This is a photo of two skeins of yarn that were wrapped on the same niddy noddy. The grey one is from our very fine (low 20's) and crimpy ram, Bond. The teal one is from the britch wool of Captain Kidd, his britch wool was long and wavy, with little crimp, and is coarse, somewhere in the low 30 microns.
I washed the skeins and hung them to dry in the exact same fashion, with no weights. Notice how Bond's yarn is so much shorter? I thought this was a good illustration of how finer/crimpier fibers have so much more elasticity than the wavier, less crimpy fiber. The grey skein will stretch to the length of the teal one, but then bounces right back to its natural length.
Both have their applications. Bond's wool will be used for a very nice hat for Rich. The remainder of his fleece has not been spun, and I will spin it very fine for a lace scarf. I deliberately spun it thicker, but the whole time the fiber was fighting me, screaming to be spun gossamer thin. So I will succumb and spin the balance of the fleece as fine as a spider web. Can't wait.
The teal yarn is for either more market bags, or else I will use it on a weaving project - placemats or table runners or something, once I figure out how to weave. But definately not for anything requiring next to skin softness or any elasticity (socks/mittens/hats).
3 comments:
EXCELLENT illustration, Jen! Thank-you!
Imagine trying to put all that into a description using only words.....I think the picture speaks for itself.
I have some roving from a sheep I sold and it microns around 30 AFD, so I thought I'd use the roving and braid some chair pads. Nothing goes to waste if you find the right use of it.
Thanks Jen for illustrating this truth. There IS a big difference between the two types of wool and the application of each. Education like this is what is needed. Thanks!
Post a Comment