When Yarn Feels Like Magic: Discovering Magiske Garner at Thread Collective

There is a moment towards the end of every project.

The cloth has just come off the loom, or the final stitches have slipped from the needles. It looks beautiful, but it is not quite finished. Through finishing processes such as soaking, fulling, steaming, or blocking, the fibre begins to change. The fabric may soften, tighten, bloom, or shift in ways that could not be fully predicted at the start.

The material becomes something greater than just its threads.

In the best way, it feels like magic.

This sense of transformation sits at the heart of Magiske Garner, a brand devoted to fine yarns for weaving and knitting, thoughtful material choices, and creative experimentation through finishing.

At Thread Collective, we seek out yarn brands that reward curiosity and careful work. Our goal is to bring distinctive, high-quality yarns from around the world to Australia, especially those that offer something different and invite makers to explore materials more deeply.

Magiske Garner is one of those brands.

The Story Behind Magiske Garner

Magiske Garner means “Magical Yarns.” The name reflects the visible and tactile changes these yarns undergo during weaving, knitting, and finishing.

The brand was founded with a clear focus on producing high-quality yarns for weaving and knitting, primarily in wool, linen, and silk. Magiske Garner specialises in thin, fine yarns and yarns with distinctive technical properties. These materials are chosen not only for how they behave on the loom or needles, but for how they respond to finishing processes.

Some yarns are over-twisted to create structure and surface tension.
Some felt easily, encouraging cohesion and softness after finishing.
Some contain elastane, introducing elasticity and movement into the fabric.
Others reflect light or shift in texture and appearance during finishing.

Rather than aiming for complete predictability, Magiske Garner designs yarns that evolve through soaking, fulling, steaming, blocking, and other finishing techniques. These processes are treated as integral parts of the design, allowing new textures, surfaces, and fabric behaviours to emerge.

The result is cloth that feels technically considered, responsive to handling, and rich in material expression.

A Thoughtful Approach to Materials

People often talk about fibre choices as if they are clear-cut: natural or synthetic, traditional or modern. Magiske Garner approaches materials with a little more openness and curiosity, focusing on how fibres behave rather than on their labels.

Natural fibres such as wool and silk sit at the heart of the range, chosen for their feel, structure, and response to finishing. Alongside these, Magiske Garner also explores modern fibres when they offer something genuinely useful, whether that is elasticity, stability, or an unexpected surface effect.

As the founder puts it:
“It is a bit of a shame not to want to use a material simply because it is man-made. What matters is choosing yarns with care.”

This way of thinking closely aligns with our values at Thread Collective. We believe fibre choices should be informed, ethical, and intentional, guided by quality and curiosity rather than trends or assumptions. Magiske Garner yarns are selected for their material qualities, how they respond to finishing, and what they allow makers to explore.

Designed for Exploration, Not Excess

One thing that sets Magiske Garner apart is the way the yarns are packaged.

Most yarns are wound on small spools of 25 g, 50 g, or 100 g. This format supports a more exploratory way of working and is especially well-suited to:

• Sampling new fibres, structures, or finishing techniques
• Accent wefts and supplementary warp threads
• Carry-along yarns in knitting
• Experimental or mixed-media textile work

Smaller spool sizes allow makers to test ideas, combine materials, and explore new approaches without committing to large quantities. This reflects how many weavers and knitters work today, where sampling and experimentation are central to the creative process.

For larger projects or specific colour requirements, additional quantities can be ordered to suit individual needs. Below, we share three of our favourite yarns from the Magiske Garner range.

Jasper: Silk That Shifts with the Light

Jasper is a yarn that reveals itself slowly.

Spun from 100% tussah silk, often referred to as wild silk, Jasper has a slightly drier, more organic feel than cultivated mulberry silk, paired with a soft, natural lustre. Rather than shining evenly, light moves across the surface of the yarn, giving finished fabrics depth, variation, and subtle movement.

Tussah silk is produced by wild silkworms, primarily Antheraea moths, which feed on oak and juniper leaves in their natural environment rather than being raised in controlled conditions. The cocoons are typically harvested after the moth has emerged, resulting in shorter fibres and a silk that retains more texture and irregularity. This process gives tussah silk its characteristic matte quality, strength, and breathable handle, qualities that make it especially well-suited to both weaving and knitting.

