Want to discover exactly what Seacell is? Read on to see why blending it with silk creates an amazing luxury yarn. Your knitting and crochet projects will look and feel incredible!
What exactly is seacell yarn and how is it made?
Seacell as a fibre is universally used as a blend with something like Silk. This makes a beautiful non-wool yarn for knitting or crochet.
The Seacell itself is derived from seaweed, but you won’t smell the sea when you use it!
Producers harvest a seaweed species called Knotted Wrack. This is a brown seaweed notably found around rocks along the shoreline. It is commonly found around the Great British and Irish isles. It also grows in other areas of the North Atlantic Ocean, like the Icelandic Fjords.
The manufacturing process creates filament fibres through a solvent spinning process, just like Lyocell, where dissolved cellulose (wood pulp) is introduced to strengthen and complete the filament fibres for spinning.
The resultant fibre is both breathable and lightweight when spun into yarn and the fabric you knit or crochet is soft and reportedly moisturizing against the skin (where the properties of seaweed remain).
These fibres are then spun with any additions, such as Silk to create the final luxury yarn that I dye onto. The finished hand-dyed yarn gives you a non-wool option, with no lanolin. If you suffer from allergies to wool yarns, this could be a great choice for you!
Why blend Seacell with Silk?
Seacell on it’s own can be quite slippery to knit or crochet with. As a filament fibre it has no scales (as you would get on animal hairs, or natural plant fibres) to create grip against your needles. This is why you will often see this plant based fibre blended with something like silk.
Silk is quite often referred to as the most similar natural fibre to seacell. Whilst there are differences, once spun into a blended yarn, they both play a crucial role in the look, feel and workmanship of the yarn in your projects. Seacell is breathable and lightweight, and the addition of silk adds more weight, a little more grip and outstanding lustre.
I first saw a seacell blended yarn at a knitting show at the NEC in Birmingham, before I started dyeing yarns. I was enthralled with the softness, drape and sheen, and vibrancy of the final dyed colours. When I found a supplier of the undyed yarn I had to give it a go. It’s the most expensive yarn I stock per skein, but so worth it.
I find the combination of seacell and silk works well in a 4ply yarn particularly. It is great for shawl knitting where the evenness of the yarn allows for complex stitch work and occasional unpicking!
Silk and Seacell yarn hand-dyed colourways
The silk and seacell blend yarns take dye colour well, resulting in a wide range of pastel to saturated colourways. I hand dye them, along with all other animal fibre yarns, with acid dyes. These are powdered dyes that require acidity and heat to fix the colour onto the yarns.
For the acidity, I use food grade white vinegar. The combination of the acidity of the vinegar with the yarns being heated in the dye solutions sets the colour into the yarns. This means that the finished dyed yarns can be gently handwashed without losing their colours.
Below are some of the colourways I’ve dyed previously on the silk and seacell blend yarn. You can see what’s in stock today in my online shop.
You may have a project in mind that requires multiple yarn skeins in co-ordinating shades. I sometimes hand-dye co-ordinating semi-solid sets, such as as this Cool Waters set. These tend to be exclusive non-repeatable sets.
If you have a particular colour combination in mind, drop me a message and I’ll be happy to discuss your requirements and dye it for you!
How a Silk and Seacell blend yarn knits and crochets
Soft, smooth, and exceptionally lustrous, our 4ply Silk Seacell offers a beautiful depth of color. It’s the perfect match for a delicate lace scarf, providing a stunning, unique drape that’s just right for a summer evening out.
It is incredibly drapey, so it gives a slinky finish to your accessories. You can wear it to dress up an outfit that might not look so special with a standard wool yarn.
Yorkshire-based knitwear designer Sandra Nesbitt designed the Flower Crescent Shawlette specifically to showcase a single skein of this fabulous yarn.
The knit kit includes a printed copy of the intermediate lace pattern plus one skein of Seacell Silk yarn in your choice of colour.
The pattern includes both written instructions and charts, so you can use whichever you prefer.
It’s a fabulous choice if you enjoy more intricate stitchwork and luxury yarn!
Designed for simplicity, the Waterlap Shawl requires only a single 100g skein of Silk Seacell yarn, making it an ideal project for social or relaxed knitting.
The knit kit includes a printed copy of the easy pattern plus one skein of silk seacell yarn in your choice of hand-dyed colourway.
The pattern includes both written instructions and a simple chart, so you can use whichever you prefer.
This is a must-have if you enjoy the feel of a high-end scarf that flows beautifully and feels like a true indulgence.
Tips on how to find the perfect pattern for your Silk and Seacell yarn
There are a few things you will need to bear in mind when working with Seacell and Silk blends in your knitting and crochet.
Don’t expect a structured finish
Due to the draping nature of this yarn, a structured garment such as a sweater wouldn’t be suitable for this yarn.
Instead concentrate on shawls and cowls, which will show off the lustre, colour and softness of this amazing yarn. Treat yourself to our Flower Row Crescent Shawlette or Waterlap Shawl knit kit to get a feel for the finish.
Consider your stitchwork
Whilst the yarn itself does have good memory and will tolerate more complex stitchwork, or lace stitches, if you are more of a beginner then I would suggest picking a pattern that isn’t too complicated.
Those more advanced will be more used to working with different yarns and so complicated stitches with slippery yarn will feel easier to cope with.
Choose the right needles
Selecting the best needles to work your yarn can be as important as selecting the right yarn for your pattern.
Bamboo or wooden needles give you a little extra grip as you knit or crochet, and would certainly help handle a more slippery yarn like our Seacell and Silk blend. I have a selection in my online shop if you need them.
Tame your Silk Seacell yarn
Because of its luxurious, high-lustre finish, silk seacell yarn is naturally quite slippery. Once you’ve wound your skein into a ball or yarn cake, you might find that it wants to slide apart, which can lead to frustrating tangles while you work.
To keep your yarn behaving beautifully, simply pop your yarn cake into a nylon foot-sock or a cut-down pair of tights.
The gentle tension of the mesh holds the cake together perfectly, allowing the yarn to feed out smoothly without the ball collapsing or knotting. It’s a simple, low-cost way to ensure your coastal knitting stays as serene as the sea!
A few pattern ideas
The shawl kits mentioned above are a great place to start your love of Silk Seacell yarns. Here are a few other project suggestions that will work equally well with this gorgeous yarn:
- Tehidy Shawl crochet pattern
- Sea Silk Stole Knit Kit by Bronagh Miskelly
- In the Kelp Garden Wrap Knit Kit by Bronagh Miskelly
- ‘Close To You’ shawl, a free knitting pattern by Justyna Lorkowska on Ravelry
- ‘Bias’ shawl, a knitting pattern by Helena Bristow available to purchase on Ravelry
I hope this has inspired you to try Seacell yarn. If you have any other queries about it, just drop me a message.
Steph x