Editing Yarn (section)

=== Natural fibers ===
{{main|Natural fiber}}

====Cotton====  
[[File:Flügelspinnmaschine.jpeg|thumb|right|[[Cotton-spinning machinery|Flyer spinning]] of cotton]]
The most common plant fiber is [[cotton]], which is typically spun into fine yarn for mechanical weaving or knitting into [[cloth]].<ref name="advameg">{{cite web
 |title       = How yarn is made
 |publisher   = Advameg
 |url         = http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Yarn.html
 |access-date  = 2007-06-21
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070616053622/http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Yarn.html
 |archive-date = 2007-06-16
}}</ref>

====Silk====
[[Silk]] is a natural [[protein]] [[fiber]], some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of [[fibroin]] and is produced by the larvae of the moth ''[[Bombyx mori]]''. Silk production is thought to have begun in China and silk thread and cloth manufacture was well-established by the [[Shang dynasty]] (1600–1050 BCE).<ref name="postrel">{{cite book |last1=Postrel |first1=Virginia |title=The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World |date=2020 |publisher=Basic Books |location=New York |isbn=9781541617629 |page=58}}</ref>

====Linen====
[[Linen]] is another natural fiber with a long history of use for yarn and textiles. Linen fibers are derived from the [[flax]] plant. <ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XR4mCgAAQBAJ&q=%22linen%22+used+to+make+yarn&pg=PA70|title=J.J. Pizzuto's Fabric Science: Studio Access Card|last1=Johnson|first1=Ingrid|last2=Cohen|first2=Allen C.|last3=Sarkar|first3=Ajoy K.|date=2015-09-24|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA|isbn=9781628926583}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llOi2BeViCwC&q=%22cotton%22+used+to+make+yarn&pg=PA311|title=Soft Surfaces: Visual Research for Artists, Architects, and Designers|last=Juracek|first=Judy A.|date=2000|publisher=W. W. Norton & Company|isbn=9780393730333}}</ref>

====Other plant fibers====
[[File:40-QWSTION-BANANATEX-WARPING-LAUSCHSICHT.jpg|thumb|[[Manila hemp]] warp yarns being prepared for weaving in a modern textile factory]]
Other plant fibers which can be spun include [[bamboo]], [[hemp]], [[maize]], [[Urtica dioica|nettle]], and [[soy]] fiber.<ref name="vikki" />

====Animal fibers====
The most common spun animal fiber is [[wool]] harvested from [[sheep]]. As long fibers make better yarn, sheep have been bred over time to produce longer fibers. This increases the need for [[Sheep shearing|shearing]] to prevent pests and overheating.<ref name="doyle">{{cite journal |last1=Doyle |first1=EK |last2=Preston |first2=JWV |last3=McGregor |first3=BA |last4=Hynd |first4=PI |title=The science behind the wool industry. The importance and value of wool production from sheep. |journal=Anim Front |date=May 17, 2021 |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=15–23 |doi=10.1093/af/vfab005 |pmid=34026311 |pmc=8127695 }}</ref>

Other animal fibers used include [[alpaca]], [[Angora wool|angora]], [[mohair]], [[llama]], [[Cashmere wool|cashmere]], and silk.<ref name="vikki">{{cite book |last1=Haffenden |first1=Vikki |last2=Patmore |first2=Frederica |title=The Knitting Book: Over 250 Step-by-Step Techniques |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |location=New York |isbn=9781465482402 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qbW1DwAAQBAJ |access-date=6 November 2024}}</ref> More rarely, yarn may be spun from [[camel]], [[yak]], [[common brushtail possum|possum]], [[musk ox]], [[vicuña]], [[cat]], [[Chiengora|dog]], [[wolf]], [[Angora rabbit|rabbit]], [[bison]], or [[chinchilla]] hair, as well as [[Turkey (bird)|turkey]] or [[ostrich]] feathers.