Bouclé, eyelash, ribbon, chainette: novelty yarns come in all sorts of textures and constructions, and they can add real character to a project. They can also be a little puzzling to work with if you're not sure what you're holding. Here's a clear guide to what novelty yarns are, how their construction works and how to use them, plus project ideas that let these distinctive yarns shine.

Here are the top five knitting mistakes we see and exactly how to fix them so you can stitch with confidence.