Fibre Facts

By Fiona Stevenson
Acrylic
Warmth: Warm
Softness: poor to excellent
Drape: average
Fibre Memory: Average
Durability: poor to excellent
Washability: Machine wash and dry
Recommended projects: Any
Warning: Not biodegradable. Reduced breathability.

Alpaca
Warmth: Very warm
Softness: Very
Drape: Excellent
Fibre Memory: Poor
Durability: Average
Washability: hand wash (unless superwash). Dry flat.
Recommended projects: cowls, scarves, shawls, blankets
Warning: not great for fitted projects

Angora
Warmth: Warm
Softness: Excellent
Drape: Average to Good
Fibre Memory: Average
Durability: Poor
Washability: Hand wash. Dry flat.
Recommended projects: Mittens, sweaters, slippers
Warning: small hairs shed off, so projects near the face are not good.

Bamboo
Warmth: Cool
Softness: Silky
Drape: Excellent
Fibre Memory: Poor
Durability: Good
Washability: delicate machine wash, cold water, or handwashing. Dry flat.
Recommended projects: cowls, scarves, shawls, blankets
Warning: not great for fitted projects

Cotton
Warmth: Cool
Softness: Varies from poor to good
Drape: average
Fibre Memory: Poor
Durability: Average to Good
Washability: Hand wash recommended unless mercerized. Dry flat.
Recommended projects: Baby knits, socks, tank tops, t-shirts, summer cardigans, shawls, blankets
Warning: stretches so use with caution for fitted projects.

Hemp
Warmth: Cool
Softness: Very poor
Drape: Poor to average
Fibre Memory: Poor
Durability: Excellent
Washability: Machine wash and dry.
Recommended projects: tank tops, tshirts, skirts, shawls
Warning: Scratchy even after washing

Linen
Warmth: Cool
Softness: Very poor until washed then good.
Drape: Good
Fibre Memory: Poor
Durability: Excellent
Washability: Machine wash and dry.
Recommended projects: Any
Warning: Wrinkles easily. Can be very rough on hands while knitting.

Mohair
Warmth: Warm
Softness: Average to excellent
Drape: average
Fibre Memory: Good
Durability: Average
Washability: Hand wash. Dry flat.
Recommended projects: Any
Warning: some people find mohair itchy. Pulling back knitting to fix mistakes is very difficult.


Silk
Warmth: Very warm
Softness: Silky
Drape: Excellent
Fibre Memory: Very Poor
Durability: Excellent
Washability: Hand wash recommended to avoid over stretching. Dry flat.
Recommended projects: shawls, cowls, scarves, blankets,
Warning: no fibre memory, best for unfitted items. A lot warmer than you think!

Wool
Warmth: Warm to very warm
Softness: poor to excellent
Drape: average
Fibre Memory: Average to excellent
Durability: Average to excellent
Washability: Hand wash unless superwash. Dry flat.
Recommended projects: Any
Warning: Some people find wool itchy.

Qiviut
Warmth: Extremely warm
Softness: Excellent
Drape: Good
Fibre Memory: poor
Durability: Average
Washability: Hand wash. Dry flat.
Recommended projects: small projects: cowls, hats, mittens, muffler scarf
Warning: Very expensive