Boucle yarn is a specialized type of yarn that is usually made of three plies. Among the three plies used to create boucle yarn, one thread is usually looser than the others. The looser thread within the boucle yarn causes the yarn to have a rough feeling and a bulky look. The fact that boucle yarn has one loose thread within it also makes it more likely to unravel than some other types of yarn. Therefore, care must be taken when working with boucle yarn in order to ensure a proper look and high quality of the final product.

Since boucle yarn is crated by combining several plies of thread together, it is generally a colorful yarn. Often, two or more colors are mixed together in a unique pattern. In this way, it only takes one spool of yarn to create a multi-colored project when using boucle yarn.

The term boucle is derived from the French word boucler, which means “to curl.” This term perfectly describes some variations of boucle yarn, which contain distinctive ringlet curls. This characteristic makes boucle yarn a great choice for creating projects such as scarves, handbags, sweaters, tops, and ponchos. Alternatively, boucle yarn can make a delightful accent when used along with a plain background.

When used in weaving, boucle yarn provides added strength and is great for both warp and weft. It can be used to create a woven blanket, overcoat, shawl, or even upholstery. When mohair-blends of boucle yarn are brushed, they look like plain mohair. This is because the mohair in the boucle yarn makes it possible for the characteristic ringlets to form, while the wool used in this form of boucle yarn helps soften the yarn and provide it with a certain amount of springiness. As a result, mohair-blend boucle yarn does not have the sticky feeling commonly associated with pure mohair yarns.

Products created with boucle yarn often need to be hand washed or dry cleaned in order to prevent them from becoming damaged. To prevent shrinkage, the boucle yarn product should be laid flat to dry.