Acrylic yarn: what’s special about it and what to knit with it?

Acrylic was invented and began to be actively produced in the 20th century. Despite the fact that the material is quite well known and widely used in the textile industry, there are conflicting opinions about it and, perhaps, the properties of the most common acrylic yarn are not familiar to everyone. Let's take a closer look.

First you need to find out what it is. Acrylan, acrylic, dralon, cashmilon, krylor, curtel, nitron, orlon, polyacrylic, polyacrylonitrile fibers, PAN fiber, prelana, redon - this whole long list is nothing more than the names of polymers and copolymers of acrylonitrile, in simple terms - acrylic fibers . They are obtained through complex reactions in production, and, therefore, are a synthetic material.

PROS AND CONS OF ACRYLIC YARN

Acrylic fibers are stronger than natural fibers (for example, wool), and therefore items made from them last longer. Products made from high-quality acrylic threads hold their shape well. If you take care of such things responsibly, they will not shrink and there will be no pills on them.

Despite the fact that acrylic is synthetic, it is pleasant to the touch and does not cause discomfort when wearing things made from it. In addition, since acrylic yarn is synthetic, moths do not like to feast on it. The advantages of the yarn include its attractive price, especially in comparison with expensive yarn made from natural fibers.

Acrylic fibers are ideal for dyeing - this allows manufacturers to obtain bright and rich threads from them, and consumers - products of a wide variety of rich colors. At the same time, the material is resistant to fading, which means you don’t have to worry about things made from acrylic yarn fading in the sun.

The disadvantages of acrylic yarn include low hygroscopicity. In addition, like any synthetic material, acrylic tends to electrify.

Advantages and disadvantages

Why do knitting lovers value acrylic yarn? It has a number of properties that make it universal:

the strength of the threads increases the service life of things and allows them to maintain their shape;
not damaged by moths;
low price, if children quickly outgrow knitted items, then making new ones will not cost much;
does not cause allergic reactions, so it is recommended for children;
acrylic item is pleasant to the skin - soft and warming;
The thread has a permanent color - it does not fade or fade.

The disadvantages of acrylic yarn (we are talking about 100% acrylic) can be the following:

low hygroscopicity and breathability, which limits the use of such material for products that are in close contact with the body;
there is a risk of stretching when washing;
with prolonged wear, pellets may appear;
becomes electrified in dry air, giving an unpleasant “electric shock”.

IN PURE AND MIXED FORM

There is both 100% acrylic yarn and mixed yarn, consisting of acrylic and some other (usually natural) fibers. In the latter case, the ratio of materials can be very different. Acrylic in blended yarn can contain 5% or more.

Most often, acrylic in yarn is mixed with wool, mohair or cotton. The presence of wool and mohair makes the product warmer, and therefore quite acceptable to wear even in winter. Mohair also provides the product with high-quality fluffy pile. The presence of cotton, in turn, allows the skin to breathe better, which means this yarn is also suitable for the warm season.

Loose fit sweater made of yarn with acrylic and wool. Blouse made of yarn with cotton and acrylic.

Sweater made of yarn with mohair, acrylic and wool.

Caring for acrylic items

Taking care of things made from acrylic is easy. It is not necessary to wash separately; you can do it manually or in a washing machine on a delicate cycle at a water temperature of 30-40 degrees, depending on the recommendations on the label. The powder you should choose is one that does not contain bleaching components. It’s better to squeeze it with your hands, not too much. You need to dry things in the same way as wool products - on a flat surface on which a cotton cloth is first placed (this can be an ordinary sheet). “Acrylic” items dry faster than wool items. They should not be steamed as they may stretch out.

Properties of “artificial wool”

Acrylic is compared to natural wool because of its softness and ability to retain heat even in cold weather.

At the same time, “artificial wool” has a number of advantages:

Acrylic fiber dyes well and holds the brightest and most saturated colors, which allows you to create unique, expressive patterns and ornaments.
Knitted and fabric products made from acrylic perfectly retain their shape if care recommendations are followed. When compressed and loaded, they do not wrinkle or deform.
Elasticity is the ability to stretch and then return to its original shape.
Synthetics are not eaten by moths.
Hypoallergenic - there are no components that can cause an allergic reaction.
Ease. If you compare the weight of things of the same shape and size, then a product made of acrylic will be lighter than the same one made of wool.
Smoothness. This property gives a specific shine and makes things pleasant to the tactile sensation. Depending on the initial processing of wool, it has varying degrees of “prickliness”.
Wear resistance - does not rub when worn, like woolen fabrics.

