Why is Cashmere so soft? Knitting with and caring for this precious fibre

Here at The Knit Lounge, we love that you visit us for the highest quality, softest, yarn that we can source! We know that your love for creating projects should be matched with premium yarns that give you the best stitches you could ask for. This is why, when we were looking for the softest cashmere, we looked no further than incredible Cardiff Cashmere. In this blog, we are going to take a deep dive into the history of cashmere production, explain why it remains one of the best yarns to work with, and offer you some stunning pattern ideas of how you can enjoy it with links to our Ravelry page. 

Nestled in the foothills of Northwest Italy, there is a place where the ancient sounds of looms can still be heard. Since before the Roman Empire, the Biella textile region in Piedmont has produced the finest wools in Europe, leading the first prime-minister of Italy, Count Cavour (1810-1861), to call it the “The Manchester Of Italy”. These days, as the sun shines over the pilazzas, Biella is known for being both the UNESCO European city of Crafts and Folk Art due to its historic wool production, and the home of the most luxurious knitting yarn; Cardiff Cashmere. Truly it is a place to visit; sit and enjoy the best Italian coffee with views to the mountains, whilst getting your needles out to knit! 

The Biella textile region is still known specifically for its wool production, with the hydropower from the alpine water creating an effective eco-system to help with the manufacturing of the yarns. The soft water has a low mineral content, which is vital for fine wools, such as Cardiff Cashmere, as it helps maintain the luster and delicate fibres. The choice to produce the yarn in this region of Italy, with its deep roots in textile history, has allowed Cardiff Cashmere to maintain the lineage of working with families of spinners with deep knowledge of the mills. Their choice to  produce cashmere in this artisanal offering allows them to specialise in quality over quantity, rather than simply following the industrial frenzy seen in many large mills in mainland China. Their passion for this way of working keeps the heartfelt soul of their work at the core of their brand, which can be seen in each stitch on our needles. 

But beautiful yarn cannot be spun from low quality fibres, and this is why Cardiff Cashmere have built and maintained close relationships with the best farmers around Inner Mongolia. These generational farmers tend the flocks of the Hercus Goats; flocks that are allowed to roam freely through the Mongolian mountains through some of the harshest weathers the country experiences. To keep themselves dry and warm in the depths of winter, these goats produce long fibres of hair. The outer fibres are hardwearing and coarse, but the inner fibres that are close to the skin are soft and lofty; catching the heat from the goat’s skin and the air around to help insulate them from the cold. When the goats are shepherded into the low lying plains in the spring, their heavy winter coats are shorn in the same way we tend our sheep here in England. Once these fleeces are combed through, the premium inner hairs are sent to the Italian mountains to be spun at the Cardiff Cashmere mills. 

Cashmere is famous for its very low micron count, which is the wool industry’s way of measuring the diameter of the fibre that comes from the goat’s fleece. Typically, cashmere can be spun when the micron count is between 15 - 19 microns, but Cardiff Cashmere will only consider a fleece if it is measured at 15 or below. Cashmere also has a unique crimp to the wool, which allows the goats to stay very warm in the mountains of Mongolia as the wavy pattern helps to trap the air close to their skin to keep them warm, dry, and itch free; the properties we all enjoy in our finished projects! When the micron count is combined with the beautiful crimp, it ensures that the fibre that you are knitting with is the bounciest, softest wool that you can find for your needles.

The love and attention that goes into the production of the yarn that we have here at The Knit Lounge never ceases to amaze us! To be able to be part of, and help with the continuation of the history of textile manufacturing, animal and land led farming, and artistic rich skills is a wonderful part of opening our doors to you all. We have loved knitting with Cardiff Cashmere, and some of our favorite projects have been both small accessories (which we think are a fantastic way to enjoy the yarn if you are new to it), as well as knitting classic sweaters that have become investment pieces in our wardrobes that will last decades. For some project ideas, have a look at our Pattern inspiration on our Ravelry Page.

Caring for your cashmere is the same as caring for all your hand knits; with love and the best woolly wash! We suggest using Yarn Food Wool Wash, which has added lanolin to help maintain the softness of the yarn, but has the added benefit that you don’t need to rinse your knits after using it. Once you have finished knitting, give your cashmere a resting bath in cool water with Yarn Food before you block it. If you feel you need to wash your sweater again, take a good look at it to decide if it needs a full wash or a spot clean, as cashmere is both antimicrobial and a natural product that shouldn’t need washing much. If it is a little smelly, our tip is to hang it up outside for a day to allow the air to cleanse it, or pop it into a zip-lock bag and pop it in the freezer for a day (which also kills any moth eggs!). For any pills or bobbles a quick brush with a cashmere comb or wool comb will leave your knitting project looking brand new. We have cedar wood wool combs that also act as moth deterrents when stored with your cashmere knitwear.

We hope that you love knitting with Cardiff Cashmere as much as we do, and we look forward to seeing your projects in the shop and on Instagram so that we can share your amazing work with our community! You can view and purchase all the colours and qualities of Cardiff Cashmere in our full collection. We look forward to sending your soft, luxury yarn to you. 

Happy knitting! xx