Yarn it is an essential element of knitting - needles and instructions aside, knitting yarn is a finished product. Whatever the quality of the yarn, it will certainly appear in the knitted product, and no skillful knitting can put into a product a quality that the yarn does not possess.
Previously, not many types of yarn were sold, and knitters knew all their properties. Today the market has expanded greatly: new types of yarn have been invented in addition to the traditional three - wool, cotton and silk. New processing methods have been invented for traditional fibers, and innovative spinning and blending techniques are constantly producing new and interesting views yarn. Knowing what fibers knitting yarn is made of, as well as the technologies for making them, will help you choose the right yarn for the job.
Yarn structure
Yarn consists of twisted fibers, but it depends not only on the fiber content appearance yarn. The final product is influenced by the processing of the fibers and how they are spun into yarn.
Fibers are produced in the form of long threads (monofilaments) and staples. Monofilament is continuous, its length can be measured in kilometers; Staple fibers are much shorter and their length is measured in centimeters.
Silk is the only material whose threads are of natural origin. All synthetic fibers are initially spun into monofilaments, after which they can later be trimmed to 3.75 to 16.25 cm staple fiber lengths and spun into yarn. Typically, yarn made from monofilaments is smooth and shiny. Most often, twisted yarn is used for knitting, i.e., consisting of several twisted monofilaments.
All other natural fibers have different staple lengths. Yarn spun from staple fibers consists of a large number of short threads. The longer the fiber staple, the smoother and shinier the yarn will be, which is why long-wool Merino sheep and Egyptian long-staple cotton are so highly prized.
All staple fibers are first combed to clean and detangle them. Medium-thick yarn is produced by forming fibers into a thick, loose rope and then drawing and spinning. To obtain fine yarn, after carding, the fibers are combed, during which the short fibers are removed and the remaining long fibers are cleaned and arranged parallel before subsequent spinning.
Spinning- This is the process of twisting threads. The standard provides for 2 types of twist: S-twist, i.e. the left direction of twist of the threads, and Z-twist, i.e. the right direction of twist. Some Z-twist yarns are twisted from single S-twist yarns. Thin yarns are usually twisted tighter than thicker yarns because they require more turns when twisted for strength. The longer the staple fibers from which the thread is spun, the fewer turns are needed to connect them.
Strand- This is one of the twisted threads that form the actual yarn. Yarn consists of strands twisted together: two-strand yarn is twisted from 2 strands, three-strand yarn is twisted from 3 strands, etc. The number of strands affects the strength of the yarn, its uniformity and thickness, but the thickness of the yarn does not always depend on the number of strands. Four-strand tightly twisted yarn can be finer than loosely twisted single-strand or two-strand yarn.
Recently, yarns twisted from 2 different types strands, or yarn made from identical strands but twisted at different speeds. So, bouclé yarn is made when a loosely stretched thread is wrapped around a tighter thread, forming loops, then both threads are fastened with a third tightly stretched thread. Knotted or nubby yarns are produced when tufts of fibers are added during twisting or by adjusting the speed of twisting, resulting in knots and nubs. Chenille is not twisted, but is made from a fabric of a specific weave, the weft of the fabric is formed from soft twisted threads. The fabric is then cut lengthwise into narrow strips, the edges of which slightly fall apart, giving the chenille a “brush” appearance. Other fancy yarns are created by combining a variety of different types of yarn to create unusual effects.
Wool yarn It can be combed (worsted) or carded (carded). Combed wool is spun from long, parallel fibers and feels smooth and dense to the touch. In American knitting terminology, the name "combed" usually refers to the most common medium weight yarn, rather than the method of making it. Perle- a characteristic name for tightly twisted combed fine yarn.
Combed wool only carding takes place without subsequent combing. Combed wool is spun from short fibers and is fluffier and not as durable as combed wool. Two types of combed yarn are widely known: Icelandic wool, a medium-weight single-strand yarn, and Shetland wool, a two-strand fine yarn.
The assortment includes yarn of various thicknesses - from the thinnest to the most voluminous. The names were commonly used to refer to different thicknesses and may have previously had special meanings, but are now only a guide and different spinners often use the same term for yarns of different thicknesses. Additionally, spinners from different countries have their own terminology to describe types of yarn, adding to the confusion.
Fine wool(called 2- or 3-strand in Britain) is a fine yarn that is suitable for knitting fitted garments or children's clothing. Sports yarn (4-strand in Britain) is sometimes a fairly thick yarn, suitable for knitting cardigans and outerwear. The most popular yarn in America, worsted, is slightly thicker than sports yarn and is suitable for knitting clothing, including outerwear. The British equivalent is DK (double knit yarn), which is slightly finer than American combed yarn. Aran yarn is slightly thicker than worsted yarn and is often used for Aran knitting. Of the thick types of yarn on the market, there are bulk and high-volume yarns.
Yarn can be of different types. Wool and mohair yarns can be combed, where longer hairs protrude from the center thread and the yarn appears fluffy. “Machine wash resistant” yarn is treated in such a way that items made from it can be washed and dried in the washing machine without worrying about shrinkage. Some wool yarns have been specially treated to be moth-resistant, and these qualities are usually indicated on the yarn label. The mercerization process increases the strength of cotton yarn and gives it shine.
The natural color of the yarn varies from white and beige to brown and black. Yarn can be dyed in a variety of ways, and not just in uniform tones. The easiest way to create multi-colored yarn is to simply twist yarn from strands of different colors. Another way is to mix threads consisting of fibers dyed in different shades. During intermediate dyeing, different colors alternate in the yarn at irregular intervals. When printing coloring, color intervals are strictly observed. The external appearance of multi-colored yarn in a product varies depending on the width of the knitted part, so it is impossible to predict the location of colors on the fabric using a sample. Narrow sleeves may also have a different pattern from the wider parts of the product.
Also today on sale are yarns made from unusual materials and in a non-standard way, such as paper yarn, twine, ribbons, cords.
There are several types of yarn winding. Pasmo- a loosely twisted skein of yarn. To prevent the yarn from getting tangled, the skeins are tied in several places with thread. Rewind the skeins into balls before use. Commercially available skeins, yarns and balls of a wide variety of shapes are already wound from the beginning. The skeins are wound in such a way that the inner end of the thread can be easily pulled out from the middle of the skein. Sometimes there are yarns wound on cardboard or some kind of base. Very large volumes of yarn are wound on cylindrical and conical bobbins, intended primarily for machine knitting.
Skeins of yarn
Most skeins of hand knitting yarn come with a paper label that provides basic information about the yarn's composition, special fiber treatments (e.g. mercerization, moth-resistant, machine washable, etc.), and washing instructions. The label may indicate the expected knitting weight of a given yarn, the thickness of the knitting needles and the actual length of the yarn in yards or meters (small deviations are acceptable). The label also indicates the name and/or color number and lot number. Yarn is dyed in batches called lots, and there may be slight differences in tone between different batches of yarn. Therefore, try to immediately buy the right amount of yarn with a small margin. If you need to buy more yarn to finish the project, make sure it is from the same batch.
In some cases, when it comes to synthetic yarn, the yarn information and trade name of the fiber are listed in the language of the country of origin.
Fibers
There are two main types of fibers: natural and synthetic. Natural fibers are divided into protein-based animal fibers - wool, mohair, alpaca, cashmere, vicuna, camel hair, angora and silk - and cellulose-based plant fibers - cotton, linen, ramie, sisal, hemp and jute. All animal fibers can be damaged by moths, whose larvae feed on fiber proteins. Synthetic fibers were invented after World War II and were produced from various mineral sources. The only exception is viscose, which appeared much earlier; Viscose is made from waste wood and cotton fiber. Viscose is between natural and synthetic fibers, because it is produced artificially, but from the natural material cellulose.
Animal fibers
Wool(wool)
In the group of natural fibers, the main type in terms of volume of use is, of course, wool - it is so popular that some knitters call any yarn wool, regardless of what fibers this yarn consists of. Yarn made from sheep's wool is warm, elastic, durable and dyes very well. Wool has excellent heat-insulating properties - and woolen clothes are warm in winter and not hot in summer - which is why the clothes of Bedouins living in the desert are usually made from woolen fabrics. Wool fibers naturally curl, creating zones of still air that form an insulating barrier that prevents the fibers from matting. Wool can absorb up to one-third of its own weight in water before becoming damp to the touch. Wool's ability to slowly absorb and release moisture enhances its insulating properties and also facilitates the dyeing process. In addition, wool fibers can be bent repeatedly without breaking and spring back to their original state, which is why woolen fabrics are not only very durable, but also almost do not wrinkle.
