You are not to blame if you go to a showroom and get confused between wool and acrylic sweaters, scarves, and socks. It is a universal confusion.
In fact acrylic is a synthetic material made to mimic the qualities of wool, and if choosing between wool and acrylic fails to confuse you, then the material itself is a failure.
Wool is excellent for cold weather due to its warmth and moisture-wicking properties. It is also more environmentally friendly and biodegradable. However, it requires more care and can be more expensive.
Acrylic, on the other hand, is softer, more affordable, and easier to care for. It’s a good choice for milder cold climates.
The tactile feel of both the fabrics can be the same, the look of both fabrics can be the same, warmth of both may be equal….
But as in everything, no two things are the exact same. There are some subtle differences and some glaring differences, and many advantages of one over the other.
Basic differences between Wool and Acrylic
| Features | Wool | Acrylic |
|---|---|---|
| Material Origin | Natural fiber from sheep’s wool | Synthetic fiber |
| Warmth | Excellent insulation properties | Not as warm as wool |
| Softness | Soft and luxurious | Softer and silkier than some wools |
| Moisture Management | Wicks moisture away from body | Less effective at moisture wicking |
| Durability | Durable, long-lasting | Not as durable |
| Maintenance | Requires more care and attention | Easier to care for |
| Allergy reaction | May cause allergies | Hypoallergenic |
| Environmental Impact | Natural and biodegradable | Synthetic and non-biodegradable |
| Stretchability | Limited stretch | Stretchy and flexible |
| Cost | Generally more expensive | More affordable |
Let us see how acrylic fares against the ever favorite wool, in detail – as yarn and as a fabric, and as batting.
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Wool yarns vs Acrylic yarns
If you love crocheting and knitting, you must already have a favorite yarn type.
For most knitters, choosing between acrylic and wool is easy and straightforward. They know which one to use. Maybe even without knowing the properties that make them a favorite. Here is an outline.
The main difference between wool and acrylic fibers is that acrylic is a synthetic material, whereas wool is a natural fiber.
Acrylic is an artificial fiber that originates from petroleum-based products. Acrylic fiber has acrylonitrile molecule as its main component. Wool is a protein fiber derived from animal fibers.
While wool has been used for centuries, acrylic has emerged recently as an option
A lot of knitters prefer acrylic because of its inexpensiveness and also the availability of a variety of colors – with gradation effects, rainbow effects, lustered, iridescent effects, and what have you. Wool yarns may not be available in this variety.
Then there are the blends – wool and acrylic blends are ever favourites because they make use of the better qualities of each type of fibers to the best of their abilities.
Acrylic fabrics vs wool fabrics
Is wool fabric better than acrylic in terms of sustainability and environmental cost?
This is a big question for many of us who believe in doing the right thing for the Earth. Acrylic is derived from petroleum products which are non renewable and wool is a natural material, a renewable resource. Acrylic is made using a lot of processes that use a lot of environmental pollutants. Natural Wool also undergoes a lot of processes before they become as it does in the shops, soft and wearable, but comparatively less. Wool is biodegradable but acrylic can remain in the soil for years and years. So you can say that wool generally has a better environmental profile compared to acrylic. (though animal welfare enthusiasts may have their own say about wool)
Advantages of Wool Fabric
Wool is a protein fiber that humans have known for the longest time. Since the prehistoric era, humans as hunters have used animal skin to keep themselves warm.
When humans experienced shame, that is when they discovered wool – because wool covered the animals, they figured it could cover them as well. Thus, woolen yarn is humans’ most primitive and basic fabric.
“Earliest civilizations used animal skins to protect themselves from the environment; people soon learned how to pound wool and goat hair into felt or weave it into cloth. Wool was the most common fabric used to make clothing in Mesopotamia,” says encyclopedia.com
The commonly known wool is mostly obtained from the animal fur of sheep and goats. There are many other different kinds of wool. Fundamental features of wool are that the fabric and yarn are densely textured, and warm.
Wool is one of the most popular and sought-after fabrics because of its natural insulating property. When we talk about winters and warmth-giving garments, wool is the first thing that comes to our minds. Wool yarn is perfect for making bulky hefty winterwear.
Recently, it has been slowly losing importance because of its high price, unavailability, and access issues. There are many substitutes that can surpass the softness of wool and beat it in price. But the wool fabric is still considered a premium quality fabric with a ton of advantages.
Wool is moisture-wicking. This means it can absorb moisture (read sweat) and you will feel comfortable in it, even when too warm and sweating.
