Part II: Yarn-picking 101 - How To Choose The Right Yarn for a Project
Part II
Now that you have identified your preferences for your next project in Part I, it is time to have a closer look at the yarn fibres and their characteristics. This decision will impact the look and feel of your finished project. Having a basic knowledge is a huge help to identify what will work and what will not.
Below image is an introduction in the key characteristics of the most common yarn types.
Still looking for more answers and maybe some cute animal pictures along the way? Keep reading on.
Sheep
Sheep wool is strong, warm and less stretchy, therefore holds it shape quite well. In case it grew with wear it will recover its original form pretty good after a gentle wash in lukewarm water. Depending on the breed the fibre characteristics can change, like how itchy it is next to skin. But all sheep wool fibres share the main characteristics of being highly breathable and water absorbent.
Merino
Merino wool is the softest type of sheep wool and not scratchy at all. It is able to regulate body temperature and is therefore used a lot in outdoor and activity clothing. It is durable but tends to develop pilling over time and wear.
Alpaca
Alpaca wool is extremely soft and, what most people do not know, 5 times warmer and stronger than sheep wool. It shares a lot of the fabulous assets of wool, delivers great drape results besides being hypoallergenic. However it tends to grow with wear and does not bounce back that successfully to its original shape as sheep wool does.
Cashmere
Cashmere is the super soft wool of the Cashmere goat. One goat only produces 200-300g of wool a year, and this wool scarcity is driving the price tag of the wool. It is not as strong and resistant as sheep wool and tends to pill. However it develops with wear a beautiful halo effect.
Mohair
Mohair is the wool from the Angora goat. It has the same properties as wool, but is lighter and airy. This airiness is responsible for that typical, attractive sheen and creates a fuzzy texture and drape. Over time this wool tends to shed.
Silk
Silk is next to Cashmere one of the most luxurious fibres. The fibre is collected through harvesting silkworms. Silk is the synonym of lustre and strength. On the flip side, choosing silk also means being alright with the garment clinging and potential shrinkage.
Cotton
Cotton is harvested from the cotton plant and creates a robust and lightweight fibre. It effectively pulls heat away from the body. It is breathable, soft and the master absorbent fibre that exists. If you are looking for elasticity in your project it is wise to consider a cotton blend, because naturally cotton has only little elasticity.
Linen
This yarn is based on the bast of the flax plant. As almost all plant based yarns, delivers linen a great drape. Its true super power is a strong cooling effect and it dries much faster than cotton which makes it highly effective for summer garments. And it is another player in the hypoallergenic field.
Synthetics
Acrylic
Acrylic is an inexpensive imitation of wool based of coal and petroleum. Like most synthetics it has almost no breathability which makes it a great fibre to heat retention. It tends to pill strongly.
Nylon
Nylon is a silk-like thermoplastic made of petroleum. Due to its origin it is considered to be the most durable fibre. It is quick drying and has a high resistance to wear.
