Cotton yarn

From cotton boll to spun yarn

Cotton grows around the seeds inside the plant's bolls. After harvesting, ginning separates the lint from the seeds. Further cleaning and preparation make the fibres suitable for spinning. Cotton is mainly cellulose, placing it in the same broad chemical family as linen, although the fibres come from different parts of their plants and have different structures.

Mercerisation is an optional treatment that changes cotton's physical structure. It can improve dye uptake, strength and lustre, particularly when carried out under tension. Mercerised cotton remains cotton; it has not become silk or acquired a different fibre content. The treatment helps explain why some cotton yarns have a brighter sheen and a smoother appearance than others.

Working with cotton and choosing a substitute

Cotton does not have wool's natural crimp and spring. A cotton fabric can feel substantial and hang differently, and ribbing may provide less recovery than it would in a wool yarn. That can suit a draped top or a structured crochet project, but it matters when adapting a close-fitting sweater.

Compare metres per gram as well as the suggested needle or hook size. A similar thickness does not guarantee the same finished weight. Work a sample large enough to assess the stitch pattern, then wash and dry it as instructed before measuring. For garments, examine whether the fabric stretches under its own weight. For household projects, check the texture and absorbency you actually want. Cotton blends offer further possibilities, but their behaviour and care depend on the complete composition rather than the cotton percentage alone.