Cotton, linen, hemp, bamboo and a growing family of more unusual fibres like eucalyptus, banana and seaweed all offer something a little different from wool and alpaca. They're soft, breathable and wearable, with the kind of drape that suits warm-weather makes. Here's what plant-based yarn is, how these fibres behave and how to choose the right one for your next project.

Pima cotton is a genuinely distinct fibre from regular with specific properties that set it well apart from the cotton most of us are familiar with. For makers who value softness, stitch definition and wearability, it's a very satisfying fibre to work with. What exactly is Pima cotton, how is it grown, and why does it behave differently in your hands?