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Cotton yarn is well known for its versatility and is a suitable option for most knitting and crocheting projects. Many of our cotton knitting yarns are mixed with other fibres to add an extra layer of warmth or enhance durability. Our Comfy Cotton DK Yarn meanwhile is a 50/50 blend of cotton and merino wool, perfect for those looking for a plant based yarn.
Cotton has been a popular choice in garment manufacture for thousands of years. This natural plant fibre is comfortable to wear, easy to wash, and available in a huge range of colours. Some benefits of cotton knitting yarn are:
One of the great benefits of cotton is that it’s machine washable. This makes it great for homeware such as washcloths and tea towels. Cotton is also suitable for sensitive skin, which makes it a popular choice for baby knits such as blankets.
A big benefit of 100% cotton yarn is that you can throw it in the washing machine, and sometimes even the dryer! However, if there is another fibre, such as wool, blended with the cotton the washing requirements might be different. It’s always worth reading the details on the yarn band for the best way to care for your knits.
Absolutely! Cotton is comfortable and breathable, which makes it great for people who live in warm climates or those with sensitivities to wool. Cotton yarn will knit up very differently from wool though, so make sure to consider this when planning a project or choosing a pattern. For more details on substituting yarns see the fibre section of our in-depth guide.
Cotton is a plant fibre. It is harvested from the seed pods of cotton plants. When it’s on the plant, it looks just like the cotton balls you might buy at a chemists. Unless the fibres are blended with an animal fibre, cotton yarn is 100% vegan.
Cotton and wool are very different fibres and when they are knitted, they will produce very different finished fabrics. Wool is an animal fibre. It is squishy, warm and will spring back into shape when stretched. Pure, untreated wool with also felt and shrink when exposed to heat, moisture and agitation. Some people might find wool itchy. Meanwhile, cotton is a plant fibre. It is cooler, has no stretch or squish, and will not spring back into shape as easily. Cotton will never felt, and is suitable for sensitive skin.
When planning what fibre to use, there are many things to consider. Whether wool or cotton yarn is better is a matter of personal preference and which is more suitable depends on what you want to make. Learn more about the different types of fibre here.
Browse from our great range of ethically sourced cotton yarn today and get that exciting new project underway! If you wish to stock up today, we offer free UK delivery on all orders over £75
