56: Yarn Detectives Part 2

In Episode 55 we talked about how to the weight of mystery yarn; this week we're talking about ways to identify its fiber content. Grab your notebooks, goggles, and adventurously scientific spirit. Here we go! Smell Test Animal fibers: it will smell like a wet sheep! Maybe a barn/hay smell too Silk: may have an earthy or fishy smell Synthetic fibers: generally no smell, maybe oily/artificial smell Plant fibers: generally no smell Felting Test Animal fibers (including silk): will felt if non-superwash Synthetic & plant fibers: will not felt Bleach Test Animal fibers: will fizz and dissolve in 12-24 hours Silk: will dissolve in approximately two days Synthetic & plant fibers: won't dissolve, may lose color Acetone Test Synthetic fibers: will dissolve Animal fibers, silk, and plant fibers: will not react much at all Burn Test Animal fibers: will burn slowly and curl away from orange flame, will smell like burning hair or feathers Silk: will burn slow and curl away, may char, may smell like burning hair or charred meat Plant fibers: burn fast & give off smoke, leave light colored ash * cotton has a yellow flame * hemp & jute has a very bright flame * linen, hemp, and jute ash will still be in the shape of the yarn Synthetic fibers: will burn (or really, melt!) quickly and emit a strong, black smoke What's on our needles this week: Felix Cardigan designed by Amy Christoffers Gresham Wrap designed by Michael Vloedman Send us your letters! [email protected] make good: a knitting podcast