Loom Knitters Get to Know Your Yarns

Acrylic- This is a man made fiber  petroleum based  and cheap. Acrylic yarn is widely popular with knitters and crocheters. 

Alpaca- The Huacaya or Suri Alpaca produce this fiber for us.Their soft, long crimped hair is what makes this elasticity so great for knitting.  It is naturally water repellent and fire resistant.

Angora- It is fine and fluffy; can shed just like the bunnies. Angora is much warmer and lighter than wool. Even though we first saw it in the 20th Century; it was said to be in France in the 1700’s in garments. 

Banana- Something new and out of the ordinary. It is made from the barks of a banana tree. It is a plant based alternative for yarn. Banana yarn is similar to linen; soft.

Bamboo-Considered to be Eco-friendly around the world as it doesn’t require any pesticides or fertilizers and needs very little water. It is one of the trendiest fibers currently in the Fashion World. It is 40% more absorbent then the finest cotton; making it a quick dry. Bamboo actually has ultra violet protective properties which is just another bonus. 

Cashmere- This is the most luxurious yarn of all combed from the bellies of cashmere goats. By far the softest yarn; costly but you can find cashmere blends if desired. 

Cotton- Great for Summer projects. It will stretch; always read and follow yarn band instructions. It is washable and durable. 

Hemp- It is made from the stalks of the Cannabis sativa plant. Hemp yarn will soften as you wash and wear it. One of the first plants to be spun into fiber about 50,000 years ago. 

Linen- One of the oldest fibers dating back about 8000 b.c. It is spun from the long fibers of a flax plant. Often you will find it blended with cotton. 

Mohair- It is fuzzy! This fiber comes from the fleece of a goat aka Angora goat; it can be itchy. 

Silk- Light, shiny and lustrous! Silk is made from the long fibers of unraveled silkworm cocoons. 

Wool- We all know it comes from sheep. Did you know that there are different breeds of sheep that produce different wool that make up some of our favorite knit pieces? 

And of course, there are many novelty and specialty yarns out there for us all to try. Just always be sure to read the yarn bands for what they are made of as well as care instructions. 

Happy Looming! 

Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash