Yarns to Love
Pattern Scout: 8 Dreamy Designs for Kidsilk Haze
It really is the most fantastical yarn, Rowan Kidsilk Haze. We’ve loved it for 20 years now, and it’s a yarn we return to time and again. If you’ve never tried this yarn, which combines silk and an airy halo of mohair, well, maybe this is your day to go for it. We have dozens of colors (see the gallery above) in the Shop.
Belinda Wrap by Ann Shayne
At Vogue Knitting Live, our venerable Belinda Wrap came along for the ride, because Rowan is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Kidsilk Haze.
It was so fun. Everybody loved trying it on and swooshing about in this airy concoction. It’s so easy to pack—it collapses into a tiny ball—and it was a toasty insulator, given the nature of mohair and silk fibers.
It’s two rectangles and a simple yarnover pattern. Mesmerizing.
Dusking by Kiyomi Burgin
Exquisite is the word. This simple pullover, worked in the round, begins at the top with four strands of silk mohair yarn, then reduces the number of strands along the way until the hem is a single strand. The sleeves likewise diminish to a filmy cuff, just gorgeous.
Dusking appears in Cosmology Daruma Collection 2022, a lovely hardcover book published by the Japanese yarn company Daruma. The designers starring in this collection of eight designs are Kioymi and Sachiko Burgin, two of the most original designers we know. (It was a thrill to meet them last fall at the Wool & Folk festival!)
Note that you’ll need the following number of balls of Kidsilk Haze to make Dusking (the yarn specified in the pattern has a different yardage per ball):
XS: 8. S: 8. M: 9. L: 10. XL: 11. 2XL: 12. 3XL: 12. 3XL: 13. 4XL: 14.
Wisp by Cheryl Niamath
When 5,500 knitters have posted their projects on Ravelry, you can be sure you’re seeing a beloved pattern. This design appeared in 2007 on Knitty.com, and it’s still there, a free pattern, and a perfect use of Kidsilk Haze.
Two balls of Kidsilk Haze yield a rectangle of fishnet lace and garter stitch that, with the help of a row of lightweight buttons, can be worn as a scarf, a cowl, or a wrap around the shoulders.
Everyday Wrap by Julie Weisenberger
The brilliant mind behind Cocoknits gives us her elemental take on working with Kidsilk Haze. Stockinette on a size 8 (5 mm) needle. Hold two strands together. The result: the piece you’ll reach for all the time. Everyday Wrap is a free pattern, such a lovely design.
Oh, the marling possibilities! Two balls of two colors will do it.
Seascape Stole by Kieran Foley
If you haven’t discovered Kieran Foley’s astounding designs, here’s the place to start. It’s a free pattern, and what a cool use of Kidsilk Haze.
Shifting yarnovers create waves in this stunner. Three balls make a voluminous but light wrap. If you’re wondering what color to use, 1,800 Ravelry projects will give you an idea or 200.
River by Sharon Miller
Perfectly airy, ball gown optional. These shawls can dress up or down, but for us, we don’t wait for a fancy occasion—a wrap like River is a daily pleasure.
Seasoned Rowanettes will remember the splash River made when it debuted in 2005. This is a two-ball project.
Horai Scarf by Hiroko Fukatsu
This ingenious stitch creates a geometric floral pattern that we adore.
You’ll need six balls—the yarn is held double and the dimensions are generous. Check out the other patterns in the designer’s Please Don’t Eat the Daisies collection here. Brilliant and beautiful.
White Rabbit Wristees by Tiny Owl Knits
Maybe you’re wishing for a taste of Kidsilk Haze, a little project to try it out? Here you go.
Squee! Here’s a way to use up precious Kidsilk Haze leftovers, or to make many friends happy and matchy if you pick up two colors you like together and knit a whole batch.
So: which one catches your eye? For us, we wish we had another few pairs of hands to make them all.
Oh my goodness! This post is so timely for me! I just discovered a few balls of Kidsilk Haze in the bottom of my yarn basket and I feel like I hit the jackpot. If I knit those adorable hand warmers, I hope the vintage stuffed bunny will magically appear in my hands 😉 But seriously, thank you for this round-up of beautiful inspiration. Saving this post!
08 March – IWD i.e. International Women’s Day…
What a great selection for this special day to indulge in delicious kid mohair and make something feminine… Thank you for picking these wonderful designs!
sorry, this was not “in reply” to your comment, but rather a reply to the post !
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I still love Belinda the best!
These are all beautiful…but my favorite KidSilk Haze pattern is the Janet sweater from Rowan magazine No. 69! Simply stunning.
Oooooo … https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/janet-14
That’s lovely! Such a soft and cozy but effortless looking neckline.
