I love to knit with stainless steel yarn. Junichi Aria invented it while travelling from his hometown to Tokyo maybe 40 years or so ago. Mr. Aria was inspired by the gold leaf threads made traditionally. Then he got the idea of cutting up stainless steel! I’m working on the third sweater I’ve knitted with it. Size 3 needles. The pattern and yarn are from Habu textiles. I’m not sure if she only sells wholesale now, but she would know where to find it.
This is the sweater I’m making. I love knitting with this yarn because I don’t have to worry about my gauge or whether my stitches are even. And it looks nice when worn with something underneath.
A close look at what the collar will look like. It’s a bit crinkly but you can see from my knitting what it looks like knitted in stockinette stitch. The extremely find stainless steel (strips!) are covered with silk so it feels like an ordinary nice fine yarn. You can bunch it up and it stays a bit bunchy. But works fine when sewn together for the sweater. Many yarn shops have carried it in a range of colors. I’m using two strands—a black and a brown.
Did not know that you knit as well. But of course you do. Lovely to see this sweater. And thank you for posting this. I have some of this yarn and am curious to see how it will weave. My next (after the current one) test.
I’m curious: will you wash it or send to the cleaners?
Neither!!
Peggy
That’s what I was thinking, too, thank you! I just wove a simple pw scarf and it looks kind of like screening while lying flat. But looks lovely when worn. I really like that.
Junichi Arai, not Aria.
I think the stainless steel yarns are no longer available.
I wove a scarf on my rigid heddle with stainless steel yarn from Habu. It’s interesting to work with (it needs so much tension!). I was pleased with the result!
Thanks for sharing that.
Peggy
I have to see this up close and personal. Can you bring one when we visit?
Sew clever. You certainly keep busy.
Habu still has stainless steel for sale on the website. She is now located in Japan, so shipping takes a little longer. In addition, Lunatic Fringe has bought out a portion of Giovanna Imperia’s stock and is also importing a number of interesting yarns from Japan.