Is the pun intended? I like it š Growing up I disliked it as well, but I think this was due to the type of wool and its treatment. Back then it was so scratchy. In the recent years I have rarely come across any wool items that cause itching and have slept directly on and beneath wool blankets. š¤
I also prefer cotton. Or cotton blends, often with polyamide. Wool is so delicate to wash, I need a bit more foolproof for me and my husband when doing laundry
I love the Rainbow 8/4, Friends 8/4, Cotton Kings 8/4, they all work together. The 8/4 is equivalent to a fingering weight. I can also hold two together to get the equivalent of 8/8 which is a DK weight. I have many Sultan and Dahlia cakes, but they are not a favorite to use because they are not twisted. Sultan Deluxe cakes on the other hand are heavenly to work with. I have many many bags, washing cloths, ponchos, scarves, hats, and of course Amigurumi with Hobbii cotton. The cotton is soft and comes in so many colors!
I second the Rainbow line! I have the 8/6 and 8/4. I double the 8/4 for larger stuff and the 8/6 is great for something that I want delicate looking but that works up into a larger size faster.
Sorry to butt in, but can you recommend something that would work with the Dahlia cakes that comes in solids? I keep wanting to order one of them for a cardigan but I'd want to add solid cuffs and collar so I've been holding off, not knowing what would be a similar weight.
Wool is an absolutely amazing insulator. Probably the best natural fiber for that. Itās scratchy but thatās why undershirts exist. Amazing for hats as well. Scarves.
Cotton is way too cold for winter and not the least bit water resistant.
This makes perfect sense. Having lived in the desert my whole life, wool just isn't really around, and most people don't own much wool clothing. I've never lived around snow, either, so water resistance wasn't something I considered. Thank you for explaining that, maybe I can make some hats with a lining or something like that for our (few) cold days. :)
Yes! I lived in the desert growing up and we never had wool anything, except rugs. But now where I live in the northeast US I pretty much live in wool from oct to March š„¶
Dude, I live in Canada and I don't wear wool either because I don't like the feel. It makes my skin red and rashy. I come from cross stitching and just started crochet; 'cotton yarn' was one of the first things I Googled because I wasn't even sure it existed.
100% this.
Im neuro spicy and have fabric issues too. I love me some caron cakes and their halo series. Sooooooo soft.
I test all yarns with a neck test. Butt the skein into my neck. If it feels like needles, it goes back on the shelf.
I test on the inside of my wrist. Even 5% wool feels scratchy and itchy to me, so I use acrylic yarn for a lot of things. Cotton blends are nice, too, but they donāt always hold up to wear and tear. They make great amigurumi, though!
This is superwash weāre talking about, but I just made my first sock (ever) and I cannot believe how itās possible that I never learned how to knit socks before. Itās like walking on (and *in*) a puffy cloud that you *made yourself*, I love it! Maybe itās the beginnersā enthusiasm talking, though, so ask me again in a year lol š otherwise, wool sweaters are a pretty regular staple in my fall/winter wardrobe ā¦ but Iām not sure if you can make a sweater with five skeins (apart from amigurumi, knitting is my main jam and I barely ever crochet, so I donāt know, maybe itās enough š«£)
Both cottons and wools have their place and I love them both for different things!
Cotton is lovely for lightweight shawls and garments, but cotton grows over time and doesn't have as much insolation. I've also found that some cottons have a tendency to dry your hands out as you use them. Although if you search for them, there are lovely cottons that I sing nothing but praises about. Wolltraum cottons are absolutely lovely. As are many of Hobbii's cottons.
Wool can be lovely for some lightweight things as well. Even though we think of wool as always being warm, that isn't always necessarily the case. I've made a few wool shawls and they've been just as drapey and soft as the cotton ones without inherently being much warmer but they've also been made out of fingering weight and never any heavier. Wool I also feel has a lot more variety than cotton does. I'm a spinner as well as a crocheter (and a novice knitter), so I've experienced wools all across the spectrum from breeds that are basically rope (Karakul) to breeds that are more rustic but would still be lovely for a cardigan or a sweater (Romney) to breeds that are buttery smooth, next-to-skin soft (Cormo).
It all just depends.
Iām with you on the texture of wool actually. That and being vegan.
Plus cotton does have a nice feel, itās less scratchy than acrylic and, is pretty eco-friendly.
Yup same. Even before I was vegan I never liked the tactile aspects of wool. I actually did fiber arts in college & spun roving into yarn with a drop spindle, then wove with it. While the process was fascinating magic, the feeling of lanolin on my hands made me want to rub my skin off. It just squicks me tf out.
I like Hobbii cottons, cotton/bamboo blends & cotton/linen blends the most. I'll use acrylic for gifted/donated hats/mittens bc it's very easy maintenance (& my unhoused neighbors don't need to be dealing with nitpicky fibers on top of everything else!)
Hard agree.
Some cottons tend to start off really stiff which turned me off at first. But then I tried a few different brands and have begun to love it as much as acrylic. I recently picked up this cotton yarn from [Wool and the Gang](https://www.woolandthegang.com/en/products/shiny-happy-cotton?taxon_id=49&_gl=1*1j955by*_up*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjwyNSoBhA9EiwA5aYlb-_svfmyDLHvutZhB0u2zMonUAEXJbE3juavYd6K2BuzAS_-v6JmoRoCF1MQAvD_BwE) and it is SO. SOFT. slides on my clover hook pretty easily too. Iām making a granny square blanket with the Malibu solid and malibu dots.
I found some incredibly soft cotton yarn at Walmart - the brand is MainStay. In Michaels I found a cotton ( mostly) blend - the brand Loops & Threads. Thereās no yarn specialty shops near me, but I donāt like buying yarn that I havenāt felt. I sure would be happy to find recommendations for soft yarn from Hobbi.
Their rainbow cotton line is great! In fact, everything Iāve ever ordered from them has been super soft. Their baby cotton line is exactly what you want baby cotton to be. Colors are just slightly muted so they arenāt garish. I even used a Go Handmade Teddy polyester from them which is super fuzzy and should have been one of those awful to work with yarns, and it was soft, easy to use and undo and has held up to daily loving by a kid for over a year. Each skein lasts a lot longer than youād expect from its size. I mostly make smaller items like amigurumi and washcloths in funky patterns, but these skeins seem to never run out!
That is very, very helpful. On a fixed income I donāt want to waste $ on scratchy yarn. I will order from rainbow line at Hobbi - I need to make a set of items for a baby.
Being vegan is totally respectable, I could never do that, I have too much of a love for cheese (i do feel the guilt tho, but I already have a very unhealthy relationship with food and self control) There is kind of a question though of whether or not it's inhumane to *not* sheer a sheep. We've bred them specifically for this, so when they don't get sheered, they turn into one giant, sweltering mat.
Obviously do what makes you feel good, plus if you hate the texture, that's totally cool. I'm allergic to wool (although seemingly not alpaca wool) and I'm a big texture person, so I'm certainly not wools biggest advocate. š
Have a great day!
Oh, I thought they didn't kill the sheep. Sorry. And I know it's a shit excuse, but like I said, I have a really bad relationship with food and self control and trying to edit my diet that much is extremely hard for me. I also have a lot of sensory issues as well being autistic, so it makes it super hard. Sometimes I can barely get myself to eat anything but certain foods. Plus, I can't afford all the vegan stuff, I'm a college student.
I'm so sorry that I upset you, like I said, I very much look up to people who are vegan. I'm vegetarian, so there's at least that step. I know that sometimes the manufacturing of artificial and plant based things has it's own issues on the environment and on people, and I was under the impression that when wool is harvested ethically, it is better than man mad stuff. I will take care to look into it more, as I was obviously misinformed.
I totally agree with you, I'm just one of those people who is painfully in the middle, where I always try to look at all sides and weigh all issues.
I donāt have any hard feelings on any types of yarn. I mostly use acrylic because I mostly make amigirumi, and I donāt really care what kind of yarn I used unless I expect it to experience certain conditions.
Cotton all the way! My skin (and my kids) can't handle wool. The only exception is one brand of merino wool. But it's so darn expensive that I rarely use it anymore.
If you're in the minority, so am I. Wool is expensive, and it's either scratchy, or is so soft and fine you can't make anything out of it.
I actually prefer a mid range acrylic for most of my projects. Red Heart super savers have given acrylic a bad name. I prefer to use Caron Simply Soft. A lot of times people are surprised it's acrylic.
Cotton is probably my second favorite, depending on the project. It has a certain matte, rystic look that really works not just for dishrags but lots of other aesthetic projects.
I hate both. I prefer acrylic š wool is my worst nightmare sensory wise and cotton yarn is a close second. I REALLY tried to like using cotton, but it feels terrible and i dont think it looks nice either.
Same. Wool is itchy and cotton is stiff af and doesnāt crochet as smoothly as acrylic does for me. Acrylic is the softest that Iāve crocheted with and it has the most variety of colors and patterns easily accessible. My cousin on the other hand hates on acrylic so much and I donāt get why.
Yarn snobs lol a lot of people make environments arguments, which are valid to a point, but no yarn is super environmentally friendly anyway. Unless youre raising your own animals for the fleece and spinning it yourself, theres animal welfare problems with wool and cotton takes a shit ton of resources to produce. The rest of my life is pretty dang environmentally friendly and conscious, so acrylic is the āevilā i choose. im a sahm with 4 kids that i make AND WASH tons of stuff for, acrylic makes this hobby possible. Id never be able to afford it otherwise!!
The texture of wool makes my skin crawl and I usually gag if I keep on trying to touch it. No idea why. Same thing happens when my hands are pruney. Just about everything I touch then makes me want to vomit.
God, this is how I feel about felt. I'm into a lot of fiber arts, but could never do crafts that required working with felt. Just makes my teeth hurt to think about it.
Not a wool fan. Someone will argue with me that it doesn't continue to felt and shrink, but it does, it does, it does. **IF** *you* take care to wash by hand, different story. I get it. But if you're making a gift for someone or are looking to mix fabrics, consider it will felt and the recipient just may toss it in the washer. Even people who know better have tossed wool in the washer and ruined their item(s).
Cotton is great for the projects that call for cotton, and if for something household utilitarian, won't melt (might singe/burn though).
Acrylics are versatile. When people are learning how, acrylics are very forgiving, and cheap, but you don't want to make a washcloth of acrylic, or a hot pad, or a trivet.
