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Cotton yarn is popular among knitters and crocheters because it is inexpensive, durable and comes in lots of colors, but there are a few things you should know when knitting with cotton yarn (or crocheting, for that matter).
What is Cotton Yarn?
Cotton yarn is spun from the fluffy part of the cotton plant, and it is one of the oldest fibers in the world. The history of the spinning wheel is disputed but most agree it was developed to spin cotton.
This fiber is durable, not very stretchy and has good stitch definition. It holds color well and is quite absorbent. It makes garments that are cool but can be heavy. But it is easy to care for because it is machine washable and dryable.
Cotton yarns for knitting and crochet are made with multiple plies of yarn for added strength, and other fibers are sometimes added to cotton to give it different properties such as shine, smoothness and more memory (meaning it will snap back to its original shape after use, which is important for clothing).
One common process done to cotton yarn is mercerization, which involves treating the fiber with a bath of lye/caustic soda. This shrinks the fiber, making it stronger. It also allows the yarn to take dye more readily and makes it shiny.
A downside of cotton yarn is that traditionally grown cotton is not eco-friendly. It needs a lot of water and its production relies on heavy use of fertilizer, insecticides and pesticides. Organic cotton yarn is available if you are interested in putting a lighter load on the planet. Some companies sell undyed cotton yarn or use natural dyes to color their fiber.
Knitting with Cotton Yarn
When knitting with cotton yarn, it’s important to know that cotton can be somewhat stiff and rough on the hands. Because the fiber lacks the elasticity of wool and other fibers, it can be a little harder to knit and cause more hand strain than working with other fibers.
You may find that you want to use a larger size knitting needle than you normally would for the weight of the yarn to make it a little less stiff. It’s important to take breaks more often than normal to reduce hand strain.
Cotton yarn doesn’t really block like animal fibers do, but you can wash your project and gently pull on it to get the edges straight and let it lie flat to dry.
Cotton gets heavy when wet, causing it to stretch. It can also stretch under its own weight if, for example, you knit a sweater out of 100 percent cotton yarn. Because it lacks memory it will stay stretched out even after washing.
This is why knitting with cotton blends can be a great choice for garments, as you keep the strength of cotton but add in more stretch and bounce back with the addition of some bamboo, polyester or even wool.
Crocheting with Cotton
Crocheting with cotton yarn comes with the same considerations as knitting with cotton yarn. It can produce a stiff fabric but has great stitch definition in crochet and in knitting.
Cotton is a great choice for crocheting (and knitting) washcloths and dishcloths, bags, projects for babies and kids and other projects for the home.
Again, choosing a cotton yarn blended with another fiber is a great option for clothing (for kids or adults).
Great Cotton Yarn Options
There are a ton of options when it comes to knitting with cotton yarn. Here are just a few that I’m aware of.
Lily Sugar’n Cream/Peaches & Creme
Lily Sugar’n Cream is probably the most common and widely available cotton yarn for knitting and crochet. It’s relatively inexpensive (Mary Maxim has a great price on it if you don’t have somewhere to buy it locally) and it comes in a ton of colors.
It can be a little rough and scratchy, especially if you have sensitive skin, but it’s a great workhorse yarn for your everyday cotton projects like washcloths in knitting or crochet.
Sugar’n Cream is made in Canada for Yarnspirations. Peaches & Creme is a similar yarn also produced by Yarnspirations and is available at Walmart. I find them to be relatively interchangeable.
If you shop at Michaels you will find Loops & Threads Classic Cotton and Everyday Cotton, and Hobby Lobby has I Love this Cotton. At Joann the house brand is Big Twist Essential Cotton. Some people have a preference for their store brand but they’re all pretty much the same. Knit Picks Dishie is another one in the genre of kitchen cotton or washcloth cotton.
Bernat Handicrafter
Another yarn in the Yarnspirations family that is similar to Sugar’n Cream and Peaches & Creme is Bernat Handicrafter.
The yarns actually feel pretty much the same in the skein and perform the same. I actually accidentally bought Sugar’n Cream and Handicrafter in the same color (they’re both called Jute) and they look exactly the same.
There aren’t as many colors available in the Handicrafter line. The skeins are a little less expensive but also a little smaller. Like the others mentioned they are also made in Canada.
Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton
Another common cotton yarn is Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, a mercerized cotton yarn available in worsted and DK weights. It has the subtle shine of mercerized cotton but is still easy to work with and great for every day use.
I find it a little softer than Sugar’n Cream, and maybe a little nicer than I want to use for washcloths. I used it for my East Ave. Market Bag knitting pattern.
DROPS Paris
DROPS yarns are not as widely available in the United States as they are in Europe (I actually had to buy mine on Etsy) but they are really good quality yarns at a good value if you are able to get them where you live.
Paris is a 100 percent cotton yarn that acts like mercerized cotton but I don’t think that it is. It’s softer than the other cottons on this list and has lovely stitch definition. This is one where I would try knitting with cotton yarn for a garment even though it’s not mixed with other fibers because it would feel nice next to the skin and I think it would be lovely for a summer top.
DROPS Paris says it is made in the EU but doesn’t get more specific.
Premier Home Cotton
Premier Yarns Premier Home Cotton is a blend of 85 percent recycled cotton and 15 percent polyester. That’s a small enough percentage that I would still use it for home projects like washcloths and coasters, but it also makes the yarn a little softer so it would be good for garments.
Using recycled fibers boosts the bad reputation of cotton as not being eco-friendly, if that matters to you. This yarn is made in Turkey, which may reduce its eco-cred since it needs to be shipped from far away.
Other Cotton Options
The list above covers most of the currently available yarns I’ve used for knitting with cotton or crocheting with cotton yarn. There are of course lots of other options available.
If you’re looking for more natural options, Appalachian Baby Design offers a range of organic sport weight yarn using what they call a low-impact, Earth-friendly dyeing process.
Organic Cotton Plus offers organic yarn in worsted and sport weights, in solid colors and speckled “prints.”
Blue Sky Fibers has organic cotton in sport weight and worsted weight.
In addition to Dishie, Knit Picks offers Animation, a DK weight mercerized cotton, as well as other mercerized cotton options and several blends.
Cascade Yarns also has a bunch of great cottons and blends, including the organic sport weight Botanika and Fixation, a blend of cotton and elastic that’s perfect for bra tops and other summer projects.
I could go on and on but I think you get the idea. Most brands have some kind of cotton or cotton blend yarn, and knitting with cotton (crocheting, too!) is a lot of fun and you should give it a try. Just be mindful of your hands while you do!
Any tips on knitting with cotton or favorite yarns I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments!