The surface of the wool fiber is covered with thin overlapping scales, like tiles on a roof. When exposed to hot air, moisture or friction, the scales come together, causing felting and finally
compression.
Wool also varies depending on the breed and type of sheep.
Lamb wool The result from the first haircut is very warm and soft.
Shetland wool spun from wool from sheep from the Shetland Islands; The wool from these sheep is not sheared, but combed throughout the year. Name applied to the loosely twisted two-strand wool yarn often used in jacquard knitting.
Merino wool Made from very long and soft wool from Merino sheep.
Botany wool- a fine yarn made from the wool of Australian merino sheep, like Shetland wool, botany has become a general name for a very fine and soft wool yarn.
Icelandic wool- a medium-thick, fluffy wool commonly used to knit traditional Icelandic circular sweaters.
Mohair(Mohair)
Mohair- very thin and warm fiber from the wool of the Angora goat. These goats once lived only in the Ankara (formerly Angora) region of Turkey, and today the largest producer of mohair is Texas. Children's mohair is made from the wool of baby goats, which is softer and finer than the wool of adult goats. Mohair has many of the properties of sheep's wool, such as insulation, ease of dyeing and ease of care, but is somewhat less elastic. To prevent the yarn from breaking up into individual hairs, mohair is usually mixed with wool or nylon thread.
Mohair comes in three main types:
Kid Mohair- the wool of a young goat up to 6 months old, obtained during the first shearing. This is a thin (23-27 microns) and soft fiber 100-150 mm long.
Super Kid mohair– kid mohair of the highest selected quality – the thinnest and most delicate fiber, silky and luxurious to the touch.
Mohair- the wool of adult goats, it is thicker (up to 30 microns) and not as soft as the wool of kids.
It should be noted that modern technologies do not allow the production of yarn with a mohair content of more than 85%. To prevent the yarn from breaking up into individual fibers, mohair is usually mixed with wool, nylon thread or acrylic.
Alpaca(Alpaca)
Alpaca yarn made from alpaca llama wool - one of the representatives of the camel family that lives in South America. Alpaca fibers are long and shiny, and the yarn made from these fibers is warm and soft, because natural color wool ranges from beige to brown, alpaca yarn is first bleached before dyeing. Alpaca yarn is considered the finest.
Cashmere(Cashmere)
Cashmere yarn has become synonymous with luxury. Cashmere fibers are not shorn, but are combed from the underbelly of Kashmir goats, which live in the mountains of China and Tibet, for a whole year. Yarn made from these fibers is unusually soft, elastic and very susceptible to dyeing. Cashmere yarn is very expensive and the fibers are somewhat less durable than sheep's wool, so it is often mixed with other fibers, particularly sheep's wool fibers.
Camel's wool
(Camel)
Yarn from the wool of a Bactrian camel. The wool is not sheared, but the fallen ones are collected. Camel wool is durable and warm and therefore is used for the production of clothing. Camel wool is difficult to dye and is usually worn out afterwards! natural color.
Angora(Angora)
Angora rabbit fur incredibly soft, fluffy and warm. It is extremely difficult to produce yarn from short angora wool, so it is very often combined with other fibers. The high-quality wool of the Angora rabbit is not cut, but combed from the animal so as not to lose a single hair. You can get a little wool from one animal, which is why Angora yarn is expensive.
Other animal fibers
The fine wool of the Alaskan musk ox is used to produce qiviut, a very warm and delicate yarn. The vicuña llama, a relative of the alpaca, also has warm and soft wool, despite the fact that the vicuña has almost disappeared and its wool is very scarce. Yak, mink, chinchilla, reindeer and beaver wool are also used to make yarn. Particularly enthusiastic knitters even spin yarn from dog hair.
Silk(Silk)
Silk classified as a group of animal fibers, because it has a protein structure. From 2 spinning glands located in the front of the silkworm's head, a protein liquid is secreted, which upon contact with air hardens, turning into a thread-like fiber from which the caterpillar builds a cocoon around itself. The length of 1 fiber reaches 1500 m. After the caterpillar has made a cocoon, it is unwound, and the caterpillar dies. Wild silkworms produce rather coarse fibers, in contrast to domesticated ones, which feed exclusively on mulberry leaves and produce very fine, very smooth fibers.
Silk has excellent heat-insulating properties, shines, is easily dyed, but is prone to fading. Silk thread is very strong, but not elastic, so knitted silk products stretch a little when worn.
Plant fibers
Cotton
Cotton fiber- one of the most famous and widespread textile fibers since ancient times. Cotton is grown in warm climates around the world. There are many types of cotton, the finest and softest being Egyptian, Maritime and Pima cotton. All types of cotton have anti-allergenic properties. Cotton quickly absorbs moisture and dries just as quickly, which gives the products a cooling effect. Because cotton is much stronger when wet than when dry, it is easy to wash without resorting to special products that are so necessary for caring for animal fibers. However, cotton is not as elastic as wool and is prone to stretching.
In the process of mercerization (named after inventor John Mercer), cotton is treated with alkali and then stretched, making it softer, stronger, shinier, and less prone to shrinkage. French mercerized cotton is called "fil-de-cos", i.e. "Scotch thread", because Mercer was a Scot. There is also non-mercerized cotton yarn (cable) on sale - matte, with a texture reminiscent of a cord, this yarn can be of any thickness and is loosely wound into a ball, but more often wound around a rod. This yarn is softer than mercerized yarn, but wears less.
Some cotton yarns are mixed with a small amount of synthetic fibers, which increases elasticity and reduces the thickness of the thread. Cotton is also often blended with wool to create a softer, warmer yarn.
Linen
There is evidence that back in the 8th century. BC e. people spun flax yarn. Flax fiber obtained from flax stems. The plants are soaked, then the outer sheath of the stem is separated to extract the inner fibers, which are spun into a shiny, strong yarn. Linen is very resistant to washing, and linen clothing is very comfortable in the heat, because it quickly absorbs moisture evaporated by the body. Linen yarn is not elastic enough and wrinkles quickly, although this is not so noticeable in knitted fabric.
Pure flax yarn is rarely used for knitting, because it is quite stiff. To soften it, it is often mixed with cotton or other fibers. Flax fibers are heavy, so they are spun into very fine yarn.
Rami
Ramie fiber They resemble linen and have long been used in the East, especially in China and Japan. Relatively recently, ramie fiber began to be used in other countries of the world. It is durable, shiny and wash-resistant, but a little stiff and not very elastic.
Sisal, hemp, jute, raffia
Hemp- fiber obtained from the stem of hemp; jute- natural fiber from jute stem; sisal- fiber from agave leaves. These fibers are coarser and heavier than flax or ramie fibers and are commonly used for rope and burlap.
Raffia- a type of straw commonly used for weaving baskets and hats. Synthetic raffia yarn, made from man-made fibers, is similar to the types of yarn already listed and is sold in small skeins bright colors. The yarns, being very stiff, may be too rough for the knitter's hands; A pair of cotton gloves will help prevent skin chafing.
Synthetic fibers
The decline in trade and shortages caused by World War II prompted a huge increase in the production of fibers from coal and petroleum products. The first to appear was nylon, developed by Du Pont in 1938, followed later by many other synthetic fibers, especially acrylic and polyester. All synthetic yarns are produced as continuous threads, but for hand knitting they are wound from lengths of staple into skeins and balls.
Synthetic yarns have always had a controversial reputation among knitters. They are prized because many are machine washable, don't stretch, and are relatively inexpensive. On the other hand, synthetic fibers can be a nuisance due to their low moisture absorption properties, items made from synthetic yarns are prone to pilling, and heavy pollution practically impossible to clean. However, synthetic yarns are constantly being improved and become more popular due to improved quality.
Nylon
Nylon(polyamide) is the original trade name of polyamide fiber. Nylon is a very strong textile fiber, wear-resistant and elastic. Polyamide fibers can be crimped in texture, while others are processed to create an elastic yarn. However, they are all sensitive to heat, so ironing polyamide products requires extreme caution. Another disadvantage of yarn with a high nylon content, like all synthetic yarns, is electrification. Very often, nylon is added to other fibers to enhance the strength of natural threads.
Acrylic
A group of acrylic synthetic fibers was created to achieve the softness and bulk that polyamide fibers lack. Acrylic is very similar in properties to natural wool, but does not have its insulating properties. Like nylon, acrylic is often mixed with natural fibers. Acrylic products must be steamed with extreme caution.