For weavers, Jasper is particularly well-suited to:

• Contemporary woven textiles
• Fine wefts
• Clean structures where surface detail matters
• Fabrics that respond beautifully to light and finishing

Used on its own, Jasper produces refined, luminous cloth with an organic character. When paired with wool or merino, it creates contrast and complexity, allowing matte and sheen to work together in a balanced, expressive way.

For knitters, Jasper works beautifully as a follow-along or carry-along yarn, adding surface interest and gentle sheen to simple stitch patterns. It enhances understated designs without overwhelming them.

Available in a 50 g cone, Jasper is well-suited to sampling, fine wefts, and carry-along use in both weaving and knitting. This size makes it easy to experiment with wild silk and incorporate it into projects where surface detail and finishing play an important role.

For longer warps or repeat projects, larger 500g cones can be ordered by request. This flexibility makes Jasper a practical and versatile choice for makers who already work confidently with silk and want to explore how wild silk responds to structure, light, and finishing.

Denby: Australian Wool with a Global Journey

Denby tells a story that spans continents.

The wool originates in Geelong, Australia, is spun in Scotland, and then returns to makers around the world, including back to Australian hands through Thread Collective. It is a thoughtful example of global textile knowledge coming full circle.

Denby is soft, approachable, and quietly expressive. It contains a small amount of spinning oil and has a natural tendency to felt slightly, which makes it particularly well-suited to projects where finishing plays an important role in shaping the final fabric.

For knitting, Denby performs beautifully on its own, producing scarves and accessories that soften, settle, and improve with wear. It also pairs especially well with other yarns such as Jasper, where wool and silk work together to create contrast between matte and sheen, structure and light.

For weaving, Denby is well-suited to:

• Scarves and wraps
• Blankets
• Garment fabrics
• Cloth that benefits from cohesion, softness, and gentle fulling

After washing and finishing, Denby relaxes into itself, smoothing edges and enhancing structure while retaining its character. The finished cloth feels tactile, balanced, and complete.

Denby is also mulesing-free, reflecting a commitment to ethical fibre sourcing throughout the production process.

Milano: A Quiet Yarn with Endless Possibilities

Milano is a yarn that invites experimentation.

Lightweight and gently spun from extra fine merino, Milano adapts easily to a wide range of roles in both weaving and knitting. Rather than dominating a fabric, it supports and enhances other elements, making it a versatile tool for thoughtful makers who enjoy working with fibre combinations.

For weavers, Milano works particularly well as:

• A weft yarn that softens more structured warps
• A companion thread in mixed fibre cloth
• A warp yarn for fine, lightweight fabrics
• A way to add warmth and body without adding weight

For knitters, Milano offers flexibility and subtlety:

• Used as a single strand, it is well-suited to fine lace shawls
• Working doubled, it creates a soft, cohesive fabric with more body
• Carried alongside another yarn, such as Jasper or brushed lace mohair, it adds bloom, warmth, and cohesion
• Introduced as a running thread, it gently shifts texture and handle

Milano responds well to finishing, settling into the fabric and contributing softness without obscuring structure. Its adaptability makes it an excellent choice for makers who enjoy adjusting, combining, and refining materials as part of the design process.

Why Magiske Garner Belongs at Thread Collective

At Thread Collective, we see yarn as more than a material. It begins a conversation between the fibre, the maker, and the process itself.

We offer Magiske Garner through limited preorders, allowing us to bring these yarns to Australia in a way that is thoughtful and aligned with slow-making values. These are not mass-produced yarns. They are chosen for their material qualities, their responsiveness to finishing, and the sense of discovery they offer to weavers and knitters.

Our wider goal is to connect Australian makers with exceptional yarn brands from around the world, particularly those that encourage learning, experimentation, and a deeper understanding of materials. Magiske Garner fits naturally within this vision.

These yarns invite questions.
What happens if I finish this differently?
How will the fibre change after washing?
What new surfaces emerge when materials are combined?

They remind us that making is not only about technique, but about discovery, and that some of the most interesting moments happen after the work leaves the loom or the needles.

You can explore the Magiske Garner range at Thread Collective, and choose from Jasper, Denby, Milano, and more!