Things Best Knitted with Cotton Yarn:

Because cotton makes for a soft yarn, knitters love to make cotton knit blankets especially baby blankets. Cotton yarns can absorb water, are more durable than other yarns, and can be machine-washed. This makes it perfect for knitting baby items like hats, clothing, blankets, or boots. Most people prefer knitting stuffed toys with cotton yarn rather than acrylic or woollen yarn. This is usually because the thread is very unlikely to cause any allergic reaction in children. Toys knitted with cotton yarn can easily be sanitized, washed, and dried in a machine. Cotton yarn is also exceptionally great to make knitted dishcloths or wash cloths, produce bags, or other household projects. Cotton yarns are absorbent in nature and can soak up a lot of water quickly. You can knit towels and washcloths with this soft yarn. If you want a slightly rough surface on your cloth, you should incorporate a textured pattern.

It’s also a great summer yarn, perfect for making light summer tops or blouses.

Things to Know About Cotton Yarn

Cotton yarn is a natural plant-based thread and one of the oldest textiles known to man. It is a prevalent choice in the knitting industry. This is due to the yarn being softer and more breathable than wool.

Cotton is an incredibly strong and durable natural fibre, wet or dry. It is capable of absorbing up to 27x its weight in water, cotton can also allow water to evaporate. It’s soft to the touch and lightweight. And because it’s a cellulose fibre, it pulls heat away from the body. This trait makes cotton garments comfortable to wear any time of year. Cotton makes for a very soft yarn. It’s machine-washable and, over time, cotton actually gets softer with more use.

Generally, cotton is inexpensive but quality varies by price. Depending on your yarn project, spending a little more might be worth it. As bonus, cotton yarn can be dyed easily.

Knitting with Cotton

Knitting with cotton yarn is not as easy as it seems. Cotton is a naturally curly fibre, and, as you knit, it tends to straighten out. This makes the thread stretch under its own weight. And it could lead to the sagging of the knitted cotton fabric.

Most people prefer using smaller needles to get a firm grasp while knitting with cotton yarn. This way, your knit will be denser, thus reducing the tendency for the garment to stretch.

When knitting your creation with cotton, you should be mindful of how much yarn you’ll need to complete each section. It’s best to start with a new ball of yarn at the edge of your knit rather than in the middle. The cotton yarn is somewhat bulky, and beginning in the middle might weigh your garment down. Additionally, most cotton yarns are slippery, making knitting with metal needles quite the challenge. Instead, you should choose wooden or bamboo needles when knitting with cotton. These would help generate more friction between the cotton and needles for added control.

The Bottom Line

Pure cotton yarn is suitable for many DIY projects because it’s a very volatile fabric. However, knitting with cotton might feel stressful and challenging at the beginning.

But once you get the hang of it, you should be making good use of the pure cotton yarn. And with that, you’re sure to create some amazingly soft and detailed knits.