Headwater Wool
from knitter to knitter

YARN

By Headwater Wool 2003

How To Detect Physical Properties Of Fiber

• Distinct Features is detected by placing a garment against the skin.
• Releasing Energy is detected by placing a garment around the arm.
• Weight is detected by physical weight of the garment.
• Insulating (Is the barrier which shields the body from cold or hot air and regulates the body’s natural temperature) is detected by wearing the garment in cold or hot weather.
• Durability Or shading is something that can depend on how garment is taking care of or on fiber structure.
• Felting (Is the ability to compact or matt under high temperature and press) is detected by washing a garment in hot water or dried using hot air.
• Elasticity (Or resilience is the ability of resuming its original shape after compression) is detected by stretching and releasing the garment. Textures such as Aran or ribs can be only made of fibers that have high elastic characteristics.
• Moisture Absorbency is detected when garment is worn in dump weather or placed in the container with water.
• Moisture Releasing is detected during perspiration or dried after washing.
• Biodegradability is detected by burning the fiber; biodegradable fiber turns into ashes and easily crumbled into powder; non-biodegradable fiber turns into sticky limp and becomes solid.
• Aire circulation is the very important characteristics of all natural fibers. It allows our skin to 'breath' keeping us comfortable and healthy.

Comparative Analisys Of Physical Properties

• Wool – the King of all fibers
  Wool, spun from sheep, is the only the fiber that combines versatility and durability in use, energy capacity and elasticity in one fiber. We use wool for machine and hand knitting, weaving and felting to produce luxury Merino clothing and ordinary coarse socks, fashionable lacy scarves and felted hats, extraordinary cozy blankets and throws, artistic carpets and elegant shawls. Wool is one of the most ancient fibers and evolving with us from Stone Age for about 10.000 years.
  Insulating characteristics of wool shields us from cold and hot air and regulates our body temperature. Slow absorbing moisture characteristics of wool helps us during damp weather and keeps us dry – necessary condition for preventing muscle spasms
  A slow releasing moisture characteristic of wool regulates our perspiration and helps us from getting chills.
  *Taking care of wool: `susceptible to shrinking and pilling if not treated. Should be brushed between cleanings. Use a damp sponge on knits and finer fabrics. Usually dry cleaned. For hand washables, use mild suds in cool water; can also machine wash for 2 minutes at gentle speed, interrupting the agitation time for 10 minutes to let the fabric soak, and then completing the cycle. Do not tumble dry; block to shape on a flat surface away from heat. If labeled “machine wash- and-dry”, wash 3-8 minutes in warm water at gentle speed with mild suds. Tumble dry at regular heat setting but remove while slightly damp. To avoid stretching, press gently at low heat setting on the wrong side using a damp press cloth or steam iron.`

• Linen – the Most Durable and Elegant of All Plant Fibers
  Linen, derived from the flax plant that only grows in countries with cold summers, we use for machine or hand knitting and crocheting and weaving to make fabulous table and bed covers, delicate table serviettes, elegant skirts and blouses and esthetic face and body towels.
  Extremely fast absorbing and fast releasing moisture characteristics make linen the most preferable fabrics to ware especially during very hot summer days as it helps our body to regulate perspiration. While woven linen easily wrinkles, garments that are knitted or crocheted are very elastic. Linen is extremely durable and 100% non-allergenic.
  Flax is one of the most ancient fibers. It traces back to Stone Age era and one of the most favorable fibers of today.
  *Taking care of linen: `Fabric will shrink unless treated. Usually dry cleaned, but launders well if preshrunk. Wash 5-8 minutes in hot water at regular speed with any good detergent. Can use chlorine bleach but over bleaching may weaken fiber. Tumble dry on regular heat setting, but remove and iron while still very damp. Iron at high setting (unless treated with special finishes; see label). For maximum durability, creases should be finger pressed, not ironed into the garment.`

• Cotton – the Most Traditional of All Plant Fibers
  Cotton, derived from the outer coat of the cotton seed, we use for we use for machine or hand knitting and crocheting and weaving to make fabulous table and bed covers, delicate table serviettes, elegant skirts and blouses and esthetic face and body towels.
  Fast absorbing and fast releasing moisture characteristics make cotton the very practical fabrics to ware throughout summer days as it helps our body to regulate perspiration. While woven cotton easily wrinkles, garments that are knitted or crocheted are very elastic. Cotton is less durable and less strong then linen. It has to be treated with caustic soda and then stretched to make it stronger and more elastic.
  Untreated cotton is much softer and warmer then `mercerized` cotton. It is 100% non-allergenic fiber.
  The oldest cotton traces go back at least 7000 years ago.
  *Tacking care of cotton: `Wash 10 minutes in hot water at regular speed with any good detergent. Can use chlorine bleach on white cottons; however, some finishes react to chlorine bleach and turn yellow (see label). Color safe bleach can be used on dyed cottons. Fabric softener will reduce wrinkling. Tumble dry on regular heat setting bit don’t over-dry. Press with hot iron while damp until completely dry or use a steam iron with a slightly dampened press cloth`

• Acrylic – the Best Mimic of Wool
  Acrylic is the man made fiber and the best of all synthetics that mimic wool. Modern technology succeeded in getting very soft acrylic in vibrant colors making it is very popular for machine and hand knitting. The biggest disadvantage of acrylic is that it does not have insulating characteristic and therefore does not regulate our body temperature leaving us vulnerable for getting overheated or overcooled.
  *Taking care of acrylic: `May be dry-cleaned or hand washed. Wash on warm water setting with any good detergent. Add fabric softener to the final rinse cycle to reduce static electricity. Dries quickly, may be tumble dried at low heat setting or hung up to dry. (Sweaters, however, must be dried flat.) Seldom requires ironing if removed from dryer as soon as cycle is completed; otherwise, use moderately warm iron, never hot, on wrong side.`

• Dog Fiber – Unjustly Forgotten Fiber
  Dog fiber, spun from certain dog hair, can be compared with rabbit fiber by its incredible insulating properties. Garments, knitted from dog fiber is extremely warm and more durable comparing with rabbit fiber. In some traditions, people suffering from muscle spasms are applying belts knitted from dog fiber to sooth the pain. Dog fiber is very easy to collect and process. Traces of dog fiber go back to Stone Age.
  Taking care of dog fiber: to give the longest live to a garment knitted from the dog fiber, it is not recommended to clean it at all. As strange as it sounds, dog fiber keeps the physical characteristics of dog hair of self-cleaning. Just expose the garment to the air.
  * Care advises are taken from Vogue Sewing ISBN 1-57389-016-2

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