Preparing the Yarn

(Not) Straight from the Ball

Starbella Flash spooled on a toilet tube

Because ruffle yarns are most frequently worked from the edge, being able to work with any sort of speed requires making sure the yarn is flattened out, and its structure visible, before you begin work. The typical way of doing this is just to unwind it from the ball and wind it around the empty core of a roll of toilet paper or paper toweling.

Iron on "Low" Setting

I find it a bit easier to work with prepared yarn if I iron it out first. Because these yarns are mostly acrylic or acrylic blends, they must be ironed on the low, or acrylic setting. Iron out no more than a foot (0.3 m) or so at a time, and roll it loosely on your spool, to maintain the definition of the yarn's net structure.

Work only a foot or two at a time

Lightly starching the mesh before ironing will help it keep it's expanded shape after ironing; it can also give structure to an otherwise limp yarn (such as Starbella), or increase the visibility of connecting threads between meshes or the structure of the yarn's embellished edge.

Caution: Not all ruffle yarns are colorfast. Test starch or steam a swatch over a washable towel to avoid staining your ironing board cover.