Which types of wool are there?
Find the right yarn for knitting and crocheting
Yarns are made of animal, vegetable or artificial fibers. The best known animal fiber is sheep's wool, closely followed by goat's wool, rabbit or camel.
If the hair comes directly from the living animal, it is said to be purer virgin wool. Reißwolle on the other hand, it consists exclusively of processed residues. Popular wools such as merino wool, alpaca wool, angora wool, mohair wool and cashmere have an insulating property. They warm in winter and have heat in the summer. Silk is also one of the animal fibers, as it is extracted from the cocoon of a caterpillar. However, it does not have an insulating effect and is therefore more suitable for airy, summery fashion.
Among the vegetable fibers, cotton has made a name for itself. In addition to linen and hemp, viscose is also one of the vegetable yarns. It is made of wood pulp and is therefore also a vegan wool. In contrast to animal, vegetable yarns have a smooth, usually shiny surface. Knitted pieces of vegetable yarn are not very elastic and can stretch after some time.
Finally, there are artificial fibers such as polyester, nylon or polyacrylic. Although they are cheaper and easier to care for than natural yarns, they have no insulating effect and absorb excess moisture worse.
Artificial fibers are often combined with natural fibers to produce low-cost yarns with good properties. The pure animal and vegetable fibers are often still processed. For example, cotton is restored to its original shine by treatment with caustic soda.
Yarns are one or more threads and are spun differently. By putting small nodules on, silk becomes too Bouretteseide, Filzwolle gets its final structure with a final wash. If different colored fibers are combined, the so-called Melangegarn.
The strength of the yarn depends on the thickness of the individual threads. The wool of younger animals is finer and thinner than that of the older and is also known as baby yarn. For beginners, thicker wool is best because it is easier to work with and gives you a better overview of the (large) stitches.
On the banderole of the wool you will find all the important information about needle size, mesh size, composition, color number and part as well as weight, run length and finally the proper care of the yarn. So you can quickly determine if the yarn is suitable for your project.
Sock wool or beanie wool with its special composition is ideal for first knitting tests. Advanced users can dare to knit elaborate patterns and use special fibers such as lace yarn.
Also for crocheting there are special crochet yarns that can be easily processed.
If you prefer felting, the yarn should be 100 percent virgin wool, or at least a higher proportion of animal fiber.
At specialty retailers such as Lana Grossa or Junghans Wolle, you will find a wide selection of yarn models and information. Also in numerous online shops there are knitting instructions and tips to buy the right wool equal to it.
