Posts Tagged ‘fabric,’
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.
 |
 GREEN TURQUOISE PLAID TARTAN PURE SILK FABRIC DRESS  US $13.99
|
 LT AQUA BLUE 100 SILK TAFFETA FABRIC BRIDES DRESS BTY US $11.99
|
 SEA GREEN 100 SILK TAFFETA FABRIC BRIDESMAID CRAFT BTY US $11.99
|
 PINK GREEN BLK CHECKS 100 SILK TAFFETA FABRIC DRESS US $13.99
|
 PASTEL PINK BLUE CHECKS 100 SILK TAFFETA FABRIC DRESS US $13.99
|
 WHITE BROWN CHECKS 100 SILK TAFFETA FABRIC DRESS CRAFT US $13.99
|
 Fiber Trends Trio of Knit Bags by Lily Chin Pattern US $5.00 |
 Reynolds Saucy 100 Mercerized Cotton yarn 10 skeins US $16.00
|
 PALE YELLOW BANANA COTTON YARN 10 CROCHET THREAD CLEA US $10.99 |
 10 BALLS OF RED COTTON CROCHET THREAD YARN SIZE 10 US $13.99
|
 MOHAIR MONI Yarn 2 Balls Germany Import Dilthey Wolle US $6.99
|
 100 ANGORA AMETHYST French Long Hair YARN 1 Ball US $4.49
|
 100 Angora TAUPE BEIGE French Long Hair YARN 1 Ball US $4.39
|
 20 ESSENTIAL COLORS OF 8 PERLE COTTON THREAD PEARL NEW US $10.99
|
 10 BALLS TURQUOISE COTTON CROCHET THREAD YARN SIZE 10 US $13.99
|
 40 COLORS OF 8 PERLE COTTON THREAD PEARL NEW US $21.99
|
 10 BALLS OF MAUVE COTTON CROCHET THREAD YARN SIZE 10 US $13.99
|
 TEAL COTTON YARN 10 CROCHET THREAD 1094 YDS CLEA NEW US $10.99 |
 10 BALLS OF LEMON COTTON CROCHET THREAD YARN SIZE 10 US $13.99
|
 30 NEW DMC 5 n 3 Perle Pearl Cotton Floss 70off sale US $27.46
|
 90 DMC Cross Stitch Cotton Floss $51ea FREE rayon flo US $42.24
|
 10 YDs 2 GINGHAM BLACK WHITE 100 SILK TAFFETA FABRIC US $139.90
|
 Polo Pullover Crochet Pattern US $.99
|
 12 ASST BALLS SKEINS COTTON COTTON BLENDS YARN YB US $12.50
|
 LOT 30 PEARL PERLE COTTON 8 THREAD HAND EMBROIDERY NEW US $11.00 |
 10 BALLS OF SEA MIST COTTON CROCHET THREAD YARN SIZE 10 US $13.99
|
 Panda Regal 4 ply crochet knitting cotton x5 purple mix US $11.02
|
 SKY BLUE 100 SILK TAFFETA FABRIC BRIDAL CRAFT CURTAIN US $11.99
|
 Sale 2for1 Yarn Mercerized Cotton Baby Pink 8oz 20 2 US $11.95
|
 Sale 2for1 Yarn Mercerized Cotton Periwinkle 8oz 20 2 US $11.95
|
 2 GREEN WHITE GINGHAM CHECK 100 SILK TAFFETA FABRIC US $13.99
|
 GREEN CHECKS 100 SILK STIFF DUPIONI FABRIC CRAFT DRESS US $13.99
|
 3 Mandarin Classic Mercerized Egyptian Cotton Yarn Blk US $4.99
|
 VOGUE KNITTING Tropical Resort Cables Mini Skirt S S 01 US $6.99
|
 VOGUE KNITTING Cabled Bolero Pullovers Coats Wnt 06 07 US $6.99
|
 VTG 70s TOPS BLOUSES DRESSES KNITTING CROCHET PATTERNS US $6.99
|
 VINTAGE 50s BLOUSES PURSES KNITTING CROCHET PATTERNS US $6.99
|
 VTG 70s SUMMER DRESSES BEACHWEAR KNIT CROCHET PATTERNS US $6.99
|
 VINTAGE 70s RETRO DRESSES KNITTING CROCHET PATTERNS US $6.99
|
 Vintage Lot Of Mixed Yarn US $12.00
|
 |
Austermann Algarve Grande Cotton Yarn - Navy Blue 317 Sale Price: $5.54  |
|
Austermann Algarve Grande Cotton Yarn. Try a summer top in this lustrous, cool yarn! Cables will stand out and lace will show off its delicate beauty! |
 |
Baroque White Super Mercerized Crochet Cotton Thread Sale Price: $2.95 |
|
Baroque super mercerized colorfast crochet 100% cotton thread 400 yards. |
 |
7pc Tropical Cream Black Floral Bedding Duvet Cover Set Queen List Price: $299.95 Sale Price: $139.99 Average Rating:  |
|
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... |
Posted in Yarn | 
Tags: cotton, fabric,, mercerized, mercerized cotton yarn patterns, mercerized cotton yarns, weaving, Yarn