All about Summer Fibres
Knitting for summer can feel like a whole different game. Summer yarns don't looks or feel the same as winter yarns. So today we are deep diving into summer fibres, their pros, their cons and which fibres are suitable for each project.
Cotton
Cotton ticks many of our boxes for summer knitting. It can hold up to 25 times its weight in water making it incredibly absorbent. Its cellulose fibres pull heat away from the body so it keeps you cool in warmer weather. It is spun and twisted locking fibres together and making it lighter and more durable. It doesn't have scales so it won't pill or felt.
But it also has properties that you may not be used to in your projects. Cotton has no crimp so it is less stretchy, it will show stitches in greater detail and can make it difficult to keep an even knitting tension. Because it's so absorbent, it can also stretch and sag as it holds water and will not return to its original shape.
You can use cotton for absorbent dishcloths and towels and drapey summer tops that keep you cool. If you are knitting for someone who is sensitive to wool, plant fibres like cotton are ideal, and are also easy to care for which is a bonus!
Linen
Linen is another natural fibre derived from the flax plant (the same plant as the flax seeds we eat!). It's the epitome of cool so it's no wonder it's so commonly used for fresh sheets and summer clothing. It's crisper than cotton, and has moisture-whicking properties that move moisture away from your skin and to the outer layer of the fabric. It has a lovely natural drape and it becomes softer with each wash.
Like cotton, linen has very little memory so it can sag and droop overtime. The benefit of this property is that it will drape beautifully. It's best for knitting loose fitting garments and wraps. Linen can also be rough on sensitive hands so opt for linen blends like Alpaca Yarns Luxurious Fusion (with 40% Mulberry Silk, 10% Super fine Merino, 10% Super fine baby Alpaca) for a yarn that's gentler on your hands.
One of the reasons we love Erika Knight Studio Linen is that it's 85% recycled, making it much softer to work with than traditional 100% linen yarns.
Silk
If you want a touch of luxury with the breathability and drape of a cotton yarn, you should definitely try using silk. It doesn't conduct heat so it keeps you cool and it's absorbent so it keeps you dry on hot sticky days.
As with cotton and linen, silk also lacks memory. Silk blends like Harnie Hoolie's Design Humps, Happy Go Knitty Mardi and Yarnfloozy Sage Merino Silk add some elasticity to the yarn so you can knit with your usual tension and still get the cooling effect and lovely sheen from silk.
There are also raw silk yarns like Tussah Tweed Pure Silk which has a more matte finish, and feels more textured than the shiny mulberry silk but that just adds to the charm!
We hope you enjoyed learning about summer yarns with us! Are there any other fibres you would recommend for summer knitting?
Happy Knitting 🤗
xx The Loopine Team
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