Polyester
Polyester fibers are usually found in combination with other fibers. The fibers of this group are distinguished by their remarkable crease resistance, even when wet, which allows them to perfectly retain their shape. When mixed with other fibers, polyester fibers give the yarn elasticity and dimensional stability.
Polypropylene
One of the newer synthetic fibers, also petroleum-based, is polypropylene. The fiber has good insulating properties, and its production is very economical and easy. Polypropylene yarn is close to wool and has less electrification compared to other synthetic fibers.
Man-made fibers
Man-made fibers are not synthetic, despite their “artificial” origin. In 1910 The first artificial fiber for widespread use was created. They are produced in the form of monofilaments or staples from recycled natural fibers - cotton cellulose and recycled wool. There are 2 types of artificial fibers on the market: viscose and copper-ammonia fiber (Bemberg, cuprifil). Their properties are the same, despite differences in chemical composition and production techniques.
Man-made fibers are shinier and softer than cotton and are often dyed in bright colors. Yarns made from these fibers are inelastic, so elastic bands knitted from 100% artificial yarn will not hold their shape, and knitted items may stretch. The market offers tape yarns made from man-made fibers in a variety of colors, as well as blended yarns of man-made fibers and cotton.
Metallized threads
There are 2 types of metallized threads. The first is a thread made of very thin metal foil, covered with plastic film and cut into narrow strips, the second - metallized nitmilar - has a core of polyester fiber treated with sprayed metal. Metal foil or film can be painted in a variety of colors. Modern metallized ones are often mixed with other fibers to add strength. Some metallized yarns are quite harsh and can scratch skin, although their quality has improved recently.
Elastic threads
Elastic threads are used in combination with other yarns. They can be put into work while knitting or tied around the finished product.
Replacing yarn
Sometimes the knitter does not have at her disposal the yarn specified in the instructions or conceived by the knitter herself, then she has to look for a replacement. But replacing one texture with another is very difficult. The only way to correctly replace yarn is to knit a sample and compare the density of the resulting fabric with the density of the yarn specified in the instructions.
There are a variety of yarns for knitting and crocheting. The skeins on the shelves vary in size, shades, price and quality. When choosing yarn to create a knitted item, you need to scrupulously study the fiber composition of the selected threads. Because this will affect the service life of the item and how to care for it.
Types of yarn for hand knitting: acrylic
Considered a synthetic fiber. It can also be called dralon, artificial wool, nitron, orlon, PAN fiber, prelan. Acrylic thread is quite strong, does not lose its color in the sun, and behaves well when dyed. Any item knitted from yarn containing acrylic will become comfortable and warm, and the “pellets” will not bother its owner.
Alpaca
The fur of an animal with the same name. Its characteristics are similar to camel hair. The alpaca itself is tough and almost does not fall off.
Angora
Angora rabbit wool. Used in combination with acrylic, ordinary and merino wool. Knitted items made from angora are fluffy, soft and warm. It is advisable to protect them from water, and therefore it is better not to wash them.
Bamboo
A variation of viscose, based on bamboo wood. Its characteristics are similar to flax. Yarn based on bamboo fibers is soft and has a slight shine. It is worth considering the fact that after washing the item will most likely stretch a little and lose its shape.
Camel's wool
A fiber based on camel down. This type of fiber is quite soft, light and endowed with healing properties. However, this type of yarn is sensitive to sunlight. And one more thing: compared to the fur of other animals, it does not cause allergic reactions.
Viscose
An artificial fiber based on cellulose. Using this yarn, things turn out soft, with a slight shine and catchy shades. Items made from viscose yarn may change shape after washing.
Types of yarn for hand knitting: cashmere
This type of fiber is created from the down of mountain goats. The fibers described belong to a number of delicate, light and quite expensive variations of wool. Cashmere items must be handled with care both during washing and storage.
Lycra
It is considered a synthetic fiber created in the laboratories of the Du Pont company. May also be called spandex or elastane. The described type of fiber is used exclusively in mixed compositions. It is able to give things elasticity, thereby maintaining the shape of the product.
Linen
It is a fiber from a plant of the same name. It is also considered quite strong, not susceptible to moisture and high temperature. Linen items can serve for a long time and also provide warmth during low temperatures and give a chill during the heat.
Lurex
Refers to artificial fibers with a catchy metallic sheen. May also be called methanite. The color may vary. It is also used only in mixed yarns, because a thread made from pure Lurex will be stiff and fragile.
Merino wool
Made from merino sheep wool. This type of fiber is thin, soft and durable. It also does not cause allergic reactions.
Mohair
This yarn is made from goat wool. And things containing mohair are quite warm, soft and fluffy. When washing, use mild detergents and water at room temperature.
Nylon
It is also considered an artificial fiber belonging to the group of polyamides. It was developed in Du Pont laboratories. It is used in blended yarns to improve some of the properties, for example, to extend the life of the item and allow it to retain its shape after washing.
Polyamide
Refers to artificial fibers. Can be called dederon, nylon, lilion, nylon, perlon, stilon. Among the advantages are strength and ability to retain shape. But there are also many disadvantages: it is electrified, does not allow air to pass through well, you cannot use fabric softener when washing, and is also sensitive to sunlight.
Polyester
It is a synthetic fiber, soft and lightweight. Things that use polyester do not accumulate static electricity, but retain their shape well, are not sensitive to light and dry quickly.
Tactel
It is considered a synthetic fiber that was developed in Du Pont laboratories. Tactile-based items are endowed with good properties of artificial fibers: they do not accumulate static electricity, dry quickly after washing, are strong and durable, and allow air to pass through well.
Cotton
This type of fiber is made from cotton. It is one of the most popular types and has been used since ancient times. The fiber is durable, soft and lends itself well to dyeing. However, after washing, this type of fiber can shrink and take a long time to dry.
Silk
The thread is formed by the silkworm. It is endowed with sufficient strength, excellent air permeability, but is susceptible to sunlight and needs careful washing.
Wool
Made from sheep wool. The thread is delicate, stretchable, and retains heat well. Items made from wool may shed, and “pillings” may appear on the surface.
Blended yarn
Made from a mixture of a number of different fibres. It is also considered the most popular and widespread type of yarn, because a thread rarely contains 100% of one fiber.
Fancy or fancy yarn
To obtain this type of yarn, individual methods and components are used so that when knitting, original textures are formed at the output. The most common variety of this yarn is bouclé.
A fancy thread can include small-sized cuts of ribbons, knots, a combination of all kinds of threads or fibers, and is a ribbon or lace. It can be used both for knitting the main fabric and for decorating the finished item.
Melange yarn
Presented in the form of a single thread, but dyed in small sections in different shades. Thanks to this method of finishing yarn, original items with patterns in the form of stripes or spots can be formed.
Having familiarized yourself with this material, you can confidently head to a specialized department to select and purchase the necessary yarn and create unique knitted items for yourself.
Video on the topic of the article
And now more about all types of yarn:
Natural yarn of animal origin
Wool from a sheep
When you see on the label that the yarn is pure wool, and nothing else is indicated, then this is exactly this type of wool yarn. Of course, this yarn also comes in different qualities, but compared to other types of yarn from pets, its characteristics are more uniform. For yarn made from domestic sheep wool, it is not its origin that is very important, but rather its processing. Sheep are shorn strictly in a certain season, then the wool is washed and cleaned foreign bodies, dye, and spin. All these processes have their own characteristics, which give wool yarn different qualities.
The unique properties of wool are that it retains heat, gets wet slowly, and also removes moisture from the body, has good stretch and is resistant to creasing.
The only serious drawback - felting and the formation of pilling during friction - depends on the twist density of the yarn (the looser the twist, the stronger the felting), and can be eliminated either by special finishing methods or by adding plant or artificial fiber to wool yarn.
Washing woolen products (and especially products made from pure wool) should be carried out especially carefully - they should only be washed by hand, using special means. There is no need to soak woolen items for a long time, or wash them thoroughly, or wring out them. When drying, they should not be hung out, but carefully laid out on a flat surface.
Merino wool
Obtained from fine wool merino sheep. Australian Merinos are considered one of the best. In Russia there are also merino sheep, domestic breeds. The wool from these sheep is very soft. Other types of fibers are rarely added to it, and if they are added, it is only to make wool cheaper, and not to improve its quality. Of course, a lot depends on the initial processing of the wool. And such beautiful wool can be spoiled by non-compliance with processing technology.
Merino sheep wool is more expensive than ordinary sheep wool.
Many foreign manufacturers carry out special processing of merino yarn, as a result of which it becomes hypoallergenic and ideal for children's clothes, because it does not irritate the skin. This type of wool is called extramerino wool.