Another important property is that artificial wool has both a “minus” and a “plus” value. The low hygroscopicity of acrylic reduces its hygienic qualities. But the products dry quickly after washing, since acrylic fiber repels water.

Unlike natural wool, acrylic fabric has negative properties:

Static electricity accumulates and electrification increases. This negatively affects human health - vascular tone increases, skin sensitivity changes, and with prolonged exposure, changes in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems are possible.
Low air permeability through acrylic fabric leads to reduced air exchange; the body “does not breathe.”
If an acrylic product is not used correctly, it quickly becomes covered with “pellets” and loses its shape and elasticity.

When choosing children's clothing, it is better to give preference to natural fabrics in order to comply with hygiene standards and requirements.

WHAT TO CONNECT?

Most often, acrylic yarn is recommended for knitting children's clothes - it is soft and hypoallergenic. In addition, acrylic eliminates the problem of lint getting into the child's nose and eyes (as is the case with wool and mohair), and thus does not cause redness and itching.

Acrylic yarn is very popular in making amigurumi-style knitted toys.

“Acrylic” toys can withstand the “onslaught” of even the most energetic child: they are durable and hold their shape well. When a toy gets dirty, all mom needs to do is wash it in the evening, and in the morning it’s as good as new.

Acrylic yarn is ideal for knitting women's accessories: bags, mitts, leg warmers, slippers, decorative belts and more. It makes wonderful decorative bedspreads for furniture.

open up a lot of space for imagination, which is not difficult to turn into reality. Bright and juicy skeins of yarn await

Today there is simply a huge selection of all kinds of yarn on the market. Some needlewomen choose only natural materials: pure cotton, wool, cashmere and linen, while others prefer mixed options.

The content of the article

Each type of yarn has advantages and disadvantages, today we want to talk about 100% acrylic yarn - where it is used, what things are better to knit from acrylic and why it is so inexpensive.

What is acrylic, acrylic yarn?

Acrylic - this word refers to any polymer materials created on the basis of methacrylic acid. This word is used in various fields: paints for artists, fabrics, plastic materials, etc. Most often we come across the word acrylic in relation to different types of yarn.

Acrylic fiber was first produced in the mid-20th century in America. It was there that scientists were able to create synthetic fiber as a result of a complex technical process.

What composition?

100% acrylic yarn is made from a mixture of hydrocyanic acid and acetylene, which in turn is obtained from natural gas.

100% acrylic = 100% synthetic fiber.

Depending on the country of production of the yarn, you can find very different names for acrylic:

PAN, Orlon, Acrylan, Camilon, Kurrtel, Dralon, etc.

Properties of acrylic

Acrylic is not of natural origin, but this does not mean that it has only disadvantages. Let us talk about the pros and cons of 100% acrylic yarn and mixed yarn with acrylic.

History of acrylic fiber

In 1948, the American synthetic material Orlon was created. In terms of physical and chemical properties, it competed with the material nylon, which was popular at that time. Orlon was not paintable. continued research and development. In 1952, it was possible to create a highly colorable material - acrylic. Thus, acrylic is a synthetic fiber that is obtained as a result of a complex chemical reaction. Natural gas is used as a raw material.

There are other names for acrylic:

Advantages of acrylic

We recommend starting to learn knitting with synthetic acrylic yarn, because... it is bright, affordable in price, and easy to use.

Things knitted from acrylic:

They are not subject to shrinkage and do not stretch during wear.
Pellets generally do not form if the acrylic is of good quality. Otherwise, buy a peeling machine.
Bright, because The yarn holds color well and is easy to dye in production.
They do not fade in the sun.
They dry quite quickly, especially if you spin them in the washing machine.
Soft and pleasant to the touch, especially velor yarn.
Moths do not feed on acrylic - this is very nice!
They do not cause allergies, so acrylic is often used to knit children's clothes and toys for little ones.

Acrylic yarn

Acrylic yarn is popular for knitting clothes for adults and children. Why, despite the fact that today everyone wants to wear clothes made from natural fabrics, does synthetic yarn not lose its popularity? It's all about its qualities and how acrylic complements and improves the properties of natural fibers.

Content

Properties of acrylic yarn
Blended yarn with acrylic
What to knit from acrylic yarn
How to care for things knitted from acrylic

Properties of acrylic yarn

Acrylic is a 100% synthetic thread. The raw materials for the production of acrylic fibers are petroleum products. Acrylic fiber was first created in the middle of the last century by American chemists. The material was obtained as a result of complex chemical reactions and temperature effects. Despite its completely synthetic composition, acrylic yarn is not without positive qualities.

