Mercerized Cotton Yarn
December 20th, 2009
Mercerized cotton yarn... what's mercerized?
I bought some cotton yarn recently, my first time working with anything other than medium-cheap acrylic. I'm liking working with it, but I noticed the label says it is mercerized. What's that? Is it a good or bad thing? Or good for certain types of projects? I'm crocheting if that makes a difference. I'm starting a shawl, and the yarn is Omega Sinfonia.
Ok, thx for the wiki link, but what I am wanting to know is how that affects me, not really what the process is. I mean, is this a type of yarn I should be looking for or looking to be sure I don't get? Is it more appropriate for certain types of projects, etc.
It's a good thing! It's not like some modern treatments where fibers are soaked in chemical and then there are toxic chemical residues on the fibers and yarns. Mercerizing works on a cellular level of the cotton so there's no need for the chemical to remain on the fiber, it's all rinsed away. Higher quality cottons are mercerized because it makes the yarn softer, shinier, stronger, brighter colored and washable. Mercerized cotton is cotton that has been heat treated to be colorfast, so no fading, and it's also shinier and smoother than non mercerized cotton and it makes the yarn shrink resistant or shrink proof. I also think it's stronger because only long staple fiber cotton can be mercerized. The process is safe, it won't make you sick if you use mercerized cottons, the sodium hydroxide is gone from the cotton because the cotton is rinsed in solution that neutralizes the acid. It's rinsed in clean water, dried, dyed and put up in balls, spools and cones. The process changes the cotton on a cellular level, so no chemical residues need to be the fibers. Knitted and crocheted item made from mercerized cotton have a higher quality look, they don't develop the short fuzzies as easily, and the yarn itself is easier to handle and work with.
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 New Patons GRACE Fine Cotton Yarn BLUSH singles  US $4.69
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 CLASSIC ELITE PROVENCE COTTON US $5.99
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 VTG 70s BOHO BIKINI SKIRTS DRESS KNIT CROCHET PATTERNS US $10.00
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 1 SK TAHKI COTTON CLASSIC YARN WHITE 3001 US $4.99
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 1 SK TAHKI COTTON CLASSIC YARN BLUE 3839 US $4.99
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 10 BALLS OF LILAC COTTON CROCHET THREAD YARN SIZE 10 US $13.99
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 40 COLORS OF 8 PERLE COTTON THREAD PEARL NEW US $21.99
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 Schaefer Yarn Laurel US $11.99
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 20 ESSENTIAL COLORS OF 8 PERLE COTTON THREAD PEARL NEW US $10.99
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 10 BALLS OF GREY COTTON CROCHET THREAD YARN SIZE 10 US $13.99
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 10 BALLS LT BROWN COTTON CROCHET THREAD YARN SIZE 10 US $13.99
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 LOT 5 PERLE PEARL COTTON THREAD CROSS STITCH HARDANGER US $5.00 |
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 SOFT TERRA COTA COTTON YARN 10 CROCHET THREAD CLEA NEW US $10.99 |
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 Patons Grace 100 MERCERIZED COTTON Knitting Yarn BLUSH US $18.99
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 20 VIBRANT COLORS OF 8 PERLE COTTON THREAD PEARL NEW US $10.99
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 Patons BUMBLEBEE Cotton DK Knitting Yarn Sweet Grass US $13.99
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 Sale 2for1 Yarn Mercerized Cotton Bright Pink 8oz 20 2 US $11.95
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 Random lot of crochet knitting yarn incl Lion Brand US $.99
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 7 Skeins PATONS GRACE 100 Mercerized Cotton YARN US $10.29
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 SINFONIA 100 Mercerized COTTON YARN 2LBS 7SKNS US $.99
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 Lot Crochet Knitting Embroidery Thread DMC JP Coats US $35.00
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 LOT 20 PERLE PEARL 8 COTTON THREADS CROCHET EMBROIDERY US $.01 |
 LOT 20 WHITE 8 PERLE COTTON THREADS CROCHET EMBROIDERY US $.01 |
 7 50 GRAM BALLS CRYSTAL PALACE COTTON YARN CREAM COLOR US $4.99
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 Butterfly Mercerized Cotton US $10.99
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 Schaefer Yarn LAUREL 400 yards florence nightingale NWT US $24.99
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 10 BALLS OF RED COTTON CROCHET THREAD YARN SIZE 10 US $13.99
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 40 COLORS OF 8 PERLE COTTON THREAD PEARL NEW US $21.99
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Baroque White Super Mercerized Crochet Cotton Thread Sale Price: $2.95 |
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Baroque super mercerized colorfast crochet 100% cotton thread 400 yards. |
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7pc Tropical Cream Black Floral Bedding Duvet Cover Set Queen List Price: $299.95 Sale Price: $139.99 Average Rating:  |
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Luxury 310 Thread Count TROPICAL THEME 7 pcs QUEEN SIZE Black and Cream Bedding Duvet Cover Comforter Set BRAND NEW and FIRST QUALITY in his original packaging. Gorgeous FLORAL Black Cream Bedding Duvet Cover Set... |
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Tags: cotton, fabric,, mercerized, mercerized cotton yarn patterns, mercerized cotton yarns, weaving, Yarn