• Have You Ever Wondered ...
• The Queen Really Did Crochet!
• Threads of Wisdom: Teaching Life Lessons With Crochet

Have You Ever Wondered ...

How Is Acrylic Yarn Made?

There are many things in life we take for granted and still other things that we simply have never thought about. For instance, have you ever wondered where acrylic yarn comes from? I certainly hadn't before now. To me, acrylic yarn was like Naugahyde -- it just happened. All I knew was when I wanted it, it was there. Having never been aware of how this staple of the yarn industry comes to life, I found the following information on the process quite fascinating. Who knew it all starts from gas?

The basic building block of acrylic fiber is propylene, a derivative of natural gas. It begins as a clear, watery liquid which is transformed into a flour-like powder through the process of polymerization (a chemical reaction in which two or more molecules combine to form larger molecules that contain repeating structural units). This powder is then mixed with a solvent, and the resulting concoction is a viscous liquid that resembles honey.

Now comes the amazing part. This amber-colored goo is forced through a spinneret, a small metal strainer that looks like a coffee filter and contains a hundred thousand microscopic holes. As the viscous liquid is pumped through these tiny holes into a vat of warm water and solvent, the actual fibers are created. They can now be dyed, carded and spun like wool or any other natural fiber.

Some acrylic yarns advertise "bounce-back fibers." What, exactly, does that mean? Regular acrylic yarns are made with only one component and must be crimped by machines. Once this crimp wears out, it won't come back. Who of us hasn't worn or washed a beautifully crafted sweater, only to have it grow twice its original size?

Acrylic yarns with bounce-back fibers, however, have a built-in crimp that is rejuvenated by the laundering process. When a bounce-back fiber gets wet, one side relaxes and the other side doesn't. During the tumble-dry cycle, the heat reverses the fibers back to their original shape. The resiliency is inherent in the fiber, giving the yarn the ability to "remember" its shape.

Textile Mania has some fascinating, in-depth information about the various aspects of yarn and how it's made, with answers to just about anything you'd like to know about yarn. Be sure to check it out!