Merino thread, very thin and surprisingly durable. In addition, it is light, almost weightless, elegant and unusually warm. Products made from 100% merino wool are highly gyroscopic, lightweight and very elegant. It is the strength and thickness of merino yarn, which is only tens of microns, that allows it to be made into exquisite and comfortable products.
The thinnest merino thread is the so-called “summer” thread. The most expensive luxury fabrics and knitwear are made from it.
Kiviut (KIV-EE-UHT)
This is a very rare wool and very expensive, it is obtained from the undercoat of the musk ox (musk ox). The yarn is similar to light gray cashmere, but unlike it, the product does not shrink even at high washing temperatures. Rarely mixed with other types of yarn.
Qivyut is the undercoat of the musk ox (musk ox), which lives in the cold climate of the Arctic tundra. The Eskimo word "kiviut" means "undercoat". The fibers of musk ox wool are empty inside, making it very light and eight times warmer than sheep's wool.
Musk bulls are not cut; the undercoat is combed out by hand, which is possible only once a year in early spring. An adult weighing 400 kg produces only 2-3 kg of qivyut. The commercially available yarn is produced in Alaska, where it is sourced and processed in collaboration with the Eskimos.
The alpaca is a smaller relative of the llama, but its wool is more valuable. Several decades ago, llama and alpaca wool was very rare and expensive. Today there are many farms breeding these animals, so the price of this wool has fallen and the wool has become widely accepted.
Alpaca yarn is especially warm, light and voluminous, and after knitting it does not stretch or bunch up. You can knit with knitting needles, or crochet, or with a machine, or with a fork. Alpaca is most suitable for the cold season. The yarn from which sweaters, cardigans, shawls, stoles, boleros are knitted is comfortable for everyone. It is only important to choose the appropriate yarn thickness. Then you will get either something weightless, or dense, cozy, which warms with its appearance.
Mohair
Mohair is a fiber produced from the down of Angora goats. The word "mohair" comes from the Turkish muyhyar, which means "best goat hair"...
This luxurious fibre, one of the warmest and most durable natural materials, is lightweight and silky. Natural shine the fiber is stable and durable, does not disappear after dyeing. Fleece is usually white with a strong shine, consists of transitional hair - mohair itself and a short awn - kemp, which is removed. The fibers have low cohesion and pure form mohair is not produced. Sheep wool or synthetic fibers, usually acrylic, are added to the wool of the Angora goat. The most valuable quality of wool is uniformity.
Very often, any fluffy yarn is called “mohair,” but this is not true. There is “mohair” made from synthetic threads. To imagine what “mohair” is, remember the Orenburg down scarves. This is real mohair.
Like any other wool, mohair requires delicate storage and careful care. With proper care, mohair clothing will last you longer. Read the instructions on each product label carefully and follow them exactly. After removing or removing mohair clothing from your closet, hang it in a steamy bathroom for a while to remove wrinkles. Mohair items should be hung on hangers to avoid wrinkles and maintain their shape. Such clothes should be stored in a well-ventilated closet with fresh cubes of cedar concentrate or mothballs, which will repel moths. Mohair can also be stored in a special bag. A mohair sweater should be folded along the seams, and hung after fastening the zipper or buttons. Dry mohair clothing (if you accidentally get it wet) at room temperature and never expose it to heat. Stains should be removed with a brush or damp sponge.
Machine washable too, but only wash with cold water and set your machine to a delicate setting. In this case, you should use a special washing powder designed for cleaning thin, delicate items. Before putting your sweater in the washing machine, place it in a special mesh bag.
Cashmere
This fiber is obtained from the undercoat of the Kashmir goat. This is a very expensive yarn, since no more than 100-150 grams of wool are obtained from one animal per year. The yarn is very light, warm and soft, but it is too susceptible to friction and pilling, so you will hardly find pure cashmere. Typically, it is mixed with wool fiber in different proportions.
Angora
The Angora rabbit is a group of rabbit breeds bred for ornamental purposes and for their long fur. Angora wool is obtained from this fur - very soft and silky to the touch.
The angora rabbit's hair is hollow inside, so angora is warm, soft and airy. Due to its insulating properties, angora is often mixed with other types of wool. It would be impossible to wear a 100% angora wool sweater - very hot! And such yarn is prohibitively expensive and impractical.
Angora yarn is often classified as a luxury yarn, since there are quite a few manufacturers and the process of collecting wool is labor-intensive. Mixing angora with other types of wool reduces not only the softness and fluffiness of the yarn, but also the price. Buying angora yarn means buying knitting yarn with 30-50% angora wool.
It can be light or dark with a brown tint that does not wash or fade, so it does not need to be dyed before knitting. This wool can also be different in quality, both coarse and soft, depending on the age of the camel from which it was sheared. There are two types of camels from which the wool is sheared to produce warm yarn: Bactrian and Vicuna. The wool of the Bactrian camel is less valuable because it is not entirely durable. Vicuna camels are bred in South America; their wool is used to produce yarn of excellent quality - it is thin, durable and very warm.
Fabrics made from elite camel wool will cost 5-20 times more than sheep's wool. Processing wool into final products is a very complex and labor-intensive process. Wool has always been and will be the queen of fabrics. All products made from camel wool are highly valued because of their qualities - they are light and soft, warm and smooth, durable and hygroscopic, very elastic, practical to wear, and besides all, they are also healing. Wool allows air to pass through well - the products seem to “breathe”, a person will not sweat in it - due to the structure of the fiber. Camel wool prevents hypothermia and overheating of the body; it provides dry heat, as it is highly hygroscopic. It quickly absorbs moisture and quickly loses it. This wool is stronger than any other.
Camel hair helps dilate blood vessels and enhances metabolism. This in turn treats osteochondrosis, rheumatism, neuritis and arthritis. Due to active blood circulation in the problem area, tissue restoration occurs.
Camel wool does not electrify, it relieves static voltage. Its fibers repel dust, and you will be surprised, but it also protects a person from electromagnetic fields. Since there are many electrical appliances in our homes, protection from electromagnetic fields is very important for us.
This wonderful wool neutralizes harmful substances produced by the human body. It also rejuvenates the skin, making it elastic and flexible.
Scientists have long come to a consensus about the beneficial healing abilities of camel hair and products made from it. Lanolin, as one of its components, has a beneficial effect on the circulatory system, improves skin condition, strengthens muscles and joints, and removes toxins from the body. You will forget about blood pressure and headaches, your general condition will improve, some inflammatory processes will go away, periodic muscle pain will disappear, your appetite and well-being will normalize. Camel wool is a natural antiseptic.
Dog fur has a lot of positive qualities, it is warm, light, and with the right coat it does not mat, does not cough, does not shrink. This is one of the time-tested means of relieving back pain due to radiculitis, osteochondrosis, and kidney disease. Dog fur contains surfactants, the penetration of which through the skin has a beneficial effect on the body, neutralizes negative electrical charges on the surface of the body, retains heat well, and has a piercing effect on the skin, which promotes abundant blood flow to the sore spot.
Yarn made from dog hair absorbs moisture (up to 35-50% of its own weight) and dissipates it freely, releasing heat and thereby improving blood circulation, while the body always remains dry and warm. Wash knitted items made from dog hair in a soapy solution by hand, without squeezing, iron through a damp cloth. It is not recommended to use a knitted product made from dog hair for people predisposed to allergic reactions to wool.
Silk
Silk is a strong, soft thread produced by the silkworm caterpillar just before pupation. The caterpillar spins a cocoon, which is subsequently softened and unwound on special machines. From 100 kg of cocoons you can get about 9 kg of silk thread. This is the only natural fiber that is immediately obtained in the form of threads ranging from 300 to 1500 m long. Silk fibers have a triangular cross-section with smoothed corners and are able to reflect light at different angles, which gives silk a unique shine.
Any silk fabric absorbs moisture in an amount equal to almost half its own weight, and at the same time does not seem wet to the touch. Silk quickly evaporates moisture from the surface of the skin. However, sweat can cause permanent stains that make silk brittle. Depending on the quality, type of fiber weave and finishing, silk fabrics can be very light and soft or heavy and stiff. Accordingly, they crumple to a greater or lesser extent. The disadvantage is their low light fastness.
Silk is luxury, comfort, shine. In cold weather, clothes made of silk can warm you up (this thread holds heat well), and in hot weather they can give you coolness. Tops, blouses, and dresses will look good from silk threads. This is a thin, shiny, very beautiful thread and things made from silk thread look gorgeous.
Silk yarn is quite difficult to work with, it will require great experience knitting and skills, but the resulting product will be beautiful, sophisticated and elegant. Don’t forget to burn the ends of the natural silk thread and leave them longer than usual if you don’t want your fabric to come apart when worn.