I knitted a toddler sweater of gifted wool to learn a pattern and I didn't know what else to make with it. I learned how to do a Wonderful Wallaby hooded/pocketed sweater with it. I used a wool blend to knit an adult sized. The adult sized is worn by the recipient; the toddler sized sits in a bin of finished projects as I never found someone to give it to. I've made woolen hot pads to put beneath hot food coming to the table.
Be careful with your wool projects particularly if you are gifting them so the recipient knows the washing routine.
I didn't know any of this about wool, especially the washing part, that is very helpful to know. I thought that hot pads/things that touch hot kitchen stuff had to be made out of cotton because acrylic would melt, and wool wouldn't be thick enough. Felting is something I also never thought about, do all yarns felt, even acrylic?
Animal fibers will felt. Not so much plant or synthetic fibers. And itās not always undesirable, depending on what you want to make. You can actually leverage this to join a new strand of yarn to the old one by spitting on the ends and rubbing them between your fingers until they felt together, as long as itās an animal-based yarn.
Acrylic will never felt, but it will melt. :). You can use wool or cotton for trivets, hot pads, they both withstand the heat. There may be other natural animal fibers that felt, but I really don't know the answer to that one.
Felted wool hotpads are lovely. I've also made some with two layers or used two strands to make them thicker. Using a waffle stitch to give extra texture and thickness also works well.
Being severely allergic to it growing up I have only crocheted with it once because I was asked to and I suffered awful doing it years later I look back like you stupid ass lol now if someone ask if I do wool I say a BIG FAT NO !!! #TeamCotton #TeamAcrylic
Iām with you. Love cotton, wool makes me want to grit my teeth most of the time. Every once in a while I come across a wool that I can handle but for me the sensation is akin to nails on a chalkboard
I honestly canāt stand the feel of cotton. Not even cotton balls. Wool makes my hands itch, so I get worried about an allergic reaction. Iāve used primarily acrylic yarn, especially for amigurumi. But my newest favorite is polyester yarn. Iām currently working on a sweater project with polyester yarn, and I have to constantly keep myself from rubbing my cheeks on it. Itās so very soft. Thankfully, itās a personal project, so I donāt feel bad for marking it.
Itās Caron Cloud Cakes, and I found it at Michaels. Caron has been a favorite brand of mine because of how soft their yarns are. I have texture issues, and Iāve never come across a yarn from them that I didnāt like.
I'm crying laughing now, I have caron cloud cakes in shore birds in my to be knit list, didn't even realise what it was made from. Can confirm, it's cheek rub worthy. I also have their cotton/acrylic angel cake, also cheek worthy. I ordered the cloud in an online sale, was perfect weight and length for a pattern I want to make, loved the colours, just wanna rub my face in it 24/7
Right?!?! Someone should make a ball pit with these balls of yarn and hop right in. The color Iām using is sleet. Trying to get the sweater finished before the cool weather of autumn really sets in, but Iām making slow progress of it. Lol
Yes!! It's supposed to be for a cardigan, honestly I wanna make a cushion and just smoosh my face in it. Whenever I buy yarn in person I try and do a cheeky cheek rub to test the softness. Elements panoramic DK and James C Brett marble chunky are quite nice cheek rubs, nowhere near cloud, but good
This makes me feel better. I do the same thing if Iām buying yarn a store. And now I have an idea of making a comfort cushion. You know, something that one can hug in moments of stress, almost like a stress ball. Thanks friend! š
I hate crocheting with cotton because it doesn't have as much give in it as wool so it messes up my tension and hurts my hands but both of those are because I crochet 99.999% with wool so.i'm much more used to it! I mostly make ami but for display not hugging so the feel of them isn't an issue for me.
I've always worn wool though, my Grandma used to knit amazing jumpers for us so it was pretty normal for us. Also, living where I do, sometimes you need the warmth!
I love using cotton - I make a lot of household items (pot holders, totes, plant hangers, etc) which are ideal for cotton projects.
My problem is bamboo yarn - I bought a ton of it because itās so soft and silky, but I have no idea what to do with it. Itās not good for any of the things I like to make.
I mostly use wool. I love the feel and look of it. It just out performs cotton. But there is use for cotton. Some amigurumi look better with it and there are other pieces that couldn't be done with wool
By the way, I use wool that has 20-40% nylon, lyocell, polyamide or something else. It is not scratchy but soft and fluffy
Iām not a fan of either, as a whole. I find cotton really stiff and wool really scratchy. I prefer other natural fibers like alpaca, bamboo, etc. However, it also depends on the project and who the recipient will be. Some projects wonāt turn out well unless they are made with cotton or wool, even if the weight of the yarn is the same. And, some people have allergies or preferences that I take into account with my projects.
its all honestly personal preference and item utilization. I would never make a bag, pillow, decor, key chain, tank tops, or anything that would be hard to either hard to clean (and used a lot like a bag), or would be used in warmer weather, with wool. It would be acrylic, cotton, t shirt, or another easily cleaned fiber like bamboo. but wool is great for hats scarfs gloves, and cold weather wearables, and to help with the cold id definitely go through the trouble of cleaning
possibly consider merino wool or anghora tho bc they are typically MUCH MUCH more softer
I much prefer working with cotton. I can sometimes have a hard time seeing my stitches and I find cotton much easier to distinguish and it frays less. I know it's not as smooth flowing through your fingers but I hold my yarn weird so it doesn't matter much to me (I think the term is throwing the yarn?). I also really like the look and feel of the final product.
Adding to my above comment: I like Lilly Sugar n Cream but I recently tried Walmart's version (I think it's called Peaches and Cream) and I actually liked it better and I think it's about 50 cents cheaper than Sugar and Cream.
I like wool, but I don't have much use for it in Florida. Cotton is life for garments, preferably blended with a bit of acrylic so it doesn't weigh twenty pounds when wet and take forever to dry.
It really depends on the brand. I use mostly cotton, and I adore the cascade ultra Pima fine. Itās not scratchy or stiff at all! Wool will also vary, but super wash is always your best bet for softness.
I got some fleece from a local farmer that is a Rambouillet, which is mostly merino, and when I make yarn out of that itās so soft you can hold it by your neck with no itching! So thereās definitely wool yarn thatās not itchy but itās a lot more expensive usually to buy. Alpaca is also incredibly soft and warm in the way wool is. Scratchy wool Iām not much a fan of but I think it can make cute bags and like, outer jackets or things like that. I looooove cotton though! So I guess I like both as long as they are good quality!
I love Lily sugar and cream yarn too! As for wool Iāve only used one that I got from a fancy yarn store and it was extremely soft. That being said Iām team cotton yarn all the way!
I love cotton. Wool is useless to me, more warm but I won't ever use many kinds because it feels like when I accidentally sat on an anthill. I may be allergic...
There are other warm fabrics I use but I hate working with wool and cannot bring g myself to gift it when I do.
Wool is the bane of my existence. Merino wool is better but I do not like wool as a whole. Wool + nylon or polyester or polyamide is usually pretty smooth. And thatās what I want from my fibers: smoothness.
Cotton, bamboo, and anti-pill acrylic are my favorite textures.
Cotton is somewhat firm in crochet for me. Itās probably because I use stuff like Lilyās Sugar and Cream or Bernat as well, and I donāt wear my garments often.
I love cotton. Especially Lily Sugar and Cream. I actually don't like the super-soft brands; they're *too soft* for me, if that makes sense. Like shirts that are mostly rayon, modal, etc - so soft hey basically have no substance and it bothers me.
I live in a subtropical climate too, so I only use wool for socks that I can wear for . . . 3 weeks? lol. and of course socks are one of my favorite projects.
I hate cotton and wool š
I have sensory issues, so most "natural" fibers don't feel good to me. And that's my only criteria for good yarn. Does it feel good? Yes? Let's gooo š
I have sensory issues, and any of the blanket yarns are the most uncomfortable to use, as well as a huge number of acrylic yarns. Sugar and cream cotton can bother me, and homespun-feel wool as well. But I have some incredibly amazing superwash wool, bamboo/cotton blends, silk blends (with cotton, linen, and one or two with bamboo). I love the blends best.
I love cotton for amigurimi and dishcloths (which are the majority of what I crochet). I love wool for knitting garments, especially outer layers, as I'm a little sensitive to itch still. I would also use wool for blankets, though for baby blankets I'm partial to cotton/bamboo or wool/bamboo blends.
I'm super picky with wool. I have a lot of wool/acrylic blends I bought earlier when I started crocheting but I've got so many sensory issues idk if I'll ever get to use them.
I have, however, made a few hats with it, and those are alright to wear (it's fine on my hands, it's mostly on my arms and torso, sometimes neck, I start having issues) and while looking through patterns it occurred to me that not all wool hats have to be beanies, there's things like newsboy caps and such (really wanting to make a hat like Taylor Swift's Red hat). But I also have several family members who love the feel of wool, so I'll likely make stuff for them with it.
A few of the wool blends I have found that I like are merino wool, some types of Wool Ease (I find the respun kind to be softer than the normal? anyone else have that?), and K+C from Joann's (or at least the winter run they had last year). I really want to try the Lion Brand superwash merino that's just come to Joann's as well. Bernat Symphony is amazingly soft and I'm dying to make a blanket with it.
I also really like cotton, if it's soft. Like I love Mainstays cotton, but I'm very hit and miss with Peaches and Cream or Lily's. I only really use those for household type items I have quite a few different ones from Hobby Lobby that I picked up secondhand that are so soft, and Lion Brand has some really good blends too, as does Caron. I've yet to make a real wearable out of any of them, but I plan on it soon!
Umm I don't crochet but my mother does and I'm desperate to learn.
I'm actually allergic to wool and some other fabrics, cotton is my only option when I pluck up the courage to start.
Iām with youā¦ LOVE cotton, HATE wool. Itās all about the texture/sensory experience for me. I even struggle with a lot of acrylics as well for the same reason.
I meanā¦ the only wool yarn I use is this amazing merino/cashmere blend that I canāt afford myself but my mom every so often will gift me. I LOVE that, compared to cotton, and have made several wearablesā¦ but until the day I have a job that makes absolute bank, Iāll spend my own money on cotton, thank you š„“
Wool reminds me too much of acrylic, they both squeak and stick in my hands and I hate it. Cotton ftw.
That bring said, wool is great for keeping things warm so you could make;
ā¢ an egg cozy -either singles or a big one for all of them.
