Soften cotton yarn with these tried and tested tips, and rescue that finished project from the cupboard!
The benefits of knitting and crocheting with cotton yarn
- If you have sensitive skin or are allergic to wool, cotton is a great alternative. It is a fibre that is both natural and hypoallergenic (that is, it is less likely to cause an allergic reaction).
- Cotton's robustness, compared with other delicate fibres such as cashmere and silk, means you can machine wash your makes. Most cotton yarn can be machine washed on a gentle cycle and laid flat to dry.
- Durability is a key word when it comes to cotton. Unlike many loosely plied wool yarns cotton generally won't pill. Your knitted or crocheted cotton garments will retain their good looks - with a few exceptions. (Read on!)
- Cotton provides wonderfully clean stitch definition, which means your textured stitches, cables, and colourwork will steal the show! cotton is the way to go.
Potential pit falls
- Because cotton readily absorbs water and moisture, garments and accessories made with cotton yarn should be laid flat to dry, not hung up, which can cause the garment to droop and sag.
- Cotton yarn can "split" when working with it, which increases the chance of catching only part of your stitch with your needles or hook. To combat this, try using larger needles or a larger hook for a gentler tension.
- Cotton lacks natural elasticity, so keep that in mind when planning your cotton yarn project. On the flip side, it's great for more relaxed, casual looks.
Methods for softening cotton yarn
There are several methods of softening cotton yarn, but we want to share our favourite two. By the way, check your yarn label to see whether the cotton is 'mercerised', which means it has been heat treated to prevent the splitting (mentioned above) and, therefore, won't "bloom" the way untreated yarns will, and will retain its construction.
Wash for fluffiness
Cotton yarn becomes softer with washing because it encourages the yarn fibres to fluff up. Therefore, the more you wash it, the softer it becomes. Get your newly completed garment/accessory off to a good start with a machine wash on a gentle cycle. If tumble drying is a no-go for your yarn (check the yarn label for drying instructions), lay your garment out flat to dry naturally.
Use hair conditioner
If you want a quicker fix than waiting for your cotton yarn garments to soften over time with washing, you can use hair conditioner. In fact, you can use it to treat any fibre of yarns, not just cotton! Save the expensive stuff for your hair and use cheap hair conditioner to soak your completed project in warm water for about an hour before giving it a quick rinse in cool water. Lay it out flat to dry naturally. The conditioner coats and smoothes the fibres. A note of caution: for an average size sink of water use only a capful of conditioner; too much can clump to your project and make it sticky.
