Fibre Focus Friday: Sari Silk

Sari Silks have been part of our main fibre offering for a few years now and they're as popular today as they were when they were first released.  But what makes them so fantastic?

On their own Sari Silks can be tricky to work with.  Their varying and often short staple length makes them technical spin, so they always work best when blended with other fibres, whether you're spinning or felting.  They blend with most fibres with ease, you can often find them in our team blends and ranges such our new Phoenix Collection and our super chunky Confetti range.

The name of the fibres give their origin away; they were once saris! Once the saris have reached the end of their usable life, the material is gathered, colour sorted and broken down into its component threads.  These fibres are then blended together into the tops that we know and love. 

Over the years we've had a huge number of different colourways and blends, and we haven't always been able to re-stock your favourites.  This is due to the recycled nature of the fibres and the availability of certain colours.  You may notice that blues and paler shades are in short supply whereas reds and purples are more numerous; this is based on what is being recycled at any given time and this in turn is also affected by the popularity of certain colours and patterns.  It would be nearly impossible to separate out every colour and that's why you see different shades and textures reflected throughout the length of these fibres.

One thing to note about these fibres is that they have a high colour intensity due to the dyes used on them.  This creates a striking effect when they're used to add colour or texture but it does mean they need careful washing.  Ideally, a nice cool wash will help keep the colours in tip top condition as there is a risk of colours running when they get warm and wet.  If in doubt, you can give your tops a little bath before working with them to make sure that any risidual dye is exhausted.

If you fancy having a play with a Sari Silk you can find all of our silks, tops and yarn here - you might be surprised what you find it in!