When I’m at my workshop on crisp autumn mornings, I often run my hands over the two piles of yarn that sit side by side on my worktable: one is the soft, downy cashmere I’ve just sorted from fine goat fibers, and the other is the lustrous silk that a few of my regular knitter customers like to pair with cashmere for specific projects. People always ask me the same question when they see them together: how do these two yarns actually feel, when you hold them, when you knit with them, when you wear the finished piece? It’s a question that’s not just about texture—it’s about how each fiber interacts with your skin, how it behaves with needles, and even how it feels different on a cold winter day versus a warm spring afternoon. Cashmere Yarn
First, let’s talk about the raw fibers, because that’s where the feel starts. Cashmere comes from the undercoat of cashmere goats, the fine, crimped layer that the goats grow to insulate themselves through harsh mountain winters. Each individual cashmere fiber is ultra-fine—usually between 14 and 19 microns, which is thinner than a strand of human hair. That crimp is key, too: it’s what traps air between fibers, making cashmere so warm without being heavy. When you hold a skein of cashmere yarn, the first thing you notice is that fluffy, cloud-like lightness, even though it’s dense with that trapped air. It’s not slippery; it has a gentle, cozy drag when you run your fingers through it, like petting a well-bred lamb, soft enough that it doesn’t tug at your skin but still has a subtle, defined texture.
Silk, on the other hand, is a protein fiber produced by silkworms to make their cocoons. Each silk filament is incredibly long—some can be up to a kilometer in length for a single cocoon—and much smoother and rounder than cashmere’s crimped fibers. Silk is usually around 10 to 12 microns, so it’s technically thinner than fine cashmere, but that round shape means it doesn’t trap the same amount of air. When you hold a skein of silk yarn, the feel is completely different: it’s slick, smooth, and almost glassy when you run your hands over it. It has a weight that feels substantial, not light and airy, and it has that glossy sheen that you can see even in plain light. There’s no crimp, so when you hold it, it doesn’t bounce or have that soft, fuzzy give that cashmere has—it lies flat against your fingers, like holding a piece of polished silk fabric.
The difference in feel doesn’t stop at holding the skein; it changes when you start knitting or crocheting with each yarn. Cashmere yarn is very pliable, which makes it easy to work with, especially for fine projects like shawls or baby clothes. The crimp allows the stitches to have a little give, so when you pull a loop, it stretches just enough without snapping back too hard. When you’re working with cashmere, your needles glide smoothly, but there’s a slight, warm resistance that tells you you’re working with a natural fiber, not a synthetic. The stitches stay soft and plump, and when you block a cashmere project, it holds that shape without going stiff. One of my customers, a knitter in Vermont, told me last winter that she works with cashmere exclusively for hand-knit sweaters because “it feels like I’m wrapping my hands around something alive, not a string.”
Silk yarn, in contrast, is much more slippery when you work with it. Because the fibers are so smooth and round, they don’t lock together as easily as cashmere’s crimped fibers, so you have to be a little more careful not to drop stitches or create loose loops. The needles glide faster, with almost no resistance, which can be tricky for new knitters, but experienced ones love it for projects like scarves or doilies where you want crisp, defined stitches. When you’re knitting with silk, the feel is cool against your fingers, especially on warm days, and the finished fabric has that smooth, taut feel that’s almost like linen but softer. Another one of my customers, a fashion designer in Paris, uses silk yarn for evening shawls because “it drapes so beautifully—there’s no bulk, just that sleek, shiny feel that moves with the body.”
Now, the most important part for most people: how do cashmere and silk feel when you’re wearing the finished garment? This is where the differences really shine, and where I’ve seen customers come back again and again for cashmere because of that direct skin feel. Cashmere is hypoallergenic for most people, and because the fibers are so fine and downy, they don’t prick or irritate the skin, even on sensitive areas like the neck or wrists. When you wear a cashmere sweater, you notice the warmth first, but it’s not the hot, claustrophobic warmth of a wool sweater—it’s a gentle, insulating warmth that adjusts to your body temperature. If you step into a warm room, it doesn’t make you sweat, because that trapped air is able to release just enough heat to keep you comfortable. The feel against your skin is like being wrapped in a soft cloud, almost like your second skin, with a subtle, fuzzy texture that’s comforting without being scratchy.