Wool is an age-old fiber, and it lasts for years. Wool items are durable and last a lifetime, so many consider woolen clothing an investment, rather than just a use-and-throw garment.
Wool resists odor and also bacterial growth. So, you can keep it safe for years. This is the same reason you would find sweaters and shawls of your grandparent’s generation intact even today.
Wool is naturally elastic and holds its proper shape even when stretched. Woolen garments like sweaters and scarves will bounce back into their shape even after you stretch them.
Wool is a fire retardant material. That means it will resist fire to a degree. This property adds considerably to the appeal of wool. Unlike many synthetic fibers, wool will not catch fire fast or be melted by flames easily.
Unprocessed raw wool may be itchy and poky because it is a natural fiber. But most Woolen yarns are processed before usage, making them softer and less itchy.
Advantages of Acrylic fabric over wool
The most important advantage of Acrylic fabric is that it is cheaper than wool. The process of manufacturing wool is more expensive than manufacturing acrylic. This also increases the cost of the woolen end products. Woolen garments are much more expensive than garments made of synthetic fibers like acrylic.
Pure wool or 100% natural woolen fiber cannot be machine washed, making it inconvenient to maintain, for many who dislike hand washing/dry cleaning. When it is washed rigorously, shrinkage is inevitable. If washed aggressively, the wool may felt, and that may not be a look you want. So, it becomes difficult to care for the woolen fabric for daily use.
Acrylic is a lot easier to take care of than wool. You can even machine wash acrylic garments.
Animal lovers may love acrylic because you don’t have to depend on livestock and animals for manufacturing acrylic. No cruelty involved; no exploitation. Acrylic is derived by dissolving polymers chemically in a solvent.
As wool is sourced naturally from livestock, and the livestock are bred in captivity for obtaining wool, and shearing the fiber from goats or sheep involves a lot of brute force. This is a messy process and is disapproved by many. On the other hand, synthetic fibers can be biochemically manufactured through various processes without involving any living beings.
Acrylics are not affected much by chemicals.
Acrylic fibers are excellent for dyeing and color retention. So, they can be used to create various designs and modern designer clothes that are impossible with wool. It is very difficult to dye pure woolen yarns, which limits their usage.
Acrylic fabric does not wrinkle. They are stretchable yarns that retain shape very well and do not get deformed even after processing or repeated washing.
Acrylic fabric does not attract any mites or insects. They are resistant to all types of insect attacks. Plus one for ease of maintenance. It takes extra effort to safeguard wool from insect attacks.
Many people are allergic to wool, so your choice will definitely be acrylic fabric. There is a natural protein component present in wool known as Lanolin. It is a potential allergen for many people and they usually stay away from wool.
Acrylic fabric generally does not cause any allergies.
Acrylic fabrics are very soft – nowadays, they are made to be softer than the softest of wool. Not to say anything about the rough and textured ordinary wool.
Acrylic fabric is highly durable. They generally last a long time.
Disadvantages of acrylic over wool
Though acrylic has emerged to be a popular option in the fabric world, some disadvantages of using acrylic can be summed up as follows:
Acrylic fabric is not a breathable fabric. Wool adjusts according to the temperature, so you will be comfortable even when it is warm or cold.
Acrylic is a synthetic material, and all synthetic fibers melt and burn quickly when exposed to flame. When exposed to high temperatures, they burn very quickly. Acrylic can catch fire easily. (In its variation as modacrylic it can be flame retardant)
Acrylic fibers are not as strong or durable as wool.
Acrylic as a garment fiber is not at all breathable, and you may feel more uncomfortable wearing acrylic than you would with wool Most acrylic garments pill a lot.
If you find pilling annoying avoid acrylic as a dressmaking fabric.
If your acrylic sweater is wrinkled you will have to use a steam iron to iron it out – high heat iron pressing can damage acrylic fibers.
Wool yarn vs Acrylic yarn
Wool yarn and Acrylic yarn are both used for knitting, crocheting clothing and accessories, and creating multiple arts and craft items.
Acrylic yarn is a manufactured man-made fiber made out of petroleum chemicals. Acrylic fiber is a 100% synthetic material made to imitate wool. It is meant to have the insulation capacity of wool but it is a synthetic fiber like nylon but with greater loft and bulk. Acrylic fibers are light in weight.
Acrylic has other features like durability and easy maintenance. Acrylic fibers were created to mimic natural wool fibers in appearance and functionality. Acrylic is also a cheaper option than wool. Acrylic yarn is best suited for making regular daily use projects because of its easy-to-care nature.