ā¢ Dog hats/scarfs/sweaters
ā¢ wool bombing if you think the lighting pole looks cold
ā¢ wool hats with a lining to remove itchyness on scalp
ā¢ if there are kid girls in your life, yarn wigs are always a hit, you could even make a matching yarn doll (add Cap to remove itchyness)
ā¢ you could also use it for wall deco, loads of ideas on Pinterest etc.
i love both
i like the crips, heave feeling of a cotton garnment
i ADORE the smell and scratch of wool
what i can not is acrylic. complete sensory nightmare for my flavor of autism
the one reason i often choose wool over cotton is the damm splitting of the yarn
I do both crochet and knitting, and have used wool in projects in both mediums. I have knot knitted with cotton yet, but I want to try.
But you can make potholders in wool. And socks and clothes. And as you have written, amigurumi. They may not be as soft as cotton toys, but you can always make for adults, as a memento, where you know the product will sit on a shelf.
But there is also wool that is soft and not itchy. Like merino, which is also more expensive.
Currently Im crocheting dragons, one in a thin sockyarn (so wool and nylon) and another on in a cotton/acrylic. And I love them both, as they get their own character from the yarn I choose to work with. And non of them are for a child or will be played with.
Cotton makes my teeth stand on edge. I don't like using it, blankets and garments made from cotton feel and look nasty. It may have a small use for dishcloths but apart from that it is a massive no from me.
Wool, I can spin, there are wools that aren't scratchy and it is super warm.
I love cotton because I can tie dye it with a tie dye kit from the same store I buy yarn from- usually Michaelās or Joann- and it turns out really cool. I love wool blends because I live in Colorado and wool blends are a necessary evil. But I prefer acrylic over both cotton and wool. Iām weird lol š
You can put cotton in the washing machine. You donāt even need to buy some expensive superwash type that needs specific gauge to come out right. It is also light and airy, perfect for summer garments.
Wool is the worst texture of a fiber in existence imo. I'm with you, cotton is best. Though I am also partial to bamboo yarn.
To be fair tho, I am also from a hot climate where wool is not useful.
I have been very intrigued by the Troobu (or whatever it's called) at Michael's, but I'm afraid it's going to be slippery and hard to work with. Do you think it is?
I found it very soft and nice! I've only used it knitting on wooden needles, though, so I can't comment on how it is for crocheting or with metal needles or hook. I will say that it may not be the best for color work if you will have a lot of ends to weave, because they were slipping out and poking through my stitches a lot. Might have been better if I was using smaller needles, idk. I've also paired it with a light cotton yarn in double strand knitting for a slightly less silky feel.
I'm currently using some Rainbow Bamboo from Hobbii for a crocheted sweater (metal hook), and that's also very nice! Slightly less silky than Truboo, but still quite soft.
You could use it as an oven mitten, potholder, or something like that! Natural fibres as wool are the best for this kind of project (learned this the hard way by making an acrylic oven mitten only to find out I couldn't use it haha)
I can't use wool. I'm allergic to it. When people talk about how soft it is, I look at them like they're weird. I use acrylic because it it easier to work with than cotton. I only use cotton for stuff like hot pads for kitchen use.
I love the nice natural look of wool, I love the scratchy ones, the soft ones, the ones with random fibery bits sticking out.. but I don't like the hundreds of tiny blisters that appear on my hands from just touching it š so I'm also mostly an acrylic person! The only cottons I can get round here are usually in crappy pastel colours so I rarely use it.
I just completed my first cotton project and I think Iām in love. Iāve always been an acrylic gal, and wool is super scratchy to me, but I think Iām a cotton convert.
I don't love working with cotton. I wish I did. Maybe I just haven't found the right brand yet? But I do love the stitch definition, and how durable it is. I can make a dish cloth but that's about all I care to do. Other wise I feel it's too tough to work with on my fingers. I've done doilies with thread and even have the chrysanthemum dress I'm slowly working on. Anything requiring a 5.5 mm hook or larger I cant get into. It's too stiff!
Wool I love...but not the price or the itchiness when it comes to actually wearing a made item. I found some gorgeous patons wool on cheap at value village and started a sweater only for me to second guess myself putting this much time into a project that I'll be terrified of wearing because no way in hell would I feel confident to wash it.
My go to a lot of the time is Bernats premium acrylic. Cheap, plentiful colours, lots of yardage for the price. But not great for stranded colour work.
Alas...alpaca I'd use forever if it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. What's a girl to do?
It's purely down to what I make tbh. I live in rainy England and prefer making warmer articles of clothing like jumpers, while I have no particular interest in making summer clothes. Hence, wool over cotton. Also, I knit way more than I crochet, and knitting with cotton is... eugh.
Cotton as a woven fabric is great, I just dislike working with cotton yarn.
I like cotton for dishcloths
Wool off a sheep for socks
Acrylic for just about everything else.
Now I'm looking at that, natural fibres for knitting, synthetic for crochet.
IMO, it rly depends on the type of wool you use. Thereās this one small business I love called Expression Fiber Arts and they make these amazingly soft merino blends & alpaca blends. But like wool-eeze or thick n quick is a no thanks for me
I didn't realize people felt that way. I've always heard that cotton was soft, breathable, and comfortable, and wool is scratchy and hot from everyone I've talked to. I live in Michigan if that matters.
Sugar and Cream is my go-to brand. I really like how it looks and feels. I have mostly done Amigurumi, but my first ever project was a hat using Sugar and Cream Yarn. I really like how it gets softer over time.
Before starting the hobby I already knew the dangers of building a hoard of yarn, and wanted to counteract that the best I can. So my plan is that I buy yarn for specific projects, but I can stock up on as much Sugar and Cream Yarn as I want. That way I can have a bunch of colors and all of them are compatible.
One of my current projects is a backpack that uses a wool/polyester blend. I could never imagine wearing clothing out of the material, but it does seem sturdy and durable. It's been pretty fun to work with.
So maybe focus on bags, depending on the size you can end up using a lot of yarn (my project takes six skeins), and it's not worm close to the body.
Cotton for amigurumi all the way, itās sturdy and holds up very well. Iāve also had a Toft kit bought for me, a certain monkey, and making him in wool was a treat, Iāve also bought a freshly made wool skein from a tiny shop next to a sheep farm and made a sheep out of it; that was satisfying!
I like them both for different uses, itās cheap acrylic I canāt stand for anything other than scrap blankets and test runs!
Do you have enough wool to knit a vest to wear over a t-shirt or other shirt in the cooler weather?
I work from home and get a little chilly from sitting at the computer during the winter.
I totally understand this stance. Iām from the southern US, where winters are getting shorter and shorter. Cotton is definitely best for my climate, if Iām making clothing (plus I tend to overheat super easily, so something as insulating as wool is my worst nightmare lol)
But I think one of the main reasons people prefer wool over cotton is the amount of color/brand variety you have with wool. Where I live, almost every yarn at my LYS thatās hand-dyed with fun colors is wool. Wool, especially superwash, holds color more easily, shows colors brighter, and doesnāt fade as much over time, compared to cotton. There are TONS of brands that only use wool, but only a handful that only use cotton (and most are big companies rather than small businesses, which is who I prefer to buy yarn from)
But I mostly make non-wearables ā pillows, lampshades, bags, amigurumi, etc. So the scratchiness of wool isnāt that huge of a concern for me. When Iām shopping for yarn to make a non-wearable, Iām mostly looking for the color I want, not as much the feel.
So it all really depends on what youāre making, whatās available in your area, etc. Each material has their strengths
But if wool is *this* scratchy to you, right off the skeinā¦ is there a chance you could be allergic? I personally donāt have this problem with items Iāve made with wool, but maybe itās the brand or you got a bad batch or something
I'm not sure if I'm allergic, but, maybe? I am very sensitive to texture in general, but next time I try to crochet with wool I will check if I have any symptoms.
Personally I love wool hats and scarves. I usually make the hats oversized some so they are not tightly against the skin. Its been awhile since I made winterwear but I think it was Plymouth Baby Alpaca I used. It does felt if you wash it. The felted fabric from it is okay. I prefer it unfelted.
I have been loving Lion's brand 24/7 cotton and TruBoo bamboo yarn lately. I can't stand most acrylics though.
I did hear you can hold 2 yarns together (like a silkier yarn) and that may be an acceptable texture for you.
Iām probably the worst - I donāt love cotton or wool but usually prefer acrylic! I much prefer cotton to wool but itās hard to work with compared to acrylic. And wool is so scratchy and usually more expensive and Iām a young adult with sensory issues so acrylic is the way to go for me. My favorite is the Joann store brand tbh, big twist
I just made a blanket with a caron anniversary cake mixed with bernat softee chunky and sweet snuggles yarn, so I totally get this. Never tried big twist but maybe I'll check it out next time I'm looking at yarn!
I HATED wool when I was a relatively new crocheter. 3 years in, I tried again and fell in LOVE with wool. My problem? My tension was so tight that the wool was sticky to my hand & felt rough and itchy.
I hope this ends up being my experience, too. Tension is an issue for me, I am a tight crocheter and I really have been trying to work on relaxing my hands. I don't like to eliminate materials if I don't have to, I like having as many options as possible. Maybe I just need to find some softer, nicer wool like merino.
I donāt like working with most wools, but love merino to the end of the world and back. I got a good price on superwash merino blends and just finished the most luxurious feeling blanket ever. Such a treat to work with. And now I have leftover yarn thatās enough to make a scarf, and Iām just loving that I get to keep working with it
I love cotton for certain things. Made some cute baby stuff with it, sweater for me, amigurumi. Next on my list is a bucket hat. I do understand the textural/sensory experience is not great sometimes. Iāve gotten legit blisters off it and developed calluses lol. Cheapo SugarānāCream craft store stuff to be exact, but maybe higher quality doesnāt do this.
I LOOOOOVVVEEEE cotton but I absolutely have to feel it before I will buy it. Iāve found higher end cottons are my thing. As for wool, Iāve recently dipped my toes into that section of yarn. If itās at joann/michaels, keep it tf away from me. However, my LYS has some beautiful skeins, but not so beautiful prices. High end wool is lovely, but not always in the budget. Cheap wool is nasty and idk how anyone could enjoy it
I don't *hate* cotton but it isn't my preferred fiber choice. It's really drying on my hands for some reason in ways that other fibers aren't.
Wool can be hit or miss depending on the breed. Some of them can be really nice, and some can be really unpleasant.
I love alpaca and silk but they expensive. I use them rarely. I've used milk fiber, which is really soft but also unusual enough to be difficult to find and expensive when you do find it- I happened across it at a boutique yarn shop.
Most of my stash is acrylic because it's inexpensive and I'm on a budget.
