What Is Mulberry Silk Yarn?
Mulberry silk yarn is silk made from silkworms that only eat mulberry leaves — it is widely celebrated as the highest grade of silk, as well as the most consistent. In the BSY dye studio, this fingering-weight yarn is only ever 100% Grade A Mulberry Silk. Each skein measures 438 yards / 400 meters (100g). Since it's non-superwash, it must be handwashed only. In this blog post, we'll cover what makes this type of yarn different; why it brightens color; how it actually feels; how to care for it; and what to make with it. Let's go!
What Makes Mulberry Silk Different?
Mulberry silk yarn is different from other yarns because it has a long filament — a single continuous thread from the silkworm — versus short-staple fibers like wool. This is the secret behind the smoothness and luster silk is so famous for. The “Grade A” label of Mulberry Silk is a purity grading — just the same way “baby alpaca yarn” is a grade of yarn, not a revelation that the fiber is from actual baby alpacas. Just like BSY's other types of yarn, our 100% Grade A Mulberry Silk is hand-dyed in our small batch dye studio. Each silk skein is 438 yds/400m per 100g.
Why Does Silk Make Colors Look So Vivid?
The luminous shine of Mulberry silk we all know and love is made possible by silk's continuous filament surface — it reflects light more readily than wool's scaled surface. That's why silk yarn is incredibly shiny and has a sheen like no other! That being said, it is not saturated in color. In fact, the dye generally has a harder time holding onto silk fibers, making it appear much lighter than the same colorway dyed on merino wool. When you take a look at our Mulberry Silk Fingering collection — and compare the pictures beside the same colorways on any of our wool bases — you can definitely note the difference!
How Does Mulberry Silk Feel and Drape?
Mulberry silk feels smooth and cool to the touch. It is best suited to drapey garments such as shawls, wraps, and tees, rather than highly structured pieces. Silk is harder for projects that need a lot of structure because its texture is more fluid than stiff, and even at the same yardage, it has more drape than wool. If you want to use it in a project with structure though, try holding it together with a fiber like our Suri Lace; the fibers play well together!
And if you want to make something silk-only, you're still in for a treat. We recommend finding an engaging project that has a lot of drape — because wow, does silk love that dramatic flair! Your project will look so stunning with a luxurious shine that can only come from silk. A quick tip from our studio for when you're ready: bamboo and metal needles both work great in our experience! And we totally recommend getting some cute stitch stoppers for when you take breaks from knitting or crocheting.
How Do You Care for Mulberry Silk Yarn?
Since Mulberry silk is a non-superwash yarn, make sure to hand wash only. Then gently squeeze (do not wring) excess water into a towel before laying flat to dry on another towel or blocking mat. We always recommend blocking silk yarn, but it's best to do it gently, so plan to spray or steam block for shape. For the full care walkthrough, see our step-by-step guide, how to wash hand-dyed yarn. (By the way, if you're interested in browsing the full spec sheet across all BSY bases, check out our fiber information.)
What Should You Knit or Crochet with Silk?
When it comes to silk, there are so many fun projects to knit or crochet! Think drapey garments that show off silk's bewitching shine: sumptuous shawls, dainty summer pieces, flowy tees, and whimsical wraps. As we mentioned earlier though: if you want your Mulberry silk project to have some structure to it, try holding it together with a fiber like Suri Lace, or even Merino — either of these fibers have a stiffness that marries well with silk's fluidity. For inspiring pattern ideas we return to again and again, feel free to explore our favorite silk projects.
FAQ
Is mulberry silk yarn good for beginners?
Mulberry silk is a manageable yarn for beginners, but has a learning curve around tension because of the smooth fiber surface. We recommend swatching first and using needles or hooks with a bit of stick to them, like bamboo!
Does silk yarn shrink or felt like wool?
No — silk does not felt the way wool does. Make sure to hand wash, lay flat to dry, and gently steam block any silk projects.
What's the difference between mulberry silk and other silk yarns?
Grade A Mulberry Silk comes from silkworms that only eat mulberry leaves. This is why it is considered the highest and most consistent silk grade.
Mulberry Silk is proof that a hand-dyed colorway can look completely different depending on the base it's dyed on! We'll always adore silk for its ability to brighten any colorway. See the shine for yourself in our vibrant Mulberry Silk Fingering collection. I hope you love it as much as I do.
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