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Vegan yarn covers all yarns for knitting and crochet that do not contain fibres or by-products of animal origin. In this guide, we explain which fibres fall into this category — plant-based, manufactured and synthetic — how they behave, which certifications to look for, and which specific yarns work best depending on the project you have in hand.
If you are looking for an alternative to traditional wool for ethical reasons, because of an allergy to animal fibre, or because you prefer cooler fabrics that are easy to care for, there is plenty to choose from. At Garmon Yarns, we import directly from Turkish brands such as Gazzal, Fibra Natura, YarnArt and Etrofil, and we work with leading European names such as Scheepjes, DROPS, Rico Design and BC Garn, so the vegan-friendly range is broad and well documented.
What is vegan yarn and how does it differ from animal wool?
Vegan yarn is any yarn for knitting or crochet whose composition does not include animal fibres — neither sheep’s wool, merino, alpaca, mohair, cashmere, angora or silk — nor dyes or treatments derived from animals. It includes plant fibres (cotton, linen, bamboo), manufactured fibres (lyocell, viscose) and synthetic fibres (acrylic, polyamide, polyester), including their recycled versions.
Technically, the word “wool” refers only to the fibre obtained from sheep’s fleece, but knitters and crocheters use the term colloquially for any wound yarn. That is why we talk about cotton wool or acrylic wool even though, strictly speaking, they are yarns.
Compared with animal wool, vegan yarn is usually cooler, does not itch on sensitive skin and is easier to wash. On the other hand, some plant fibres have less elasticity and lower thermal capacity, so for specific projects it is worth choosing the right composition.
Which types of fibres are considered vegan-friendly?
Three major fibre families are considered vegan-friendly: plant-based (cotton, linen, bamboo, hemp, jute, paper raffia), manufactured (lyocell or Tencel, viscose, modal) and synthetic (acrylic, polyamide, polyester). Added to these are the recycled versions of many of them, which are increasingly present in the catalogue.
Plant fibres: cotton, linen, bamboo, hemp and jute
These are natural fibres obtained from plants, with good breathability and wash resistance. Cotton is the star option: from organic cotton certified by GOTS to mercerised cotton with sheen. A standout is Scheepjes Organicon, a 100% organic cotton yarn certified by GOTS that the manufacturer itself declares suitable for vegans.
In the shop, you can see the full range in our cotton yarns collection, with combed, mercerised and organic cotton.
Linen adds structure, a rustic look and a great deal of freshness; at first it feels stiff, but it softens after the first wash. It has a clean drape that is highly valued in summer garments and bags. You can find it in our linen yarn collection.
Bamboo has a silky feel and fluid drape, ideal for tops and flowing garments. Hemp and jute, which are more rustic, are mainly used for bags, baskets and home décor. Most of these fibres can be found in bamboo yarn and in the rest of the plant-based compositions.
Manufactured fibres: lyocell (Tencel), viscose and modal
They are made from plant matter — usually wood pulp — through a chemical process that regenerates the cellulose into yarn. Lyocell (Tencel) is produced in a closed-loop system with recyclable water and solvents, making it the most sustainable option in the group. It has a very soft feel and works brilliantly in garments.
Viscose provides drape and a discreet sheen, perfect for fluid shawls and flowing tops. It requires a little more care when washing than cotton.
You will find these references spread across our lyocell yarns collection and the viscose blends available in the shop.
Synthetic fibres: acrylic, polyamide and polyester
These are vegan by composition, as they come from petroleum derivatives with no animal input. Good-quality acrylic works very well, goes a long way and comes in a huge range of colours; modern anti-pilling acrylics are a good choice for blankets and amigurumi, as you will see in the acrylic yarns collection. Polyamide and polyester usually appear as reinforcement in blends for socks or hard-wearing garments.
Recycled fibres are of particular interest: they reduce environmental impact compared with virgin fibre. You can see the full range in the recycled fibres collection.
Quick comparison of vegan fibres
| Fibre | Feel | Drape | Coolness | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Soft, natural | Medium | High | Amigurumi, granny squares, baby items |
| Mercerised cotton | Soft with sheen | Medium-high | High | Colourful amigurumi, tops |
| Linen | Rustic | Medium-low | Very high | Bags, summer garments |
| Bamboo | Silky | High | Very high | Tops, drapey shawls |
| Lyocell / Viscose | Very silky | Very high | High | Camisoles, fluid shawls |
| Anti-pilling acrylic | Soft, even | Medium | Medium-low | Amigurumi, blankets |
| Recycled fibre | Variable | Variable | Variable | Sustainable projects |
Which yarns do we recommend for each type of project?
The choice depends on the project: 100% cotton for amigurumi and baby items, viscose or bamboo blends for garments with drape, anti-pilling acrylic for large blankets. Below are our recommendations with real references from the catalogue, all free from animal origin.
For amigurumi and toys
What works best: 100% cotton with good stitch definition in solid colours. Three specific references:
- Rico Design Ricorumi DK: 100% cotton, 25 g balls, designed specifically for amigurumi. It has Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 certification, Class I.
- Scheepjes Catona: 100% mercerised cotton, with 113 solid colours and EN71-3 certification, which guarantees safety for children’s toys.
- DROPS Safran: 100% combed Egyptian cotton, with Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Class I certification, highly recommended by crafters in reviews for its soft feel and firm stitch definition.
In all cases, prioritise solid colours for the main parts of the toy. You can see the selection in yarns for amigurumi.
For baby garments
Organic cottons with GOTS certification are the safest option. Two standout references:
- Scheepjes Organicon: 100% GOTS organic cotton. The brand itself describes it as “completely suitable for vegans, with no animal products or by-products”. Fingering weight, and it reuses 95% of its wastewater in the process.