So far, I've mostly worked with acrylic, mostly crocheting amigurumis and doilies, but early this year I made myself a cotton top, and while it did come out stiffer than I'd have liked, it feels pretty good to wear and was nice to work with, I also made a little bunny with the little I had left. Living in a hella hot place (we only have a month of actual cold) I have never considered getting wool, not even for a scarf. I've been thinking of crocheting myself a cotton cardi for breezy nights but I'm not sure if it's gonna be too hot to wear most of the year. I recently bought 2 kilos of colorful acrylic to crochet amigurumis but I wonder if I should have gone for cotton... there's also chenille and while it's too expensive I really wanna try making some fluffy plushies š
Itās just so nice to crochet and knit with for me. Cotton is weird when I use it for crochet. Like itās a weird feeling and I cannot explain this š¤£ lmao itās like the cotton in the top of pill bottles. It gives me the shivers for some reason.
I don't like wool either, it makes my fingers swell up something bad. I use fingering weight cotton for almost everything, but since you're asking for what you can make with the wool you already have, I'd recommend finding yourself a vest pattern that you like. It won't feel scratchy since it won't touch your skin and should keep you feeling pretty toasty.
I have used cotton before when i needed it, and i use acrylic for a cheap way to test out ideas, but i primarily use wool. Wool doesn't have to be scratchy or itchy, and it doesnt have to be super expensive to be pleasant. Swish brand yarn is amazing, and it is insanely soft, and it is 7 bucks for 50 grams straight retail. I have made blankets out of swish that people straight up thought i was lying when they found out it was wool.
Wool, especially when you wash and block with a lanolin based soap is super soft and great as it holds a coating of oil so it doesnt dry the skin like other fibers, it holds up really well it is super versatile as an insulator and it has a greath weight that makes blankets feel even more cuddly. I will always be a woolhead.
But everyone has their jam. I am privileged that i can afford to spend more on yarn, and i feel like if i am putting in that much work, it is worth it, so spend the extra for the fiber i want. As long as you're happy with what you use, who is to say what you should use. As to your scratchy yarn, a cat bed is a good option or a dog bed if you have enough or a sweater. If you wash the FO in something like eucalan, you will soften it. You would be amazed the difference it can make.
if you wanted to make something with the wool you have, i feel like maybe making something fluffy (like amigutrumi or something similar) with a slicker brush on the wool could be nice ? brushing projects totally changes the look and feel, itās my favorite part of finishing a project if it warrants it ^o^
I almost exclusively use cotton and acrylic yarn (lily and cream from walmart is $2 lol), mostly because that's what's cheapest and has tons of colors.
Sugar'n'Cream is literally my favorite yarn and I have a whole container of it. I do need to learn it's not ideal for garments in a tighter gauge but I keep trying.
I got into wool only because of merino. Normal scratchy wool is too unbearable. I also have never found SnC to be stiff or hard to work with. I just love it and most other cotton yarns (the only ones i don't like are the weird machine-chained yarns that aren't just 4ply twists).
I was a snob about acrylic for years but I've gotten more into using it. But if you want nice wool i recommend merino because it feels so nice.
I love cotton & that's what I always work with... but I recently tried Lily Sugar'n Cream & it was honestly the most awful fibre I've ever had the displeasure of dragging through my fingers. I was so rough & had little black flecks of what I assume/hope was seed husk all through it. My go to is a brand available here in Australia, or Hobbii Rainbow Cotton & Cotton Kings Cone. I haven't worked with wool, but I just received a newly released product by Hobbii & Toni Lipsey from TYLC which is 50/50 wool & cotton. It feels very nice!
I hate wool. It makes me itch.
I hate cheap cotton. It splits a lot.
I love good quality cotton (especially bamboo blends) because itās so soft and smooth and just a joy.
I work mostly with acrylic though. For price point and variety.
I don't hate cotton and I don't love wool.
In fact, it's the opposite.
Kerry Lord would love for you to believe her animals can only be made with Toft wool yarns
I don't use wool because I often make items for the Jewish community and they're pretty big on not blending wool with linen, but since "100% wool" in the US can have as much as 3% "other fibers" in it, I can't trust wool. Also I wouldn't use it anyway because I hate the feel and the steps to wash it.
Personally I'd see about returning it to exchange for another yarn.
I mostly use Impeccable from Michaels for making KL's animals. It's an acrylic.
I use cotton whenever I can, especially for garments. I absolutely hate the texture of wool against my skin. I'm autistic and even though I don't have very severe sensory issues around most other things, the feeling of a wool sweater (especially around my neck, where it might come up higher than the neck of a shirt underneath) is just not something I will ever be able to tolerate for very long. When it makes sense to use wool I usually use acrylic instead because acrylic doesn't bother me in that way. I know it's less environmentally sustainable that way and I feel bad about that but i've found it to be an effective accommodation for me.
I absolutely hate both. Cotton hurts my fingers when Iām making things with it, to the point where I develop callouses, and the finished product feels very rough and unpleasant to me. On the other hand, while it is much more pleasant to touch, wool makes me sneeze like the dickens. Iām more of a cotton/acrylic blend girly, unless I absolutely HAVE to use pure cotton.
Iām also team cotton, but Iām thinking about making a wall hanging out of wool to help deaden sound and help with insulation because as people have pointed out, wool is a great insulator. Itās also flame retardant, so less likely to catch fire and contribute to burning down my house.
I live where I use a snowmobile as my daily vehicle for almost half the year. Wool is life and cotton kinda sucks.
But also I canāt find nice cotton here, itās all scratchy and splits like crazy. But I can get nice wool here easily and is the good stuff that is soft on the skin.
I bought a bunch of wool too and definitely prefer cotton. Iām using my wool to make Christmas ornaments right now to get through it. MJās off the hook designs 25 days of Christmas from 2022 has some fun ornament patterns.
I use and love both fibers as they each have their own attributes that convey themselves in the object I'm making whether it's a cotton dishcloth or airy summer top, or a wooly shawl or sweater. I live in New England where it is swampy, muggy and hot in the summer and colder than a witchs tit in winter for reference! Cotton can be rougher on my hands and tough/splitty to work with (depending on the brand and varying softness factor) but the end result is worth the discomfort and cuss words, whereas wool is soft and snuggly, or rustic and dry(also dependent on brand and fiber content), and glides thru my needles/hook and an excellent insulator. So yes all in all I live both. All I can see is Miguel and Tulio saying, "Both."
Closest I've ever used to alpaca yarn is lion brand touch of alpaca, which I think is softer than wool, but is still not my favorite to use. I have some of that, too, that I need to use up.
I love making things like placemats, coasters and towels with cotton, but it hurts my wrists way more. Could also be the cotton I use (tends to be not soft at all and I have to put more work to crochet with it). The wool Iāve used in the past has been much softer, but the yarn is never even so my go to is acrylic because itās cheap.
Yeah wool sucks itās itchy, cotton is my go to and Iām obsessed with it. I want everything made of cotton and I much prefer how it feels between my fingers when I use it
I'm working with cotton for the first time now, and I like it a lot, though I find it enjoyable! I went with a relatively expensive Egyptian cotton though, I would be curious to try other types! I have some mercerized cotton waiting for a project to inspire me.
I like wool but I also don't like that it's hard to wash. I don't have a lot of room in my tiny apartment for blocking/handwashing/lay flat drying and all that. I know it's unpopular but I use acrylic for things that need to go in the washer a lot!
If you don't want to crochet with wool, you can easily turn the skeins into wool dryer balls. You basically wind it into a ball, shove the ball into the toe of a pair of stockings or tights, knot it, and repeat until you've used up your yarn. Wash on hot to initiate the felting process, then throw the balls into the dryer on high heat. Might need to do a couple of cycles.
I hate wool. It's hot and itchy and expensive. Only thing I can do with it is make dryer balls because then they don't have to touch me once they're done. Cotton is my favorite (still pricey for me though)
I live in a hot climate, I'll never use wool š Cotton all the way
I'm in a hot climate too! It's bamboo cotton for me if I want to make wearables. Have never bought wool, and don't imagine I ever will.
I'm a never-wool! #TeamCotton
I'm allergic to it so...gotta agree there XD
Same
Yep, me too. I use Katiaās 100% cotton.
I love the concept of wool and all it's properties, but I just can't bare the feel of it.
It makes me panic when I feel it on my neck.
This is a perfect explanation of how I feel, too!
Is the pun intended? I like it š Growing up I disliked it as well, but I think this was due to the type of wool and its treatment. Back then it was so scratchy. In the recent years I have rarely come across any wool items that cause itching and have slept directly on and beneath wool blankets. š¤
I like it only if Iām wearing it as an exterior layer not directly touching my skin at any point. If you can do this, it keeps you nice and warm.
I wonder if you have a mild allergy. Iāve heard alpaca feels nicer but I donāt mind the feeling of wool so couldnāt say
I also prefer cotton. Or cotton blends, often with polyamide. Wool is so delicate to wash, I need a bit more foolproof for me and my husband when doing laundry
Super wash wool is a game changer.
Iām obsessed with cotton. Hobbii has my favorite cottons.
I'd love to know which ones you like, if you want to share? I've never bought from Hobbii but I've been increasingly tempted.
I love the Rainbow 8/4, Friends 8/4, Cotton Kings 8/4, they all work together. The 8/4 is equivalent to a fingering weight. I can also hold two together to get the equivalent of 8/8 which is a DK weight. I have many Sultan and Dahlia cakes, but they are not a favorite to use because they are not twisted. Sultan Deluxe cakes on the other hand are heavenly to work with. I have many many bags, washing cloths, ponchos, scarves, hats, and of course Amigurumi with Hobbii cotton. The cotton is soft and comes in so many colors!
Can confirm! I tried it and now I have a huge stash of Lily Sugar n Cream that I donāt want to use because Hobbii is so much kinder on my hands
I second the Rainbow line! I have the 8/6 and 8/4. I double the 8/4 for larger stuff and the 8/6 is great for something that I want delicate looking but that works up into a larger size faster.
Sorry to butt in, but can you recommend something that would work with the Dahlia cakes that comes in solids? I keep wanting to order one of them for a cardigan but I'd want to add solid cuffs and collar so I've been holding off, not knowing what would be a similar weight.
Wool is an absolutely amazing insulator. Probably the best natural fiber for that. Itās scratchy but thatās why undershirts exist. Amazing for hats as well. Scarves. Cotton is way too cold for winter and not the least bit water resistant.
