One of the reasons we love bringing in new yarns to dye and work with is getting to create new types of garments and accessories with them. While some yarns are easy to substitute for one another, Billow is a little different! Here's how we chose what samples to make in Billow, and some ideas to get your creative engines started.
Billow is a worsted-weight yarn with a cotton chainette tube construction filled with unspun alpaca fibers. The fiber content and construction both affect how the yarn behaves in a knitted or crocheted piece. Cotton has little memory or bounce, but the elasticity created by the chainette tube helps give Billow structure without density. Alpaca also has little memory or bounce, but lots of softness and insulating power.
Because Billow is a very lofty yarn with a lot of fluff, you can work it successfully at a variety of gauges in the DK to chunky range. The tighter your knitting or crocheting is, the more dense and elastic the piece will be. If your needle/hook size (and stitches) are larger, then your Billow piece will be light, lofty, and drapey.
We looked for patterns written at a worsted or chunky gauge, with relatively simple textures that won't be obscured by the fluff.
Our Samples
Hyssop Cowl by Leila Raven
This cowl is worked flat, starting at the bottom point, and joins in the round to create a textured cowl that is easy to knit, and shaped to keep easily in place when bundling up in cold temps. It features lacy stitches and some smocking to create lots of texture and warmth.
Ivy knit up the Hyssop Cowl in Spring Green Billow. The pattern is available on Ravelry.
Pigeon Wings by Sidsel Sangild
This scarf is inspired by birds wings. The flight feathers of birds are asymmetrical as are the “feathers” of this scarf.
The asymmetry also gives the scarf a great shape and fit around the neck.
Veronica crocheted up this scarf in one skein of Dusk. The pattern is available on Ravelry and Lovecrafts.
Easy Eyelet Yoke Sweater by Chantal Miyagishima
Seamless and the cutest sunburst detail of eyelet stitches, the Easy Eyelet Yoke Sweater is the perfect project for a knitter wanting to dive into their first seamless top down yoke sweater.
Simple and elegant, it can be dressed down with some ripped jeans and short booties, or dressed up to wear to the office.
Our sample is knit in Oyster. The pattern is available on Ravelry.
Happy Harvest Cowl by Elizabeth Smith
Designed as a companion piece to the Happy Harvest poncho/sweater vest, this cowl consists of a fun acorn lace stitch pattern.
Babs knit up this cowl in Old Gold. The free pattern is available from elizabethsmithknits.com.
Matcha Mood by Melanie Berg
Looking for a shawl that’s divinely cozy? Whip up this frothy, fluffy rectangle shawl as a little treat!
Garter rows add subtle texture to the body while an open lace pattern adds airy elegance, and the bulky yet lightweight yarn makes for a surprisingly quick knit.
Our version of Matcha Mood is knit in Denim, and the pattern is available on Ravelry and mairlynd.com.
Designed for Billow
Hexaflora Shawl by Alina Appasova
Hexaflora is a shawl that invites you to pause and reflect. Lace motifs drift across a field of airy stitches, light as autumn leaves carried on the breeze. Knit in Billow, it balances structure with cloud-like fuzz, creating a fabric that feels weightless yet warm.
This is mindful knitting, soothing rhythms, gentle texture, and a design that grows at a peaceful pace.
Hexaflora is an asymmetrical triangular shawl, worked sideways for an elegant, wearable shape. The design features garter stitch–based lace, worked on both right and wrong sides for balanced texture and airy openness.
Hexaflora is knit in Old Gold Billow. The pattern is available on Ravelry.
Life of a Knitgirl by Mary Annarella
This sweet scarf uses a modified dragonfly-lace pattern with zero-cabling (a smocked set of stitches replaces the cables) and a neat, icord edging.
Written for 2 lengths, the scarf can be easily lengthened or shortened further by adding or subtracting the number of repeats worked in the pattern.
One skein of Billow will make this scarf! Mary made her samples in Slate and Bougainvillea; the pattern is available on Ravelry.
Mt. Hood by Kay Hopkins
Mt. Hood is the ultimate versatile accessory—a cozy ribbed hood that has an attached cowl so you can put the hood up when the weather calls for it!
Quick to knit and perfect for gifting, this piece can be worn as a classic cowl or pulled up into a balaclava-style hood for extra warmth. The pattern includes four sizes to suit everyone.
Kay has used the airy, fluffy nature of Billow to a super-warm advantage in this pattern, knitting it on a smaller needle to make a denser fabric. It’s shown here in White Peppercorn, and the pattern is available on Ravelry and knitforthesoul.com.
Cable Cloud Hat by Gabrielle Vézina
When the air turns cold, it’s time for knitting a hat you’ll never want to take off. The Cable Cloud Hat is soft and squishy, worked from the bottom up. It starts with a folded ribbing for extra warmth, then flows into a simple allover cable pattern. Fluffy yarn makes it extra cozy, and a pompom can be added for a playful finishing touch.
The Cable Cloud Hat pattern is available on Ravelry. Gabrielle knit her hat in Valiant Grapes Billow.
Pillow Pop Cowl by Katie Degroff
Pillow Pop Cowl was designed to showcase any texture of yarn and comes with a two color option as well as two cast-ons for different depths. Whether you want a single wrap snuggly cowl or a super snuggly pillowy cowl, this one checks both boxes. Pillow Pop can also be worked up in any weight - just choose the needle to match your yarn.
Katie has knit up her Pillow Pop Cowl in Stonewashed Billow; the pattern is available on Ravelry.
We can't wait to see what you make with Billow!