Assignment 3: Fibres

Burn Testing: A Dangerous Occupation

Luckily, I came prepared:

Indulged my inner pyro:

Cotton

Jute

Sheep Wool

Dog Hair

Mohair

Mystery Fibre

  

Evidence: 

Results

Fibre	Catch light easily?	Sustain flame?	Smells like burning...	Residue
cotton	yes	yes	marshmallows	none
jute	yes	strong even in breeze, smouldered aggressively after flame extinguished	wood	grey, silky, fragile
wool	no	no	meat	black, crumbly
dog hair	no	no	meat	“
mohair 85%, 15% acrylic	no	no	meat	“
polyamide (nylon)	slow	yes, durable in breeze	meaty plastic	sticky until cold, black, shiny, brittle
acrylic	yes	yes, travelled quickly	plastic	“
acrylic 91%, rayon 9%	yes	yes, aggressive when travelling up yarn	plastic	“
unknown (product tag tie)	yes	yes	plastic	yarn too fine to leave enough residue to evaluate
unknown (blind cord)	no	yes, vigorous when sheltered	sour plastic	sticky until cold, brown and black, shiny, hard

The tag tie behaved very much like the acrylic yarns.  The blind cord was unique; it must have been a fibre or blend that I haven't tested.  I wonder if it was polypropylene?

How might these yarns be used?

Cotton: makes nearly non-stretch woven and crocheted fabrics; knitted, it stretches a lot, especially on the bias and on ribbed features such as cuffs, neck and waistband. It has no recovery until washed in hot water or put through the dryer. It is easy to wash and dry, but will shrink on first washing.  Doesn't require ironing (in this weight of yarn) and is very durable, but it stains easily and fades. Moulds if put away damp. Cold when damp. This type of cotton yarn is best used for craft items, utility pieces such as bags and mats, and informal clothing such as pullovers and slippers. Not warm enough to use for protective winter wear.

Jute: is also non stretch, but it is very coarse and rough, not suitable for garments or items such as bag straps that will be in contact with skin.  Mildews if left damp, but it tends to shed so it is typically not washed. Not strong enough to be used where safety is a concern as it frays easily.  Useful for rustic decorative items and gardening.

Wool: makes a naturally stretchy and resilient knit and a stable woven.  If not labelled superwash, it requires standard wool-washing procedures but not an unreasonable amount of care.  Naturally a little moisture resistant, wool is not as likely as cotton to be stained, but stains are possible. Does not need to be washed often, but must be shaken and well aired before storing.  Should be properly cleaned and dried before long term storage. Should be stored with moth prevention. Colourfast. Can wrinkle, but these are easy to steam out. Warm when damp. This yarn would be fine for handknitted items; it is also an appropriate weight for a hand-operated knitting machine. Suitable for garments and textile art.

Mo (angora goat): very slippery fibre that needs to be spun with a binder to keep it together.  Can felt very easily, so requires cautious washing.  Colourfast. Tends to shed hairs almost as much as the dog! Can be knit, woven or felted. Produces fluffy fabrics that are very warm for their weight.  Useful for people with chronic pain who find the weight of winter clothing a problem. Takes colour almost as brilliantly as silk so it tends to be prized by textile artists.  Handles well on a knitting machine.

Dog: less stretchy and resilient than wool; produces a slacker fabric that has less body. Requires more caution in washing than wool. Colourfast. May itch or produce allergic reactions in some wearers. Suitable for knits or wovens, but I didn't have more than four inches of yarn from my dog, and half of it is burnt now, so...

Polyamide and acrylic: these particular examples are all slippery, droopy yarns with little body.  They will produce slippery, droopy fabrics, although most acrylic yarns sold in stores are different in character, having been produced to imitate wool.  They are machine washable and dryable with moderate heat, but should not be ironed.  Ironing is unlikely to be necessary because they don't hold a crease. Stain resistant and colourfast. Bought to do projects at other people's request, I have little interest in using them myself as I usually prefer natural fibres to work with.

Helpful Resources

Melville, S. (n.d.). Techniques every knitter should know (online video course). Retrieved from
http://www.craftsy.com/class/essential-techniques-every-knitter-should-know/3997?_ct=sbqii-sqjuweho-qbb&_ctp=3997,1

Parkes, C. (n.d.). Know your yarn (online video course). Retrieved from
http://www.craftsy.com/class/know-your-yarn-choose-the-perfect-yarn-every-time/3909?_ct=sbqii-sqjuweho-qbb&_ctp=3909,23

Werker, K. (n.d.). Crochet basics and beyond (online video course).  Retrieved from
http://www.craftsy.com/class/crochet-basics-and-beyond/4728?_ct=sbqii-sqjuweho-dum&_ctp=2

How to clean wool. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-wool/

Stain removal. (n.d.). Vancouver, BC: David Suzuki Foundation.  Retrieved from       http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/downloads/2012/qog-stainremoval.pdf