Acrylic is a man-made petroleum based material designed to mimic the properties of cotton and wool.

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Goats hair was originally used to create tents, and is also mentioned in the bible goats hair as , sack cloth, "The sun became black as sackcloth of hair" (Rev. 6:12).

Goats hair is an itchy and uncomfortable textile to wear, and was used in mourning and repentance, "They would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes" (Matt. 11:21). St Thomas More is reputed to have worn the goat hair shirt enshrined in Buckfast Abbey, Devon.

It is thought that linen has been used as a textile fibre for at least 10,000 years, and can be found in surviving textiles from Ancient Egypt. Linen is obtained from the flax plant, which grows for exactly 100 days before being harvested and soaked in pond to soft the bark to aid flax processing.

Linen is very strong, and is more absorbent and faster drying than cotton, making it comfortable to wear in hot weather. However linen will wrinkle and crease permanently, due to the cracking of the fibre.

Polyester is a PET petroleum based thermoplastic material. It is one of the world's most popular textiles, and it is used in both consumer and industrial products. Although it is not sustainable, it can be recycled into yarn sand also into clear plastic bottles.

Rubco is made from 90% polyurethane and 10% polyester. The yarn weather resistant is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, and is used in the automotive industry.

Wool is a protein hair fibre with scales running up the length, which will permanently interlock to produce felt if subjected to heat, moisture and friction.

There are many types of sheep breeds, ranging from ancient such as Soay (1st Century AD),to more recent developments created by intensive farming (merino). Depending on the breed, hair length can range from 40mm to 150 mm - the longer the hair, the finer and softer the wool.

Air hardening clay does not need a kiln to cure, and can be coloured with any conventional paints. It is usually made from natural material and a polymer, such as paper fibres and glue.

Cotton is a cellulose material. The soft, fluffy mass of fibres growing around the seeds of the Gossypium plant, are processed to produce cotton. The plants are usually found in India, China, United States, Australia, Brazil or Uzbekistan.

Hemp or industrial hemp forms part of the Cannabis family, and is used to create rope, textiles, clothing, shoes, food, paper, bioplastics, insulation, and biofuel.

Nylon first appeared in the 1930’s as a synthetic alternative to silk. As a petroleum based thermoplastic material, it can be moulded into a solid form or spun into a fine fibre.

Polypropylene is a plastic, but is considered one of the safest. It is approved for use in food containers and textile carpeting, as it does not emit toxic fumes when burnt.

Rug wool is thicker and coarse than the wool used for garments, as it is designed to be hardwearing. Some rug wool also includes a small percentage of nylon to make it moth resistant.

Alpaca comes from a is a camelid mammal (similar to camels) found in South America. There are two types, Huacaya and Suri alpaca.

Although cotton is sustainable and biodegradable - the average cotton T-shirt requires 750 litres of water, for growing, processing and dyeing. Some of these T-shirt will form part of the 300,000 tons of clothing going into landfill every year.

Jute is extracted from the bark of the white jute plant (Corchorus Capsularis), and is know as the 'Golden Fibre' due to is silky golden appearance.

The fibre has natural UV resistance. Jute is is both biodegradable and recyclable, and also grows quickly within about 4-6 months without the need for fertilizers and pesticides - making it an efficient and sustainable material.

Paper yarn is usually made from a long fibred cellulose material to strengthen the paper. It is then cut into strips, and is either folded or twisted for additional strength.

Reflective yarn is manufactured with glass beads or micro prisms to reflect the light.

Manufactured in the USA, Jelly Yarn® is a smooth, vinyl yarn created by artist Kathleen Greco.