All about wool yarn and its uses

Products made of woolen yarn can now be found in almost every wardrobe. Due to the properties of the starting material, they become simply irreplaceable in cold weather. Learning all about wool yarn and how exactly it can be used is very easy. A huge array of information is devoted to this topic. This is due to the popularity of both the threads themselves and the products made from them.

At the moment, woolen threads are widely used both in production and by private craftsmen, who create a lot of necessary and functional things and accessories from them. Naturally, the quality of such products directly depends on the correct choice of yarn in each specific situation.

First of all, it is important to note that the properties of the yarn are determined by what kind (which animal) wool is included in its composition. However, there are also common points.

• Naturalness, due to the fact that the wool is very similar (in terms of structure) to human hair. It is this factor that ensures maximum comfort in contact with the corresponding products.
• Increased resistance to creasing. Things from the described type of yarn owe this characteristic to sufficiently elastic fibers.
• The ability to keep warm well.
• Hygroscopicity. It is no secret that wool is relatively poorly wet and, at the same time, has the ability to remove moisture from the human body.
• Not a bad durability of things against the background of the fact that they stretch easily.

However, it is worth focusing on the most significant negative points. So, the obvious disadvantages of woolen yarn include:

• low resistance to abrasion, which is the reason for the formation of pellets;
• stinging, which becomes a source of problems, especially for people with sensitive skin and children;
• the possibility of allergic reactions in case of individual intolerance;
• significant loss of strength when wet;
• the obligation of delicate use of things and proper care.

Now a wide range of products from domestic and foreign manufacturers is on sale. However, all commercially available woolen yarn can be divided into two categories. This is a pure natural product and the addition of fibers from a different origin. For example, very often, acrylic is present in the composition of the yarn, which effectively increases its elasticity and strength.

Sheep wool can be called one of the most widespread. It is found both in pure form and with additives. Sheep wool is divided into several types, taking into account the thickness and degree of softness. So, there are the following options.

• Merino. Wool, the main distinguishing feature of which is maximum softness. That is why the yarn from it will be ideal for making children's clothing. The main disadvantage is the rather high price of threads.
• Semi-thin (medium). This is wool of meat-wool breeds of sheep, which is noticeably rougher than merino wool.
• Poyarkovaya. The finest lamb wool up to 7 months old.

Camel's wool is an inexpensive yet relatively unpopular type of yarn material disclosed. The low demand for it is due to a more than modest palette limited to dark shades. The thing is that the wool cannot be bleached, it cannot be given the required color. But, despite such shortcomings, it is she who is chosen for the manufacture of truly high-quality and at the same time the warmest things. The list of the main features here is worth adding:

• low weight (lighter than sheep wool by almost half);
• increased hygroscopicity;
• lack of electrification;
• resistance to pollution;
• medicinal properties.

This substance has a positive effect on the human musculoskeletal system. A significant disadvantage of camel wool yarn is that it creates a tingling effect.

The next variety is alpaca wool, which today is the highest quality and at the same time expensive. The key characteristics of this wool yarn are softness and low thread thickness. In addition, it is shiny, almost like silk. Another important feature is the absence of grease, which gives the material good resistance to contamination. Taking into account the characteristics of this type of yarn, it is worth highlighting its following obvious advantages:

• much warmer than other varieties (7 times superior to sheep);
• soft enough;
• does not get dirty for a long time;
• maximally resistant to creasing;
• there are no pellets on it;
• resistance to moisture (practically waterproof);
• does not provoke allergic reactions.

Another widely used type is mohair, which is made from wool of angora goats. Animals of this breed are bred only in South Africa, Texas and Turkey. In the context of the clear advantages, it should be noted that this yarn:

• soft;
• strong;
• shiny;
• easy to clean;
• allows you to make light and warm clothes.

Angora or Angora is a woolen yarn, the raw material for which is rabbit fluff.But it is important to take into account that its content does not exceed 20 percent, since otherwise the threads cannot be used for knitting. Often, rabbit fluff becomes an additional component for merino wool yarns. Key benefits of angora:

• softness;
• minimum thread thickness;
• ease;
• ability to keep warm well.

The list of the most significant drawbacks will be the relatively low strength and certain difficulties associated with knitting (due to the presence of fluff).

Another popular type of natural wool is cashmere. In this case, we are talking about using the thin and thick down of Tibetan goats. Taking into account the softness of the starting material, which is insufficient to hold the shape, about 30% of the specified fluff is added to the yarn. But it should be borne in mind that such threads are one of the most expensive. The main advantages of cashmere are as follows.

