Discover the magic of mercerized cotton! Using yarn that doesn't shrink too much really helps! The chemical caused the fiber to swell and compact thus increasing its tensile strength. Mercerized cotton is made by holding cotton yarn or fabric under tension, bathing it in a caustic solution at room temperature, and then neutralizing it with an acid bath. The reduced twist in these fibers also makes them more absorbent. YouTube Live: May 27, 2020 – 11:30am Central. If you are making something where strength of the fabric or structure is important than mercerized cotton will be a better option. Mercerized cotton yarn is a type of cotton yarn that has been produced in a certain way that makes it stronger, more lustrous and less likely to shrink. There are certain projects that I wouldn't want to make "shiny," you know? He discovered that holding the fibers under tension during the process reduced shrinking and also created a lustrous sheen. Mercerized cotton yarn is a type of cotton yarn that has been produced in a certain way that makes it stronger, more lustrous and less likely to shrink. This increases the luster while also strengthening the thread. This type of processed cotton yarn also is referred to as pearl yarn or pearle yarn. However, mercerized cotton will soften with washing and wear and is still useable for garments. This little known plugin reveals the answer. 3/2 Mercerized "Perle" Cotton Yarn is put up on standard one pound cones for weavers and machine knitters. Mercerized cotton is a special kind of cotton yarn that is more lustrous than conventional cotton. Venne of Holland is known for their high quality yarns in lots of yummy colors. Cotton is mercerized by immersing it in an alkaline solution. I would so like to make it but I don’t know how to read crochet instructions. This description is unclear to many people, especially if you have never seen or felt different cottons. When choosing a type of yarn, it is important to consider gauge, weight and drape. It is cotton yarn or fabric which has been put through a series of processes, primarily to increase luster. The yarn is treated with Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda) to swell the fibres and increase the fibre’s lustre as well as its affinity for dye by increasing the surface area of the fibre. Certain types of cotton fibers work better to make mercerized cotton yarn than others because of the way the sodium hydroxide is absorbed and the way the cotton fibers respond to it. John Mercer, and English textile chemist, developed the technique in 1844 to improve the dye qualities of cotton yarn. For a knitter, there's nothing worse than knitting a sweater to your exact measurements, and then accidentally shrinking it in the wash. Made from long staple Egyptian cotton, mercerized then gassed for … First and foremost, cotton and mercerized cotton are the best choices for crochet toys intended for babies. While immersed in the solution the fiber is kept under tension (the improvement developed by H.A. In this month’s YouTube live, I’ll be sharing what the heck a “mercerized cotton yarn” is! This whole Mercerizing process results in the swelling of the cell wall of the cotton fibre, causing increase in the surface area and reflectance, and thus gaining a lustrous appearance on the fibre. Mercerization can be done on any cellulose fiber (i.e. Using this process dyes are better able penetrate the fibers. Both Cotton Mercerized and Cotton have the same tension, and the same patterns can be applied to both yarns. Producing mercerized cotton yarn involves exposing the cotton fibers to a caustic solution such as lye or sulfuric acid. The process causes a permanent swelling of the fiber, resulting in higher luster. Mercerization can be done on any cellulose fiber (i.e. Yarn gauges and yarn weights from very fine, lace-weight yarn to heavier worsted weight can be found easily in any craft store, making mercerized cotton yarn a convenient choice for any project. They hold up well and they're a nice quick project that's easy to transport. Many sumptuous colors to choose from. It is offered in a selection of beautiful colors, going from the the stronger shades, to the more natural ones. Like many inventions, the term “mercerized” was derived from the name of the person who created it. What are the Different Types of Yarn for Knitting. La Mia Mercerized Cotton, Produced with 100% mercerized cotton. Mercerized cotton yarn is great for sweaters and other garments because it doesn't shrink as much as regular cotton. 24/7 Cotton® is a worsted-weight, mercerized 100% natural fiber yarn. This type of yarn takes dye well, creating a lustrous shine that is beautiful to work with. Want to try mercerized cotton for yourself? I mainly use worsted yarn for sweaters, and luckily plenty of brands put out worsted weight mercerized cotton in tons of colors. In order to increase the luster of the fibers, the most desirable quality in mercerized cotton yarn, the caustic solution must be applied to the cotton while the cotton fibers are held under tension. John Mercer discovered that immersing fibers such as cotton and linen in a caustic soda bath would increase their strength and also allow them to take dye more readily. I wish you’d do a crotchet along tutorial with photos showing how to crochet step by step that cute green bag you show on the newsletter advertising this article. It also may not shrink or lose its shape as much as \"regular\" cotton. Just showing how to dc or sc is not enough. Amazon Doesn't Want You to Know About This Plugin. It also cannot shrink or lose its shape in the same way as “regular” cotton. 100% cotton and mercerized cotton. When you go shopping for cotton yarn or thread, you may have noticed that sometimes the label says 100% cotton while other times it says 100% mercerized cotton. In the 1890s H.A. So often I can get started and then something stumps me and I can’t move forward and have to give up. In 1844 John Mercer (see the connection?) experimented with using sodium hydroxide to treat cotton. So what is mercerized cotton? All colors are available on 1 pound cones, approximately 2500 yards per pound for the 6/2 yarns and 2100 yards per pound for the 5/2 yarns. Lowe improved upon Mercer’s idea. This chemically alters the structure of the fiber and makes it stronger, shinier and less likely to pill. The yarns labeled as “Goodbuys” are mill end yarns. For some reason I always thought it was just a different kind of cotton plant. In brief, mercerization is a way of treating cotton that makes it stronger and more receptive to dye. Mayflower Cotton 8/4 Mercerized is an exclusive and neat cotton quality of 100% cotton. How is Organic Cotton Yarn Different from Other Yarns? cotton, hemp, linen) in fabric or yarn form. Coachella Boots Mercerized cotton is made by holding cotton yarn or fabric under tension, bathing it in a caustic solution at room temperature, and then neutralizing it with an acid bath. To mercerize fiber it is submerged in sodium hydroxide (NaOH), also known as caustic soda or lye. Nope, I'll take a nice 100% regular cotton aran yarn for these types of projects any day! Neither type of cotton is hands down better than the other. Wikibuy Review: A Free Tool That Saves You Time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money That Actually Work. Somewhat contradictory to that, non-mercerized yarn will be more absorbent making it a better choice for items like washcloths. It also makes the cotton mildew- and lint-resistant and helps it accept dye more readily, allowing for stronger, more brilliant colors. However, it also resulted in fibers shrinking by as much as 25% percent. Who needs shiny washcloths? Part of mercerized cotton being stronger means it sacrifices softness. Lion Brand Yarn offers a worsted weight option, 24/7 Cotton, as well as many patterns to pair it with. Is Amazon actually giving you the best price? Mercerized Cotton Knitting & Crochet Yarn. Looking for yarn to make the Loom Theory Radiant Mobius? Learn about a little known plugin that tells you if you're getting the best price on Amazon. It keeps its shape extremely well which makes it the perfect yarn for the Aldi Quarter Keeper Keychain. All Rights Reserved. Mercerized cotton is a special kind of cotton yarn that is more lustrous than conventional cotton. As the article said, mercerized cotton definitely has a certain shininess to it. It sounds like mercerizing cotton was definitely a product of the industrial revolution! For this variety of knitting project, a type of yarn called “mercerized cotton… Cotton yarn in general, though, has a rougher texture and a less delicate drape than other yarns, especially fine wool yarn, alpaca yarn and various handspun and novelty types of yarn. We need to know how to put it all together, how to turn, how many chains are needed when. The mercerizing process was developed by John Mercer, a British chemist who patented the process in 1851, but the process was popularized by Horace Lowe in 1890 when he altered the process slightly in order to confer a high luster to the resulting fibers. Any yarn can be mercerized, even wool and I have worked with a lot of mercerized linen in the past but it is most often cotton. It also has less tendency to pill or create lint. We have kitted up the yarns for that pattern. Go to our kits page. Mercerization is a process that makes the yarn smooth, stronger and takes dye better. Usage: Perfect for baby and summer garments. Also, I'm allergic to wool, so my other options for nice sweater yarn are kind of limited. However, there are some projects I prefer to use just plain cotton for. I'm a knitter, and I really like to use mercerized cotton yarn for sweaters. After the process you have a smooth, luminous yarn that is easy to care for. An item that relies on softness and drape is better suited for a non-mercerized cotton. Chelsea Cape Mercerized cotton is cotton which has been treated with sodium hydroxide which strengthens it and makes it smoother. Sett these yarns at 16-18 epi for plain weave, and 18-20 epi for twill weave structures. cotton, hemp, linen) in fabric or yarn form. Lace weight cotton yarn can make a gossamer shawl look as though it were made of spider silk. The added desirable water handling properties gained are a secondary bonus. I had no idea the process for making mercerized cotton yarn was so involved. You found a pattern that calls for cotton yarn and immediately start searching for the perfect match. Mercerized cotton is a special kind of cotton yarn that is shinier than ordinary cotton. Our range of 100% Mercerized Cotton Yarns are ideal for a vast range of knitting and crochet projects.The Knitting Wool Store is proud to be able to offer such a wonderful selection … You know, like Egyptian cotton or something like that? It's light, soft, shiny and easy to work with. La Mia Mercereized Cotton comes with a lot of color choices up to 26. An acidic bath is used to neutralize the alkali treatments. It is also stronger, takes dye a little more readily, produces less lint, and is more resistant to mildew. The yarn’s color assortment can be enriched by the tones of its ‘sister-yarn’ Cotton (unmercerized cotton yarn). 