MATERIALS & TOOLS
Wool is breathable yet highly absorbent, so if you get caught in a rain
shower in a woollen jumper it will keep you dry. As long as it’s not a
boiling hot day, it will also keep you cooler for the same reasons. Wool is
long-lasting and softens with wear, so keep the moths away and a wool
jumper could last decades. Thanks to its naturally anti-bacterial
properties, wool also requires far less washing than other fibres. Use
superwash yarn if you want to machine wash it though, as otherwise it
can felt! Like other animal fibres, wool has a ‘memory’. If you wet it and
stretch it out (blocking) it will keep the shape it dries into, making it
perfect for lace, which needs ‘opening out’ after knitting or crocheting.
Choose wool for blankets, aran sweaters and close-fitting tops. If you’re
worried about it being itchy, wear a short length tied around a necklace
or watch and see if it irritates you.WOOL
While the ‘80s saw a brief spike in the presence of mohair on the high
street, in the crochet (and knitting) world it has only ever grown in
popularity. It’s usually blended with silk or nylon to create a fluffy,
strong yarn that takes dye brilliantly and looks amazing used in
complex lace patterns.
If you like the feel of mohair but you’re worried it’ll be itchy, use the
necklace trick (see Wool) before you commit to making a whole
garment. You’ll find it may feel quite itchy in warmer weather but not in
the colder months, so give it a chance – or simply wear something
underneath. Held double, very fine laceweight mohair-mix yarns create
a warm, soft, eminently strokeable fabric that adds something special
to plain stitch garments.MOHAIR
For many years alpaca has been hailed as the ‘new cashmere’ due to its
incredibly soft, luxurious feel. Thanks to its hollow fibres, which act as
mini insulating rods, it’s very warm, making it perfect for winter
accessories. A pure alpaca jumper can actually be too hot for many
people, so if you want to take advantage of the softness of alpaca for a
garment, consider using a blend instead. Unlike wool, which has natural
elasticity, alpaca has a tendency to ‘grow’ over time, so it’s better to
make garments in pieces rather than seamlessly, as the structure
added by seams helps to prevent your top from stretching. While a
huge amount of alpaca fibre comes from South America, brands like
UK Alpaca process alpaca fibre for their own herds (and for other
owners of small herds) in the UK, so it’s easy to buy British alpaca yarn
if you’d like to keep your crafting air miles to a minimum!ALPACA
While many yarns claim to be as soft as cashmere and as luxurious as
silk, there is something very special about the real deal. Incredibly light,
yet very warm, cashmere is combed from the tummies of mountain
goats (yes, really!), and is very expensive. It’s the top choice for a
precious one-off knitted or crocheted piece. Many yarns include a
touch of cashmere for softness, but few contain large quantities. On a
budget? Choose yarn with a small amount of cashmere or save up for a
pricier pure yarn.
Strong and striking, silk is a favourite with crocheters who love
making lacy items in super fine yarns in vibrant colours. As well as pure
silk yarns, alpaca and wool/silk mixes are popular choices for shawls
and scarves. Silk is a lovely choice for light, drapey garments and,
thanks to its sheen, gives noticeable stitch definition.
CASHMERE & SILK