Origin of Cotton

Our newest yarn, Seasons Fingering and DK, is a long awaited blend of organic cotton and natural targhee wool. Each undyed skein has a beautiful marled finish that is pleasing at any angle. It works into a lightweight fabric comfortable to wear in all seasons. Cotton is one of the most popular fibers for yarn because it is cooling, easy care, and useful for a variety of projects. 

Cotton is a soft, short-staple fiber that thrives in tropical climates. The first cultivation of cotton dates back to 5000 B.C. in western Pakistan. It spread rapidly to other countries forever changing the textile industry. Being easy to grow and maintain, many farmers took advantage of the high demand for the crop.

At the time, many of the cottons in Asia and Africa were short-staple, which is harder to use for spinning and weaving. The long-staple cottons of South America took over the industry due to their growing success. It was commonly used to make clothing and fishing nets as well as sought after in trade.

Cotton grows in a range of natural colors, native to the Andes Mountain regions. Most of the colored cotton used commercially comes from South America. Today, China is the top producer of cotton, followed by India and the United States. Furthermore, cotton is the leading non-food crop in the world making up about half of all textiles.

Shown here: Petals Shawl and Herringweave

Get a feel for this fresh fiber by trying Seasons Fingering or DK yarn. The fingering weight is perfect to knit the Petals Shawl, Salt & Pepper Top, or That Little Scarf and the DK weight would knit stunningly in Herringweave, Roger That, or Krokos Triangle.