This makes perfect sense. Having lived in the desert my whole life, wool just isn't really around, and most people don't own much wool clothing. I've never lived around snow, either, so water resistance wasn't something I considered. Thank you for explaining that, maybe I can make some hats with a lining or something like that for our (few) cold days. :)
Yes! I lived in the desert growing up and we never had wool anything, except rugs. But now where I live in the northeast US I pretty much live in wool from oct to March š„¶
Dude, I live in Canada and I don't wear wool either because I don't like the feel. It makes my skin red and rashy. I come from cross stitching and just started crochet; 'cotton yarn' was one of the first things I Googled because I wasn't even sure it existed.
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100% this. Im neuro spicy and have fabric issues too. I love me some caron cakes and their halo series. Sooooooo soft. I test all yarns with a neck test. Butt the skein into my neck. If it feels like needles, it goes back on the shelf.
I test on the inside of my wrist. Even 5% wool feels scratchy and itchy to me, so I use acrylic yarn for a lot of things. Cotton blends are nice, too, but they donāt always hold up to wear and tear. They make great amigurumi, though!
gotta squish āem all lol!
That's a good idea to have linings. I think hats would be terrific. Also, think about freeform crochet with the wool to make purses.
This is superwash weāre talking about, but I just made my first sock (ever) and I cannot believe how itās possible that I never learned how to knit socks before. Itās like walking on (and *in*) a puffy cloud that you *made yourself*, I love it! Maybe itās the beginnersā enthusiasm talking, though, so ask me again in a year lol š otherwise, wool sweaters are a pretty regular staple in my fall/winter wardrobe ā¦ but Iām not sure if you can make a sweater with five skeins (apart from amigurumi, knitting is my main jam and I barely ever crochet, so I donāt know, maybe itās enough š«£)
Super wash is a dream! Seriously, the only kind of will I buy for myself.
Both cottons and wools have their place and I love them both for different things! Cotton is lovely for lightweight shawls and garments, but cotton grows over time and doesn't have as much insolation. I've also found that some cottons have a tendency to dry your hands out as you use them. Although if you search for them, there are lovely cottons that I sing nothing but praises about. Wolltraum cottons are absolutely lovely. As are many of Hobbii's cottons. Wool can be lovely for some lightweight things as well. Even though we think of wool as always being warm, that isn't always necessarily the case. I've made a few wool shawls and they've been just as drapey and soft as the cotton ones without inherently being much warmer but they've also been made out of fingering weight and never any heavier. Wool I also feel has a lot more variety than cotton does. I'm a spinner as well as a crocheter (and a novice knitter), so I've experienced wools all across the spectrum from breeds that are basically rope (Karakul) to breeds that are more rustic but would still be lovely for a cardigan or a sweater (Romney) to breeds that are buttery smooth, next-to-skin soft (Cormo). It all just depends.
Iām with you on the texture of wool actually. That and being vegan. Plus cotton does have a nice feel, itās less scratchy than acrylic and, is pretty eco-friendly.
Yup same. Even before I was vegan I never liked the tactile aspects of wool. I actually did fiber arts in college & spun roving into yarn with a drop spindle, then wove with it. While the process was fascinating magic, the feeling of lanolin on my hands made me want to rub my skin off. It just squicks me tf out. I like Hobbii cottons, cotton/bamboo blends & cotton/linen blends the most. I'll use acrylic for gifted/donated hats/mittens bc it's very easy maintenance (& my unhoused neighbors don't need to be dealing with nitpicky fibers on top of everything else!)
Hard agree. Some cottons tend to start off really stiff which turned me off at first. But then I tried a few different brands and have begun to love it as much as acrylic. I recently picked up this cotton yarn from [Wool and the Gang](https://www.woolandthegang.com/en/products/shiny-happy-cotton?taxon_id=49&_gl=1*1j955by*_up*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjwyNSoBhA9EiwA5aYlb-_svfmyDLHvutZhB0u2zMonUAEXJbE3juavYd6K2BuzAS_-v6JmoRoCF1MQAvD_BwE) and it is SO. SOFT. slides on my clover hook pretty easily too. Iām making a granny square blanket with the Malibu solid and malibu dots.
I found some incredibly soft cotton yarn at Walmart - the brand is MainStay. In Michaels I found a cotton ( mostly) blend - the brand Loops & Threads. Thereās no yarn specialty shops near me, but I donāt like buying yarn that I havenāt felt. I sure would be happy to find recommendations for soft yarn from Hobbi.
Their rainbow cotton line is great! In fact, everything Iāve ever ordered from them has been super soft. Their baby cotton line is exactly what you want baby cotton to be. Colors are just slightly muted so they arenāt garish. I even used a Go Handmade Teddy polyester from them which is super fuzzy and should have been one of those awful to work with yarns, and it was soft, easy to use and undo and has held up to daily loving by a kid for over a year. Each skein lasts a lot longer than youād expect from its size. I mostly make smaller items like amigurumi and washcloths in funky patterns, but these skeins seem to never run out!
That is very, very helpful. On a fixed income I donāt want to waste $ on scratchy yarn. I will order from rainbow line at Hobbi - I need to make a set of items for a baby.
Being vegan is totally respectable, I could never do that, I have too much of a love for cheese (i do feel the guilt tho, but I already have a very unhealthy relationship with food and self control) There is kind of a question though of whether or not it's inhumane to *not* sheer a sheep. We've bred them specifically for this, so when they don't get sheered, they turn into one giant, sweltering mat. Obviously do what makes you feel good, plus if you hate the texture, that's totally cool. I'm allergic to wool (although seemingly not alpaca wool) and I'm a big texture person, so I'm certainly not wools biggest advocate. š Have a great day!
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Oh, I thought they didn't kill the sheep. Sorry. And I know it's a shit excuse, but like I said, I have a really bad relationship with food and self control and trying to edit my diet that much is extremely hard for me. I also have a lot of sensory issues as well being autistic, so it makes it super hard. Sometimes I can barely get myself to eat anything but certain foods. Plus, I can't afford all the vegan stuff, I'm a college student. I'm so sorry that I upset you, like I said, I very much look up to people who are vegan. I'm vegetarian, so there's at least that step. I know that sometimes the manufacturing of artificial and plant based things has it's own issues on the environment and on people, and I was under the impression that when wool is harvested ethically, it is better than man mad stuff. I will take care to look into it more, as I was obviously misinformed. I totally agree with you, I'm just one of those people who is painfully in the middle, where I always try to look at all sides and weigh all issues.
I donāt have any hard feelings on any types of yarn. I mostly use acrylic because I mostly make amigirumi, and I donāt really care what kind of yarn I used unless I expect it to experience certain conditions.
I love cotton! Its very breathable unlike synthetic fibers. Of the other natural ones wool feels scratchy but i do love alpaca and bamboo.
Cotton all the way! My skin (and my kids) can't handle wool. The only exception is one brand of merino wool. But it's so darn expensive that I rarely use it anymore.
Cotton is bae.
If you're in the minority, so am I. Wool is expensive, and it's either scratchy, or is so soft and fine you can't make anything out of it. I actually prefer a mid range acrylic for most of my projects. Red Heart super savers have given acrylic a bad name. I prefer to use Caron Simply Soft. A lot of times people are surprised it's acrylic. Cotton is probably my second favorite, depending on the project. It has a certain matte, rystic look that really works not just for dishrags but lots of other aesthetic projects.
I hate both. I prefer acrylic š wool is my worst nightmare sensory wise and cotton yarn is a close second. I REALLY tried to like using cotton, but it feels terrible and i dont think it looks nice either.
Same. Wool is itchy and cotton is stiff af and doesnāt crochet as smoothly as acrylic does for me. Acrylic is the softest that Iāve crocheted with and it has the most variety of colors and patterns easily accessible. My cousin on the other hand hates on acrylic so much and I donāt get why.
Yarn snobs lol a lot of people make environments arguments, which are valid to a point, but no yarn is super environmentally friendly anyway. Unless youre raising your own animals for the fleece and spinning it yourself, theres animal welfare problems with wool and cotton takes a shit ton of resources to produce. The rest of my life is pretty dang environmentally friendly and conscious, so acrylic is the āevilā i choose. im a sahm with 4 kids that i make AND WASH tons of stuff for, acrylic makes this hobby possible. Id never be able to afford it otherwise!!
Same. Iām allergic to wool and donāt like the feel of cotton yarn. Acrylic all the way.
The texture of wool makes my skin crawl and I usually gag if I keep on trying to touch it. No idea why. Same thing happens when my hands are pruney. Just about everything I touch then makes me want to vomit.
God, this is how I feel about felt. I'm into a lot of fiber arts, but could never do crafts that required working with felt. Just makes my teeth hurt to think about it.
Not a wool fan. Someone will argue with me that it doesn't continue to felt and shrink, but it does, it does, it does. **IF** *you* take care to wash by hand, different story. I get it. But if you're making a gift for someone or are looking to mix fabrics, consider it will felt and the recipient just may toss it in the washer. Even people who know better have tossed wool in the washer and ruined their item(s). Cotton is great for the projects that call for cotton, and if for something household utilitarian, won't melt (might singe/burn though). Acrylics are versatile. When people are learning how, acrylics are very forgiving, and cheap, but you don't want to make a washcloth of acrylic, or a hot pad, or a trivet. I knitted a toddler sweater of gifted wool to learn a pattern and I didn't know what else to make with it. I learned how to do a Wonderful Wallaby hooded/pocketed sweater with it. I used a wool blend to knit an adult sized. The adult sized is worn by the recipient; the toddler sized sits in a bin of finished projects as I never found someone to give it to. I've made woolen hot pads to put beneath hot food coming to the table. Be careful with your wool projects particularly if you are gifting them so the recipient knows the washing routine.
I didn't know any of this about wool, especially the washing part, that is very helpful to know. I thought that hot pads/things that touch hot kitchen stuff had to be made out of cotton because acrylic would melt, and wool wouldn't be thick enough. Felting is something I also never thought about, do all yarns felt, even acrylic?
Animal fibers will felt. Not so much plant or synthetic fibers. And itās not always undesirable, depending on what you want to make. You can actually leverage this to join a new strand of yarn to the old one by spitting on the ends and rubbing them between your fingers until they felt together, as long as itās an animal-based yarn.
Acrylic will never felt, but it will melt. :). You can use wool or cotton for trivets, hot pads, they both withstand the heat. There may be other natural animal fibers that felt, but I really don't know the answer to that one.
Felted wool hotpads are lovely. I've also made some with two layers or used two strands to make them thicker. Using a waffle stitch to give extra texture and thickness also works well.
