I firmly believe that we should feel the season weโre in, even if we are indoor people.
So, when winter finally arrives, I start my cozy-making list of the warmest fibers I want to use during cold months.
There is something magical about planning what fiber to pick up for knitting a sweater you can imagine curling up in and then finally casting something cozy that will keep you warm even while working on it.
The 8 Warmest Fibers to keep you Warm in Cold Weather
Alpaca
Huacaya alpaca is the most common. It has fluffy, short fibers and creates silky yarns. Held together with any blend, it adds drape and warmth.
Suri alpaca create the same shiny yarns, but its longer staple fiber blends beautifully with longwools to create softly haloed yarns.
Angora
Fluffy bunnies produce a soft and delicate fiber.
With a high halo, even a little Angora content can create a warm, light layer. 100% Angora yarns are too delicate, so prefer 30% or less Angora.
Bison
Often mislabeled as buffalo, bison fiber is an exceedingly expensive rich, chocolate-colored fiber.
When blended with silk and wool into a fingering weight, it keeps it warm at a lower price.
Camel
From this dromedary comes a fiber fawn in color.
It has made its way into many blends, adding a bit of warmth when blended with wool. Camel is often paired with silk for an ultraluxurious yarn with fantastic drape and warmth.
Cashmere
Cashmere is a delicate fiber with a short staple length. Warmer than wool and often blended into yarns that retain warmth. Cashmere-blend yarns are a good choice if you aim for the ultimate softness.
Mohair
Coming from a goat, the glowing strands of mohair yarn are unmistakable. Often used as strand-along yarn, especially when blended with silk. It can lend radiant color or nuance and warmth to any project.
Qiviut
Qiviut is the soft, downy undercoat of the musk ox. This fiber is often available only as a lace weight, thanks to its delicacy, scarcity, and hefty price tag. This is the warmest fiber.
Yak
Yak is available in silky yarn form or, using the first shearing, in a delicate, ultrasoft fiber, the yak down.
Yak is often blended with silk, wool, or even nylon. Yak Down is especially warm and can increase any yarn’s coziness.
All these 8 warmest fibers have natural insulating and moisture-wicking properties that keep you warm in wintry weather.