Silk is a very delicate material and requires delicate care. Direct sunlight, moisture and high temperatures, as well as an alkali solution can ruin your precious item. Silk threads are inelastic, so when washing silk products, you should not wring them out and dry them only in a horizontal position, otherwise they may stretch. Hand wash only in cool water and without soap or washing powder. For thin silk fibers, the effect of surface-active components of powder and soap is detrimental: colors fade, elite yarn becomes brittle. When washing silk, it is better to use special liquid products for delicate fibers.
Most often, silk is mixed with other yarn, animal or vegetable origin, to give such a thread greater strength and improve its quality. For example, to knit down scarves, silk thread is mixed with goat or rabbit down. 100% silk yarn is rare.
Natural yarn of plant origin
Yarn of plant origin, obtained from cotton bolls. The quality depends on the length of the fiber - the longer it is, the better the cotton; on the processing method. The yarn is produced in natural bleached and mercerized form.
Mercerization - treatment with caustic soda solution (usually at 15 - 18 ° C.) with simultaneous stretching of the fiber. The name is given on behalf of the English inventor J. Mercer (1791 – 1866).
Properties. Cotton fabric is durable, soft, pleasant to the body, comfortable to wear, heat-resistant, absorbs moisture well (20 - 65% of its own weight) and does not seem wet, does not cause allergies, is not afraid of alkalis, but is destroyed by acids. Cotton “breathes” (permeates air well), comparing it with other plant fibers, it can be noted that the warming effect of cotton is higher than that of flax. Cotton is stronger than wool, although less durable than linen or silk. In direct sunlight, cotton becomes less durable and therefore requires protection.
Cotton is a heavy material, not resistant to bacteria and microorganisms: it rots and molds from being in damp for a long time.
The product is easy to wash if pre-soaked. However, cotton products shrink a lot and take a long time to dry. For knitting, cotton is more often used in mixed yarns with wool or acrylic, since cotton yarn itself is not elastic.
Natural (= untreated) cotton is dyed only in faded colors (such are its properties).
Mercerized cotton can be dyed well in bright, rich colors and has a slight shine, i.e. improves appearance, has greater tensile strength, but is less extensible and more susceptible to shrinkage after drying.
Care requirements. Cotton yarn holds dirt more firmly than others, because the fibers have a loose, lumpy surface, and particles of dirt are held more firmly on such a surface. Cotton items that are allowed to be boiled can be washed in a washing machine at 90°C, colored linen - at 40°C. You can tumble dry only if there is a permission symbol.
Products should be ironed slightly damp. The iron temperature regulator must be set to the temperature value in accordance with the recommendations indicated on the label, because... these numbers depend on the method of fiber processing (mercerization, finishing).
Actually, this is the name of the plant, one of whose products is flax yarn. Yarn is made from fibers found in the flax stem. The process is labor intensive and more expensive than producing cotton yarn. Flax fiber is used not only to create fabric. Flax is a universal plant with unique properties that it imparts to linen yarn. The silica contained in flax fiber makes it resistant to rotting.
Flax produces a very strong yarn that does not shrink at high temperatures and is not very susceptible to shrinkage. Products made from it absorb moisture better and dry faster than, for example, cotton and woolen items. In hot weather, linen products are “cool”, in cool weather they are warm. Linen underwear can also be worn in winter. One would like to call linen fabric “high-quality”: the service life of linen products can reach half a century. In addition, they are easy to wash and very hygienic. This is the most breathable fabric, especially if you do not touch it with an iron. Flax has only one drawback, and it can be considered an advantage. The fact that linen is difficult to dye and bleach gives rise to a wonderful natural range of shades, mainly gray-beige, soft, organically complementing the human appearance.
High-quality linen has a smooth surface with a matte sheen. The fabric is durable; when wet, linen yarn is even stronger than when dry. Therefore, linen was used to make fishing nets, marine ropes and sailcloth for ships.
Linen does not accumulate a static charge. It is believed that wearing linen underwear is healthier than cotton, and you can sleep better on linen pillows and sheets
Linen has antibacterial properties, inhibits the growth and reproduction of fungi and bacteria; the use of linen clothing eliminates various types of irritation on human skin.
Linen is a little elastic, very wrinkleable material, tougher than cotton. Care requirements. Linen fabric does not require special care and tolerates boiling well. Can be washed and ironed at high temperatures. Ironing should be slightly damp. When drying in a machine, a linen product may shrink significantly.
Rami
Receipt. Produced from a bush growing in Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and Southern Europe. This is Chinese nettle. Properties. The color is white, the thread is shiny, similar to silk. The fibers are long, have poor stretch, but have high wear resistance: 5 times higher than cotton, 2 times higher than flax. The canvas paints perfectly without losing its shine. Ramie fibers, like linen fibers, absorb moisture well and dry quickly, are resistant to bacteria and mold, but have low elasticity. Ramie is a very wrinkleable material, stiffer than linen. Care requirements. Can be washed and ironed at high temperatures. Ironing should be slightly damp.
Artificial yarn
Synthetic yarn is a yarn obtained by chemical processing. natural raw materials. This distinguishes it from synthetic yarn, which is obtained by chemical synthesis.
Artificial yarn includes viscose, acetate fiber, etc., which are obtained from natural materials (for example, cellulose) or recycled materials thanks to chemical technologies.
I also included bamboo fiber in this group, since it is made from cellulose, which is obtained from bamboo. Although on many sites this fiber is classified as a group of natural fibers of plant origin.
Viscose (or rayon) is obtained from wood (pine, spruce), and acetate yarn is obtained from waste (short fibers) obtained from cotton processing.
Clothes knitted from artificial yarn are soft, silky (shiny), elastic, pleasant to the touch and not susceptible to the destructive effects of microorganisms. But they also have some disadvantages. For example, items made from viscose wrinkle very much, and wet threads lose strength, so items made from viscose should not be wrung out too much, as they may simply tear. In addition, viscose is heavy, so clothes made from it stretch under its own weight. Items made from acetate thread become electrified and are difficult to smooth out bends. As a rule, such threads are added to natural yarn.
Viscose is one of the important fibers of the modern world. It is obtained from a material of natural origin - cellulose. This means that of all types of fibers and chemical composition, viscose is the most natural. Its main advantage is that it is soft to the touch, breathable and hygroscopic. Excellent coloring, which makes it possible to create products of bright colors. Viscose in knitting yarn is part of mixed fibers, usually paired with mohair, wool and cotton.
The product made of viscose is comfortable and pleasant to wear, “breathes” well and absorbs moisture. Due to its natural origin, it does not accumulate electrical charge and does not cause allergies.
According to their own technical specifications viscose is a material that is not particularly durable and wear-resistant. On the contrary, it requires a careful and careful attitude towards itself. Viscose yarn is valued primarily for its smoothness, which is not inferior to natural silk. It should be taken into account that the production of silk yarn is a rather expensive and labor-intensive process, while the production of viscose is much easier and low-cost.
When in contact with water, viscose loses its strength, the product can be significantly deformed, which is why it is recommended to wash them manually or in a washing machine in delicate/hand wash mode without spinning. The water temperature for washing viscose items should not exceed 30° C. For washing, it is better to use a special powder for delicate and thin fabrics.
It is not advisable to wring out or stretch viscose items: the most you can do is wrap the item in a towel or sheet, roll it up and wring it out lightly.
You can dry viscose products only naturally, for example, on a hanger, or even better, by carefully laying the item on a fabric that absorbs moisture well. The fabric with the product, of course, must be on a flat surface.
When ironing, you need to turn the clothes inside out. If you place the iron on the front side of the product, a shine will remain in this place, very different from the general appearance of the product. Ironing should only be done in the “silk” mode; at a higher temperature, the fibers may melt, or it can be ironed through a wet thin cloth.
Rayon
Acetate or triacetate yarn- the most basic type of artificial fiber made from cellulose acetate. This fiber is twice as strong as viscose. Acetate yarn has another name: “artificial silk”. The only similarity with natural silk is that their surface is equally shiny. Products made from this yarn are pleasant to the touch, elastic and hold their shape well.
Silk acetate yarn looks luxurious, is easily dyed in bright colors, and is hypoallergenic. The products absorb moisture well, are warm, soft, give a feeling of comfort, drape in very beautiful folds, wrinkle little, dry relatively quickly, do not shrink, but cannot boast of durability, especially when wet. Strong solutions of alkalis and acids and high temperatures are also destructive to acetate. The disadvantages also include electrification. In the photo you see yarn with 88% acetate fiber content.