1,007 mercerized cotton yarn products are offered for sale by suppliers on Alibaba.com, of which 100% cotton yarn accounts for 11%, fancy yarn accounts for 3%. What is Mercerized Yarn? While the idea behind mercerization was good, the shrinkage of fibers was not ideal. I figured out a filet crochet cowl but it took me a long time to find vids showing me exactly what to do. There’s so much to know. And why is it important for your handmade projects? Mercerized cotton is sometimes referred to in the crafts as pearl or pearle cotton. Most of the cotton that people buy for crochet today is unmercerized but you should know about mercerized cotton as well. 100% unmercerized cotton yarn. © 2018 Copyright Lion Brand Yarn. In general, mercerized cotton yarn is made from cotton that produces longer fibers, such as Egyptian and Pima cotton, because they do not need to be twisted as much as cotton with shorter fiber lengths. Lowe) to prevent shrinkage. Made from 100% Mercerized cotton, shiny and warm. After all, I'd imagine it would probably be very difficult to make mercerized cotton yarn in a non-factory setting. Mercerized treatment of cotton increases its luster & affinity for dyes. However, I don't like to use mercerized cotton for this purpose. He developed the process known as mercerisation w Produced when cotton is soaked in sodium hydroxide then neutralised in acid, this type of yarn is also known around the knitting and crocheting block as ‘pearl’ or ‘pearle’ cotton because of its bright finish. For instance, I really like to make washcloths for my kitchen. The mercerization process gives the yarn incredible color and sheen which will last through multiple wash cycles. Mercerized cotton has a higher luster, greater strength, holds more dye, and does not shrink as much when washed as unmercerized cotton.Mercerized cotton yarn is smoother and shinier than unmercerized cotton making it more suitable for garments and fancier items. The yarn is recommended for use in blouses and sweaters, as well as accessories and interior. Any cotton fiber can be mercerized, however, long-staple varieties respond best. This all came about in the 1840’s when a chap called John Mercer, a chemist taught himself the basics in dyeing cotton. Choose from a variety of 24 colors, which will be perfect for making fashion garments, home … It is also more durable, slightly lighter to dye, produces less fluff and is more resistant to mould. Mercerized cotton is a treated cotton yarn that therefore is not as absorbent, it is less likely to shrink in the event it gets wet and appears shinier to the eye. 24/7 Cotton, shown above, is a worsted weight 100% mercerized cotton from Lion Brand yarn. Tension is held for about 10 minutes while a 21-23 percent sodium hydroxide solution is applied at room temperature. Mercerized yarns more readily accepts dye and holds the color longer. For knitters, crocheters and other crafters, mercerized cotton yarn comes in a wide variety of sizes and colors. Mercerizing is a yarn and thread treatment which actually changes the chemical composition of the cotton, making it … It also makes the cotton mildew- and lint-resistant and helps it accept dye more readily, allowing for stronger, more brilliant colors. This is done in repeated bursts of four minutes or less. Cotton Mercerized is a delicately shining, mercerized and versatile cotton yarn for various knitting and crochet projects. Springtime Stroller Blanket. Creating a more colorful, connected, and giving world. Knitting Gauge: 10x10 cm = 22 sts x 30 rows. Browsing through yarn options you might find that some use the term mercerized cotton in the fiber content. Mercerization is the process of treating cotton thread in a caustic solution (usually sodium hydroxide) under tension, which causes the fibers to swell. It also may not shrink or lose its shape as much as “regular” cotton. The Coffee Shop Wrap A wide variety of mercerized cotton yarn options are available to you, There are 772 suppliers who sells mercerized cotton yarn on Alibaba.com, mainly located in Asia. This is done in repeated bursts of four minutes or less. @strawCake - I'm a knitter also, and I think you're right -- mercerized cotton yarn definitely has it's place in any knitters yarn stash. Mercerized cotton will be shinier and stronger than non-mercerized varieties. This causes the fibers to swell, straighten and become rounder, as well as making them absorb liquids, including dye, more readily. Thanks for considering my comment. Dyed for color fastness, but of course, be sure to test your sample the way you want to finish your fabric. Cotton sock yarn is generally blended with nylon to give it more stretch and durability, two qualities that pure cotton yarn does not have.