Is there an easy way to tell if knitting yarn is wool or acrylic?

Question

Is there an easy way to tell if knitting yarn is wool or acrylic?

Answer 1

In addition to what Kaye has said, animal and plant fiber yarns (wool, cotton, etc.) will have a fine, crumbly ash when they self-extinguish (all natural fibers self-extinguish when removed from the source of flame).  Animal fibers smell like burning hair, plant fibers like burning paper.  Acryllic yarns will not self-extinguish and smell like burning plastic (they smell like what they are), when they are extinguished the end will be a hard k**b that does not crumble easily.

Answer 2

Burn test.  Wool will smell like burning hair and self-extinguish.  Acrylic is highly flammable and smells "chemicalish"

http://www.fabrics.net/fabricsr.asp

Answer 3

the label should say. If you lost it, compare it to some with a label. Most can tell by the feel.

Answer 4

The label should say.