Bamboo
Environmentally friendly, natural material. Bamboo fiber is a type of viscose, but not from pine wood, but from bamboo. Unprocessed (raw) natural bamboo aged 3-4 years is used as a material for the production of bamboo fiber. In terms of pleasantness and usefulness to wear, bamboo is close to flax. Bamboo fiber has special natural properties - antibacterial, deodorizing and stopping the growth of bacteria and, as a result, prevents the occurrence of odors.
During the production process, no additional additives are used, due to which all the unique natural properties of bamboo are preserved: excellent breathability, unique hygroscopic properties (the ability to absorb moisture), as well as the ability to dry quickly.
In addition, products made from bamboo have the function of reflecting ultraviolet rays.
Products made from bamboo are considered to be quite wear-resistant, hold their color well (they can withstand washing up to 500 times without changing the original shade), are delightfully pleasant to the touch, comfortable when in contact with the skin, have a chic appearance and have a healing effect.
But there are also disadvantages: the product stretches 4-5 cm in length after washing and becomes soft in consistency.
So the knitted sample must be washed.
Lyocell
Another type of yarn is made from cellulose, which is extracted from eucalyptus wood. Smooth, silky, incredibly soft yarn. Important qualities of Lyocel are its environmental friendliness and hypoallergenicity. Ideal for knitting shawls, stoles and jumpers.
Lyocell simultaneously has all the advantages of artificial and natural fibers. It is believed that products made from it can seriously compete with products made from natural ingredients. Its fabrics are soft, elegant and a little shiny, like silk, warm like wool, light like cotton. But, unlike other materials, lyocell fiber: has a softer surface than wool or cotton; does not slip like silk; more elastic, twice as hygroscopic and 30% more breathable than cotton; has the highest moisture absorption rate; when wet, three times stronger than viscose and stronger than cotton; more durable compared to natural fibers.
Modal
A modernized viscose spinning fiber produced from cellulose obtained from beech wood. In terms of its softness properties and appearance, it is strongly reminiscent of mercerized cotton, but is 50% more hygroscopic. Modal production does not pollute the environment. Its tensile strength is higher than that of viscose. Unlike cotton, modal fabric has a small percentage of shrinkage and remains soft after washing due to the fact that the smooth surface of modal does not allow impurities (detergent) to remain on the fabric, making it hard to the touch. Modal fiber is very light. Ten thousand meters of this fiber weighs only 1 gram. All this makes modal an ideal component in mixed fabrics.
Products made from modal are pleasant, silky to the touch, absorb moisture well, “breathe”, do not shrink when washed, retain their shape, have a soft shine, retain the intensity of colors for a long time, and do not cause allergies.
It is used in high quality and expensive collections.
When mixed with cotton, it gives the fabric a subtle shine and an elegant look. A cotton-modal blend replaces the mercerization process of cotton.
Modal is now very popular: well-known lingerie brands use this material mainly in the production of homewear collections, since modal is surprisingly pleasant to the touch and also retains its color intensity for a long time.
When washing, it is advisable to turn the item inside out and avoid using bleaches, as they cause the material to pill.
I found these threads on the Internet.
Violena /Violena/ yarn Schachenmayr select (50% cotton, 50% modal), 100m/50g
Models knitted from these threads.
(Highlights Magazine 004. Moments Magazine 021)
Synthetic yarn
Acrylic
Acrylic are polymers based on acrylic and methacrylic acids and their polymer compositions. The starting products for the production of this group of fibers are acetylene and hydrocyanic acid, obtained from natural gas. The main properties of acrylic: strength, thermoplasticity, light fastness. Blended yarns with an acrylic content of 30% or more are ideal for use in knitting machines. Acrylic, often called artificial wool, is close in quality to natural wool. It has a number of unique properties. Thus, acrylic fibers are easily dyed, which allows you to obtain bright, rich colors. Products made from high-quality acrylic practically do not fall off, almost do not shrink, and are very comfortable to wear. They are warm, light, and slightly peel under outer clothing. Acrylic yarn can be used when knitting products both on household knitting machines and on industrial equipment.
In knitting yarn, acrylic is most often used in a mixture with wool or mohair. Paired with mohair, acrylic fiber produces an excellent blended yarn, products from which remain fluffy for a long time and hold their shape perfectly. Among the disadvantages of acrylic products, one can highlight low hygroscopicity, which deprives things made of acrylic of hygienic qualities.
Care for acrylic products: wash by hand, at a temperature of 40 "C, with detergents without bleach, do not twist, spin with light movements. Dry in the same way as woolen products: wrap in a dry cloth and wring out, carefully lay out on a flat surface, giving them the desired shape, place a dry sheet underneath, dry at normal temperature. You can’t dry it on a radiator, and especially not over gas.
Polyamide group of synthetic fibers
Among which are nylon, nylon, silone. Polyamide fibers are obtained by processing various organic raw materials - oil, natural gas, coal. The main properties of products made from polyamides: high dimensional stability and strength, low light resistance, high electrification. Polyamide fabrics were one of the first synthetic fabrics to enter the market; The popular name “synthetics” for a long time referred exclusively to them. The well-known disadvantages of products with a large amount of nylon, nylon and other polyamide fibers, including the tendency to accumulate static electricity, “stuffiness” and intolerance to prolonged exposure to light, are more than compensated for by high strength and dimensional stability. It is these qualities that make mixtures with polyamide additives suitable for knitting items that require increased strength. Such properties of polyamide make it a welcome guest in any yarn - with viscose, acrylic and various types of wool. Products made from polyamide should be washed in a gentle mode, at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees. It should be remembered that you cannot rinse things made of polyamide with softening agents: this may cause them to lose their water-repellent properties.
Capron
Nylon is a synthetic fiber belonging to the group of polyamide fibers. It is distinguished by strength, elasticity, wear resistance. Like other synthetic fibers, nylon is resistant to microorganisms, but at the same time has low light resistance and is electrified. The most valuable properties of nylon, like other polyamide threads, are its high strength and dimensional stability. Composed of cotton or wool, we are accustomed to seeing “nylon” on the labels of those products for the use of which these properties are necessary - hosiery, sports jersey, swimsuits. Nylon thread has also found its application in patterned weaving products, lace, braid, twisted cords and other similar products. It should be noted that products with a high nylon content are characterized by disadvantages common to all polyamides.
Nylon
Nylon is a synthetic fiber from the group of polyamides, which has properties similar to other polyamides. Nylon was developed by Du Pont in 1935, in the process of searching for a material similar in quality to silk. And in 1939, at the World's Fair in New York, the name of this fiber appeared - “NYlon”, after the first letters of the name New-York. Over the decades since then, nylon has found wide application in various fields, in particular in electrical engineering (due to its electrical insulating properties). Nylon threads are used in various yarns to improve their consumer qualities. The advantages and disadvantages of products with a high nylon content are almost the same as those of other polyamide fabrics.
Tactel
Tactel - trademark, registered by DuPont. This is a polyamide fiber that has the unique ability to wick sweat to the outer surface of clothing. The technology for creating a tactel makes it possible to achieve a combination of seemingly incompatible properties - windproofness and high ability to “breathe”. At the same time, the tactel is wear-resistant, dries quickly, is easy to clean, and does not become electrified. All this provides products with the addition of tactel with high wearing comfort. Tactel can be shiny and matte, velvety and silky. As part of the yarn, tactel is used together with mohair, acrylic, and polyamide.
Polyester
Polyester is a synthetic polyester fiber that is particularly versatile. It has the very useful property of firmly fixing its shape when heated. This is used in the creation of clothing where it is necessary to “hold” folds - for example, pleated skirts. However, it must be taken into account that if the fabric is overheated above 40 degrees (for example, in a washing machine), unnecessary “crumpled” folds may form on it, which will not be so easy to get rid of.
Polyester is very resistant to light, resists stains well, and is not affected by moths and microbes. It is distinguished by the purity and durability of the paints, and will last for several years. The disadvantages of polyester products include fairly high hygroscopicity. Polyester is used in various combinations, adding finished products strength and providing an antistatic effect. The most popular blend is polyester and cotton, but due to its softness and ability to dry quickly, polyester is added to both wool and viscose.
