Knit & Chat: What you should know about plant fibers

Let's continue the conversation about different fiber types - this time we're looking at the most common plant fibers used for knitting. We'll look at the basic info about each fiber and its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to knitting.

Get the yarn substitution checklist:

🧶 LINKS:
Yarn 101: Knitting with Animal Fiber Yarns
Yarn 101: Knitting with Plant Fibers
Yarn 101: Knitting with Synthetic Yarns
Knitting with Rayon from Tonia Knits

🧶 YARNS:
Bernat Handicrafter
Knit Picks Comfy Sport
Knit Picks CotLin
Universal Yarn Bamboo Pop
Patons Hempster (discontinued)

📝 PATTERNS:
On the mannequin: Pomponner Poncho
Longshore Currents Cowl
I'm wearing: Emma Cardigan from Cocoknits
using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky (color: Spruce)
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▶️ RELATED KNITTING VIDEOS:

Yarn Substitution Basics

All About Knitting with Animal Fibers

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📌 CHAPTER LINKS:
00:00 Knitting with plant fibers
3:10 What to knit with plant fibers
4:38 Major drawbacks of plant fibers
7:12 Cotton
12:20 Linen
16:11 Bamboo and Rayon
21:42 Hemp

🧶 MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR KNITTERS 🧶

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#nerdyknitting #knittingtips #sweaterknitting

[NerdyKnitting]

What's your favorite plant fiber for knitting?

[venomwoolknits]

Linen processing is fascinating. Engineering Knits has a series of videos where she grew her own flax, processed it and spun it into yarn - she used it in weaving rather than knitting but it's well worth a watch for anyone interested!

[la]

My hubs gifted me 2 hanks of linen (I guess he pays attention). I had mentioned to someone I wanted to make Purl Soho Dumpling bag, he ask our daughter to order some for me for our 28th, lol it was our 38th anniversary. He said he was lucky already since the day we married. Sometimes I think what did I do to be so lucky. . This year we will celebrate our 39th .which is laughter theme. We have lots of those so looking forward to that. Happy knitting / crocheting friends.

[logikgirl]

I'm just now knitting with cotton+ rayon from bamboo for the first time and it's so different to anything I've ever knitted with!

It's extremely floppy, very smooth and soft, very lightweight and very slippery (on metal needles)

It would make a wonderful a baby knit yarn.
Right now I'm making a strappy summer top and I don't know how it's going to wear since it's not stiff like the cotton I'm used to.

Trying new yarns really is part of the joy of the craft. It's quite surprising how different they feel and knit up.

[anweave]

I prefer knitting with wool.
I’m currently knitting a dress with 💯 linen. The yarn is quite hard but it’s not too bad to knit with. I made a swatch and machine washed and dried. The before and after softness was like day and night. I can’t wait to see what my dress will look like once it’s done.

[jcrunolfson]

I've used both bamboo and hemp for scarves and shawls with no issues. I haven't noticed that hemp (or linen) is any harder on my hands than any other fiber, but I'm allergic to every animal fiber I've ever touched, so I only knit with plant fibers. I'd love to see more yarn substitution guides that actually address the common necessity of substituting yarn due to allergies, and which plant fibers/blends could make the best substitutions for which animal fibers (and vice versa).

[noreenlou]

I knit some Sophie scarves with a bamboo blend, it was a little hard to knit but feels lovely

[valeriebishop]

I found a few skeins of Hempster and have made dishcloths. After washing it softens a ton. I did a quick SC and HDC in a crochet dishcloth. Chain 30 then work the SC stitch first. I usually finish with SC too. The HDC stitch really gives some spacing. It holds water well, but then rinses out easy in the sink! I got 2 and 1/2 a dishcloth from one skein.

[moonbasket]

Thanks for all the info! I'm knitting with linen right now. It definitely is rough, but it's a chainette yarn, so it's relatively smooth and isn't hurting my hands too much.

[ginnyc]

Great video. I just cast on a yoke sweater with a cotton/ acrylic blend yarn called heatherly. ( knit picks) I'm trying a colorwork sweater. We'll see how it works up!
Premier yarns has an Egyption mercerized cotton yarn called "afternoon cotton" & drops yarn has one called "safran". Just an fyi. 💜

[yarra]

Funny story. I was went clothes shopping with my husband, he likes quality so we were at a high end store. I spotted a sweater that look rather nice and I picked it up to inspect it closer to find it was 100% cotton. A shop assistant comes along asking if he can help, so I ask if this sweater will hold it shape when washed since it's cotton. And he sais "yes, as long as you don't hang it to dry it retains its shape" my instant response "Sir! Do I LOOK like a criminal?" He look very perplexed.

[lenorewetzel]

Thank you for getting into details with particular fibers. The deep dive on rayon was awesome! I feel much more informed about some of the unfamiliar things I have encountered in mixed fibers. 🙌🏻

[karenbochinski]

Favorite plant fiber is cotton. All wools even the finest of the fineist ich me. I have made 90% of my garments with cotton. I spin my own cotton and make garments out of it.

[christinatrotter]

I have used a gorgeous light yarn which has wool and nettle - the nettle fibre replaces the nylon content. The brand is Onion.

[barbaramcewen]

I am newer to knitting but I have used the Hempster to crochet a lot of bags and they are the best! So sturdy, they don't stretch, and they have softened a lot with washing. I am pretty glad I grabbed some before it was discontinued. I think the feel of it put people off. It reminds me of linen that way. So far my knitting has mostly been wool and the odd synthetic but I'm sure I will do some kitchen items with cotton at some point.

[valeriehowden]

I have crocheted alot with cotton and bamboo with no real issues. My first knit garment was a linen cotton blend. It was a fingering weight and very wirey. I had to wind it into a ball because my cake winder couldn't handle it. I think I know why that line was discontinued. The summer vest looked great, but there was too much 'hate' leftover from the process. Contemplated selling it at a craft sale - lots of compliments but no takers. Since you mentioned washing will improve linen, I think i might just have to wash it up to see if my bad memories will fade.
I don't mind knitting with cotton. I find i have to use alot of hand moisturizer - i wonder if it absorbed the moisture from my hands? I have a stash of pima cotton - 3 summer sweaters worth from my LYS's yarn sales!

[helenjowett]

Cotton doesn't dry quickly but it does absorb water to dry things with like dishes and ourselves.

[neelieknits]

Thank you, very enlightening. Question: are all Master Hand Knitters required or have a website or podcast? I have been noticing a number of podcasters which indicate they are Master Hand Knitters.

[colorjunkie]

I hear that cotton sags in larger sizes, but can someone do a video with examples? I always hear it, but never see it, and at this point- it's starting to sound like an urban myth.

[jilliankonig]

Hi - Just wondering if superwash wool and non-superwash can be knitted together in a colorwork sweater? Would blocking be difficult?