My Favorite Yarn: What Makes Cotton So Interesting for me

Quite a few years ago, I completed an apprenticeship as a Fashion Sales Consultant.
During my training, I learned a lot about the different fabrics and materials used in clothing, and that's when I first discovered my love for cotton. There was just something about it that I really liked. Ever since then, it has remained my absolute favourite. Of course, over the years I have worked with and explored many other materials, both in my professional life and through my crochet projects, but somehow I always find myself coming back to cotton.

Where Does Cotton Come From, and How Is It Processed?
Cotton is a natural fibre that comes from the cotton plant. The plant itself grows as a small shrub and loves warm temperatures and plenty of water. Because of this, cotton is mainly grown in warmer parts of the world, including countries such as India, Pakistan, China, Brazil, several African countries, and the United States. However, you can also find cotton fields a little closer to home, as cotton is grown in parts of Europe too, particularly in Spain and Greece.

The soft cotton fibres grow around the seeds of the cotton plant. This allows the plant to spread very easily, as the wind can carry the fluffy fibres and seeds over long distances. Because the seeds are quite sticky and attached to the fibres, it can be a little difficult to separate them, which is a necessary step before the cotton can be processed any further. In industrial production, this is done using rollers in a process known as ginning.

After the sticky seeds have been removed, the fibres are getting cleaned, combed, and processed into a sliver or roving at the spinning mill. After this, it is spun into yarn and dyed. Cotton can be dyed at various stages of the production process. The fibres may be dyed before spinning, or the finished yarn can be coloured later, depending on the desired result.

The Advantages of Cotton Yarn
Cotton yarn is naturally considered hypoallergenic and is great for sensitive skin. Of course, the dyes used can sometimes make a difference, but personally, I have never had any problems with cotton yarn, and I'm usually very sensitive to these kinds of things.

Cotton is soft and very breathable. This makes it especially comfortable to wear when the weather is warm, as it does not trap heat in the same way some other yarns do.

I also find cotton to be more affordable than wool. As someone who goes through a lot of yarn, especially when designing new projects, that is definitely something I appreciate.

Another advantage is that cotton is very easy to care for. It can usually be washed and dried without any issues and tends to hold its colour very well. That said, this can also depend somewhat on the quality of the yarn.
Depending on the project, cotton can also hold its shape very well. It is also resistant to pilling and generally very durable.
Cotton is perfect for decorations, lightweight summer tops and T-shirts, home decor items, potholders, coasters, blankets, and so much more.

I really like to knit or crochet with cotton. The yarn glides comfortably through my fingers, which helps me maintain an even tension, and it can usually be frogged without much trouble if I make a mistake or decide to reuse the yarn. This is a huge advantage, especially if, like me, you spend a lot of time designing and occasionally need to experiment with different ideas.

The Disadvantages of Cotton Yarn
In my opinion, cotton is not always the most environmentally friendly fibre. Depending on where and how it is grown, it can require large amounts of water, which is something worth keeping in mind.

Cotton also has very little elasticity, which can sometimes make it a little more difficult to maintain an even tension while crocheting or knitting when switching to cotton yarn for the first time. Cotton simply doesn't bounce back the way wool does.

Cotton also does not always hold its shape as well as wool. A wool jumper would spring back into shape after being stretched, whereas cotton is more prone to staying stretched.

Another downside is that cotton tends to be a bit stiffer, especially in thicker yarns, which can be a downside for some projects but not all.
If you knit a jumper using an Aran-weight cotton yarn, for example, it will often be less soft and drapey than a similar jumper made from wool and can feel considerably heavier. With lightweight summer tops made from finer cotton yarns, however, this is usually much less noticeable.

While cotton is very durable, it can show signs of wear more quickly in high-friction areas than some specialised wool blends. For example, if you knit socks from cotton, you will often notice that the soles wear down more quickly.

Another disadvantage is that cotton absorbs a lot of water. This means that finished projects can take considerably longer to dry after washing.

Despite a few drawbacks, cotton remains my yarn of choice. It feels wonderful to work with, is incredibly versatile, and I know I can rely on it for almost any project. That's why you'll continue to find most of my designs made with cotton in the future as well.

Mercerised Cotton:
Mercerised cotton is then treated with a strong sodium hydroxide solution while the yarn is held under tension. This process causes the fibres to swell and become smoother, giving the yarn the shiny finish that everyone who has worked with mercerised cotton knows.

Mercerised cotton is stronger than regular cotton, produces less lint and fuzz, has better resistance to shrinking, and is easier to dye, which can result in richer colours.
Projects made with mercerised cotton feel silkier and cooler than those made with regular cotton. The stitches are more defined and less fuzzy.

All these advantages aside, I find mercerised cotton a bit more difficult to work with than regular cotton. I find it harder to maintain an even tension due to its smooth and slippery nature. Of course, this is just my personal preference, and I know many crocheters absolutely love working with mercerised cotton. For me, though, I somehow always end up coming back to regular cotton.

Why I Prefer Cotton
For years, I have been very sensitive to noise, light, and the feel of different materials against my skin. For example, I haven't been able to touch wool for many years. For me, the sensation goes far beyond the usual scratching or itching and is simply very unpleasant.
A few months ago, I started a blanket using an acrylic yarn and worked on it for three evenings. After the first evening, I noticed that the inside of my mouth somehow felt a bit fuzzy. At first, I didn't think much of it. On the second evening, I noticed it even more, but I hoped I was just imagining things. After the third evening, I felt noticeably worse, and that was when I gathered up all my acrylic yarn and gave it away.

To be honest, I never really liked the feel of acrylic in the first place. Of course, it is attractively priced, which makes it a great option for many people, but personally, I prefer to stick with cotton. I simply feel more comfortable working with it and know that I won't have to worry about itching or similar reactions.
Of course, dyes or other components in a yarn can also cause sensitivities or allergic reactions. Therefore, I can't say for certain that acrylic itself was the cause. However, I have personally never had any problems with cotton yarn.

Unfortunately, the more expensive yarns are not really an option for me either, as I go through a lot of yarn. 😊 That's why I like to stock up on cotton yarn whenever it goes on sale. Over the years, I have found my three favourite brands and favourite shops. I know the quality works well for me, and they offer countless colours, which is something I especially love when creating my designs.
I'm also a creature of habit, so once I find a yarn that I enjoy working with, I tend to stick with it. I did read a nice blog entry about summer yarns from another designer here on Crazypatterns and realised there are so many different natural yarns I haven't tried working with. I might have to go and try some new yarns soon.

I hope you enjoyed this blog entry. You will find many more free patterns on my blog at Crazypatterns. Just click on the “Posts” tab at the top. To make sure you don’t miss any updates, follow me here—you’ll always stay up to date!