That Dusking sweater! Although I was surprised, looking at the projects, that nobody has done it in a blend of different colors – that’s the first thing that popped into my mind.
And another oldie but goodie, Sharon Miller’s Birch shawl. I think Ann knit one years ago?
I got all excited reading about these lovely projects and this divine … haze. Then logged in, did a search to relocate the post so I could save it, and one titled *Fluffernutter came up with it. All I’m sayin is, read that one before putting anything from this one in your summer queue!
Ha! Been there. https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/2005/07/12/fluffernutter/
Bwah-hah-hah-hah!
Astounding is not too strong a word for Kieran Foley’s designs.
I made the brioche “Miss B” by Nancy Marchant with a silk/mohair blend. It is beautiful and lightweight but surprisingly warm.
Love it! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/miss-b
Oh my gosh by golly, what a great lineup of KSH patterns. I had lost track of the hapless beginnings of my Wisp pattern years (and years) ago and you have renewed my resolve. Plus one or two of the others. Thank you so much! Chloe
Kidsilk Haze! It’s tough (tiny bit of “haze” comes off where it rubs but no pilling), pretty much wrinkle free, light & airy but warm, looks & feels luxurious especially when doubled & all those colors! Loving the Dusking sweater, Gossamer Dreams on my list. Made Churchmouse Yarns’ Color Block scarf then a cowl and a rectangular shawl based on same idea where I blended a number of colors, always get compliments on. This yarn marls wonderfully, like painting w/yarn.
All beautiful patterns-most I’d never seen. Another very easy project is Alexandra’s Airplane Scarf by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas.
Classic! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/alexandras-airplane-scarf
All that fluffy beauty. Dusk will haunt my imagination all day today.
Thank you for showing patterns for a particular yarn. I love the idea of choosing a yarn and then finding the pattern instead of the other way around!
I was rooting for Belinda, and there it was, first style down the runway! The rest were new to me (except for River – I’ve got that Rowan issue), and I thank you for bringing them to my attention. Dusking is a stunner from one of my favorite designers. Great choices, all.
I’ve been an MDK-ette for a long time, so I have the book with the Belinda pattern in it! Maybe now is finally the time to make this genius faux-plaid wrap.
Oh KSH How I Love Thee. The 20 years have flown by. Here’s to 20 more – cheers!
For anyone with KSH leftovers (or, ahem, a large KSH stash, ahem looks around innocently), may I mention Kaffe Fassett’s Alder Wrap – simple stripes. For Mitered Squares in little bits of KSH there is Mags Kandis’ Modern Quilt Wrap. I knitted mine in 2008 and it’s still as good as new and gets admiring comments everywhere it goes.
Probably my favorite KSH project ever is Earth Stripe Wrap with KSH held double and marled.
Belarus, a Kaffe Fassett striped cardigan in KSH is in my queue.
I will stop now before I get carried away. I’ve added the Belinda Wrap back into my queue – loved it ever since it was published.
Mystified as to why noone mentions the fact that the lovely soft fluffy texture of kidsilk haze reduces to a curled up limp fluffy rag on wearing -even when blocked – it is superb though knitted with another lace yarn to give it some stability.
Hi Di! I haven’t had trouble with my Kidsilk Haze projects–here’s my latest, a single-strand version of Joji Locatelli’s Gossamer from Field Guide No. 22: Grace. https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/2022/11/22/gossamer-finished/
I have only made scarves & shawls with this yarn doubled so have had none of these problems, maybe a single strand behaves differently. Perhaps a subject for the Yarnitecture gal?
What about the Cardi Cozy on of 13 if the MDK Knitting Outside the Lines book? Just happened to be paging through it for my dinner entertainment…
Is this yarn available in Karachi Pakistan?
I bought my first balls of irresistible KSH on impulse then froze in fear! Mohair bias loop by Churchmouse yarns made this intimidating yarn more friendly! Eager to try Belinda, too!
I am thrilled to read this post as I have brought my Kidsilk Haze (which has been sitting in my UFO bag for far too long) on holiday with me to try for the third time to complete the Bea Wrap by Lisa Richardson.
I have finally perfected my tension and achieved a nice overall gauzy effect, but really am struggling with needles/getting the stitches (which are producing the correct tension) to slip along. Due to my cat loving nothing better than to install herself on my knee when I’m knitting I have been using circular needles so she can’t lock onto the knob at the end of the needle and pull the needle resulting in the stitches falling off. I have used regular coating and rather expensive steel circular needles but the stitches don’t “flow” and I can’t get into a rhythm. Is bamboo a better needle to use with this yarn or should I banish Miss Effie and get a pair of straight needles (which type?) to get the best results?
This is the simplest pattern I have ever tried, but is closest to driving me demented! Any ideas? TIA