Silk, when it’s worn next to the skin, has a completely different feel. It’s cool to the touch, which makes it perfect for warm weather layers, like a silk underlayer or a lightweight scarf on a hot day. The smooth, round fibers glide against your skin, creating a slippery, sleek feel that’s almost like wearing a piece of polished glass. But here’s a catch: silk is not as insulating as cashmere, so if you wear a silk sweater on a cold winter day, you’ll notice that it doesn’t hold your body heat the same way cashmere does. Also, for some people, especially those with very sensitive skin, the smoothness of silk can feel a little too slippery, or even “synthetic” in a way, compared to the natural, downy feel of cashmere. I’ve had a few customers switch from silk to cashmere for everyday wear because, as one put it, “silk feels nice for a fancy dinner, but I want something that feels like a hug when I’m sitting at home.”
Another big difference in feel is how each yarn ages. Cashmere is a durable fiber, especially when it’s high-quality, and it gets better with age. Over time, the fibers soften even more, and the fuzzy, cloud-like feel becomes more pronounced. A well-made cashmere sweater that’s cared for properly can last for decades, and each time you wash it gently, it regains that soft, plush feel. Silk, on the other hand, can degrade over time, especially if it’s washed in hot water or exposed to direct sunlight. It stays smooth, but it can lose its sheen, and the feel becomes a little more brittle over time. I’ve seen old cashmere sweaters from the 1950s that still feel as soft as the day they were made, but silk pieces from the same era often feel worn and flat.
I should also mention that many of my customers blend cashmere and silk, because it combines the best of both feels. A cashmere-silk blend is lighter than pure cashmere, has a little more drape than pure cashmere, and has that subtle silk sheen, while still keeping the soft, insulating feel of cashmere. Last year, I created a blend for a customer who wanted a shawl that would be warm for cool evenings but light enough to carry to weddings, and she told me that the feel was exactly what she was looking for—soft like cashmere, sleek like silk, without either of the drawbacks. That blend is one of my most popular products, because it satisfies people who want both feels in one yarn.
But for all the blends out there, there’s nothing quite like the pure feel of cashmere yarn. When I’m showing a new customer my cashmere skeins, I always encourage them to run their fingers through them, instead of just looking at the photos online. Because the feel can’t be captured in a picture: that gentle, downy softness, the lightness that feels like nothing in your hands, the subtle crinkle of the fibers when you squeeze a skein. Silk has its own beauty, its own sleek, shiny feel that’s perfect for certain projects, but for everyday wear, for cozy sweaters, for baby clothes, for anything that’s meant to wrap you in comfort, cashmere is the one that has that unique, natural feel that nothing else can match.
If you’re curious to feel the difference for yourself, I invite you to reach out and connect with me to discuss your next project. Whether you’re a knitter looking for a soft yarn for a sweater, a designer needing a specific feel for a fashion line, or someone who just wants to experience that cloud-like cashmere feel in person, I’d be happy to share samples and talk through what works best for your needs. Every skein of cashmere I process is sorted by hand, tested for softness, and prepared to give you the best possible feel, because I know that for the people who use my yarn, the texture isn’t just a detail—it’s what makes the finished piece feel special.
Woolen-spun Yarn with Colored Flecks References:
- Hunter, L. (2017). Natural Fibers: A Guide to Properties and Uses. Textile Science Press.
- Kapoor, V. (2020). Performance of Animal and Plant Fibers in Apparel Applications. Journal of Textile and Apparel Technology, 12(3), 45-62.
- Zhang, Y., & Smith, A. (2019). Comparative Analysis of Cashmere and Silk Fiber Morphology and Sensory Properties. International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology, and Education, 11(4), 312-321.
Huangshan Aotai Textile Co., Ltd.
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