Guide to Types of Fibres

Types of fibers:

Animal fibers:

These types of yarn come from the fleece of various animals, from alpacas to the humble but ever-popular sheep. Usually, they’re shorn, and the different layers of the coat are used for different things. 

The undercoat is soft, shiny, and more luxurious, for softer, warmer fabric. 

The outercoat is used for more heavy-duty or everyday items and is warm but a tougher fabric.

Animal fibers include yarns like wool, angora rabbit, cashmere, and llama wool, alpaca, merino sheep, mohair (angora goat)

Plants fibers:

Made from the inner fibers spun and joined together to create yarn, most of these straddle the line between synthetic and natural fibers. 

They’re a renewable source of yarn and usually have a rougher texture than animal fiber. 

Natural fibers are usually blended with synthetic fibers to create softness or a special sheen. Still, you can also get 100% plant fiber yarn.

This category includes yarns like hemp, bamboo, linen, and of course, cotton.

Synthetic fibers:

As the name suggests, these are purely manufactured types of yarn, created with synthetic fabrics like acrylic, polyester, and rayon. 

These come in many different forms, as they can be modified and blended with others for various uses and textures. Most novelty or specialty yarn is made of this.

These include the obvious ones, acrylic, and others like metallic yarn, nylon, rayon, and polyester.