Created from the bres of the ax plant, linen is
very strong, absorbent and dries a lot faster than
cotton when wet. Garments knitted in this bre
will be cool and fresh in hot weather and linen
yarn can be dyed in beautiful shades. Its quality
is often dependent upon growing conditions
and harvesting techniques, which can be labour
intensive. To generate the longest possible bres,
ax is either hand-harvested by pulling up the
entire plant or stalks, which are cut very close to
the root. Linen is ideal for use in garments and
can also be used to create homewares such a
blankets, bags and even items like tea towels.The pros and cons of the natural yarn world can seem
confusing, so we created this handy guide for you to
learn more and fi nd your new favourite natural yarn!
ALL
Natural
Linen
Wool
Let’s start with a
classic! Spun in a
multitude of ways,
sheared from a
variety of different
sheep and dyed
every colour you can
imagine, it’s safe to
say wool is the most
common bre used
in knitting. Obtained
from sheep, wool is
absorbent, being able
to absorb a third of its
own weight in water,
and is also great for
trapping heat against
the body. Sheep wool
is biodegrable and
renewable, although
some wool is farmed
by using pesticides
to protect the sheep
from harmful insects.
In the processing of
wool, the bre will go
through many stages
including carding
where the wool is
disentangled, cleaned
and intermixed.Cotton
A warmer-weather favourite, cotton is the ideal bre
for light and breathable fabric. It’s grown from a
shrub in warm climates and is a bre that has been
used to create clothes for many years. The bre itself
is soft and malleable and relatively absorbent so is
perfect for knitting with right through the summer.
Cotton yarn tends to be sturdy and has a huge variety
of uses outside of garments, including being perfect
for creating things such as plant pots and shopping
bags. Cotton plants can use a signi cant amount
of pesticides and also require a huge amount of
water. However, cotton is a hardy bre and garments
created out of this yarn should be long-lasting.