Yarns are long, continuous lengths of fibers that are interlocked or spun. They are suitable for use in sewing, the production of textiles, crocheting, embroidery, weaving, knitting, or ropemaking. Yarn can be made from a large variety of materials, which can either be synthetic or natural fibers. The natural fibers can be outsourced either from plants or from animals. The most readily available plant fiber is cotton, while the most common animal fiber is sheep wool. The most commonly spun synthetic fiber is polyester.
One of the uses of yarn is to make slippers. Slippers that are made out of fiber are very comfortable to wear around the house especially during winter. Yarn slippers differ in quality and texture depending on the material that they are made out of.
What is the best yarn for slippers? All the types of yarn fibers have different qualities that are unique only to a specific fiber. The best yarn for slippers depends on your own personal preferences.
Some types of yarn, however, stand out from others. Below are several types of yarn and their properties, both good and bad to help you determine which type of yarn you find to be best for your slippers.
Wool
Wool is the most popular type of natural yarn fiber available. There are four types of wool: wool type long, wool type medium, wool type double-coated, and wool type fine. Wool yarn is very warm and is durable. It is therefore very suitable to be used to make yarn slippers to be used during winter. Yarn slippers made from wool can also be worn during the summer since wool has a unique ability to keep you cool even when the weather is hot. Wool is washable and can be treated either electronically or chemically to remove the fuzzy outer layer of fibers. Wool, however, can be itchy for some people who are allergic to kinds of wool.
Cashmere
Cashmere is gotten from cashmere goats among other types of goats. It is one of the softest wool available. Cashmere is six times softer than human hair. Because cashmere is very soft, slippers made from cashmere yarn are not itchy and are very comfortable. Cashmere, however, is an expensive yarn fiber since the wool is gotten from the undercoat of cashmere goats that is shed once a year. In addition, cashmere wool is not very strong, therefore, the slippers may get worn out quickly.
Alpaca
Alpaca wool is natural and is obtained from the Alpaca which are found in South America. Alpaca yarn exists in two types: Suri and Huacaya. Alpaca yarn is very soft and has a texture that is almost similar to that of silk. Slippers that are woven from Alpaca yarn are very warm, capable to keep your feet warm during winter. Since the yarn is soft, it is not itchy. Alpaca fiber is also water-resistant, which is an added advantage. Alpaca fiber, however, is more expensive than regular wool. Slippers made from this yarn are not washable as they become felted, lowering their quality.
Merino Wool
Merino wool is outsourced from a specific breed of sheep known as the Merino sheep. Yarn made from merino wool is very popular. Merino wool is not very soft but it does not cause any itching. Merino wool yarn is very warm and is very suitable to make slippers to be used during winter. Merino wool is washable and manages to maintain its shape wonderfully when blocked. Merino wool yarn is durable and does not get worn-out easily. However, some pilling might form on the slippers which can be annoying.
Cotton
Cotton is a strong, light and breathable fiber that is obtained from the cotton plant. Cotton yarn exists in different types. There are some varieties that are fine while some are heavier. Since they are breathable, slippers made from cotton yarn are ideal for the summer. Cotton yarn, however, fails to hold its shape when blocking, hence when knitting the slipper, they may fail to look uniform.
Silk
Silk is a soft, shiny and strong fiber. There are several types of silk yarn. The most common are spurn silk yarn and reeled silk yarn. Silk is very easy to work with and has a cool texture making slippers made out of it very suitable to be used in Summer. Silk is also a very strong fiber making it very durable. Silk, however, is very expensive and lustrous. It is also very slippery hence slippers made from silk yarn are slippery as well.
Hemp Yarn
Hemp is a relatively new material used for knitting slippers. It is a natural fiber obtained from the hemp plant that is soft to the touch. It is therefore comfortable and does not itch as much as wool. Hemp is very durable hence it can last for a long time. It is also very warm making it very suitable to make yarn slippers to be worn during winter.
Bamboo Yarn
Bamboo is a natural fiber that is obtained from the bamboo plant. Bamboo yarn is soft and is very comfortable. Bamboo yarn is also said to have antibacterial properties meaning that they might be able to protect your feet from some bacteria. In addition, bamboo yarn is also very breathable, making them very suitable to make slippers to be used during Summertime.
Acrylic Yarn
Acrylic is a man-made fiber that is significantly cheaper compared to most natural fibers. Acrylic yarn is color-fast and is easy to wash. What is even more interesting is the fact that moths do not like clothing made from Acrylic yarn. This means that your slippers will be free from holes by moths when made from this material. Slippers made from this material, however, are not as impressive as those made from other yarn fibers.
Mohair
Mohair fiber is a type of yarn that is obtained from the hair of the Angora goat. It is beautifully soft to the touch. Mohair yarn is durable and resistant, therefore it does not get worn-out easily. Mohair is also shiny, having a high luster and sheen, hence its nickname Diamond Fiber. It, therefore, has excellent moisture evaporation and insulation properties. This makes slippers made from mohair yarn suitable to be used throughout all seasons. Mohair yarn can also be dyed with ease, hence you can get slippers of different colors. Mohair, however, is more expensive compared to ordinary wool and is considered by some people to be itchy.
Specialty Yarns
Specialty yarns are used to create special looks in knitted items. They can be used to create special looks in the slippers. These specialty yarns include tweed, heather, and marled fabric yarns. Tweed has one main color but has flecks of differently colored fiber. Heather yarn is made from differently dyed fleeces. The marled yarn consists of a pile of differently colored fibers spun together. These specialty yarns add texture to the slippers.
Wool Blend Yarns
Wool blend yarns are made from a blend of different types of wool yarns and other types of yarns. The most common types of yarns used in the blend include silk, cotton, or synthetic fibers. There are many reasons why manufacturers choose to blend yarns. The main reason, however, is to obtain the best properties of both fibers and combine them. The best qualities of both fibers complement each other. Slippers made from wool blend yarns are more comfortable than regular wool yarn slippers. They also do not itch compared to wool yarn slippers. Wool blend yarns are used to knit warm cozy slippers that are suitable to be worn during winter.
Apart from ensuring that the slippers are made of good quality yarn, there are also several things you need to consider to ensure that you have the best yarn slippers. The slippers need to have thick soles but not too thick for the slippers to last even longer.
The slippers also need to be firmly felt. The slippers should be slightly larger than your shoe size so that when you put them on, they mold perfectly to your feet. This should be done after the slippers have reached maximum feltness. This makes the slippers warmer and more comfortable.
The slippers should also have soles that have some grip. Adding a leather sole to yarn slippers helps to make the slippers non-skid.
Final thoughts
Different fabrics have their own unique properties that can be both advantageous and disadvantageous. The best yarn for slippers differs for different people. Yarns such as silk, cashmere, and to some extent alpaca are expensive which may make them not suitable to some people despite their good properties. Hopefully, this article has been helpful and will help you determine the most suitable yarn for slippers for you.