Summing up Differences Between Acrylic and Wool
Acrylic
- Man-made artificial synthetic fiber
- Source of Acrylic – Petroleum and mineral oil based. Synthetically produced through chemical engineering.
- Low on maintenance.
- Will shrink only under the influence of heat
- Only rare people have allergies to chemical-based acrylic.
- Flammable Highly inflammable and can burn quickly.
- Not breathable and generates sweat
- Cheap and affordable
- Usually bulky.
Wool
- Organically sourced from animal fleece and coat.
- Shrinks every time it is washed.
- Breathable
- Maintenance needs time and effort. It cannot be washed like regular garments. Requires expensive cleaning agents
- Many people have allergies to the Lanolin present in wool.
- Somewhat flame resistant.
- Expensive
- Available in many weights but less bulky than wool.
Questions
Is acrylic warmer than wool?
Wool is warmer than acrylic. Woolen fiber has better insulation and thus offers better warmth. The natural structure of wool fibers allows them to trap more air between them. This creates a layer of insulation that helps retain body heat.
Original acrylic (earlier variants) was not even closer to wool regarding warmth and heat protection. However, some modern textile engineering methods produce acrylic that gives more warmth. But, it can never match the comfort and breathability of wool. (never say never, who knows)
Wool is always a better choice in manufacturing woolen garments or blankets and quilts. Some varieties of acrylic offer warmth similar to wool, but the comfort of wool is still higher.
Acrylic felt vs Wool Felt
This is a very difficult choice because of a number of reasons – for one, you may not get woolen felt as easily as craft acrylic felt, so if you are not getting it what is the whole purpose of the question? Acrylic felt is found easily across craft stores. From preparing school projects to holiday decorations at home, acrylic felt is the top choice of craft enthusiasts all over the world.
Wool felt, on the other hand, is not easily available. You will hardly get ready-made wool felt to work with. One has to take up a woolen ball and felt the fiber to get a considerably sized piece for the craft.
Wool felt is thicker and dence it is difficlut to cut and sew especialy if there are many layers. Acrylic is easier to work with.
Acrylic felt is available in a wide range of hues appropriate for multipurpose usage.
But those who use them swear by wool felt. It has a unique charm and softness. Wool felt can be great for occasional unique decorations and also for applique on garments.
Which Fabric is More Comfortable to Wear?
Woolen fabric is more comfortable to wear. As already discussed, wool is more breathable and gives superior warmth and insulation against cold weather. Moreover, wool is breathable and moderately moisture absorbing.
Acrylic, on the other hand, cannot absorb sweat and is not breathable. Thus, wool is a better choice in terms of functionality.
But Why do Many still Prefer Acrylic Over Wool?
Acrylic is cheaper than wool. Moreover, it is easily sourced and needs significantly less maintenance. One can preserve acrylic in the same condition for a long time without much care.
Acrylic is not subject to shrinking or wrinkling and holds color very well. People are not usually allergic to acrylic; they can be destroyed only when very high heat or flames are used to burn them.
Which material, wool or acrylic, is more durable and long-lasting?
Wool is generally considered more durable and long-lasting compared to acrylic. Wool fibers have natural elasticity and resilience. This allows them to withstand repeated use. Have you noticed that wool sweaters maintain their shape and surface texture over time, better than acrylic sweaters. Wool garments are known to be highly resistant to tearing and stretching. In a lot of ways, wool is considered more durable in the long run.
Which fabric, wool or acrylic, is more prone to pilling and fuzzing?
Acrylic fabric is generally more prone to pilling and fuzzing compared to wool. Wool fibers have a higher resilience and can withstand friction better than acrylic fibers. Though pilling can still occur to some extent with wool fabrics, it is more resistent.
Which fabric, wool or acrylic, have better moisture-wicking properties?
Wool has better moisture-wicking properties compared to acrylic.
Which fabric, wool or acrylic, can cause skin irritation or allergies?
Wool is more likely to cause skin irritation or allergies compared to acrylic. Wool contains lanolin, a natural oil found in sheep’s wool, which can cause skin reactions in some individuals. But some individuals may still experience skin irritation or sensitivity to certain dyes or chemicals used in the production of acrylic fabrics. As acrylic is a synthetic material, it may cause discomfort because it is not breathable.
Related posts : How to make wool fabrics less itchy
Which fabric, wool or acrylic, is easier to care for and maintain?
Acrylic is generally easier to care for and maintain compared to wool.
Wool
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