Kelbourne Woolens Skipper Yarn

What does un-mercerized mean?

Mercerisation is a treatment of cotton yarns with a caustic soda solution under tension, meant to improve the luster of cotton to a more silk-like shine, increase its tensile strength, and help dye fix to create more saturated colors. Skipper is un-mercerized, so the cotton retains its natural matte finish, and the long-staple Tanguis fibers form a smooth strand unaided by additional processing.

What is Tanguis cotton?

Tanguis cotton is absorbent and wicks moisture better than normal cotton. Its long staple fiber length is less likely to to pill and fluff off on your hands as you work, and is less prone to wrinkling, too! Tanguis cotton is more resistant to cotton wilt, and as a result is more environmentally friendly.

Is Skipper good for toys?

Yes! Cotton holds its shape well, Skipper washes easily, and the smooth strand shows off small details, all of which matter for a toy that will be loved hard and washed often.

How do I wash it?

Machine wash cool and lay flat to dry. Like your favorite cotton tee, a cotton fabric can shrink slightly on its first wash in warm water, but not unpredictably so. If you would like your project to stick to an exact measurement, we recommend hand washing, blocking, and laying your project flat to dry.

How much yarn do I need?

Referencing your pattern and your desired size & gauge is the best way to ensure you will have enough yarn! For a general example, knitting the 48.75” finished bust size of the Piper Tee by Courtney Kelley calls for 7 skeins of Skipper.

We always recommend Ravelry as an all-encompassing pattern database in the shop. Many patterns on Ravelry estimate the yarn amount you will need for the size you are looking to make, but at Apricot Yarn & Supply, we can always offer advice if your pattern is unclear, you are working freehand, or something else!

If you are curious how Apricot Yarn & Supply began, read the full story on Our Story page.