Polyester

Which kind of polyester?

Polyester turns up here in several forms. As a plush pile it makes the velvet and chenille yarns, which have their own page under velvet and chenille. As a metallic or glitter thread it adds shine. In a blend it adds strength, as in DMC Eco Vita 4, recycled cotton with 20% recycled polyester for bags that keep their shape.

Sparkle on its own, or held with another yarn?

Fine metallics go a long way. DMC Lumina has 150 m on a 20 g ball, and YarnArt Paillettes, with small sequins along the strand, has 800 m on 50 g. Use them alone for trims and fine lace, or hold a strand together with a plain yarn to give it shimmer without changing its color.

If you would rather the shine was built in, DMC Revelation Glitter and Papatya Batik Glitter have a 3% glitter thread plied through, so plain stitches glint evenly. YarnArt Rumba is 20% metallic, on 5.5 mm needles, for party tops and bags.

Metallic thread springs off the ball, so keep it in a bowl as you work. Wash anything metallic cool and inside out.

Faux fur and textured yarns

DMC Samara is faux fur with a pile long enough to hide the stitches completely. Garter stitch or double crochet is all it needs, and a round of it makes a collar or hat trim on a plain piece. YarnArt Piuma is feathery, for baby items and soft toys. DMC Savage, in polyamide and polyester, is spun for texture and is light for its bulk, so a large chunky scarf stays comfortable to wear.

With fur yarns, mark rows with a smooth waste yarn you can pull out easily.