How to Knit with Bouclé (and Why You'll Love It)
Winter Express Knitting School, Part 1
Want to learn how to knit with bouclé yarn without snagging its loops or losing sight of your stitches? Bouclé looks tricky, but a few simple techniques make this soft, textured yarn relaxing and rewarding to knit.
Over the next few weeks, we're taking a trip through the projects in the Holiday Movie Box, one skill at a time. When your box arrives, you'll be ready to cast on. Our first stop is a yarn that makes many knitters nervous: bouclé.
What is bouclé yarn?
Bouclé (say it "boo-KLAY") comes from the French word for "curled." The yarn has small loops and curls running along its length, creating a soft, squishy fabric full of touchable texture.
If you've ever picked up a skein of bouclé, given it a happy squeeze, then quietly put it back on the shelf, you're in good company. Those loops can look intimidating. The truth is that bouclé simply asks you to knit a little differently, more by feel and a little less by sight. Once you get the hang of it, it can be one of the most relaxing yarns to work with.
The yarn we chose for the Holiday Movie Box is a hand-dyed bouclé made from 100% merino wool. Puffy waves of merino are crimped along a thinner merino core, so it knits into a fabric that's soft and light.
7 tips for knitting with bouclé yarn
1. Choose smooth, pointy needles
ChiaoGoo knitting needles help the loops glide instead of grabbing. A sharper tip finds the stitch you want rather than snagging a neighboring loop. Blunt, grippy needles are a common reason knitters get frustrated with bouclé.
2. Knit by feel, not just by sight
Bouclé's loops can hide the "V" of each stitch. Slow down for the first few rows and feel for your needle slipping into the stitch. Soon your hands will learn the rhythm, making bouclé a lovely movie-night knit. It's also great practice for knitting without looking at your project.
3. Keep your tension relaxed
A light, easy hand keeps the fabric soft and drapey and makes each stitch easier to work on the next row. If you're a tight knitter, try going up a needle size.
4. Use stitch markers generously
Counting stitches in bouclé can make you a little cross-eyed. Place a stitch marker every 10 or 20 stitches when you cast on. Then you'll only need to count a small group at a time. This is especially helpful for keeping ribbing on track.
5. Put in a lifeline
A lifeline is a strand of smooth scrap yarn threaded through a row of live stitches you're happy with. If something goes wrong later, you can pull out your needles and rip back to that row without losing a stitch. With bouclé, it's worth its weight in gold.
6. Enjoy how forgiving it is
Here's the good news: all that lovely texture hides a multitude of sins. Small tension changes disappear, and woven-in ends tuck away almost invisibly. Bouclé is on your side.
7. Treat your finished knit gently
Give your finished piece the same care you would any good wool. Always check the yarn label first. For the merino bouclé used here, a cool hand wash with gentle wool wash and drying flat will help keep it soft and bouncy.
A beginner-friendly bouclé project: the First Class Beanie
The first project in this year's Winter Express Holiday Movie Box is the First Class Beanie, a simple bouclé hat designed for your first holiday movie of the season.
You can wear it two ways. Fold the brim up for a snug, classic beanie that keeps your ears warm, or leave it down for a relaxed, slouchy hat with more drape. It's the same hat in two moods, and I've been happily wearing mine both ways.
This is a wonderful first bouclé project. The pattern is simple, the yarn is soft, and bulky-weight knitting moves along quickly.
Frequently asked questions about knitting with bouclé
Is bouclé yarn difficult to knit?
Bouclé can be harder to read visually because its loops hide individual stitches. Smooth, pointed needles, relaxed tension, stitch markers, and knitting by feel make it much easier.
What needles work best with bouclé yarn?
Smooth needles with a pointed tip help you enter the correct stitch without catching nearby loops. If your stitches feel tight, moving up one needle size may help.
How do you fix mistakes in bouclé knitting?
Add a lifeline through a correct row before continuing. If you need to unravel your work, pull slowly and gently because bouclé's loops can catch on one another.
What projects are good for bouclé yarn?
Simple patterns that let the yarn's texture shine are ideal. Hats, scarves, cowls, and straightforward sweaters are good choices, especially for your first bouclé project.
The last day to order the Holiday Movie Box is September 30, while supplies last. When they're gone, they're gone.
