No one explained to me when I got into knitting and fiber arts that I would become completely addicted to yarns of all fibers. It’s a dangerous addiction that you do have to temper…or maybe not. Lol 😉 I had a lot to learn about different yarns and what they were best used for, as well as the difference between natural animal based or plant based, and human made synthetic based fibers. Let’s dive right in to the wonderful world of fibers!
To start us off, this is actually a really great video giving an overview of different types of fibers and how to identify them.
Animal Based Fibers
First up are animal based, the most popular of which is Wool. Wool comes from sheep and is known for being warm, strong, but can sometimes be scratchy so it generally isn’t used for baby items. Believe it or not, because there are many different types of sheep, there are a number of different types of wool.
- Virgin Wool – This is lambswool, taken from a sheep’s first shearing, so it is typically the softest wool around as it comes from the softest coat a sheep will produce.
- Merino Wool – This is probably the most well known wool, and comes from Merino sheep. It’s typically the softest of wools, as it is finer that normal wool. Malabrigo is an amazing brand that carries a number of superwash Merino wool, as well as yarns made from some of the other fibers that will be mentioned below, depending on the weight you are looking for. I am definitely Malbrigo obsessed.
- Shetland Wool – This comes from the Shetland Sheep found on the Shetland Islands of Scotland. It’s typically heavier, coarser, and thus itchier than merino wool. The Wooly Thistle online shop has a particular nice selection of Shetland wool yarn.
- Rambouillet Wool – These sheep came over to America from France in the late 1800s. It’s a finer fiber that Merino, and less sheen, but it’s a nice soft wool that I have enjoyed working with. Usually you will find this heaving blended with Merino wool.
Next animal based fiber is Alpaca made from wool of the…you guessed it! Alpaca! I am pretty obsessed with alpaca as it is super soft! It’s lovely to work with, but you would want to probably have it mixed with wool if you are making any kind of hard-wearing clothing like sweaters and socks and such.
Then there is Mohair. Mohair is wool that comes from goats, typically the Angora goat, not to be confused with the Angora rabbit. Mohair can be quite soft, but I find it a bit fiddly to work with since it’s fuzzy, fine, and has a tendency to shed.
Next up is Cashmere and Pashmina, which also come from goat’s wool and are often confused with each other. Pashmina specifically comes from the Changthangi goat solely found in the Ladakh region of India. It’s often mixed with silk and is highly expensive. Cashmere comes from a number of different breeds of goats throughout the Himalayan region; the Malra, the Chegu from India, and the Chyangara of Nepal.
Another widely used animal fiber is Angora, which comes from the Angora rabbit. It is super luxurious, silky and great for scarfs, sweaters and all the cold weather things. Seeing angora fir spun directly from the rabbit itself is also extremely interesting!
More expensive and less popular, there is also yarn available from Camel, Mink, Yak, Llama and it’s close relatives Guanaco and Vicuna, Bison, Muga Silk and finally, Ox. Whew! They literally can make a yarn from any animal. I’ve heard of spinners that will process the cuttings from your dog and make yarn from it.
Plant Based Fibers
Cotton is the first, and one of the more widely used plant based fiber. This obviously comes from the cotton plant, which is grown in white, fluffy “bolls” and then spun into thread and yarn. Many people are allergic to wool, so cotton is a great option! I don’t tend to find cotton to be as soft or nice as some of the animal fibers mentioned above, but I suppose I haven’t found just the right blend or brand. It’s a good, sturdy fiber, which makes it perfect for breathable garments, washcloths and such. It tends to be less expensive and doesn’t have the “pilling” issues (where the fabric develops small balls of threads on its surface) that you sometimes see with wools. On the other hand, cotton tends to stretch and doesn’t snap back like wools do when washed.
Linen is a nice, strong natural fiber that comes from the flax plant. It’s usually a bit heavier and crisper than cotton, though it usually softens up through time and use. Linen yarns are good for summer weight garments due to its absorbent and anti-fungal properties. I haven’t really knitted with linen, as of yet, but stay tuned!
Hemp is quiet similar to flax linen, made from the hemp plant. Some say that it is more environmentally sustainable than linen and other plant based fibers. It’s a strong though inelastic fiber, so it’s good for things like bags, placemats, and dishcloths.
Bamboo is a plant based yarn I’m a fan of! It comes from the stalk of a bamboo plant, and is usually very soft and smooth, as well as anti-bacterial! You will usually find this mixed with other fibers, and it’s very popular for baby items, due to it’s softness. I love, love bamboo and it was so fascinating to find that there was yarn made from this material. I currently have a poncho WIP (Work in Progress) , using a HiKoo Sueño Tweed yarn in the Peaceful Purple colorway. This has about 16% viscose from bamboo, which is actually a type of rayon, but I still love it. I have some other sock weight yarns with some bamboo, which are also wonderful.
A lesser known plant-based yarns is Ramie, which is a delicate fiber like silk, made from the ramie plant in the nettle family. Then there are some semi-synthetic fibers like Modal, which is a type of rayon made from beech tree pulp, and Lyocell/Tencel which are made from the eucalyptus tree pulp. These are usually cotton alternatives and good for sportswear due to breathability.
Synthetic (Man Made) Fibers
A purely synthetic yarn are made by humans through a chemical synthesis, where as semisynthetic fibers like rayon are made using natural polymers (polymers found in plants and animals like starch, proteins, or cellulose) as raw material.
The most common of these yarns that you will find in craft stores like JoAnne’s or Michael’s is Acrylic. A big benefit here is that it is typically machine washable and dryable. Animal based yarns are more delicate and should generally be hand washed. Acrylic is durable and usually quite inexpensive. It’s good for just about anything, from blankets to sweaters, to hats. I’m particularly obsessed with anything Lion Brand such as Basic Stitch yarn or Heartland, which are 100% Acrylic.
Another synthetic fiber used a lot, especially for socks, is Nylon. Nylon is also referred to as polyamide as it is that family of materials, so if you see that on a yarn’s description that’s what that is. I’m a fan of nylon for it’s silk-like qualities, which make it really soft. It’s very often added to different sock yarns (about 15-25% nylon mixed with wool) for it’s stretchy properties, in order to give your sock that little bit of stretch. It’s really a must. Nylon is not the most environmentally friendly material, so you’ll have to take that into consideration, since it’s derived from coal and petroleum.
Lastly, we have Polyester. which is also derived from petroleum. This yarn is typically used for textiles like garments that need frequent washing (due to it’s durability), kids clothing, and the like. It is similar to Acrylic in that it easy to care for. The Bernat brand produces some of the more well known Polyester yarns, used for blankets and more.
And there we have it! Whew! What a world is the world of fiber. I hope this helps you in choosing the right fiber or yarn for your next project! Have I left something out? Leave a comment and let me know!
Buen viajes and happy knitting, gnomies!