If you’re a beginner, or even if you’ve been knitting/crocheting for a long time, it can be quite useful to know the difference between the different wool types and materials.

Wool

Wool can either be a coarse or quite fine material, depending on how it has been spun.  The more coarse variety is used for blankets, rugs or outdoor clothes, whereas finer, softer wool is best suited for garments.

Wool is quite durable and stretchable. It’s also a great insulator of heat, so it’s a great choice if you want a material that is able to retain its warmth. There are different types of wool: cashmere is from goats, mohair is from goats, angora is from rabbits.

Silk

Silk is a natural fibre obtained from the cocoons of silkworms. It’s quite a smooth and soft material, and is quite light to wear. Silk is best suited to making garments such as formal dress, shirts, ties, pyjamas, and much more.

This material is able to retain warmth, although not as well as wool. Silk does have quite poor elasticity, in that if it’s stretched by the wearer, it will remain stretched.

Cotton

Cotton is a light and soft, breathable material, which tends to be used more during summer, but can be used throughout the year.

Cotton yarn originates from the seeds of the cotton plant, where the cotton is ‘combed’ to get rid of the seeds from the natural fibre. This combed cotton can then be spun, providing cotton threads for yarn.

Cotton can be used for knitting, crochet, weaving, and much more. It’s best suited to making clothing, textiles, curtains, quilts, etc. Cotton is quite easy to wash, but does tend to fade in colour a lot quicker than other materials (e.g. wool).

Polyester

Polyester is a man-made material, which is easier to maintain, and can be washed often. It’s best suited to making cardigans, blankets, children’s clothes, and much more.

The colour of polyester yarn doesn’t fade, and it’s a very durable material. Polyester is great for retaining heat, and is a lot cheaper than expensive yarns like cotton yarn.

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