DIY Network

Knit Picks: Au Naturel All the Way Natural- and recycled-fiber yarns are making their mark in the needle-arts world.

Don't be alarmed: we don't mean that you have to do your yarnwork wearing "nature's own"! It's simply our way of saying that no matter what you think, all yarns are not the same.

Yesterday's wools and acrylics, although still perfectly serviceable, have had to make room for a plethora of exotic — even bordering on the bizarre — fibers and blends. Here's a look at, and a sampling of facts about, some of the 21st century's most intriguing treats for knitters and crocheters.