Working properties of organic and recycled cotton: are there any differences?

Dear users, dear authors,
have you already had experience working with organic and recycled cotton? What are the working properties like? Are there any differences compared to “regular” wool?

Dear Josefa, that’s an interesting question—one I’ll be exploring in real life soon. I’ve actually ordered some vegan organic cotton blended with kapok (breathable, saliva-resistant, temperature-regulating, gentle on the skin, and washable up to 60 degrees). Kapok is a plant-based fiber. But theory is one thing. We’ll see if I actually like it in person—in terms of how it works with the fabric and how it feels to the touch. I’ll be happy to share my findings here then.

Best regards, Ina

Yes, please let us know once you’ve tried it.

I will. I’m really curious myself.

Speaking of recycling, it occurs to me that a few months ago, out of necessity, I bought an orange hat and scarf set at the supermarket. I’d left the house without a plan, and it was cold outside. Plus, the orange color of the set caught my eye.

Anyway, I naturally read the label carefully and googled it again. The material consists of 53% polyester (recycled), 37% acrylic, 5% spandex (LYCRA®), and 5% wool. Yeah, now you’re probably thinking, “It’s all plastic, not soft enough, synthetic, doesn’t keep you warm, you’ll sweat,” and so on.

But no—whatever recycled materials are in there, it feels completely normal. And it’s comfortable to wear, too. I usually prefer real wool, but I was still surprised by what you can make from recycled materials (maybe plastic bottles). I wouldn’t want to wear it directly on my skin, but it’s fine as a layer on top.

After all, there are now woven fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles that are used for outdoor furniture and rugs. Any form of reuse is better than letting the mountain of trash keep growing—especially since the material is already there.

Ina, those are some interesting things you’re trying out and sharing. I’ve never heard of that before. I’m also curious to hear about your experience with vegan wool. Yes, I’m a fan of recycling and reusing, too.

I really like using Drops’ recycled cotton. In my experience, it’s easy to work with. Above all, it washes well—which is important, of course. I’ve already knitted a lot of children’s clothes with it, as well as washcloths and dish towels, for example. It’s not quite as soft as regular cotton, though, but it’s perfect for garments like little dresses or even doll clothes.

I’ve also worked with organic cotton before. That was very soft.

Hi Josefa,
I’m currently working on a sweater made from recycled cotton (ReBobbel 70/30) from Garnmanufaktur, and I have somewhat mixed feelings about it:
it looks nice, but it’s a bit stiff and inflexible, and the strands aren’t twisted, so they tend to get tangled.
Of course, the environmental aspect is a good thing.
Warm regards, Sabine 

Hi Sabine,
welcome to our community. We’re glad you’re joining the conversation.

So far, I’ve only worked with Lana Grossa’s “Imagine,” and it’s true—as others have already mentioned here—it’s not quite as soft as pure cotton, and the strands aren’t twisted very tightly, so you have to be careful to make sure you catch them all every time.
I wouldn’t exactly use it for clothing, but it’s perfect for little stuffed animals, decorations, bags, etc.