firmer tension than instinct suggests: chenille in particular suffers from "worming", where loops of the velvet cord pop out of a loose fabric and will not go back. A slightly smaller hook or needle than the ball band suggests usually cures it.

Warmth, weight and quantity

Polyester traps a lot of air, so a chenille blanket is much warmer than its metreage implies, and much heavier than a wool one of the same size. Blanket yarns come in large balls precisely because a throw needs a lot of them — always buy to the stated metreage and keep to one dye lot, as texture yarns show lot differences clearly under the pile. For eyelash yarn, remember the ball looks bigger than it is: most of what you can see is the pile, not the core.

Care and safety

Polyester is machine washable and quick-drying, which is exactly why it dominates baby blankets and toys. Wash cool on a gentle cycle, and tumble on low if at all. Never press it with a hot iron — polyester melts, and the damage is permanent and shiny. Fluffy yarns shed a little at first and settle down after a wash or two; a lint roller sorts the rest. For toys and baby items, embroider features rather than fitting small parts, and remember that long-pile yarns are not appropriate for anything a very young baby will have near their face.

Polyester yarn questions

Is polyester yarn machine washable? Yes, on a cool gentle cycle. Check the individual ball band for tumble drying.

Why do loops keep popping out of my chenille? That is worming, caused by loose tension. Go down a hook or needle size and work more firmly.

What can I make with eyelash yarn? Trims, cuffs, scarves and toy fur, or hold it together with a plain yarn to add a halo.

Is polyester yarn warm? Very — it traps air well, so chenille and blanket yarns make notably cosy throws.

Can I iron it? No. Heat melts the fibre. Pin damp to shape and let it air dry instead.

Where to go next

Polyester is what gives velvet and plush yarns their pile, so see chenille yarn for blankets and amigurumi, and ribbon yarn for bags. It is also blended into acrylic ranges and into recycled yarn. Heavier polyester blends sit in chunky and super chunky.