Just to chime in…but to say basically what everyone else has said…
As a beginner…I used acrylic. It was cheap…and I didn’t have any other experience with knitting…it was fine. As I got more experience…I could see what a good wool fibre could do (warmth, felt better to knit with etc), so I started spending on my knitting like a hobby, not like a cautious buyer trying to justify cost of a FO.
Depends on who I am knitting for in the end. I like acrylic for baby stuff (I only knit blankets and toys for babys now. I hate knitting something that will maybe get used once before the baby outgrows it) and if I am teaching knitting…I will use acrylic. For anything I want for me or special gift for someone I know will get use of it…it is going to be some sort of natural fibre.
I read somewhere that wearing nylon/acrylic clothing on a plane could up your chances of getting serious burns if the plane crashes, because of these fiber’s tendencies to melt into your skin with intense heat.
Thank you! Now I have a real reason not to get on a plane. 
This is what I’ll tell the next person who wants to know why I won’t fly.
And that’s why the US Army only accepts donations of knitted helmet liners made of wool for soldiers.
Mountaineering expeditions require all wool for all sweaters, hats, mitts and the like. Acrylic banned.
Makes sense! I have never seen any sheep on fire, either!
I used to like flying, but when I was in medical school our pathology professor showed us slides of the Sioux City crash. Absolutely stomach-turning! Still sometimes the only way to get somewhere far away is to fly.
Just put my boy on a plane to Japan for a summer stay with a youth program. When I heard about the Asiana crash in San Francisco, I was like, “That’s awful!” AND “Whew! The chances of that happening again right away are slim!” Can’t wait 'til he lands back home again!
The chances of anything happening in a plane are slim, you’ve got more chance of being killed or injured in a car crash than a plane crash, but no one gives a second thought to jumping in their car each day and heading out somewhere!
Hope your son has an enjoyable trip Jinx, what a great opportunity.
If you’re knitting for a baby or someone who’s prone to throwing up on their chest (like a drunk husband), then acrylic is priceless as you can throw it into the washing machine … not always a brilliant idea with wool.
I have always knitted/crocheted with acrylic. Mostly for the simple reason that my husband is allergic to all animal fibers.
I wish I could try something in alpaca or quiviut or something “fancy” like that, but I can’t.
Wishing I could knit with something natural,
knitcindy
Like a drunk husband? :roflhard: Thanks for the laugh! I needed it today.
ROFL David!! Thanks for the laugh. You made my day with that delightful snippet. :roflhard:
Cindy you could always try cotton
Thanks!
I have used cotton to knit dishcloths and placemats/coasters.
knitcindy
after i read up on quivet i really wanna use it but it’s sooo expensive and i don’t have the money for it
I suppose I could try wool occasionally, but I haven’t yet because I never know what would happen with allergies around here.
So I try to avoid it (and other natural fibers) altogether, just to be on the safe side.
Oh well. I can always read about them. I love that book, “The Knitter’s Life List”. It has whole chapters devoted to all kinds of fibers.
I live my natural fiber stash vicariously!!!
knitcindy