Acrylic yarn is soft and hypoallergenic. It is suitable for knitting children's clothes and clothes for people with sensitive skin. Unlike wool, acrylic thread does not prick or fluff, thereby not irritating the skin. The products are soft and pleasant to the touch.
Acrylic thread is easy to knit. This is especially true for beginning needlewomen. The yarn does not tangle and glides moderately along the knitting needles. The loops are neat, and the fabric is dense and smooth.
Acrylic yarn is dyed in a variety of colors, including bright and saturated ones. With WTO, knitted items do not “fade”, maintaining their original color. Also, the yarn is not prone to “fading” in the sun.
Clothing made from acrylic holds its shape well, does not stretch or shrink after washing.
Items made from acrylic yarn dry quickly, which is an ideal property for children's clothing.

Acrylic also has negative qualities:

Knitted fabric made of 100% acrylic can become highly electrified.
The material does not allow air to pass through and absorbs moisture. For knitting summer clothes, it is better to use natural or blended yarn.

Blended yarn with acrylic

Acrylic and natural fibers are an ideal tandem that embodies all the positive qualities that yarn for knitting clothes should have. Acrylic gives the thread resistance to fading and fading, making it softer and more elastic. The item becomes more wearable and durable. Natural fibers allow the product to “breathe”, absorb moisture and provide good heat transfer.

Wool and acrylic yarn is one of the most popular for knitting warm winter clothes for adults and children. The wool is very warm, but, unfortunately, it is often prickly. It is the acrylic in the blended yarn that gives it softness and silkiness. Acrylic also prevents pellets from quickly forming on the surface of the product. In this case, for example, a sweater knitted from wool yarn with acrylic will remain as warm as if it was made only from wool thread.

Mohair and acrylic are made for each other. Due to the properties of goat down, mohair yarn is never 100%, synthetic fiber is always added to it for the warp. Acrylic makes mohair thread strong without compromising the properties of delicate natural wool.

Cotton and acrylic yarn is an ideal option for summer clothes. 100% cotton has good qualities, but it is quite heavy and dense. The product takes a very long time to dry and may shrink greatly after washing. Acrylic makes the thread lighter, adds gloss and allows openwork items to be “airy”. Cotton yarn with acrylic allows air to pass through well, absorbs moisture, dries much faster after washing and holds its shape well.

What to knit from acrylic yarn

100% acrylic yarn is good for knitting children's toys and home accessories: blankets, rugs, pillows. The products will delight you with their bright deep color and amazing wear resistance. You can knit children's clothes from high-quality acrylic. Due to the fact that the thread does not fluff, lint will not get into the baby's nose and eyes. In addition, children grow very quickly, and knitting with expensive yarn is simply not practical. And acrylic, despite all its positive qualities, is quite inexpensive.

From mixed thread, knit everything that you would knit from pure natural yarn: warm winter sweaters, coats, cardigans, scarves, stoles, bactuses, summer openwork dresses, sundresses, tops, etc.

How to care for things knitted from acrylic

Acrylic is easy to wear, but still requires special care:

Do not iron or steam the finished product with an iron. Synthetic fiber changes its structure when exposed to high temperatures.
It is better to wash acrylic at 30-40 degrees; if it is heavily soiled, the product can be pre-soaked for a few minutes.
To prevent the fabric from becoming electrified, add an antistatic agent to the water when rinsing.
Wash acrylic by hand or on a gentle cycle in the washing machine.
Like any knitted product, do not twist it after washing. It’s better to spread it horizontally or hang it on a hanger.

This will help keep the knitted product in good condition for many years.
#yarn

Negative properties of 100% acrylic

Poor quality yarn may pill
Has poor hygroscopicity
It is blown by the wind if the product is not tied tightly.
Has low air permeability. People often complain that they sweat more in things made from acrylic than in things knitted from natural yarn.
They wipe off quickly, i.e. We do not recommend knitting socks made of 100% acrylic.
It becomes electrified and accumulates static voltage.

Where is 100% acrylic used?

Many needlewomen do not like acrylic yarn in its pure form, although it is quite often found in stores. We still recommend buying mixed yarn, which consists of 2-3 components, one of which is acrylic. Acrylic is added to natural fibers to make them retain color longer, become more wear-resistant, soft and bright.

Blended yarn, what is it?

The products most often contain mixed yarn of two types:

natural fiber + acrylic + any other components.
or two-component: acrylic + wool (cotton, cashmere, yawn, etc.).

Acrylic yarn - budget and colorful!

