Question of the Week 5-22-08

Question of the Week for May 22nd 2008

Let’s continue with our discussion of last week’s question:

“There are so many fibers like wool, cotton, and even bamboo as well as blends of fibers available in yarn, how do I choose the right one for my project?”

Last week we discussed bamboo fiber. This week we will discuss cotton yarn. Cotton fibers have been used in garments for many years and cotton yarns have a wide variety of manufacturers as well as uses.

Cotton yarn is great to use for summer and winter projects, especially if the wearer tends to run warm. A worsted or bulky weight cotton sweater will make a garment that will keep you warm in the spring and fall as well as cool summer nights, and a light worsted, DK, or sport weight yarn can make a garment that is perfect for keeping cool in the summer months. Another plus of cotton is it’s easy to care for; usually you can wash and dry it making it ideal for child and baby garments. Cotton is very absorbent and is perfect for making washcloths, bathmats and baby bibs. Cottons are also great for those who have wool sensitivities or allergies

Cotton’s cons: as we’ve said before, all fibers have their cons. Cotton can be inelastic to knit with and can show an imperfection in one’s knitting. Knitted cotton garments have been known to stretch so it’s important to keep that in mind when choosing a pattern. It’s a very good idea to wash your swatch when using a cotton yarn for a garment so you can see what’s going to happen. To lessen these “cons” consider a yarn that has a blend of fibers, manufacturers have been spinning cotton and other fibers together to make fabulous yarns. A great example is a 50% cotton 50% wool mix. The wool will keep the cotton from stretching and the cotton will help keep you from overheating!

Come on into the store so we can show you all of our cotton and cotton blend yarns!

See you soon!