What is the difference between wool and acrylic yarn

One of the most unique properties of wool yarn is that it is relatively flame retardant. It is self-extinguishing and hence, a safer choice in comparison to synthetic fibers. The major disadvantage of wool yarn is that it should not be machine washed.

Also, a small percentage of people are allergic to the lanolin present in wool fibers. Such individuals need to use merino wool yarn for their knitting projects. Wool is also somewhat expensive in comparison to synthetic fibers such as acrylic yarn.

Wool has elastic fibers and a coil-like structure. You can stretch your wool scarf and it will return back to its original form in an instant. The natural crimp in the fiber renders it a spring-like structure. Wool can bounce back to its original form even when it is wet. If you are looking for something sturdy, then you should consider wool yarn for your next crochet project. It is a durable material which is less likely to tear. Wool fiber is seven times stronger than cotton and 10 times stronger than silk.

Wool fiber has an outer protective film which makes it fairly resistant to abrasion. It is possible to snag wool, but in general, it can stand up to a fair amount of wear and tear, making it ideal for outdoor clothing. If you want your loved ones to remain warm during harsh winters, then wool yarn is a great choice for knitting sweaters, gloves, and scarves.

Wool can be bulky and holds air due to its crimp, but this helps it retain heat. Wool has a high heat coefficient and prevents heat transfer, keeping you warmer. Plus, it can hold moisture for up to one-third of its weight without feeling damp! Wool naturally resists static which is part of what draws dirt and dust. This makes it quite easy to brush off any particles from the apparel.

The scaling effect of the fiber makes it easier to remove stains from the fabric. Wool yarns can be dyed conveniently due to its high absorbency. Almost any type of dye or color can be used for dyeing wool. Wool takes color quite well, however, that color will retain a more muted quality to it.

Wool may be durable when made into a textile, but as for washing it, it can be a little sensitive. You need to be really careful while subjecting it to hot water. Hand wash it to keep the fibers intact. Wool must be washed in lukewarm water gently. Check the labels to be sure. There are different kinds of wool yarn available; some are more sensitive than others. If there is a stain on wool, you need to act quickly and use carbonated water for cleaning.

Subjecting wool fabric to strong light can fade the color over time. Hence, you need to place woolen items out of direct sunlight. Moreover, there is also a major problem of insects ruining your woolen clothing if proper care is not exercised.

Hence, you must cover the garment in a bag or use mothballs in their vicinity. I encourage you, however, to stay skeptical on your zero waste or ethical lifestyle journey; there is unfortunately a lot of bad information from natural living gurus promoting pseudoscience getting tangled up in zero waste.

Question their sources, question your own assumptions, and question mine. On the topic of acrylic and wool, I had a few concerns regarding their impacts: what is acrylic made of? Do the sheep making wool require a lot of resources or result in major emissions like livestock raised for food?

Does the resource intensive process of raising and sheering sheep cancel out any good? Does acrylic, like polyester, use a relatively small amount of water? Despite being synthetic, does acrylic use fewer of our limited resources to produce? And before we begin, keep in mind that a pre-existing resource is always more ethical and ecofriendly than a new one. Wear the clothes you have, shop secondhand, and only buy new as a last resort.

Acrylic used in clothes is a fiber derived from crude oil, ie. According to the Water Footprint Network, it has an even higher water footprint than cotton, which is a particularly thirsty plant x. Wool must be sheared from sheep long before it can be knit; cleaning the wool, or wool scouring, can be a very water intensive process, although certain less traditional methods use less water than traditional methods.

Lanolin, a by-product of wool, is kept aside and used for a variety of products. Which leads into disadvantage number two. As acrylic yarn holds onto your sweat, this also means it'll retain the smell well, until it's next wash you smelly pup!

Additionally, if you are caught in a cold, heavy rain with an acrylic garment on — and no umbrella — you will feel cold since the sweater will lose your body heat faster as it can't remove the water quickly. If you are looking for something to keep yourself warm in rugged, wet terrain, it is probably wise to not pack your acrylic sweater.

The extra investment in natural wool will give you the return of keeping you better protected from the elements. Acrylic and fire should not even be in the same sentence. Under high temperatures, Acrylic will melt causing terrible burns if it gets in contact with skin. You should be especially careful of clothing the little one's in acrylic if they are likely to be near open flames. Knitters sometimes complain that acrylic yarns do not remain even after being knitted or crocheted due to the lumpy, twisted texture of the synthetic materials.

Additionally, these synthetic yarns will sometimes pill more readily than some of the natural fibers. Acrylic blends are very popular as it combines fibers to get the best from both worlds.

Wool and acrylic blends are very popular, the same with cotton and acrylic. It gives a whole new type of garment as the acrylic can take some of the itchy parts away from the natural wool in wool acrylic yarn blends. In cotton acrylic yarn blends you can get a much softer type of yarn as the cotton will add softness to the yarn while the acrylic will provide more flexibility.

Acrylic knitting yarn is light, soft and cheap — with the most modern yarns sometimes mistaken for wool. It, of course, comes down to personal preference, but in my opinion, acrylic yarn has it's applications and shouldn't be overlooked.

There are many brands and qualities of acrylic knitting yarn available. Touch, feel, squish and pull the yarn if you have the chance to do so - if it doesn't feel good to your fingers, find an alternative.

We wish you all the best with your acrylic adventures, and if you have any questions or wish to share your end result with us, feel free to do so from the "contact us" page or in the comments box below.