Acrylic is a man-made fiber. If you are new to knitting and are improving your skills, we recommend choosing 100% acrylic yarn.

Main properties of yarn with acrylic:

has a wide, rich palette, as the fibers are beautifully dyed;
Fade resistant;
light and soft;
durable;
dries quickly, does not wrinkle;
budget.

What to knit with acrylic yarn?

children's clothes, since it is a hypoallergenic fiber, without lint getting into the baby's eyes, nose and irritating mucous membranes;
toys, incl. amigurumi - keeps its shape well;
accessories – bags, clutches, string bags, mittens, etc.;
for home interior – bedspreads, rugs, etc.
clothing and accessories for people allergic to wool.

How to care for products made from 100% acrylic yarn?

Knitted items made from 100% acrylic are not fussy about care. Most often, they can be washed in a machine on a delicate cycle at 30 degrees. To prevent items from becoming electrified, add conditioner when washing. It is better to squeeze it with your hands, not in a drum, and dry it on a horizontal surface.

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Where to buy 100% acrylic yarn?

You can place an order for yarn with acrylic in our online store. All products on the site are in stock. We deliver by courier to your door or by mail to a post office throughout Belarus: Minsk, Vitebsk, Mogilev, Brest, Gomel, Grodno and other cities. You can also buy acrylic yarn for knitting in yarn stores in Minsk, Brest and Gomel.

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Despite the fact that acrylic is a fairly well-known material in knitting, not everyone knows reliably about its properties, and therefore there are often conflicting opinions about it. So, what is acrylic yarn, what are its advantages and disadvantages, care features and application possibilities, compatibility with other materials? Let's figure it out together.

Items made from acrylic yarn. Photo: surbasev.ru

The world market names acrylic in yarn differently, for example, the label may indicate PAN fiber, Krylor, Orlon, Redon, Nitron, Prelan.

Acrylic fibers are the result of complex chemical reactions in production - in other words, they are obtained synthetically. This leads to both a number of advantages of yarn and its disadvantages.

Fabric composition and application

In appearance, products made from acrylic fabric resemble wool. The composition of fabrics includes acrylic fibers in both 100% and partial (from 100 to 5%) ratios, mainly in a mixture with natural fibers. The mixed composition of fabrics creates unique properties, due to which they are widely used:

In furniture production there is fabric upholstery of sofas, armchairs, and chairs of various textures and colors.
In the manufacture of home textiles - curtains, rugs, carpets.
When sewing winter outerwear and knitted clothing, tracksuits, protective clothing. Acrylic fabric is used both as the main and lining material.
For the production of canopies, awnings, advertising banners. Particularly appreciated is the durability and brightness of paint on acrylic canvas, the possibility of photo printing, resistance to ultraviolet radiation, temperature changes and changes in environmental humidity. It is important that such products are not deformed.

Pros and cons of acrylic yarn

Knitters often choose acrylic yarn - it is very convenient to work with.

For those who are just starting to try themselves in this type of needlework like knitting, acrylic yarn is what they need. It is easily formed into loops and does not get tangled.

Acrylic yarn. Photo: surovikinointer.ru

The disadvantages of acrylic yarn include low hygroscopicity. In addition, like any synthetic material, acrylic tends to electrify.

Composition and properties of threads

Acrylic has many varieties, depending on the manufacturer, the following names may be found: PAN fiber, acrylan, dralon, kurtel, cashmilon, nitron, redon, prelon, krylor. When you see these names on the labels, you should remember that their chemical composition is identical. Threads are stronger than natural ones. This yarn is easy to work with and does not require a high level of skill - the loops do not get tangled, the threads are the same in thickness, and are even suitable for machine knitting .

Pure and mixed

Loose fit sweater made of yarn with acrylic and wool. Photo: ukrmoda.in.ua

Blouse made of yarn with cotton and acrylic. Photo: happy-hobby.ru

Sweater made of yarn with mohair, acrylic and wool. Photo: muzmaker.ru

When choosing a blended yarn, remember that the properties of the material that is greater in percentage will prevail.

Caring for acrylic items

Care instructions

Acrylic is classified as high-quality synthetics. It consists of artificial fibers. Synthetic polymers change properties and characteristics under certain influences. Therefore, it is necessary to adhere to simple rules for caring for products made from acrylic fabrics and threads.

Wash at a temperature no higher than thirty degrees.
Avoid wringing wet things - do not wring them out. Allow the water to drain and then lay the product on a horizontal surface until completely dry.
When ironing, select the minimum heat setting - the mode for synthetics.