What is it?
Kreinik
Reflective Yarn is a carry-along fiber with light-reflecting
properties. It's part polyester and part glass beads (which gives it a
sort of mesmerizing, holographic effect in addition to making it
reflective). In knitting, it is meant to be a carry-along fiber. As a
matte-gray color, it blends neutrally into other yarns. However, with a
camera flash or car light, the project/design becomes luminously lit.
Use it for adding reflective stripes or patterns to dog sweaters,
purses, hats, scarves, wrist bands, headbands, and other garments.
Being
thread-centric here at Kreinik, we liked the fiber for the special
effect properties, and the fact that it complements so many other
threads and yarns. Needleworkers have been combining materials to create
unique, custom looks for centuries, so this is just a new high-tech
fiber for our generation.
Where can you use a Reflective Yarn?
So far it has worked beautifully in crochet, knitting and cross stitch. Take a look and download these free projects:
For
example, we used it in the cross-stitch area of Criss-Cross Hungarian
(using Silk Serica and Reflective Yarn). It offered a pretty, subtle
look. It would be good for night sky backgrounds on needlepoint
canvases.
Then
we combined it with one strand of black Silk Mori for French Knots. It
looked pretty good. Using it alone in French Knots, there was a bit of
fraying along the strand. Stick with using it as a carry-along and you
shouldn't have a problem with abrasion from so many twists and turns of a
French Knot section. It is not as strong as our Braids, so use it in
stitches that don't require a lot of tension.
Algerian
eyelets and Smyrna crosses? Very cool! Use it as a carry-along fiber
with Kreinik Very Fine #4 Braid on 18-mesh canvas, or with any of the
larger Kreinik Braids on the bigger needlepoint canvases. It works
beautifully in combination stitches - try the filament Silk Serica on
the bottom with Reflective Yarn as top stitches. The luminosity of the
Reflective Yarn goes perfectly with the natural luminescence of filament
silk. See our swatch for our doodles.
The
Kreinik Reflective Yarn is about the size of our Very Fine #4 Braid, so
use that as a guide in determining your coverage needs. Be careful
carrying the thread in the back of your work - the backside of your
stitches may illuminate through the open canvas.
A
25-yard spool will go a long way, so it's perfect for wearable
needlepoint projects and accessories. See the list of suggestions below
to get started. Use it in designs that are going to see light
reflection, like dog collars worn at night, and shoes.
Ideas for using Reflective Yarn in needlepoint:
• dog collars
• belts
• shoes
• handbags
• purse-style wallets
• ornaments
• jewelry
In
needlepoint, specialty threads are all about adding color and "special
effects" to make designs exciting and life-like. For example:
glow-in-the-dark, holographic, fuzzy, metallic threads all add
dimensional dynamics to designs. In the same way, this Reflective Yarn
is perfect for creating realism and, well, a "special effect" in
particular motifs. Here are some ideas for using it in particular design
themes.
Use Reflective Yarn in designs of:
• cat's whiskers
• eyeglasses
• drinking glass
• street lamps
• car, train, bus etc headlights
• joggers
• bicycles
• football players (helmets)
• windows
• celestial themes
We
will keep stitching and playing, and hope you will enjoy this fun new
novelty yarn in your own creations too. Email us or share photos on our
Twitter or Facebook pages.