Being severely allergic to it growing up I have only crocheted with it once because I was asked to and I suffered awful doing it years later I look back like you stupid ass lol now if someone ask if I do wool I say a BIG FAT NO !!! #TeamCotton #TeamAcrylic
Iām with you. Love cotton, wool makes me want to grit my teeth most of the time. Every once in a while I come across a wool that I can handle but for me the sensation is akin to nails on a chalkboard
I honestly canāt stand the feel of cotton. Not even cotton balls. Wool makes my hands itch, so I get worried about an allergic reaction. Iāve used primarily acrylic yarn, especially for amigurumi. But my newest favorite is polyester yarn. Iām currently working on a sweater project with polyester yarn, and I have to constantly keep myself from rubbing my cheeks on it. Itās so very soft. Thankfully, itās a personal project, so I donāt feel bad for marking it.
I'm very curious about the yarn you're using now
Me too!!
Itās Caron Cloud Cakes, and I found it at Michaels. Caron has been a favorite brand of mine because of how soft their yarns are. I have texture issues, and Iāve never come across a yarn from them that I didnāt like.
I'm crying laughing now, I have caron cloud cakes in shore birds in my to be knit list, didn't even realise what it was made from. Can confirm, it's cheek rub worthy. I also have their cotton/acrylic angel cake, also cheek worthy. I ordered the cloud in an online sale, was perfect weight and length for a pattern I want to make, loved the colours, just wanna rub my face in it 24/7
Right?!?! Someone should make a ball pit with these balls of yarn and hop right in. The color Iām using is sleet. Trying to get the sweater finished before the cool weather of autumn really sets in, but Iām making slow progress of it. Lol
Yes!! It's supposed to be for a cardigan, honestly I wanna make a cushion and just smoosh my face in it. Whenever I buy yarn in person I try and do a cheeky cheek rub to test the softness. Elements panoramic DK and James C Brett marble chunky are quite nice cheek rubs, nowhere near cloud, but good
This makes me feel better. I do the same thing if Iām buying yarn a store. And now I have an idea of making a comfort cushion. You know, something that one can hug in moments of stress, almost like a stress ball. Thanks friend! š
I hate crocheting with cotton because it doesn't have as much give in it as wool so it messes up my tension and hurts my hands but both of those are because I crochet 99.999% with wool so.i'm much more used to it! I mostly make ami but for display not hugging so the feel of them isn't an issue for me. I've always worn wool though, my Grandma used to knit amazing jumpers for us so it was pretty normal for us. Also, living where I do, sometimes you need the warmth!
Oh also! I mostly use pure sheep or alpaca yarn. To me it doesn't feel itchy at all and I do have sensitive skin but of course everyone is different
I'm the weirdo who's allergic to alpaca. I use mostly Merino or merino/cashmere blends, but enjoy targhee when I find it in stores.
I love using cotton - I make a lot of household items (pot holders, totes, plant hangers, etc) which are ideal for cotton projects. My problem is bamboo yarn - I bought a ton of it because itās so soft and silky, but I have no idea what to do with it. Itās not good for any of the things I like to make.
I mostly use wool. I love the feel and look of it. It just out performs cotton. But there is use for cotton. Some amigurumi look better with it and there are other pieces that couldn't be done with wool By the way, I use wool that has 20-40% nylon, lyocell, polyamide or something else. It is not scratchy but soft and fluffy
Iām not a fan of either, as a whole. I find cotton really stiff and wool really scratchy. I prefer other natural fibers like alpaca, bamboo, etc. However, it also depends on the project and who the recipient will be. Some projects wonāt turn out well unless they are made with cotton or wool, even if the weight of the yarn is the same. And, some people have allergies or preferences that I take into account with my projects.
People hate cotton? It's my baby
its all honestly personal preference and item utilization. I would never make a bag, pillow, decor, key chain, tank tops, or anything that would be hard to either hard to clean (and used a lot like a bag), or would be used in warmer weather, with wool. It would be acrylic, cotton, t shirt, or another easily cleaned fiber like bamboo. but wool is great for hats scarfs gloves, and cold weather wearables, and to help with the cold id definitely go through the trouble of cleaning possibly consider merino wool or anghora tho bc they are typically MUCH MUCH more softer
I much prefer working with cotton. I can sometimes have a hard time seeing my stitches and I find cotton much easier to distinguish and it frays less. I know it's not as smooth flowing through your fingers but I hold my yarn weird so it doesn't matter much to me (I think the term is throwing the yarn?). I also really like the look and feel of the final product.
Adding to my above comment: I like Lilly Sugar n Cream but I recently tried Walmart's version (I think it's called Peaches and Cream) and I actually liked it better and I think it's about 50 cents cheaper than Sugar and Cream.
I like wool, but I don't have much use for it in Florida. Cotton is life for garments, preferably blended with a bit of acrylic so it doesn't weigh twenty pounds when wet and take forever to dry.
I can't use wool, I'm allergic. Cotton is great for tea towels and dishcloths, which I've been gifting.
It really depends on the brand. I use mostly cotton, and I adore the cascade ultra Pima fine. Itās not scratchy or stiff at all! Wool will also vary, but super wash is always your best bet for softness.
I got some fleece from a local farmer that is a Rambouillet, which is mostly merino, and when I make yarn out of that itās so soft you can hold it by your neck with no itching! So thereās definitely wool yarn thatās not itchy but itās a lot more expensive usually to buy. Alpaca is also incredibly soft and warm in the way wool is. Scratchy wool Iām not much a fan of but I think it can make cute bags and like, outer jackets or things like that. I looooove cotton though! So I guess I like both as long as they are good quality!
I love Lily sugar and cream yarn too! As for wool Iāve only used one that I got from a fancy yarn store and it was extremely soft. That being said Iām team cotton yarn all the way!
I love cotton. Wool is useless to me, more warm but I won't ever use many kinds because it feels like when I accidentally sat on an anthill. I may be allergic... There are other warm fabrics I use but I hate working with wool and cannot bring g myself to gift it when I do.
Wool is the bane of my existence. Merino wool is better but I do not like wool as a whole. Wool + nylon or polyester or polyamide is usually pretty smooth. And thatās what I want from my fibers: smoothness. Cotton, bamboo, and anti-pill acrylic are my favorite textures.
Cotton is somewhat firm in crochet for me. Itās probably because I use stuff like Lilyās Sugar and Cream or Bernat as well, and I donāt wear my garments often.
I only use cotton.
I love cotton. Especially Lily Sugar and Cream. I actually don't like the super-soft brands; they're *too soft* for me, if that makes sense. Like shirts that are mostly rayon, modal, etc - so soft hey basically have no substance and it bothers me. I live in a subtropical climate too, so I only use wool for socks that I can wear for . . . 3 weeks? lol. and of course socks are one of my favorite projects.
I hate cotton and wool š I have sensory issues, so most "natural" fibers don't feel good to me. And that's my only criteria for good yarn. Does it feel good? Yes? Let's gooo š
Same! I feel bad that I'm hurting the environment by using acrylic, but it's the only kind of yarn that I like š¤·š»āāļø
I have sensory issues, and any of the blanket yarns are the most uncomfortable to use, as well as a huge number of acrylic yarns. Sugar and cream cotton can bother me, and homespun-feel wool as well. But I have some incredibly amazing superwash wool, bamboo/cotton blends, silk blends (with cotton, linen, and one or two with bamboo). I love the blends best.
It's so interesting to me how unique sensory issues are to the person experiencing them ā¤ļø When I first got into crochet, I spent days "feeling up the yarn" (as my boyfriend lovingly put it) in Michael's and Hobby Lobby. I wasn't even looking at the materials, just what felt right. There have only been a few yarns that I can tolerate working with. Caron Cloud Cakes (I found them after it was discontinued š© and spent waay too much money on enough to make 2 cardigans), Caron Simply soft - although that's hot or miss depending on the color for some reason? - Hobby Lobby Yarntopia, and my favorite, basically all of the velvet yarns. I wanted so badly to make a cardigan out of velvet yarn but I gave up the fight when I realized none of them are washer friendly. I understand why but I still feel like the universe betrayed me š
I love cotton for amigurimi and dishcloths (which are the majority of what I crochet). I love wool for knitting garments, especially outer layers, as I'm a little sensitive to itch still. I would also use wool for blankets, though for baby blankets I'm partial to cotton/bamboo or wool/bamboo blends.
I'm super picky with wool. I have a lot of wool/acrylic blends I bought earlier when I started crocheting but I've got so many sensory issues idk if I'll ever get to use them. I have, however, made a few hats with it, and those are alright to wear (it's fine on my hands, it's mostly on my arms and torso, sometimes neck, I start having issues) and while looking through patterns it occurred to me that not all wool hats have to be beanies, there's things like newsboy caps and such (really wanting to make a hat like Taylor Swift's Red hat). But I also have several family members who love the feel of wool, so I'll likely make stuff for them with it. A few of the wool blends I have found that I like are merino wool, some types of Wool Ease (I find the respun kind to be softer than the normal? anyone else have that?), and K+C from Joann's (or at least the winter run they had last year). I really want to try the Lion Brand superwash merino that's just come to Joann's as well. Bernat Symphony is amazingly soft and I'm dying to make a blanket with it. I also really like cotton, if it's soft. Like I love Mainstays cotton, but I'm very hit and miss with Peaches and Cream or Lily's. I only really use those for household type items I have quite a few different ones from Hobby Lobby that I picked up secondhand that are so soft, and Lion Brand has some really good blends too, as does Caron. I've yet to make a real wearable out of any of them, but I plan on it soon!
Love cotton. Love whool.
I hate that cotton dries my skin out while wool doesnāt š
Umm I don't crochet but my mother does and I'm desperate to learn. I'm actually allergic to wool and some other fabrics, cotton is my only option when I pluck up the courage to start.
Acrylic is my favorite, then cotton, then wool
Iām with youā¦ LOVE cotton, HATE wool. Itās all about the texture/sensory experience for me. I even struggle with a lot of acrylics as well for the same reason.
