Aside from the big box stores and the occasional trip to the local yarn store, have you ever thought about knitting or crocheting with any other yarn materials?
Today we are going to look at different yarn materials you might not have thought about using, including some unique fibers that can be ordered online or maybe found at your local yarn shop, or materials that you have to make yourself. I love a good upcycled project!
In this article...
T-Shirts
I’m sure you’ve heard of t-shirt yarn. It’s a big rage for crochet baskets, rugs and other items that need a thicker, sturdy yarn, but have you ever thought of making your own? I love the idea of turning old t-shirts into other things!
Here is a great video that will show you how to make t-shirt yarn using the entire shirt!
Plastic Wrap
Really? You can make yarn from plastic wrap?? Yes! I was so surprised at this, but then I learned that you can make pretty cool things from “yarn” made out of plastic wrap.
Old Sheets
I love the idea of turning old sheets into yarn. This is great for rag rugs and this tutorial will show you how to cut a sheet so that it is in one long strip. This is way better than a lot of the tutorials I saw where you have to cut the sheets into individual strips and attach them.
Plastic Bags
Do you have extra plastic bags lying around from the grocery store or Walmart? Turn them into yarn! This is often called “plarn” and it’s really neat. A man we know turned a ton of plastic bags into a sleeping mat and I got to see how he made it, which was really cool.
Pet Hair
Spin your dog or cat’s fur into yarn? Yes, you can. I’ve never tried this, but if I had an animal with longer hair like the one in this video, I might give it a try if I was a spinner.
Newspaper
Turn old newspapers into yarn! I know there aren’t as many of these lying around as there used to be thanks to the digital age, but if you can get your hands on newspaper this would be worth a try.
Interesting Fibers You Might Not Have Used:
Bamboo
I remember the first time I tried bamboo yarn. I love the texture of it, especially when it’s combined with another fiber like cotton. It’s definitely worth a try!
Silk
People don’t often think about knitting or crocheting with silk yarn, but there are some wonderful ones out there. They are usually blends, but silk fibers are very strong.
Nylon Blends
What’s the best yarn for socks, you might ask? While some would say superwash merino wool, others would claim that a wool and nylon blend yarn is the best, and that’s what you’ll find in most sock yarns.
Mohair
Most people don’t know where mohair comes from. It’s actually from the Angora Goat! Mohair yarn has a fuzzy appearance that is easily recognizable.
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Well, there we go! 10 amazing yarn materials you’re probably not using… with videos for how to DIY the stranger ones and a few fibers you might not have tried yet!
