Soy Yarn

Soy Yarn

If you’ve used  yarn that’s stretchy and very slippery, chances are you were working with soy yarn.Originating in the 1930s, soy yarn is made from byproducts of food manufacturing that would normally be thrown out. Instead, they put the waste through an extrusion and wetspinning process to make it into fibers to be used to make yarn. The process is so easy to do that many stores do it themselves or people make their own soy yarn at home. Soy yarn looks like regular yarn, except for it is slick like silky yarns. It became increasingly popular in the 2000s as crafters wanted to use more natural products.

In addition to being used for yarn in crocheting and knitting, soy can also be made into fabric. Soy/cotton and soy/wool blends are also just as popular as just soy yarn. They blend together two different materials and create a unique combination. When used alone, soy yarn is very strong yet soft. It can be spun in a variety of ways including ribbon or yarn tubes.

Soy yarn takes dye very well and can be made into a variety of colors. During the first few washes, this yarn can bleed easily onto other items and is best washed alone. Although it bleeds, the colors of the yarn remain very crisp and clear. Yarn stores often will sell dyed soy yarn as well undyed so people can color it themselves at home. Some dyes can cause the yarn to get a little rough and alter the original texture; this should be taken into consideration when thinking about what you will be making with this soy yarn.