Why Cotton Yarn?
When I first started trying to learn how to make amigurumi, I struggled with a lot of issues, some chips were stacked against me, others were my own doing. The right tools were the first piece of the puzzle, instruction that made sense to me was the next and yarn was the last.
When I first started out, I bought yarn based on how much it cost and how pretty the color was. I had no idea things like texture, fiber composition and color were important and would shape my learning experience. The first few balls I bought were Red Heart acrylics, and a few satiny acrylics that were, I think, Bernat. It quickly became apparent, as I struggle with the hook slipping out, popping through the strands or getting stuck in wads of split up weirdness, and the fuzzies that quickly obstructed my view of the loops and stitches I was supposed to see, that this yarn was making things more difficult for me than it had to me. I also found very quickly, that the yarn was drying and sort of roughing up my fingertips, like little SOS pads, and eventually it caused little lifts in the skin that would pull and tear on the yarn. All in all it felt pretty gross tightly clenched in my gnarled up fingertips and I quickly became determined to find something better. Several attempts with other synthetic yarns later, I fished out an old skein of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton that had been partly used as doll hair on a long forgotten project and tried it out for a change… and thus blossomed my love for amigurumi in 100% cotton.
Cotton Plant
100% cotton does not stretch or give, meaning you can achieve good rigidity in your pieces and sculptural pattern will hold their shape. If the yarn is not mercerized (a process that smoothes the fiber, makes it less likely to shrink when washed and makes the yarn have a glossier, shinier finish), each loop in a stitch is locked into place from the friction of the other loops. The strands don’t slip or slide or shift, meaning the integrity and shape of the stitches and rows hold out well and finished ends woven in are pretty much locked in. I find a fabric made of craft cotton yarn single crochet just seems “beefier”, which while not desirable for say, a sweater, is ideal for amigurumis. Of the few pieces I did finish in acrylic yarn, I was unhappy with how they turned out.
100% cotton (unmercerized) worsted weight yarn is what is best for me, but this is by no means a blanket rule. Every hook and every yarn type or brand work differently for different folks, different technique, so if syntho or wool or whatever works better for you, more power to you, run with whatever works… besides, that just leaves more cotton for the rest of us! 
The three main types of cotton yarn I use are Bernat Handicrafter Cotton, Lily Sugar n’ Cream and Elmore Pisgah Peaches & Creme and Lion Cotton. Though there are many other weights and styles out there, I like that the three brands can be used in the same piece and still maintain a cohesive look, because they are similar enough in texture to blend seamlessly.
i use cotton yarns too
it is make the perfect shaps , it is Simple and Salary
i used bad quality of wool when i first started then my friend tell me about cotton yarn
it is expensive in my Country But it does not matter as long as the best .
=)
and that’s what i have been wondering all the way home. what weight yarn. so far every question i’ve had has been easy to find. i love your blog! you’ve definitely got a new fan in me.
I like cotton yarn as well, but I don’t use it as much as I use to. I was wondering what your experience with cotton was like after washing it? It made my ami fuzzy ;/
Love what you are doing on your blog! Excellent work. Do you sell any patterns? Talk to you later!
-Rae
In all honesty I don’t wash my pieces as they have been more ornamental grown up nerd toys as opposed to clothing or children’s toys. I would imagine mercerized cottons would hold up best to washing since the mercerizing process basically smooths the fiber and prepares it for such thing. I am not sure either how cotton amis would wash as compared to acrylics either but would imagine there would be some fuzzing happening. Perhaps cold water hand washing would be the best way to minimize fiber getting too fuzzy?
I started out using the Lily Sugar and Cream ones and loved them. Then I picked up a bunch of yarns at Goodwill cheap! But like you mentioned, they are much rougher on my hands (I have sensory processing disorder which means my senses are on over load, my socks have to fit the right way, tags in shirts bug me etc anyway I am also allergic to wool and some soaps, lotions etc and often have dry skin. So yep I quickly found out that I like the cotton yarns better. I also like a small hook but like a bigger handle. I have the same hook that you use when making sack boy.
Hello!
I really admire your blog, it’s helped me a lot ever since I was just starting out in making amigurumi. I have never tried using cotton yarn before, but I’ve only heard good things about it so far. 
I’ll be sure to give it a try! Thanks!
THANK YOU!!! I was becoming so frustrated with my hook slipping through the yarn. I thought because I was new I was just crocheting too tight or doing something wrong. It never occurred to me it was the yarn. Funny enough it’s exactly the red heart I’m currently working with. I’m excited to get some cotton and hope that makes my life easier.
Hie Nerdigurumi! may i know which brand of yarn u used? I have problem finding worsted weight yarn around my area=(
so sorry!! i din check ur site properly b4 asking-.-” but i hav problem finding those yarn..
When I choose yarn for amigurumi that I will be selling or giving away, I alwadys use acrylic or sometimes cotton. The reason why has nothing to do with the yarn’s look or feel or how it holds together, but because of allergies.
I personally am highly allergic to wool, which means that at least half of the stock of any given store that carries yarn is off-limits to me. I can’t knit or crochet with it or I will suffer a reaction, and I break out into hives very badly when I have prolonged exposure to wool, so I can’t possibly in good conscience give something away or sell it to someone when I know they might react in the same way to some natural fibers.
I am told, however, that Alpaca yarn is softer than wool and is much less likely to cause a reaction, so I would suggest that as an alternative if anyone wishes to use such a yarn for amigurumi they aren’t making for themselves (although I’m not brave enough to risk it myself).