Knit Up a Storm - How to Select the Right Yarn for Your Project

I've been knitting since I was a kid. My mother taught me along with the rest of my brownie troop. Troop 77, if you must know. That's when I developed my own way of holding the needles. It's kind of a backwards thing. It really works for me though. I can knit like the devil, creating as many as five hand knit five foot long scarves in a day!

In the past few years I've knitted over 1000 scarves. That's not a typo! I've started a small company that lets me pursue this beloved hobby of mine. I've made some hats, some big carpet bags, but my true love is the long, flowing, wrapping scarves. I can almost knit in my sleep. I don't know if it's the feel of the yarn running through my fingers, or the way that knitting puts me in a trance. Hours, literally, fly by.

With such a beloved hobby and so many scarves to knit, I have had to familiarize myself with the great variety of yarns and fibers that exist. Not just the colors and weights, but also with their texture and components. That has just added to the joy of it all. I needed to know here they came from; which part of the world. Then, I wanted to know more about which animal they actually came from, since I aim to use as many natural fibers as I can. Some words like "rayon", "linen", or "alpaca" were familiar to me, but I didn't know exactly what they were.

So I did a little research and put together a convenient guide for you yarn-aholics out there. It'll tell you all you need to know about most yarns that catch your eye. Now, go out there and really knit up your own secret storm.

Alpaca- This strong fiber comes from the hair of the alpaca and is usually offered in natural tones.

Angora- Extremely warm yet fluffy, this fiber is the hair of an angora rabbit. It can be dyed any color and has a silky, soft touch.

Cashmere- The cashmere goat's undercoat is where this expensive fiber originates. It is fragile, delicate, and very soft.

Cotton- Popular as it is, did you know that its the inside of the pod of the cotton plant? It's extremely breathable, absorbent, nonelastic, and absorbent. It is stronger wet than dry and accepts dyes very well.