Nitron
Polyacrylonitrile fibers, synthetic fibers formed from solutions of polyacrylonitrile or copolymers containing more than 85% acrylonitrile. Nitron production consists of the following main technological operations: obtaining a fiber-forming polymer, spinning fibers using a wet or dry method, and solvent regeneration. In terms of its mechanical properties, nitron is very close to wool, and in this respect it is superior to all other chemical fibers. Nitron is resistant to strong acids of medium concentration even when heated, as well as to alkalis of medium concentration. Solvents used for washing and cleaning clothes (gasoline, acetone, carbon tetrachloride, dichloroethane, etc.) do not affect the strength of the fiber; phenol, m-cresol and formalin destroy the fiber. Nitron is produced in the form of staple fibers. They are used for the manufacture of outerwear, carpets, dress and suit fabrics. In addition, nitron is used to make linen mixed with cotton and viscose fiber, curtains, tarpaulins, upholstery and filter fabrics. Nitron is produced in many countries under the following trade names: nitron - in the USSR, orlon and acrylan - in the USA, cashmilon - in Japan, kurtel - in the UK, dralon and volprulla - in Germany.
Microfiber
Microfiber yarn is a synthetic yarn that, thanks to a special manufacturing technology, has acquired the properties of natural yarn and retained the advantages of synthetics. This ultra-thin fiber is 100 times thinner human hair– obtained from a polymer mass (acrylic, polyamide, etc.). This thin thread is given an octagonal shape using special high-tech equipment, which in turn has triangular notches. This creates microscopic gaps - capillaries that intensively absorb moisture. Therefore, it is precisely this property - hygroscopicity - that is characteristic, first of all, of microfiber. This has made it possible to widely use it for the production of sportswear, for various household products (napkins, washcloths,...) - where rapid removal of moisture and grease is required.
The microfiber in the yarn gives it hygienic properties, which allow it to be used in the manufacture of summer clothes: due to its unique hygroscopicity, the body “breathes”. Compared to natural cotton yarn, it also has a big advantage - weight. This is a very light, heat-resistant, durable yarn. It retains color perfectly and also has a rich palette of bright, rich shades. It looks beautiful and impressive in products.
Items knitted from this soft and delicate yarn are also suitable for people with sensitive skin and children. Therefore, it can also be called “children’s” yarn.
Since microfiber threads are very thin, woven materials are very dense and do not allow wind to pass through, they retain heat better, allowing the body to “breathe”. In addition, clothes made from microfiber are many times lighter than those made from natural fibers.
If we compare microfiber with silk, it has a number of advantages. Microfiber thread can be tens of times thinner than silk, but if desired, it can be made thicker. Moreover, it is tens of times stronger than silk thread.
But, unfortunately, microfiber also has disadvantages. The choice of microfiber knitting model must be approached very carefully. The product will not hold its shape, smoothly fitting the body. Microfiber will not produce textured patterns. And it should be knitted more tightly so that the product does not stretch out during wear. Since the polymer fiber tends to straighten, and in a loosely knitted fabric it is easier for it to do this
Lycra
(in Europe “elastane”, in the USA and Canada - “spandex”) - a highly elastic synthetic fiber developed by DuPont. Always used in combination with other fibers - natural or artificial. To change the properties of the fabric, two percent of lycra is enough. Lycra fiber can be frosted (white), translucent and transparent. The main properties of lycra include high elongation (6-8 times), and when the load stops, the fiber returns to its original state. Lycra is breathable and washes well. Gives the product specific qualities, in particular, it provides freedom of movement and retains its shape, and also prevents the formation of wrinkles. Knitwear, made from yarn with the addition of lycra, do not lose shape over time, they do not stretch elbows and do not wrinkle. When choosing yarn containing a certain amount of lycra, it is necessary to take into account that when steaming such threads can shrink up to 50-70%. In order to avoid surprises, it is necessary to knit a sample before starting work and steam it with an iron, and only after that start knitting, taking into account the properties of the yarn.
Lurex
Belongs to the category of so-called “spectacular” fibers. Lurex fashion returns periodically. The popular understanding of the term (“Lurex” - “shiny or metallic thread”), in principle, is very close to the truth. Such fiber can be obtained from aluminum, copper, brass, and nickel foil. Since this is a rather expensive technology, and the resulting fibers are not durable, recently threads made from a chemical film coated with colored glue have been used. This ensures a variety of colors and durability. Lurex provides your products with a shiny effect, the brightness of which can be varied. The use of lurex fiber in knitting is limited only by your imagination and taste. Lurex yarn is mixed with acrylic, viscose and other fibers.
Blended yarn
Melange yarn
Melange yarn is a yarn made from fibers dyed in different colors. Can be cotton, wool, artificial.
The word “melange” is of French origin and in this case means a mixture, a combination of several threads of different colors. Using this method, you can get many interesting color combinations. For example, imitation marble is achieved by mixing several shades of gray, and malachite is achieved by combining green and blue tones. This yarn can be used to knit both whole fabrics and combinations of stripes and various geometric shapes. Melange has an advantage over other types of yarn: unevenness and errors are not visible on such threads, so material with defects is often used for melange. In addition, products made from melange yarn are suitable for all people, even very plump ones, since it tends to visually hide figure flaws. To compose it, you need to choose the main color, and then use the selection method to decide on the remaining tones. Gray, pink and white go well together; black with green and brown; various shades of beige and white; in general, you can safely experiment with colors.
Fancy yarn
Fancy yarn is a yarn that has an unusual, original texture. To produce fancy yarn for knitting, special spinning is used. However, there are many different effects that give fantasy yarn a unique personality - the threads that provide the yarn with “fancy” can be velvet, with knots, or with ribbons; thus, fantasy yarn offers you complete creative freedom. In most cases, fancy yarn for knitting is made from artificial fibers: polyester, acrylic, polyamide with metallic thread additives, and the like.
In knitting, fancy mixtures are used to finish the most sophisticated, individual items. The natural component of fancy yarn can be cotton, linen, silk, various types of wool, including mohair; The actual “fantasy” quality of the yarn is provided by specially processed acrylic, lurex or some other synthetic fiber. As a rule, products with the addition of fancy yarn require the same care as items knitted from regular yarn of a similar composition; however, it must be remembered that “fantasy effects” are often not very durable, and such products should be handled with particular care.
There are many other types of yarn - from milk, banana, pineapple - these are artificial fibers, wool yarn is also not limited to the list presented on this page. Technologies become more complex every year, new opportunities appear, and with them new types of yarn. But I think this is all for our benefit - our imagination should have no limits!
Hand knitting uses yarn from natural, mixed and synthetic fibers of various thicknesses. Its choice depends on the product you want to knit.
Yarn varies in the raw material from which it is made, as well as the thickness of the thread and the meter in the skein. All this is necessary to know, since the duration of wearing the product and the methods of cleaning it depend on the material from which the yarn is made.
Today in specialized stores you can choose yarn for every taste, even the most demanding.
Types of yarn
Cotton yarn- the most common type of yarn of natural origin with a wide range of colors. It is chosen for knitting summer clothes.
Linen yarn- durable yarn of plant origin that absorbs moisture well, dries quickly and does not shrink. It is also used for knitting summer clothes.
Melange yarn- combination of natural threads with synthetic or metallized ones of different textures.
Wool natural yarn retains heat well, is elastic and light. There are several types of wool yarn: camel wool, mohair, angora, cashmere, alpaca.
Typically, synthetic threads are added to wool yarn (in various proportions), thereby improving its properties. The fact is that pellets form on pure woolen items and the products lose their attractiveness, so nowadays it is becoming less and less common to find pure wool. More often it is mixed with artificial fibers. They produce many types of decorative mixed yarn: pearl, knotted, boucle, lurex. The percentage composition of the yarn is indicated on the label.
Angora wool Made from Angora rabbit fluff. Twisted threads are fragile, but very thin and fluffy, which allows you to knit airy things from them. With everyday wear, products knitted from Angora wool quickly dry out on the elbows and neckline. Therefore, it is best to knit elegant holiday items from such yarn for the cold season, which, despite their airiness, retain heat well.
Synthetic yarn- viscose, acrylic, nitron. They make quite comfortable and beautiful things. The most common type of synthetic yarn is acrylic. The great advantage of acrylic is that its fibers lend themselves well to coloring, which allows acrylic yarn to be supplied to the market in a wide range of colors. Products made from acrylic yarn are pleasant to the touch and soft. Acrylic is often chosen for children's clothing because it does not cause allergies and does not shrink when washed.
Fancy yarn- “grass”, ribbon-like, tweed, fringed, etc. This yarn is most often used for finishing, but some items are knitted entirely from it.
Blended yarn is a combination of natural and synthetic fibers, which allows you to combine the advantages of both. The best option for mixed yarn is 75% natural fiber and 25% synthetic. In this case, the product, despite the presence of synthetics, will not electrify, will not have a glassy sheen, and the high hygienic properties of the yarn and wearing comfort will remain.
