How to Care for Fluffy Yarns

Fluffy yarns are so seductive. Whether a delicate mohair, a brushed alpaca, or a chunky faux fur, these yarns sing their siren song from the shelves of every yarn shop. You just can’t help yourself—you pick it up, you snuggle it against your cheek, and you slide it into your basket.

But how do we keep these yarns looking their fluffy best once those scarves, hats and sweaters are in use? Do fluffy yarns require special care? Let’s investigate.

Start With the Label

Nearly all yarns sold in the US have care instructions on the label. It’s the law. So, begin by looking at the care instructions provided by the yarn manufacturer.  You might see the instructions written out in words, but it’s more likely you’ll find symbols like these:

For most fluffy yarns, the care symbols will direct you to hand wash and dry flat. If you’re combining yarns, always care for the finished project in accordance with the instructions for the most delicate component.

No Label? No Problem

When in doubt, hand wash and dry flat. You can find a refresher on how to hand wash your handmade projects, in partnership with our friends at Eucalan.

Keeping it Fluffy

After your project is dry, or anytime it looks like it needs fluffing, give it a good shake. This is often enough to restore the texture you love.

If you find that the fibers are starting to look a little matted, you might want to try brushing the fabric with a very soft brush. I have a friend who swears by using a baby’s hairbrush to keep her mohair sweaters looking brand new.

It’s worth remembering that a certain amount of pilling is almost inevitable with fuzzy yarns. In areas of frequent friction (like the undersleeve and sides of a pullover), those long, soft fibers are going to tangle together and form pills. The softer the yarn, the quicker pills will form. Avoid using razors or sweater shavers on fuzzy yarns—you don’t want to create bald patches. A gentle combing with a de-pilling tool like the Gleener is a safer way to keep your fuzzy garments beautiful.

Related: 3 Tools for Removing Pills from a Handmade Sweater

Favorite Fluffy Yarns

With proper care, projects made with luxuriously fluffy yarns will provide years of pleasure. If you’re eager to add some softness to your stash, here are some of our favorites:

Click the arrows to left and right below to explore our favorite fluffy yarns.

Images courtesy of the yarn companies linked.

We hope you’re feeling more confident to work with and wear garments and accessories made with fluffy yarns!

Do you have a favorite fluffy yarn? Let us know in the comments!

Sandi Rosner is the technical content editor for all things yarn at Interweave. When she isn’t knitting, she usually has her nose in a book. You’ll find new technical content from Sandi nearly every week at www.interweave.com.

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