How to Spin Your Own Bouclé Yarn From Start to Finish

Bouclé yarn is a beautifully textured fibre with distinctive loops that add character and depth to any project. Spinning it yourself allows you to create a unique, tactile yarn suited to your creative needs. This guide will take you through the process, step by step, ensuring you have all the knowledge and tools to produce your own bouclé yarn.

What is a Bouclé Yarn?

Bouclé yarn, named after the French word boucler, meaning "to curl" or "to buckle into ringlets," is renowned for its distinct loops that form a textured, captivating effect. This makes it a wonderful choice for weaving, knitting, and decorative embellishments. Bouclé yarn is composed of three key components:

• Core yarn – Provides the foundation for the loops to wrap around.
• A singles yarn for looping – This strand is instrumental in creating the size and frequency of loops and main texture.
• Binder thread – Secures the loops in place to prevent them from unravelling.

This combination results in a visually interesting and highly versatile yarn ideal for adding dimension to handmade pieces.

Why Spin Your Own Bouclé Yarn?

Spinning your own bouclé opens up endless creative possibilities if you love working with textured yarns. Rather than relying on commercial options, you can tailor the fibre, colour, and loop size to suit your projects. Here are a few great reasons to give it a try:

• Creative freedom – Experiment with different fibres and colours.
• Sustainability – Reduce waste by using natural fibres and leftovers.
• Hands-on satisfaction – Enjoy the process of transforming raw fibres into finished yarn.

Materials Needed

The right materials will make spinning bouclé yarn much easier and more enjoyable. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Fibre selection – Choose a fibre with a long staple length and good elasticity, such as wool or alpaca, to create consistent loops. If you want to make vibrant, variegated bouclé yarns, you may want to try blending Ashford’s range of dyed Corriedale.
• Core yarn – A strong, smooth, single-ply yarn that securely holds the loops. This can be mill spun (Maurice Brassard Cottolin features in the video tutorial below) or handspun.
• Binder yarn – A fine, strong yarn like silk or cotton to lock in the loops. If you prefer silk, we recommend the ITO Nui spun silk threads.
• Spinning wheel – A wheel such as the Schacht Ladybug Spinning Wheel is ideal for its precise tension control.
• Additional tools – A lazy kate for plying, a niddy noddy for skeining, and fibre preparation tools like hand carders or a drum carder.
• Spinning oil – Lubricating your equipment with spinning wheel oil helps maintain your wheel’s performance.
• Finishing supplies – Soap, water, towels, and a drying rack for setting the yarn.

Step-by-Step Guide to Spinning Bouclé Yarn

Spinning bouclé yarn requires a careful and methodical approach. Below is a detailed breakdown of each stage to help you create beautifully textured yarn.

Step 1: Preparing the Singles

The first step is to prepare your singles. A core yarn can be mill spun but may also be hand spun and if you choose to spin this component it should be spun with a loose twist in your first plying direction (typically to the left or S direction). A loose twist is required as significantly more twist will be added in the plying process. You then need to spin your main single which will be used to create loops. Spin this with a medium to high twist in the opposite direction to your core (typically to the right or Z twist). Aim to make this strand at least as thick if not thicker than your core.

Keep these points in mind:

• Draft smoothly – This helps prevent weak spots.
• Maintain even tension – A balanced single ensures durability.
• Pay attention to twist – It is important that the core yarn has low twist while the feature single has a medium to high twist.

Step 2: Creating the Loops

Now comes the fun part—forming those characteristic bouclé loops! This step requires careful fibre feeding and controlled tension. This is your first of 2 plying steps and this will be spun in the opposite direction to your main singles (to the left or S twist).

Here’s what to focus on:

• Keep an even hand – Too much tension will collapse the loops.
• Angle the fibre slightly – This encourages natural looping.
• Adjust wheel take-up – A slower take-up lets you build loops more consistently.

Step 3: Adding the Binder Yarn

The binder yarn is crucial in securing the loops of the bouclé, giving it structure and preventing the loops from unravelling. This final plying step should be done in the opposite direction of the previous ply to balance out the twist and stabilise the yarn.

Here’s how to do it for optimal results:

• Choose a durable binder – Silk or fine wool works well. They will add strength without overshadowing the texture of the loops.
• Keep steady tension – Uneven tension can lead to loose or collapsed loops. If your tension is too tight or too loose, the loops may collapse, or they may not form properly.
• Ply in the opposite direction to your last ply – This balances the twist in the yarn.
• Adjust as you go - While plying, slide the loops into their desired placement. This step allows you to control the size and consistency of the bouclé texture. Work slowly, making small adjustments as needed to get the perfect loop formation and structure.

Step 4: Finishing the Yarn

Proper finishing is necessary to set the twist and to have your bouclé yarn looking its best. See our guide “Finishing Handspun Yarn: The Essential Techniques” for a more in-depth overview of finishing techniques or simply follow these steps:

• Wash the yarn gently – Soak your yarn without agitation in lukewarm water and mild soap for about 30 minutes then gently rinse your yarn using the same temperature water (or hotter) so as not to “shock” the yarn which can cause felting. You may prefer to skip this step and steam set your yarn instead.
• Squeeze out excess moisture– roll your yarn in a towel and gently squeeze out excess moisture.
• Hang to dry - Hang in the shade to dry.
• Use a ball winder – When you’re ready to work with your yarn, yarn winders like the Ashford Ball Winder and Ashford e-Ball Winder make handling your finished yarn easier.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even experienced spinners encounter challenges when creating bouclé yarn. If you run into any issues, these tips should help:

• Uneven loops? Adjust your tension and fibre feed angle. Too much tension can cause loops to flatten, while too little may lead to inconsistencies.
• Over-twisting? Reduce wheel speed and relax your hands to avoid excessive twist in the yarn.
• Breakages? Check your fibre preparation and consider using a different core. Some mill-spun yarns may snap under excess twist.
• Binder thread slipping? Ensure you are plying in the correct direction and maintaining steady tension while securing the loops.

Final Thoughts

Spinning bouclé yarn is a rewarding and creative process that allows you to experiment with texture and fibre combinations. Whether you’re using it for weaving, knitting, or embellishments, handmade bouclé adds a distinct character to your work. Explore the Thread Collective’s range of spinning tools and materials to support your fibre journey, and share your creations with the community!