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Knitting Wool

Knitting wool is easy to use so it’s great for beginners. The springiness of the fiber makes it easy to use because it allows the knitter to keep even tension without much struggle. The spring comes from crimps in the fiber, the more crimps the thinner the wool is, thick wool has less crimps in the fiber.

Technically knitting wool can be made from any animal fiber, but sheep is the most common. Other animals include alpaca, goat, and rabbit. Sheep is the best because of the crimps in the fiber which lead to a good felting ability.

Knitting wool is a great material for clothing because it’s warm and durable. It’s good for projects that need to stretch like gloves and hats. The breathability of the fiber also makes it a good choice for babies; just make sure the wool is washable. Some people are sensitive or allergic to wool- make sure they can tolerate wool before beginning a project with wool.

Wool does shrink (called felting when it’s done on purpose.) To avoid this, wash in lukewarm water only on the delicate cycle- or hand wash. Certain brands of wool are made to be washable so check the label on the yarn when purchasing.  

 

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