Cotton
Cotton is a plant fiber that produces heavy, smooth, breathable knitted fabric without wool's natural elasticity, well suited to summer garments.
Explanation
Cotton yarn is made from the plant fiber of the cotton plant, and differs from animal fibers like wool by being heavier, less elastic, and without natural moisture insulation. This makes cotton well suited to summer garments, dishcloths, and other items that need to breathe and withstand frequent washing, but cotton gauge swatches should hang for a while before measuring, since cotton often 'grows' longer under its own weight. Mercerization treatment gives cotton yarn extra sheen and strength.
Also known as: Cotton yarn
Strong, cool and without spring
Cotton is a plant fiber with no crimp, and therefore almost no elasticity. A cotton garment stretches out over the course of a day and does not recover the way wool does. It is at the same time strong, washes well and feels cool against the skin.
Cotton is heavier than wool at the same volume. A long cotton sweater becomes noticeably heavy, and that weight pulls it further out of shape.
Working around it
Knit at a firmer gauge than in wool, avoid negative ease, and choose stitch patterns that do not rely on the fabric pulling in. Garter and textured stitches work better than ribbing.
Common mistakes
- Using negative ease in cotton, which does not spring back.
- Knitting as loosely as you would in wool, so the garment drops.
Keywords
- cotton
- cotton yarn
- plant fiber
Frequently asked questions
Why does my cotton garment lose its shape?
Because the fiber has no crimp and therefore no spring. It stretches under its own weight and with wear, and does not return.
Is cotton good for beginners?
It is unforgiving — mistakes show clearly and the yarn slips off the needles easily. Wool is easier to start with.