- Gazzal Organic Baby Cotton: 100% GOTS organic cotton made in Turkey, 50 g balls with 115 m, non-itchy on sensitive skin.
You can find the full selection in the GOTS-certified yarns collection.
For tops, camisoles and summer garments
Viscose or bamboo blends give a professional drape. YarnArt Symphony combines 80% cotton and 20% viscose (125 m per 50 g ball) and is Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified. For easy-going 100% cotton, Scheepjes Sunkissed has a very distinctive gradient effect. For mid-season garments with more structure, Scheepjes Linen Soft blends linen, cotton and acrylic in 135 m per 50 g ball.
For blankets, granny squares and colourful projects
Mercerised cotton keeps colours vibrant after washing and gives defined stitches. Scheepjes Catona (fingering) and Scheepjes Cahlista (100% Aran cotton with double gassing) are two very popular references for granny squares. For a more budget-friendly option, DROPS Paris (100% cotton, with some colours also available in a recycled version) performs very well with a good quality-price ratio.
What should you check before buying a vegan-friendly yarn?
Beyond the fact that it does not contain animal fibres, there are five factors that make the difference between a decent yarn and an excellent one for your project. Always check them before adding anything to your basket, especially if you are buying a brand or composition for the first time.
- Exact composition. Not everything described as “eco-friendly” or “natural” is vegan: some yarns contain small percentages of wool or silk. Check the product details.
- Weight. Fingering for small amigurumi, DK for baby garments, Aran for blankets, worsted for winter accessories.
- Metres per ball. This determines how much you need. Calculate by metreage, not by number of balls, especially when comparing prices between brands.
- Certifications. GOTS (organic textiles), Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (absence of harmful substances) and EN71-3 (safety for children’s toys) are the most relevant labels.
- Colour treatment. In reviews, it is common to read that the on-screen colour differs slightly from the real one. If getting the exact shade matters to you, write to us beforehand.
Are vegan fibres more sustainable than animal ones?
Not automatically: it depends on the fibre and the process. GOTS organic cotton grown without pesticides and dyed using responsible methods has a very different footprint from conventional cotton with intensive irrigation. Virgin acrylic is not the same as recycled acrylic. Sustainability depends on the full lifecycle, not only on non-animal origin.
If this is your main criterion, the most coherent options combine plant fibres with organic certification and recycled fibres. Scheepjes Organicon, for example, reuses 95% of its wastewater in the process; DROPS Paris has a recycled cotton version; and the Scheepjes Stone Washed and River Washed ranges incorporate recycled fibres in their blend.
Who might a yarn without animal origin not be the best option for?
There are projects where an animal fibre still performs better. For maximum warmth in a technical mountain jumper, for the elasticity of a very structured jumper or for an ultra-light shawl with lots of loft, merino wool or alpaca offer performance that no plant fibre fully reproduces. These are specific cases, not the norm.
For the vast majority of projects — amigurumi, baby clothes, spring and summer garments, blankets, accessories, bags, home décor — there is a vegan-friendly fibre that fits perfectly, often with better performance than its animal equivalent. And for those who craft for people with sensitive skin or a lanolin allergy, it is quite simply the best option.
Conclusion: how to choose your ideal vegan yarn
Choosing well is not complicated if you are clear about the project: first the composition that suits it best, then the right weight and, lastly, the details that make the difference (certifications, metres per ball and colour treatment). Three steps and a good technical product description are enough to get it right first time without wasting time.
At Garmon Yarns, we test references before including them in the catalogue. Explore the full range in our yarns by composition section and write to us if you are unsure about a specific fibre.
Frequently asked questions about vegan yarn
Does vegan yarn itch like sheep’s wool?
No. The most common fibres — cotton, bamboo, lyocell, viscose or good-quality acrylics — do not itch, even on sensitive skin. That is why so many crafters choose organic cotton for baby clothes and projects that sit directly against the skin. If you buy acrylic, always look for an anti-pilling, good-quality reference: very cheap acrylics can feel scratchy.
Which vegan yarn is best for amigurumi?
100% cotton in solid colours with good definition. Rico Design Ricorumi DK (100% cotton, 25 g balls), Scheepjes Catona (100% mercerised cotton with EN71-3 certification for toys) and DROPS Safran (combed Egyptian cotton with Oeko-Tex) are three tried-and-tested references. Avoid multicoloured yarns for the main parts of the toy.
Are there vegan yarns for winter jumpers?
Yes. Cotton blends with anti-pilling acrylic work well for mid-season garments. For more structure, yarns with a percentage of polyester hold their shape better than pure cotton. No vegan fibre matches the thermal capacity of merino wool or alpaca, but this can be offset with a heavier yarn and a denser stitch pattern.
How do I know whether a yarn is genuinely vegan?
Check the composition in the product details: it should list only plant-based, manufactured or synthetic fibres, with no percentages of wool, silk, alpaca, mohair, angora or cashmere. At Garmon Yarns, we always state the exact percentages and mark the references that the manufacturer officially declares suitable for vegans, such as Scheepjes Organicon.
Are all recycled fibres vegan?
It depends on the source material. Recycled acrylic or polyester made from bottles or synthetic garments is vegan because its composition remains 100% synthetic. A recycled yarn that blends various textile fibres may contain traces of reclaimed wool, so it is worth checking the final composition. In our recycled fibres collection, we always state the exact composition.
What is mohair? Properties, uses and why choose it for knitting
Tencel and lyocell yarn: what they are and why they are so special
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