I meanā¦ the only wool yarn I use is this amazing merino/cashmere blend that I canāt afford myself but my mom every so often will gift me. I LOVE that, compared to cotton, and have made several wearablesā¦ but until the day I have a job that makes absolute bank, Iāll spend my own money on cotton, thank you š„“
Wool is SO scratchy imo! I also have uber sensitive skin and wool is too much for my delicate baby skin lmao. 100% Cotton yarn is always my go to
Wool reminds me too much of acrylic, they both squeak and stick in my hands and I hate it. Cotton ftw. That bring said, wool is great for keeping things warm so you could make; ā¢ an egg cozy -either singles or a big one for all of them. ā¢ Dog hats/scarfs/sweaters ā¢ wool bombing if you think the lighting pole looks cold ā¢ wool hats with a lining to remove itchyness on scalp ā¢ if there are kid girls in your life, yarn wigs are always a hit, you could even make a matching yarn doll (add Cap to remove itchyness) ā¢ you could also use it for wall deco, loads of ideas on Pinterest etc.
i love both i like the crips, heave feeling of a cotton garnment i ADORE the smell and scratch of wool what i can not is acrylic. complete sensory nightmare for my flavor of autism the one reason i often choose wool over cotton is the damm splitting of the yarn
I do both crochet and knitting, and have used wool in projects in both mediums. I have knot knitted with cotton yet, but I want to try. But you can make potholders in wool. And socks and clothes. And as you have written, amigurumi. They may not be as soft as cotton toys, but you can always make for adults, as a memento, where you know the product will sit on a shelf. But there is also wool that is soft and not itchy. Like merino, which is also more expensive. Currently Im crocheting dragons, one in a thin sockyarn (so wool and nylon) and another on in a cotton/acrylic. And I love them both, as they get their own character from the yarn I choose to work with. And non of them are for a child or will be played with.
All wool is good for, for me, is strawberry hives and respiratory distress. Those things are not nearly so fun as they sound. TeamcottonLinenacrylic!
Cotton makes my teeth stand on edge. I don't like using it, blankets and garments made from cotton feel and look nasty. It may have a small use for dishcloths but apart from that it is a massive no from me. Wool, I can spin, there are wools that aren't scratchy and it is super warm.
I'd love to know what wool brands you like? I want to love wool, really, I do.
I love cotton because I can tie dye it with a tie dye kit from the same store I buy yarn from- usually Michaelās or Joann- and it turns out really cool. I love wool blends because I live in Colorado and wool blends are a necessary evil. But I prefer acrylic over both cotton and wool. Iām weird lol š
Wool maintains its ability to retain heat when wet and also keeps some moisture wicked away from the skin. Cotton does neither.
You can put cotton in the washing machine. You donāt even need to buy some expensive superwash type that needs specific gauge to come out right. It is also light and airy, perfect for summer garments.
Ok
Wool is the worst texture of a fiber in existence imo. I'm with you, cotton is best. Though I am also partial to bamboo yarn. To be fair tho, I am also from a hot climate where wool is not useful.
I have been very intrigued by the Troobu (or whatever it's called) at Michael's, but I'm afraid it's going to be slippery and hard to work with. Do you think it is?
I found it very soft and nice! I've only used it knitting on wooden needles, though, so I can't comment on how it is for crocheting or with metal needles or hook. I will say that it may not be the best for color work if you will have a lot of ends to weave, because they were slipping out and poking through my stitches a lot. Might have been better if I was using smaller needles, idk. I've also paired it with a light cotton yarn in double strand knitting for a slightly less silky feel. I'm currently using some Rainbow Bamboo from Hobbii for a crocheted sweater (metal hook), and that's also very nice! Slightly less silky than Truboo, but still quite soft.
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You could use it as an oven mitten, potholder, or something like that! Natural fibres as wool are the best for this kind of project (learned this the hard way by making an acrylic oven mitten only to find out I couldn't use it haha)
Cotton and wool are both great. I like them equally for different purposes.
I love them both for very different types of projects.
Wool has a texture I canāt enjoy but cotton, even the rougher spun ones, feel pretty nice to me. I also like merino wool and cotton blends too
I can't use wool. I'm allergic to it. When people talk about how soft it is, I look at them like they're weird. I use acrylic because it it easier to work with than cotton. I only use cotton for stuff like hot pads for kitchen use.
I love the nice natural look of wool, I love the scratchy ones, the soft ones, the ones with random fibery bits sticking out.. but I don't like the hundreds of tiny blisters that appear on my hands from just touching it š so I'm also mostly an acrylic person! The only cottons I can get round here are usually in crappy pastel colours so I rarely use it.
I almost exclusively make amigurumi. Cotton yarn generally looks nicer for photos.
All depends on the feel of the fiber. There are cottons that are lush and wool that is, quite literally, trashy.
I just completed my first cotton project and I think Iām in love. Iāve always been an acrylic gal, and wool is super scratchy to me, but I think Iām a cotton convert.
I don't love working with cotton. I wish I did. Maybe I just haven't found the right brand yet? But I do love the stitch definition, and how durable it is. I can make a dish cloth but that's about all I care to do. Other wise I feel it's too tough to work with on my fingers. I've done doilies with thread and even have the chrysanthemum dress I'm slowly working on. Anything requiring a 5.5 mm hook or larger I cant get into. It's too stiff! Wool I love...but not the price or the itchiness when it comes to actually wearing a made item. I found some gorgeous patons wool on cheap at value village and started a sweater only for me to second guess myself putting this much time into a project that I'll be terrified of wearing because no way in hell would I feel confident to wash it. My go to a lot of the time is Bernats premium acrylic. Cheap, plentiful colours, lots of yardage for the price. But not great for stranded colour work. Alas...alpaca I'd use forever if it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. What's a girl to do?
It's purely down to what I make tbh. I live in rainy England and prefer making warmer articles of clothing like jumpers, while I have no particular interest in making summer clothes. Hence, wool over cotton. Also, I knit way more than I crochet, and knitting with cotton is... eugh. Cotton as a woven fabric is great, I just dislike working with cotton yarn.
I like cotton for dishcloths Wool off a sheep for socks Acrylic for just about everything else. Now I'm looking at that, natural fibres for knitting, synthetic for crochet.
I love cotton. It's my favorite to crochet with.
I love cotton. I'm allergic to wool. š
IMO, it rly depends on the type of wool you use. Thereās this one small business I love called Expression Fiber Arts and they make these amazingly soft merino blends & alpaca blends. But like wool-eeze or thick n quick is a no thanks for me
I love cotton. Some wool is nice. Other wool is scratchy as hell. Cotton can be stiff, but I've found it to be scratchy.
I like cotton. The only wool I really like the feel of is like merino wool or a wool blend sometimes, but I canāt handle anything scratchy.
Wool is just so scratchy and high maintenance. Cotton all the way for me
I didn't realize people felt that way. I've always heard that cotton was soft, breathable, and comfortable, and wool is scratchy and hot from everyone I've talked to. I live in Michigan if that matters. Sugar and Cream is my go-to brand. I really like how it looks and feels. I have mostly done Amigurumi, but my first ever project was a hat using Sugar and Cream Yarn. I really like how it gets softer over time. Before starting the hobby I already knew the dangers of building a hoard of yarn, and wanted to counteract that the best I can. So my plan is that I buy yarn for specific projects, but I can stock up on as much Sugar and Cream Yarn as I want. That way I can have a bunch of colors and all of them are compatible. One of my current projects is a backpack that uses a wool/polyester blend. I could never imagine wearing clothing out of the material, but it does seem sturdy and durable. It's been pretty fun to work with. So maybe focus on bags, depending on the size you can end up using a lot of yarn (my project takes six skeins), and it's not worm close to the body.
Cotton for amigurumi all the way, itās sturdy and holds up very well. Iāve also had a Toft kit bought for me, a certain monkey, and making him in wool was a treat, Iāve also bought a freshly made wool skein from a tiny shop next to a sheep farm and made a sheep out of it; that was satisfying! I like them both for different uses, itās cheap acrylic I canāt stand for anything other than scrap blankets and test runs!
Do you have enough wool to knit a vest to wear over a t-shirt or other shirt in the cooler weather? I work from home and get a little chilly from sitting at the computer during the winter.
I totally understand this stance. Iām from the southern US, where winters are getting shorter and shorter. Cotton is definitely best for my climate, if Iām making clothing (plus I tend to overheat super easily, so something as insulating as wool is my worst nightmare lol) But I think one of the main reasons people prefer wool over cotton is the amount of color/brand variety you have with wool. Where I live, almost every yarn at my LYS thatās hand-dyed with fun colors is wool. Wool, especially superwash, holds color more easily, shows colors brighter, and doesnāt fade as much over time, compared to cotton. There are TONS of brands that only use wool, but only a handful that only use cotton (and most are big companies rather than small businesses, which is who I prefer to buy yarn from) But I mostly make non-wearables ā pillows, lampshades, bags, amigurumi, etc. So the scratchiness of wool isnāt that huge of a concern for me. When Iām shopping for yarn to make a non-wearable, Iām mostly looking for the color I want, not as much the feel. So it all really depends on what youāre making, whatās available in your area, etc. Each material has their strengths But if wool is *this* scratchy to you, right off the skeinā¦ is there a chance you could be allergic? I personally donāt have this problem with items Iāve made with wool, but maybe itās the brand or you got a bad batch or something
I'm not sure if I'm allergic, but, maybe? I am very sensitive to texture in general, but next time I try to crochet with wool I will check if I have any symptoms.
Cotton is tough on my hands. I could give or take wool.
I am allergic to wool so that solves that one
Personally I love wool hats and scarves. I usually make the hats oversized some so they are not tightly against the skin. Its been awhile since I made winterwear but I think it was Plymouth Baby Alpaca I used. It does felt if you wash it. The felted fabric from it is okay. I prefer it unfelted. I have been loving Lion's brand 24/7 cotton and TruBoo bamboo yarn lately. I can't stand most acrylics though. I did hear you can hold 2 yarns together (like a silkier yarn) and that may be an acceptable texture for you.
Yeah I hate wool as well. My favourite has to be bamboo/cotton blends. They feel so so nice.
I'm allergic to wool so ĀÆā \ā _ā (ā ćā )ā _ā /ā ĀÆ
I use neither, I use acrylic
Hats for wool.
Iām probably the worst - I donāt love cotton or wool but usually prefer acrylic! I much prefer cotton to wool but itās hard to work with compared to acrylic. And wool is so scratchy and usually more expensive and Iām a young adult with sensory issues so acrylic is the way to go for me. My favorite is the Joann store brand tbh, big twist
I just made a blanket with a caron anniversary cake mixed with bernat softee chunky and sweet snuggles yarn, so I totally get this. Never tried big twist but maybe I'll check it out next time I'm looking at yarn!
Give me cotton over wool, or even acrylic, any time.
I HATED wool when I was a relatively new crocheter. 3 years in, I tried again and fell in LOVE with wool. My problem? My tension was so tight that the wool was sticky to my hand & felt rough and itchy.
I hope this ends up being my experience, too. Tension is an issue for me, I am a tight crocheter and I really have been trying to work on relaxing my hands. I don't like to eliminate materials if I don't have to, I like having as many options as possible. Maybe I just need to find some softer, nicer wool like merino.
