T-shirt fabrics are usually woven from different types of yarns, which can be pure cotton, polyester, blended (such as polyester-cotton blended), combed cotton, ice cotton, washed cotton, mercerized cotton, Lycra cotton, etc. The choice of these yarns directly affects the texture, comfort, durability and appearance of the T-shirt.

Acrylic yarn is made of acrylic fiber, which is a synthetic fiber also known as polyacrylonitrile fiber. Compared with other man-made fibers, acrylic fiber has better softness and comfort.

When knitting a blanket, thicker, heavier yarns are often chosen because they make for a thicker, warmer, and more durable blanket. Common blanket yarns include wool (especially wool blends), acrylic yarn, or cotton (for a lightweight blanket for the summer).