Which Fiber Do I Use? [Yarn Guide]
There are a lot of different types of yarn out there from acrylic to hand-spun wool to fingering weight to extra chunky. How do you tell the difference and how do you choose? This yarn guide will cover some basics to help you pick the right yarn whether it is for a project you are making or one you are ordering from me.
Yarn size/weight
Yarn is measured in weight and can be found on the paper wrap of any store-bought yarn. If it is handmade it might just have a tag that says it. Yarn goes from Fingering Weight to Jumbo with many in between. Below is an infographic from the Craft Yarn Council that explains the different sizes. If you have opened a yarn and thrown away the paper that says the size there are also other ways to measure it such as using the hook or little yarn keys that help you measure it more accurately.
2. Materials
What is the yarn made out of? Yarn can be made out of a lot of things: hand-spun wool all the way to reused plastic bags so it is important to use the proper yarn for your project. For example, you probably don’t want to make a swimsuit cover-up out of wool or a pair of mittens out of scratchy acrylic.
Main fibers for yarn:
Animal fibers such as wool, cashmere, mohair, and alpaca
Plant fibers such as bamboo, cotton, and linen
Synthetic fibers such as rayon, acrylic, and nylon
Blends such as different combinations of any of the above-listed types
Animal fibers can be great for clothing items and are usually warmer and have more insulating properties. So they are great for sweaters, mittens, or hats but are usually a little more expensive since they are more likely to be handspun.
Plant fibers can be great for clothing items but for the opposite reason. They are usually cooler and hold less heat, perfect for summertime shawls and cover-ups. However, they can be heavy and inelastic.
Synthetic fibers are chemically made rather than naturally occurring. Their numbers are growing more and more so it is very easy to find and most of the time cheaper. However, they can raise some alarms if you are trying to be environmentally friendly because they usually contain some form of plastic and don’t recycle well.
(A great way to use synthetic materials but help the earth is to buy second-hand yarn! I know it might sound gross at first, but you can wash yarn and it is good as new! Plus, you never know what germs are on new store-bought yarn, so why not save some money and the earth by buying second-hand?)
Lastly, blends can have any of these qualities because it depends on the fibers they are made of. If you want to learn more check out TL Yarn Crafts Blog for some more information.
3. Durability
This one is especially important for people who are designing a toy or item of clothing because you don’t want to spend hours making something (or purchasing something from a maker) and then have it fall apart because it is made out of the wrong yarn. Soft, fluffy yarns are great and make toys so cuddly but if you know the creation is going to see some mud and rough play you might want to stick with an acrylic or soft cotton. However, if you know the toy will only be used for naps or inside play then a soft, fluffy, velvety yarn would be just fine.
These three are the yarns I use the most mainly because Hobby Lobby is the only yarn store I have close to me. I mainly use Adore-A-Ball, but Cozy Occasion is a close second. For toys that are going on more rugged adventures use a less fluffy yarn like Soft and Sleek. You can find all of these at Hobby Lobby.
I hope you learned something new about yarn and if you have any questions feel free to reach out!
