Popular Fiber Choices

Yarn fiber is made from a wide variety of animal, man-made and organic materials. Knitters use popular fibers to make a wide assortment of items. What are the characteristics of the different fibers? Is man-made better than natural? Let’s explore some popular fibers.

Wool is an animal fiber from the domesticated sheep. It’s a fiber that dyes well, is naturally flame-retardant and is very warm. It must be hand-washed if it is natural wool and will shrink if washed in too-hot water. For the beginning knitter wool is recommended because it’s forgiving because of its elasticity. It is however, uncomfortable for many to wear.

Silk moths produce silk fiber. Silk is very strong and absorbs moisture. It doesn’t shrink or stretch. The fiber cashmere is from the undercoat of a Cashmere goat. It is expensive due only being able to obtain a few ounces from a goat per year. It’s delicate, fragile and often blended with wool.

Alpaca fiber is from the alpaca, a small relative of the llama. It’s a dense, soft fiber that comes in fifteen natural colors. It should be hand washed.

Yarn is available in natural fibers like cotton. Cotton comes from the fiber around the seeds in a cotton pod. It is a heavy fiber that isn’t elastic. Cotton is cool fiber slow to dry when it gets wet. It’s a stronger yarn....