News from Yarn Barn
3/2 Perle Cotton update
Yarn Barn has carried perle cotton from the Supreme Corporation (formerly UKI) for decades. There have been changes in color and in packaging over that time but the yarn itself has remained the same. For 3/2 perle, that is about to change.
The mill that made the 3/2 mercerized cotton base yarn for Supreme has stopped making it. They continue to make the 5/2 and 10/2 weights. In place of the 3/2, they are offering a 6/4 to Supreme. This has the same yardage per pound and the same general size, but the construction is different: the new yarn is made of four finer plies compared to 3/2’s two thicker plies.
Supreme sent us small samples of dyed and undyed yarn. We wove a twill-based structure, shown above, and found the 6/4 to work well at the same sett as 3/2. The finished fabric was slightly less supple, so we think that it will perform just as well as 3/2 for table runners and placemats but perhaps not as well for scarves and towels. The new yarn looks and feels a little more like a cord, which should improve the strength and durability, as well as tangle-resistance, but reduce the drape.
Supreme still has some stock of dyed 3/2 but will switch to the 6/4 as colors are depleted. This change does not affect either 5/2 or 10/2 perle, which will continue as they are.
We don’t expect to run out of 3/2 any time soon. When we learned about the upcoming change, we stocked up. Supreme anticipates the first cones of 6/4 perle will be available in late January, but we will begin ordering them only as our stock of 3/2 is sold out. When the 6/4 begins coming in, we’ll put it on our website.