Maurice Brassard Mercerised Cotton 8/4 (Perle)
If your project requires strength and sheen without compromising softness, this mercerised 8/4 cotton is a reliable choice. Maurice Brassard’s Perle Cotton offers beautiful stitch clarity, a luminous finish, and enough body for both structural and decorative weaves.
You know the feeling—your pattern is planned, your loom is ready, but your yarn just doesn’t perform. It may fray, lack definition, or simply fail to stand out in the finished piece. That’s especially frustrating when you’ve chosen a design that deserves to shine.
This mercerised 8/4 cotton by Maurice Brassard brings durability and elegance together in one dependable yarn. With its tighter twist and lustrous surface, it’s ideal for pieces where clarity and contrast matter. The added weight of the 8/4 count offers satisfying substance, while mercerisation enhances the fibre’s strength and colourfastness, making it perfect for homewares and showpiece textiles alike.
You’ll notice a smoother flow as you weave, and the crisp textures in your finished cloth will feel every bit as deliberate as you imagined. That combination of shine, strength, and stitch definition offers a quiet assurance that your material is working with you, not against you.
Key Features & Benefits:
- Mercerised for strength and lustre: Adds shine and resilience to your cloth
- 8/4 weight: Provides more body and structure for durable textiles
- Tightly spun: Enhances stitch clarity and reduces fraying
- Great for warp or weft: Versatile enough for functional and decorative projects
- Rich colour range: Holds vibrant colour through wear and washing
Compact 150g spool: Easy to manage and store, with 506m of usable yarn
1 x 150g spool of Maurice Brassard Mercerised Cotton 8/4
- Fibre: 100% Mercerised Cotton
- Yarn Count: Ne 8/4 | Nm 14/4
- Ply: 4-ply
- Weight: 150g spool
- Length: Approx. 506m per spool
- Metres per Kilo: 3378m/kg
- Yards per Pound: 1680yds/lb
- Finish: Mercerised (lustrous)
- Delivery: Cone
The designation "8/4" means the yarn is composed of four plies of size 8 cotton strands twisted together. This results in a thicker, stronger yarn with excellent durability and stitch definition, ideal for both weaving and crochet.
Mercerization chemically alters the cotton fibers, making them smoother, stronger, and more lustrous. This process also increases dye absorption, allowing the yarn to take on deeper, more vibrant colors compared to unmercerized cotton.
Yes, this yarn is well-suited for crochet, producing structured, long-lasting projects with a glossy finish. It works particularly well for table linens, lacework, garments, and accessories that benefit from added sheen and strength.
8/4 cotton is twice as thick as 8/2 because it consists of four plies rather than two. This results in a sturdier fabric when woven and makes it a preferred choice for projects that require a denser material, such as placemats, rugs, or upholstery fabric.
Yes, this yarn is excellent for weaving towels. Its strength and durability make it long-lasting, and while mercerized cotton is slightly less absorbent than unmercerized cotton, it still works well for decorative or lightweight functional towels.
The recommended sett for 8/4 mercerized cotton varies depending on the weave structure. For plain weave, 10-12 ends per inch (epi) is common, while twill and denser weaves may require a slightly higher sett. Sampling is recommended to achieve the desired fabric density.
Yes, but be aware that mercerized and unmercerized cotton behave differently. Mercerized cotton has a smoother texture, less stretch, and a glossier finish, while unmercerized cotton is softer and more absorbent. Mixing them can create interesting textural contrasts, but differences in shrinkage may require adjustments.
Mercerized cotton absorbs dye more effectively than unmercerized cotton, resulting in highly saturated, vibrant colors. It holds color well over time, making it an excellent choice for brightly colored projects that require longevity.
Perle cotton, also known as mercerized cotton, has undergone a special process that gives it a distinct sheen and added strength. It is smoother, glossier, and more resistant to fraying than regular cotton, which retains a matte finish and has a softer, more absorbent texture.
Machine wash on a gentle cycle in cool water with mild detergent. Avoid bleach, which can weaken the fibers and dull the color. Air drying is recommended to maintain the yarn’s sheen and prevent excessive shrinkage, although low-heat tumble drying may be used for convenience.