Cotton in Hand-Knitting
Cotton is the most popular non-animal fibre in hand-knitting. Cool, washable, and hypoallergenic, cotton is the standard fibre for summer garments, dishcloths, and any project for someone who cannot wear wool.
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Fibre characteristics
Cotton is a vegetable fibre with no elasticity. Cotton yarns hold their shape but do not "spring back" the way wool does. Cotton garments tend to grow with wear and may stretch out at the shoulders or elbows.
Hand-feel and drape
Cool against the skin in summer. Drapes more than wool; less elastic. Stockinette in cotton has a distinctive "neat" appearance — every stitch lies flat without the slight irregularity that wool has.
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Best uses
Summer tops and dresses. Dishcloths and washcloths. Baby items (cotton is hypoallergenic and machine-washable). Avoid for sock heels and high-friction areas where the lack of elasticity causes problems.
Mercerised vs unmercerised
Mercerised cotton has been treated with sodium hydroxide to add lustre and strength. Mercerised cotton is silkier and brighter; unmercerised is matte and slightly softer.
Abbreviation reference
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CYC | Craft Yarn Council |
Tips
- Use cotton for summer garments and dishcloths.
- Choose mercerised for lustre, unmercerised for soft hand-feel.
- Cotton garments stretch with wear — design with negative ease or accept a relaxed fit.
In depth
Cotton has dominated summer hand-knitting for over a century. Its washability, low cost, and cool hand-feel make it the natural choice for warm-weather garments. The trade-off is the lack of elasticity, which is why cotton sweaters are best designed with negative ease and why cotton socks tend to lose their shape quickly.