• Softness.
• Good thermal insulation. The key point is that these goats live in difficult conditions with significant seasonal temperature fluctuations (from -40 degrees in winter to +50 in summer).
• Ease of use for knitting and aesthetics of products.

The disadvantages in this situation include the need for proper care, quick wear and tear, as well as the cost of yarn.

As already noted, pure, that is, 100% wool yarn for knitting is characterized by hygroscopicity, good thermal insulation, and elasticity. However, the owners of such things often have to deal with the problem of the so-called spools. Combining natural and synthetic fibers allows you to neutralize such troubles.

By itself, the concept of "semi-wool" is quite capacious. Since the middle of the 19th century in England, the term Semiwool (literal translation - "semi-wool") has been applied to yarn, which contains additional components, even in minimal quantities.

This type of yarn can be called the "golden mean" between strong, but at the same time quite cold acrylic and warm woolen thread. As a result, we are talking about a material with good wear resistance and all the advantages of wool, with the difference that it pricks much less. At the same time, for many needlewomen and housewives, the determining factor is the cost of semi-wool, which is often several times lower than the price of 100% material.

Among other things, it is worth noting that high-quality semi-wool is springy when pulled and does not break. The fabric made from such yarns has the following advantages:

• a light weight;
• increased wear resistance;
• smoothness;
• good thermal protection;
• ease of maintenance.

Thanks to the indisputable advantages, semi-woolen yarn has found more than widespread use. Today it is used for the production of outerwear, sweaters, dresses and many other wardrobe items. Of course, there were some drawbacks. First, synthetic fibers are clearly inferior to pure wool in terms of hygroscopicity. Secondly, they can become electrified, which is why things sometimes have to be processed with special means.

At the moment, many manufacturers offer more than a wide range of their products on the market. At the same time, some needlewomen prefer Peruvian or Argentine yarn. However, according to current statistics and numerous reviews, threads of the Turkish brand Alize... This company specializes in the production of wool yarn with the addition of acrylic fibers. At the same time, the manufacturer offers a potential consumer a wide color palette, including about 70 shades.In the Alize catalog you can find skeins of different sizes.

Among manufacturers of thick and all-natural yarns, as well as options with the addition of viscose, polyester and acrylic, the leaders in the ratings are:

• Yarn Art;
• Madame Tricote Paris;
• Gazzal;
• Hoooked.

Naturally, the market also offers domestic products. And we are talking about such popular brands as:

• "Serpentine";
• Troitskaya;
• "Ribbon";
• "Pekhorka";
• Semenovskaya.

One of the clear advantages of the listed samples of woolen yarn, according to needlewomen, is the large length of threads in skeins. In addition to all the manufacturers listed, it is worth adding to the list and "Kamtex"... This company offers over 3 dozen high quality yarn colors.

First of all, when purchasing woolen yarn, it is worth examining the label, which displays the following important information.

• The composition of the threads. It is important to remember that each type in this case has a specific marking.
• Length and weight of the skein. These parameters will help you calculate the required number of skeins.
• Color and batch number that will be needed if you have to buy additional threads. Without these data, when creating a product, you can not guess with the color. It is important to understand that one color can have many shades. For example, you should be especially careful with red, blue, yellow, white, green colors.
• Tool type and sizeused for knitting, that is, knitting needles and crochet hooks.

As already indicated, now there are many types of the described material. Based on this variety, when choosing, it is strongly recommended to consider the pros and cons of each of them. Another important point when buying threads is checking the naturalness of the wool.

In practice, it is quite easy to determine the presence of synthetic additives. You need to take a small piece of thread and set it on fire. If, as a result, the yarn turns into ash, which turns out to be crushed into dust, and your fingers smell like burnt hair, then you can be sure that this is a natural material. The presence of artificial fibers in the composition will be indicated by the formation of a dense polymer lump.

Taking into account all its characteristics, wool yarn is one of the best materials for knitting today. It is widely used to create multicolored patterns with a smooth and embossed structure. Warm things of various models are made from it, the list of which includes:

• coat;
• sweaters,
• pullovers and jumpers;
• cardigans;
• hats;
• mittens;
• socks.

By the way, many housewives and needlewomen find use even for the remnants of woolen threads. A huge number of useful things can be connected from them. In this case, we are talking about such accessories as potholders, covers and coasters for hot mugs, as well as rugs and seats for stools and chairs. Original leggings, scarves and snoods, headbands and hats are made of woolen threads, which look like real masterpieces.