Explaining Yarn

The interesting thing about thread art is the vast array of medium there are to work with. And each one will have it's pros, cons, or uses. I have always said that the reason I love thread art the most out of everything I can do is that it is portable. Give me a hook or pair of needles, a skein of yarn, and a pair of scissors and I'm good to go! But this entry isn't about the benefits of my main hobby, it's about the different yarns available. Right now I'm going to focus on the basics, the most readily available. And those are in 3 categories (simple, eh?), those are acrylic, wool, and cotton. Of course there are blends and I won't go into that, but I do urge everyone to read the blend % of the yarn band to be sure you know what you're getting. Don't always trust your fingers to know what you're holding, some of the blends and fibers can be crafty!

Generally, most acrylics are very sturdy and extremely soft. Not all of them are, but the better ones should be. A few can be scratchy, those are usually the cheaper ones though. Honestly, there are a few that I absolutely refuse to use for anything because they feel awful sliding through my hands. These also tend to come in the widest array of solid colors. This is the fiber I use most often for my toys. It is not a natural fiber, but it is very durable and also washable.

The second most common fiber to be found is probably wool. Don't be fooled by this one either! The days of the old scratchy, itchy, coarse fiber are over. Wool can be one of the softest threads you'll find. It also has the added benefit of an ability to be custom hand-dyed. Therefore it's easy enough to get a skein of natural yarn, which is more of a cream color, not white, and either dye it yourself with acid dyes/kool-aid or have it dyed for you by a dyer in any combination of hundreds of colors. Wool comes in 1, 2, 3, 4, or multi-ply. The more layers to the thread, the less likely it will be to pill (create small balls of fiber) or felt together. Felting is where all the bits of the fiber connect together yielding a tough, solid piece of fabric. It is because of this phenomenon however that results in the 'ruination' of wool when washed and dried. This effect can be used is certain situations as a tool to yield a specific appearance and durability. A felted object can be washed, a non-felted object should not be. Felting renders the individual stitches in the piece virtually invisible. Wool itself is a natural fiber that also lends itself well to mild water-resistance and also has antimicrobial properties. Because of this wool often makes an excellent fiber for very young children. However, keeping in mind that because wool is less sturdy overall, the chance of felting by the child is extremely high.

The last common fiber used is cotton. This one is a bit of an enigma, it has a multitude of uses, mainly wherever absorption may be desirable such as washcloths or dishcloths, trivets or pot-holders, coasters, and a variety of other household objects. I have found that organic cotton can also make very nice stuffed toys, stuffed with cotton batting they make excellent specialty items for people that are intent on offering only the purest and most natural toys to their children. Cotton can also be dyed, though the process is somewhat more involved than for wool.