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Choosing yarn can be very exciting. It is an important step of beginning your knitting/crocheting project. Besides color, texture and thickness, the type of fibers or fibers blend is a major decision. Consider if your project should be warm, durable, machine-washable.
Natural fibres - come from animals or plants.
Animal-based fibers insulate well, are light, keep warm, are absorbent, have stretch and usually must be washed by hand.
Wool - comes from sheep. There are many different breeds of sheep, the most favorite is Merino which gives a very soft wool.
Mohair - comes from the fleece of a goat. Mohair can be itchy, avoid using it directly against your skin.
Cashmere - is the most luxurious soft yarn which comes from cashmere goats. 100% cashmere is expensive so try a combination of cashmere with other fibers.
Alpaca - comes from llama, it keeps very warm.
Angora - comes from bunnies, it is very soft and fine, we recommended it for accents like collars and cuffs.
Plant fibers (cotton, linen, bamboo, jute, etc) absorb well moisture, are very strong and durable, don't insulate, have little stretch, are machine-washable.
Recommended for Summer items. They are hypo-allergenic and make a good alternative for those allergic to wool.
Synthetic fibers - are man-made: acrylic, nylon, ryon and polyester. Usually synthetic fibres are less expensive than natural fibres. They are very soft and easy to wash. The most common synthetic fibre is acrylic. Acrylic washes very well,
is quite cheap, it makes a good choice for beginner projects. Acrylic blends well with wool.
Novelty yarns - made generally from synthetic materials, they come in a great variety of textures and shapes: eyelash, faux fur, bouclé, beaded, chenille, frindge, ribbon, knots, ladder, etc.
Novelty yarns are recommended for accent works, trims and accessories.
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