Bamboo yarn- a type of viscose yarn, it is made from bamboo fiber. It is softer than cotton and resembles silk in its qualities. Products made from bamboo yarn are durable and hygienic. They absorb moisture well and do not interfere with steam and air exchange. In hot weather they create a feeling of coolness and comfort. In addition, bamboo yarn does not cause irritation or allergies on the body, and products made from it look beautiful and noble, and have bactericidal properties. Often bamboo yarn is mixed with cotton, polyamide, wool or acrylic thread.
Silk thread- the most expensive material for knitting. It is obtained from the cocoons of the silkworm. Thin silk threads are very durable, and products made from them are beautiful, pleasant to the touch and different. special properties. They do not wrinkle, absorb moisture well, have low thermal conductivity, which means they protect against overheating. Silk products must be washed with special detergents. Natural silk threads are very expensive and are more often replaced by artificial ones, which look no different, but products made from them are less comfortable to wear and are not as durable.
On January 14, 2012 by Ms Lana Vi
I had this question after reading various information. And I tried to compile a list of different types of knitting threads with their positive and not so positive properties. But I organized the information “to my taste” so that it was brief and extremely clear.
So,
ACRYLIC
Acrylic belongs to the group polyacrylonitrile fibers; on the market acrylic is also known under the names “nitron”, “polyamide”, “PAN fiber” and “prelana”. The raw materials for producing acrylic are extracted from natural gas. However, this fiber has a number of advantages compared to natural yarn. Mixtures containing at least 30% acrylic are ideal for knitting on knitting machines.
Plus s
Acrylic, which is often called “artificial wool”, is not only close in quality to natural wool - it also has a number of unique properties. Acrylic yarn is very paints well– you can achieve a wide variety of bright and rich colors. 100% acrylic is a guarantee that the product is practically will not fade. However, in practice acrylic is often mixed with other yarns, especially for machine knitting. Blends with wool allow you to get the ideal option - warm clothes beautiful colors, which are pleasant to the touch, do not become covered with pills, keep their shape and serve for a long time.
Minuses
Among the disadvantages of acrylic products are: low hygroscopicity, depriving acrylic items of hygienic qualities.
ALPACA
Alpaca, or llama, is an animal of the camel family. Light and durable alpaca wool is quite expensive, so it is often used in mixtures with the addition of other fibers. This blending, in addition to lowering the price, helps reduce the inherent scratchiness of this wool. At the same time, despite its high cost, 100% alpaca yarn is in constant demand and is offered in many yarn stores.
Blends with regular or merino wool and artificial fibers (for example, acrylic) are widespread.
pros
Thanks to the long fibers, alpaca yarn practically does not fall off and does not form pellets. Alpaca wool is hollow, so this wool has excellent thermoregulating properties– it warms in the cold and cools in the heat. This type of wool dyes well, and today you can buy alpaca yarn in a rainbow of colors.
Minuses
The peculiarity of alpaca wool is that when it is stored mothballs cannot be used, and therefore only natural remedies- lavender, tobacco and cedar.
ANGORA
“Angora” is commonly called rabbit fluff. It was once obtained by the Chinese as an analogue of real angora, now called “mohair”, since “special” goats did not take root well outside of Turkey. Rabbits whose wool is used to produce yarn are called Angora.
pros
Angora wool is certainly very fluffy, soft, and warm. Products made from high-quality angora yarn can last for many years.
Minuses
But at the same time, it has the annoying and well-known property of “peeling,” and it is impossible to prevent this, even by reducing the percentage of angora in the yarn. This is how rabbit fluff is - it is not firmly attached to the yarn. Therefore, by the way, Angora wool is practically not used in its pure form - in yarn it is mixed with regular or merino wool, as well as with acrylic.
Another disadvantage of angora is that products made from it cannot be washed; moreover, they simply need to be protected from getting wet. Angora can only be cleaned chemically.
But another source says that it is possible handwash mild shampoo in non-hot water.
VISCOSE
Viscose is the very first artificial fiber produced by man at the end of the 19th century, but still retains its importance to this day. It is made from natural material- cellulose, therefore of all chemical fibers it is the most “natural”. Viscose threads are added to blended yarns - to cotton, acrylic, wool, but if the craftswoman decides to knit herself an elegant evening dress - she should buy viscose yarn without impurities. The effect is guaranteed.
pros
Main qualities of viscose: pleasant to the touch, hygroscopic, breathable. High color intensity allows you to create products in bright colors. In knitting yarn, viscose is part of a mixed fiber, usually with cotton, but also with wool and mohair. With viscose you can improve the properties of cotton: adding it to cotton yarn increases the rate of moisture absorption, which is low in cotton. It should also be noted that viscose does not accumulate static electricity.
Minuses
When washing viscose products, they require especially careful care. They should not be twisted - wet viscose is not particularly durable. Items knitted from this yarn should be washed by hand using a mild detergent, otherwise they may stretch out and lose shape.
MELANGE YARN
Section dyed yarn. Its peculiarity is that one skein is dyed in uniform sections in three to five colors.
Sectional thread dyeing creates patterns with "correct" stripes. With a successful selection of the pattern, you can get very beautiful “stains” on a knitted product.
MERINO YARN
This is wool taken from merino (a breed of sheep), and not just sheared, but sheared from a certain place - from the withers. Merino wool is more expensive than regular wool. Other types of fibers are rarely added to it, and not in order to improve the quality, as in other cases (its quality is impeccable), but in order to reduce the price.
pros
In addition, merino wool is long, white, and has excellent thermostatic properties, elasticity. One of the important qualities is that it does not irritate the skin. Therefore, it can be safely recommended for creating children's things. And with proper care, beautiful and warm merino items can last for many years without losing their original appearance.
Minuses
Products made from this wool are characterized by all the whims of woolen things, therefore, caring for them should be especially careful - hand washing using special products and drying in a stretched form.
MOHAIR
When defining “mohair”, you should keep in mind that this is goat hair, and not just any fluffy yarn, as for some reason many people believe. And the features of this hair are such that there cannot be 100% mohair: it will simply fall apart into individual hairs. The maximum mohair content in yarn today cannot exceed 83%. The high price of pure mohair often forces it to be mixed with regular wool, as well as with artificial threads - acrylic, polyamide and others.
pros
Mohair yarn has long fluffy fibers, and products knitted from it are very airy and warm. Mohair lends itself well to coloring and is easy to clean from dirt.
Minuses
Washing mohair items requires special delicacy - it should be done in water at room temperature, using a mild shampoo.
COTTON
Cotton is a yarn of plant origin obtained from cotton bolls. Cotton has been known in India since the 7th century BC, and it was only 24 centuries later that the production of cotton fabrics reached Europe. Comparing it with other plant fibers, it can be noted that the warming effect of cotton is higher than that of flax. Cotton is stronger than wool, although less durable than linen or silk. For knitting, cotton is more often used in mixed yarns with wool or acrylic, since cotton yarn itself is not elastic.
pros
The main properties of cotton include hygienic, alkali resistant(or simply - for washing); Cotton “breathes” (permeates air well) and easily absorbs moisture.
Cotton is comfortable and pleasant to wear, soft and resistant to abrasion and tearing, and easy to care for. Cotton dyes well and practically does not fade. The product is easy to wash if pre-soaked.
Minuses
In direct sunlight, cotton becomes less durable and therefore requires protection. In addition, cotton products shrink a lot and take a long time to dry.
WOOL
A natural fiber that no artificial fiber can seriously compete with. Actually, “wool” is a collective term that includes the wool of a sheep, a camel, a goat, a llama, a rabbit, and even a dog; The wool of different animals differs in both properties and use.
pros
Their general properties of wool should be noted as the unique ability to retain heat, leveling the difference between body temperature and air temperature, hygroscopicity, softness and conformability. Wool is good stretches and is stable to creasing. Wool yarn retains heat better than vegetable yarn, and also gets wet much more slowly in a humid environment. Wool and acrylic, which make up a very popular ensemble today, are perfectly fused together. Among other things, such yarn becomes cheaper than pure wool.
Minuses
The only serious drawback - felting and the formation of pilling during friction - depends on the twist density of the yarn (the looser the twist, the stronger the felting), and can be eliminated either by special finishing methods or by adding plant or artificial fiber to wool yarn.
Washing woolen products (and especially products made from pure wool) should be carried out especially carefully - they should only be washed by hand, using special products. There is no need to soak woolen items for a long time, or wash them thoroughly, or wring out them. When drying, they should not be hung out, but carefully laid out on a flat surface.
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