Knit Up a Storm - How to Select the Right Yarn for Your Project

I've been knitting since I was a kid. My mother taught me along with the rest of my brownie troop. Troop 77, if you must know. That's when I developed my own way of holding the needles. It's kind of a backwards thing. It really works for me though. I can knit like the devil, creating as many as five hand knit five foot long scarves in a day!

In the past few years I've knitted over 1000 scarves. That's not a typo! I've started a small company that lets me pursue this beloved hobby of mine. I've made some hats, some big carpet bags, but my true love is the long, flowing, wrapping scarves. I can almost knit in my sleep. I don't know if it's the feel of the yarn running through my fingers, or the way that knitting puts me in a trance. Hours, literally, fly by.

With such a beloved hobby and so many scarves to knit, I have had to familiarize myself with the great variety of yarns and fibers that exist. Not just the colors and weights, but also with their texture and components. That has just added to the joy of it all. I needed to know here they came from; which part of the world. Then, I wanted to know more about which animal they actually came from, since I aim to use as many natural fibers as I can. Some words like "rayon", "linen", or "alpaca" were familiar to me, but I didn't know exactly what they were.

So I did a little research and put together a convenient guide for you yarn-aholics out there. It'll tell you all you need to know about most yarns that catch your eye. Now, go out there and really knit up your own secret storm.

Alpaca- This strong fiber comes from the hair of the alpaca and is usually offered in natural tones.

Angora- Extremely warm yet fluffy, this fiber is the hair of an angora rabbit. It can be dyed any color and has a silky, soft touch.

Cashmere- The cashmere goat's undercoat is where this expensive fiber originates. It is fragile, delicate, and very soft.

Cotton- Popular as it is, did you know that its the inside of the pod of the cotton plant? It's extremely breathable, absorbent, nonelastic, and absorbent. It is stronger wet than dry and accepts dyes very well.

Linen- Actually it's the inside stalk of the flax plant, and is not only strong, but actually stronger when its wet. It's also very absorbent and tends to dry quickly. It can be dyed, but is often shown in its natural-colored state. Another nice facet of linen is that it gets softer and smoother with age.

Mohair- The angora goat offers us this one. It's very warm, lightweight, strong, soil-resistant and accepts dyes nicely.

Qiviut- Somewhat new to the mainstream market, the fiber comes from the musk ox. Much of it is provided by collectives up in Alaska. It's extremely soft and very expensive. It can be dyed.

Ramie- Sometimes substituted or mistaken for linen, ramie comes from the nettle plant. It can be dyed and is very absorbent.

Rayon- This manufactured fiber is produced from the cellulose found in both wood pulp and cotton. It weighs more than most fibers, is quick drying and doesn't stretch. It, too, can be dyed. It is considered a weak fiber and it can shrink if not laundered correctly. Viscose is the most common type of rayon.

Silk- This fiber is produced from the filament that is unreeled from the silkworm's cocoon. It is smooth and shiny, and the thinnest of all the natural fibers. It is a strong fiber, accepts dyes well and resists piling.

Wool- The sheep's fleece provides this most popular fiber. Though it accepts dyes nicely, it is often shown in its natural earth tone colors. Contains lanolin, a natural water repellent. It's also a great insulator, resilient to soiling, and is naturally flame retardant. If subjected to extreme heat and friction, it will felt.