The key difference between cotton and acrylic yarn is that cotton is a natural and plant-based fiber whereas acrylic is a man-made polymer. As acrylic is a man-made fiber, you will find it more affordable, popular, and in any color you want. On the other hand, cotton is long-lasting and softer than any other popular fabric.
Comparison Between Cotton vs Acrylic Yarn
If you are into knitting, crocheting, or tatting, different types of yarn and the variety in their characteristics must utterly excite you. Now the variations in these different fabrics mainly come from the materials that have been used to make them as well as the process.
Cotton and acrylic yarn are comparatively easier to work with as a beginner among all of these yarns. So learning about their properties and applications is going to be handy for you. Here we are going to discuss the various aspects and their pitfalls of them to help you choose whether it is perfect for your specific knitting project or not.
What Is Acrylic Yarn?
Acrylic yarn is a man-made fiber that is developed from polymers and is synthesized from petroleum products. In 1940, DuPont first developed the acrylic yarn and within years this fiber had gained massive demand on the market. Due to its reasonable price and high quality, acrylic yarn was produced on a huge scale.
The main reason acrylic yarn is more reasonable compared to other protein-based fiber is that there is no carding or rigorous washing in production.
(A) Benefits of Acrylic Yarn
Among the other benefits, it needs to be mentioned that it is preferred for crochet lovers. For its availability, a wide range of colors and good pricing has made this the first choice for crochet enthusiasts.
1. Wide range of colors
The color option for acrylic yarn buyers is endless. As a man-made fabric, you will be enjoying a lot of options when it comes to colors. So if you are a beginner, and want to try different colors at a cheap price, this can be a good choice for you.
2. Cleaning
Unlike natural wool or cashmere, acrylic yarn is comparatively less detergent sensitive. So, you will not face any major shredding or shrinking in a standard cycle in a washing machine. The soft variant of acrylic fabric is preferable.
3. Durability
If you need a long-lasting fiber that has going to be used a lot, then acrylic fiber can be a good option. As it is synthetic and not that detergent sensitive, it will not become much delicate after using it for a long period.
4. Warm and lightweight
Although it might not be as warm as wool, in this price range, the fabric gives you satisfactory service. In winter, it will keep you all cozy. To knit a lightweight blanket, acrylic yarn is going to be ideal. Besides, this synthetic fiber has got a lower density than natural fiber like cotton, and that makes this fiber lighter than the others.
5. Price and availability
Although the price might vary depending on many reasons, it is more affordable than wool, cotton, and other top fibers that are suitable for crochets. Also, the availability of acrylic yarn is a great option for crochet lovers as you can find it at any yarn shop around you.
(B) Disadvantages of Acrylic Yarn
Acrylic has got trouble with wetness and its very own softness. But if you take an extra effort on spending a couple of bucks for premium yarns, the downsides may somewhat diminish.
1. Lack of Breathability
Unlike the natural fiber, Acrylic yarn obstructs your body from breathing and holds to the sweats that are going to be uncomfortable for you in every aspect, if you are not knitting a blanket.
2. Traps Water and Odors
As acrylic yarn does not let your body breathe and holds on to the sweat, there is a huge possibility that it is going to retain smell. In the rain, acrylic yarn can be your reason to get cold if you stay out in the rain for a long time.
3. Melting
You should be extra careful of fire when it comes to acrylic yarn as it melts under high temperatures.
4. Can Produce Substandard Results
Some cheap variants of acrylic yarn can be challenging for you to work with. As it has a higher chance to split apart, you need to be sure of the quality of the yarn you are buying.
What is Cotton Yarn?
Cotton yarn is a naturally soft, versatile, eco-friendly plant-based fiber that is also popular among knitting experts and enthusiasts. Though cotton yarn is one of the oldest yarns in this knitting industry, it has not yet lost its appeal to consumers for a bit. To those who are allergic to wool or want a lighter yarn for their project, cotton yarn is considered to be the best choice.
Mostly for household item projects like making pillows, towels, rugs, market bags, washcloths, and dishcloths, this cotton yarn is more used. As cotton yarns are soft and can be used for numerous knitting and crocheting projects. Cotton yarn comes in a variety of colors, weights, and textures.
(A) Benefits of Cotton yarn
As it has got a different characteristic compared to elastic, you are going to face issues when it comes to stitching. So for knitting purposes, this cotton yarn can be your best choice. Apart from that, there are numerous advantages and some of which, we are going to point out down below.
1. Comfort
Unlike acrylic yarn, this yarn is quite comfortable. There is zero obstruction to breathing. Besides, as it is lightweight, this is great for summer.
2. Great Absorbent
As a great absorbent, cotton yarn is an ideal fiber for washcloths and dish washcloths.
3. Cleaning
Like all other natural fibers, this one goes well with the washing machine. It is very much machine washable. That is why people prefer cotton yarn for baby products as they need a lot of washing.
4. Durability
Cotton fiber remains durable, comfortable, and soft no matter how much it has been rugged.
(B) Disadvantages of Cotton Yarn
The downsides are few and won’t bother a pair of skilled hands.
1. Issues while knitting
If you are a beginner or used to knit with wool yarn, cotton yarn may give you a hard time with it. As it is pretty slippery, you might need wooden or bamboo needles.
2. Wrinkles
While knitting there is a great possibility that the yarn gets wrinkled like the other natural fiber. So you need to be extra careful with that.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Does cotton yarn get softer after washing?
Let’s look at a pair of jeans for that answer. As we can see, the jeans get more comfortable as it gets old and are washed a lot. Washing makes the fiber of the jeans more fluffy and softer. The same goes for the cotton yarn.
Does acrylic yarn get softer after washing?
Yes, like every other yarn, acrylic yarn also gets softened by washing. But the process of softening by washing is a little bit slower compared to other yarns. You read our two comprehensive articles about organizing and storing yarn.
Conclusion
Acrylic yarn is an affordable, light, and soft yarn that has huge applications. On the other hand, cotton yarn is a soft, comfortable, and versatile type of yarn with a variety of uses. Now which one you should go for? Depending on what you intend to accomplish next, it is up to you.
Leave a Reply