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By Liz Raad

Technically speaking, both the Woolen Spun and the Worsted Spun knitting yarns can only be made from animal fibers (hair or fur) such as that from the sheep, camel or other similar creatures. This world however, does not always stick to tradition so these days, you can find many yarns of many different make ups that are called woolen yarns. These Woolen Knitting Yarns are not restricted to animal fibers but also can include acrylic and vegetable fibers as well. No matter what type of fiber the knitting yarn may use, the woolen yarn does retain some properties that make it excellent for what it contributes to the world of knitting.

One of the primary factors in the production of woolen yarn no matter what type of fiber is being used, is the preparation process of the fibers. All woolen fibers are carded rather than combed when the fiber is being brushed out. A “card” in this case closely resembles a curry comb. It is generally backed by rubber or some other soft and pliable surface and has numerous metal pins coming through at regular and dense intervals.

This card is then used to brush down the fibers. However, unlike the worsted process, the carding often leaves many short fibers facing in many directions and does not bind the braiding of the yarn nearly as tight as that of worsted knitting yarn. This results in the creation of a yarn that is much less tightly wound and thus has more space in between the individual fibers. In addition to that, the fibers that are there are often still facing in many different directions resulting in a yarn that is much more pliable and “bouncy” or “airy”.

The woolen yarn does seem to work exceptionally well for those soft, warm knitted winter caps and hats. It also does very well for knitting mittens and other even the large, warm and cushy sweaters that you wear on the outside of your many layers of clothing when going out in extremely cold weather. The elasticity of the woolen yarn actually ideally suits it to many different knitting uses that would otherwise be overly difficult and have to be far more exact than they do using the more flexible yarns.

Another great benefit to the woolen yarn when using the natural animal fibers is the ability to create yarn that still possesses some of the features of the original fur or pelt. Many of the natural furs and fibers have oils that help to stave off adverse weather for the animals. The entire preparation and production process for the all-natural woolen knitting yarns allows some of them to retain the natural oils and wax that offer that added bit of protection for your knitted garments. Not only do you get the great comfort of a hand-knitted garment but you also have natural resistance to many of the elements that humans generally tend to stay out of if they can.

These days, it is very common to see woolen yarns made out of all sorts of fibers both natural and synthetic. Bear in mind though, that the basic principles of the yarn itself will vary only slightly and the yarn itself should serve your purposes very well. We all know what the instructions say to use but if you are like most people, you may want to experiment some too. Whether you are experimenting with different ideas or following the instructions to the letter, it always helps to have a better idea of what you are working with and why it works like it does.

Liz Raad is the author of the exciting new E-book “Knitting For Profit – Your Step-by-Step Guide To Making Money From Knitting and Crochet”. Liz also runs a popular blog on the topic of making money from knitting and crochet. Visit her Knitting For Profit blog where you will find tonnes of free information and practical advice about how to successfully knit or crochet for profit.

On her blog you will discover: How to get started in your own knitting business, how to easily sell your knitting and crochet online, copyright free knitting patterns that you are free to knit for your own profit, real success stories and interviews with women who make cash from their favorite hobby, how much to charge for a knitting job, reviews on Knitting Yarns

Article Source: Liz Raad == Woolen Knitting Yarn – Why Use Woolen Yarns?

Filed under: Knitting

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