| Fiber Name |
Made From |
Typical Characteristics |
|
|---|
| Acrylic |
A plastic, made from petroleum |
Inexpensive; dyes well; washable. |
| Alpaca |
Alpaca, an Andean animal |
Warmer than wool; not scratchy. Droops unless blended. |
| Angora |
Angora rabbit |
Very soft, but sheds. |
| Bamboo |
Bamboo plant |
Cool and silky. |
| Cashmere |
Undercoat of Cashmere goat |
Very expensive |
|
|---|
| Cotton |
Cotton plant |
Absorbent; strong, durable, but may shrink when washed. |
| Linen |
Flax plant |
Durable; the strongest fiber. Absorbent; cool; washable. |
| Microfiber |
Polyester or nylon |
Very soft; resilient; breathes well. |
| Mohair |
Angora goat |
Loose, fuzzy look. |
| Nylon (includes brand name Tactel) |
A plastic, made from petroleum |
Strong, elastic, abrasion-resistant. |
|
|---|
| Polyester |
A plastic, made from petroleum |
Strong, resilient, washable. |
| Rayon (also called Viscose) |
A plastic made from wood or cotton cellulose. |
Soft; absorbent; loses shape when wet. |
| Silk |
Silk moth cocoon fiber. |
Beautiful sheen; strong and stable. |
| Soy |
Soybean. |
Excellent wicking properties. |
| Wool |
Sheep. |
Dyes well; shrinks when washed (good for felting). Retains shape well. |
| Wool, Superwash |
Sheep; chemically treated to resist shrinking when washed. |
Dyes well; retains shape well. |