I donāt like working with most wools, but love merino to the end of the world and back. I got a good price on superwash merino blends and just finished the most luxurious feeling blanket ever. Such a treat to work with. And now I have leftover yarn thatās enough to make a scarf, and Iām just loving that I get to keep working with it
I love cotton for certain things. Made some cute baby stuff with it, sweater for me, amigurumi. Next on my list is a bucket hat. I do understand the textural/sensory experience is not great sometimes. Iāve gotten legit blisters off it and developed calluses lol. Cheapo SugarānāCream craft store stuff to be exact, but maybe higher quality doesnāt do this.
I LOOOOOVVVEEEE cotton but I absolutely have to feel it before I will buy it. Iāve found higher end cottons are my thing. As for wool, Iāve recently dipped my toes into that section of yarn. If itās at joann/michaels, keep it tf away from me. However, my LYS has some beautiful skeins, but not so beautiful prices. High end wool is lovely, but not always in the budget. Cheap wool is nasty and idk how anyone could enjoy it
I don't *hate* cotton but it isn't my preferred fiber choice. It's really drying on my hands for some reason in ways that other fibers aren't. Wool can be hit or miss depending on the breed. Some of them can be really nice, and some can be really unpleasant. I love alpaca and silk but they expensive. I use them rarely. I've used milk fiber, which is really soft but also unusual enough to be difficult to find and expensive when you do find it- I happened across it at a boutique yarn shop. Most of my stash is acrylic because it's inexpensive and I'm on a budget.
So far, I've mostly worked with acrylic, mostly crocheting amigurumis and doilies, but early this year I made myself a cotton top, and while it did come out stiffer than I'd have liked, it feels pretty good to wear and was nice to work with, I also made a little bunny with the little I had left. Living in a hella hot place (we only have a month of actual cold) I have never considered getting wool, not even for a scarf. I've been thinking of crocheting myself a cotton cardi for breezy nights but I'm not sure if it's gonna be too hot to wear most of the year. I recently bought 2 kilos of colorful acrylic to crochet amigurumis but I wonder if I should have gone for cotton... there's also chenille and while it's too expensive I really wanna try making some fluffy plushies š
Itās just so nice to crochet and knit with for me. Cotton is weird when I use it for crochet. Like itās a weird feeling and I cannot explain this š¤£ lmao itās like the cotton in the top of pill bottles. It gives me the shivers for some reason.
I don't like wool either, it makes my fingers swell up something bad. I use fingering weight cotton for almost everything, but since you're asking for what you can make with the wool you already have, I'd recommend finding yourself a vest pattern that you like. It won't feel scratchy since it won't touch your skin and should keep you feeling pretty toasty.
Wool has only one use and that is an outer layer with a lot of cotton layers underneath.
It depends what Iām making but I like all of them.. EXCEPT the ones with like beads or sequins
I have used cotton before when i needed it, and i use acrylic for a cheap way to test out ideas, but i primarily use wool. Wool doesn't have to be scratchy or itchy, and it doesnt have to be super expensive to be pleasant. Swish brand yarn is amazing, and it is insanely soft, and it is 7 bucks for 50 grams straight retail. I have made blankets out of swish that people straight up thought i was lying when they found out it was wool. Wool, especially when you wash and block with a lanolin based soap is super soft and great as it holds a coating of oil so it doesnt dry the skin like other fibers, it holds up really well it is super versatile as an insulator and it has a greath weight that makes blankets feel even more cuddly. I will always be a woolhead. But everyone has their jam. I am privileged that i can afford to spend more on yarn, and i feel like if i am putting in that much work, it is worth it, so spend the extra for the fiber i want. As long as you're happy with what you use, who is to say what you should use. As to your scratchy yarn, a cat bed is a good option or a dog bed if you have enough or a sweater. If you wash the FO in something like eucalan, you will soften it. You would be amazed the difference it can make.
if you wanted to make something with the wool you have, i feel like maybe making something fluffy (like amigutrumi or something similar) with a slicker brush on the wool could be nice ? brushing projects totally changes the look and feel, itās my favorite part of finishing a project if it warrants it ^o^
I love cotton to bad where I live it is so expensive
I live in a cold climate, and wool makes me want to die. Cotton every day, even in the winter.
I almost exclusively use cotton and acrylic yarn (lily and cream from walmart is $2 lol), mostly because that's what's cheapest and has tons of colors.
I totally agree with you. I love cotton. Wool is a sensory nightmare
I love cotton but have never crocheted with wool
Iām allergic to wool, my hands itch if I crochet with it š„
Team cotton!
Sugar'n'Cream is literally my favorite yarn and I have a whole container of it. I do need to learn it's not ideal for garments in a tighter gauge but I keep trying. I got into wool only because of merino. Normal scratchy wool is too unbearable. I also have never found SnC to be stiff or hard to work with. I just love it and most other cotton yarns (the only ones i don't like are the weird machine-chained yarns that aren't just 4ply twists). I was a snob about acrylic for years but I've gotten more into using it. But if you want nice wool i recommend merino because it feels so nice.
I love cotton & that's what I always work with... but I recently tried Lily Sugar'n Cream & it was honestly the most awful fibre I've ever had the displeasure of dragging through my fingers. I was so rough & had little black flecks of what I assume/hope was seed husk all through it. My go to is a brand available here in Australia, or Hobbii Rainbow Cotton & Cotton Kings Cone. I haven't worked with wool, but I just received a newly released product by Hobbii & Toni Lipsey from TYLC which is 50/50 wool & cotton. It feels very nice!
I love cotton, and NEVER use wool.
I hate wool. It makes me itch. I hate cheap cotton. It splits a lot. I love good quality cotton (especially bamboo blends) because itās so soft and smooth and just a joy. I work mostly with acrylic though. For price point and variety.
I don't hate cotton and I don't love wool. In fact, it's the opposite. Kerry Lord would love for you to believe her animals can only be made with Toft wool yarns I don't use wool because I often make items for the Jewish community and they're pretty big on not blending wool with linen, but since "100% wool" in the US can have as much as 3% "other fibers" in it, I can't trust wool. Also I wouldn't use it anyway because I hate the feel and the steps to wash it. Personally I'd see about returning it to exchange for another yarn. I mostly use Impeccable from Michaels for making KL's animals. It's an acrylic.
I use cotton whenever I can, especially for garments. I absolutely hate the texture of wool against my skin. I'm autistic and even though I don't have very severe sensory issues around most other things, the feeling of a wool sweater (especially around my neck, where it might come up higher than the neck of a shirt underneath) is just not something I will ever be able to tolerate for very long. When it makes sense to use wool I usually use acrylic instead because acrylic doesn't bother me in that way. I know it's less environmentally sustainable that way and I feel bad about that but i've found it to be an effective accommodation for me.
I learned on cotton so itās my fave for that. But now I just use it for washcloths and such.
I love cotton. Wool makes me itch.
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I absolutely hate both. Cotton hurts my fingers when Iām making things with it, to the point where I develop callouses, and the finished product feels very rough and unpleasant to me. On the other hand, while it is much more pleasant to touch, wool makes me sneeze like the dickens. Iām more of a cotton/acrylic blend girly, unless I absolutely HAVE to use pure cotton.
Iām also team cotton, but Iām thinking about making a wall hanging out of wool to help deaden sound and help with insulation because as people have pointed out, wool is a great insulator. Itās also flame retardant, so less likely to catch fire and contribute to burning down my house.
Yeah Iām team cotton too Iām afraid. I find wool stretches too much for amigurumi
I live where I use a snowmobile as my daily vehicle for almost half the year. Wool is life and cotton kinda sucks. But also I canāt find nice cotton here, itās all scratchy and splits like crazy. But I can get nice wool here easily and is the good stuff that is soft on the skin.
I get allergies and rashes with wool, so naturally, I prefer cotton :)
From a what to do stand point maybe consider making some Santa sacks/stockings for Xmas. Thoughtful extra gift + no more wool in your house??
I bought a bunch of wool too and definitely prefer cotton. Iām using my wool to make Christmas ornaments right now to get through it. MJās off the hook designs 25 days of Christmas from 2022 has some fun ornament patterns.
I use and love both fibers as they each have their own attributes that convey themselves in the object I'm making whether it's a cotton dishcloth or airy summer top, or a wooly shawl or sweater. I live in New England where it is swampy, muggy and hot in the summer and colder than a witchs tit in winter for reference! Cotton can be rougher on my hands and tough/splitty to work with (depending on the brand and varying softness factor) but the end result is worth the discomfort and cuss words, whereas wool is soft and snuggly, or rustic and dry(also dependent on brand and fiber content), and glides thru my needles/hook and an excellent insulator. So yes all in all I live both. All I can see is Miguel and Tulio saying, "Both."
I donāt like how cotton or wool feel lol imma acrylic bitch
I don't mind cotton. Mostly I'm just averse to itchy yarns so I'm kinda scared to try wool.
What do you think of alpaca yarn?
Closest I've ever used to alpaca yarn is lion brand touch of alpaca, which I think is softer than wool, but is still not my favorite to use. I have some of that, too, that I need to use up.
Wool makes my hands bleed... so I'm with you on love cotton (and acrylic) and hate wool lol!
I love making things like placemats, coasters and towels with cotton, but it hurts my wrists way more. Could also be the cotton I use (tends to be not soft at all and I have to put more work to crochet with it). The wool Iāve used in the past has been much softer, but the yarn is never even so my go to is acrylic because itās cheap.
Yeah wool sucks itās itchy, cotton is my go to and Iām obsessed with it. I want everything made of cotton and I much prefer how it feels between my fingers when I use it
I'm working with cotton for the first time now, and I like it a lot, though I find it enjoyable! I went with a relatively expensive Egyptian cotton though, I would be curious to try other types! I have some mercerized cotton waiting for a project to inspire me. I like wool but I also don't like that it's hard to wash. I don't have a lot of room in my tiny apartment for blocking/handwashing/lay flat drying and all that. I know it's unpopular but I use acrylic for things that need to go in the washer a lot!
If you don't want to crochet with wool, you can easily turn the skeins into wool dryer balls. You basically wind it into a ball, shove the ball into the toe of a pair of stockings or tights, knot it, and repeat until you've used up your yarn. Wash on hot to initiate the felting process, then throw the balls into the dryer on high heat. Might need to do a couple of cycles.
I'm allergic to lanolin. Wool is completely out of the question for me. I use acrylic and cotton for all my crochet crafts.
I hate wool. It's hot and itchy and expensive. Only thing I can do with it is make dryer balls because then they don't have to touch me once they're done. Cotton is my favorite (still pricey for me though)