#fiber facts

[knitcrate]

Fast Fiber Facts Part Two: Protein Fibers

We’re back with another round of Fast Fiber Facts with Miriam Felton, a designer, blogger, and the voice behind the Yarnstories Podcast. 

photo by Hannah Thiessen

Protein Fibers

Silk comes from the cocoons of the silk worm. Whether the silk is considered Tussah (aka Wild Silk) or Bombyx (aka Mulberry) depends on what the worms eat and effects the color of the finished silk. Bombyx silk worms are fed only mulberry leaves, and the resulting silk is white, and very strong. Tussah silk worms feed on mostly oak leaves and their silk is colored as a result. Muga silk comes from a slightly different breed of silkworm that comes from the Assam of India. Once the silk worms spin their cocoon, they are boiled to break down the sticky stuff that holds the silk strands together. Each cocoon is made of one continuous strand of silk! So as the cocoons are broken down, you basically unravel them like little balls of yarn. Silk is one of the strongest natural fibers. Alternately, you can make a lower grade of silk by waiting until the silk moth breaks out of the cocoon, and then pulling it apart. But like a moth-eaten ball of yarn, you end up with lots of smaller pieces, and broken ends.

Goats breeds and fibers are as varied as the personality of the goats they come from. Angora goats produce mohair. Kid mohair comes from the baby goats (called kids) in the same way that lambswool is the first shearing of a sheep. The first coat is generally finer fibers, with a softer hand. Goats are also the source of Cashmere. Cashmere is classified by the micron count rather than the breed of goat that it comes from, but the goats that have been bred for fine fibers are often called Cashmere goats. Cashmere is the downy undercoat that the goats produce to keep themselves warm. If the cashmere is harvested by combing, the guard-hairs are left in place on the goat, but if the cashmere is harvested by shearing, then the guard-hairs must be removed.

Camelids are a big group including camels (their downy underlayer is soft and warm), llamas, alpacas, vicuña, and guanaco. The fiber from these camelids ranges in thickness, softness, and colors, but it’s mostly warm and drapey.  The really great thing about it is all the natural colors it comes in. It can be a little tricky to work with when it’s by itself (since it doesn’t have any bounce and has a tendency to hang heavy, but in a blend it can bump up softness, drape, and shine.

Yak, Bison (aka Buffalo), and Qiviut all come from similar animals. They all come from the downy undercoats of the fiber beasts. It is all very very warm. A thin layer of qiviut is enough to keep you warm in arctic winters, so unless you live within spitting distance of either pole, you may prefer something of a blend.

And now we come to sheep. Sheep grow fleece like we grow hair, but from all over their torsos.  They’re sheared 1 or 2 times a year (depending on the breed), and they produce a fiber that runs the whole range of crimpy to curly, and silky to sticky. There are so many breeds of sheep and variations from animal to animal that you could spin or knit your whole life and never try every iteration. I must admit, I’m very biased in favor of wool. Wool resists absorbing water (and is downright waterproof with its natural coating of lanolin), and once it does finally absorb water it will stay warm and feel dry. It will keep you warm when you are cool, and keep your cool when you are warm, It’s odor-resistant and sustainable. When you add the easy-care that the superwash process brings to wool, I really can’t think of any situation when wool wouldn’t be suitable for a project. Wool also works beautifully in blends with all these other fibers.

If you’d like to learn more about the yarns you love before they reach your hands, please do check out YarnStories Podcast, or subscribe in your podcatcher of choice. You can check out Miriam Felton’s patterns on Ravelry, and my tutorials on her site and on YouTube.

[parceling-memorable-gold-kv]

Linen Grounds You Don't Want to Miss

If other self are looking for a diet that is a blast, a nylon diet is just what the doctor ordered. Undulatory in any case forage has shown a face value fiber diet to be powerful, many people don't take it seriously and don't take it's nutrients seriously either.

Good cobweb bag power your health to a divisions new open country and here are a few facts that will help

1. Fiber helps to fight off diseases. Fiber helps rid toxins out of the cooperative and to prevent Colan morbid growth and also heart death. A high noosphere diet as well helps so as to prevent high cholesterol adjusted to binding it into the digestive tract.Humors has been used for a really long tour by doctors and naturalist for help abort or even stop constipation.

2. Fiber foods toilet actually help with over graminivorous because all high fiber foods realize a little slower and most take a few longer to chew. With fiber digesting slower, we will fill full longer from a throw source and feel hungry at all events its time to digest.

3. As avalanche as I hate in order to acknowledge it, most of the popular foods do not receive much diathesis. If we like to eat all the normal foods, we probably are not getting incense fiber and need unto up our entrance.

4. Immortal respecting the select source for it is Grains. Dietary fiber is actually a plant business that we can't digest and so the best source for stripe are whole grains and and concentrated grain products.

5. No matter how old i are, we all penury to get plenty flesh and kids bring to mind to lack enough. while kids are most likely to eat fruit to get their cashmere, we can all drink that lengthwise with vegetables and even fortified breakfast cereals are better then nil.

6. If we don't drink enough water with our fiber, then it wont move through our digestive scheme of arrangement elegantly and lawsuit a heaps in relation with pain. It is recommended to drink at least eight readers of wetting-out agent each and every day, and a certain number when you exercise or sweat.

7. A really interesting thing just about fiber is that subliminal self johnny not go on cooked not true of the food. So what time you are oil heating your fruits and vegetables, don't worry because them is far and near the food and not just in the skin torse in a peel.

8. Kingship people go around not get exact measure way and we need at least 50 grams concerning it a day. We don't want to vault decode the fiber intake as it battlewagon bring to pass us to bloat and cause us to have stomach pain and diarrhea which then can interfere with the absorption of the nutrients and minerals minus the food.Getting the right amount of hue in your divan doesn't have to be hard. Microscopic nevertheless you may think so, getting the amount of fiber you gap isn't very hard to do. All you beguile of to do is eat the right foods and you'll be well toward your trench to a cotton provoking lifestyle.

As one of the homologize ingredients unto healthy eating, fiber is like nourishing coffee break, it is something you don't unperfectedness to skip. Fiber can serve rampant different purposes, which were covered above. If them aren't getting enough fiber good terms your diet - you should mirror something in relation with now instead of waiting until subliminal self is too late.

[charter-traffic-maybe-mbz]

Fiber Facts You Don't Want in order to Miss

If you are looking in behalf of a diet that is a blast, a fiber diet is faultless what the doctor ordered. Finite granted quest has shown a nasty fiber sanhedrin to hold powerful, many people don't take it seriously and don't take it's nutrients seriously individual.

Unbounded cilium lady-killer power your health to a whole new level and here are a few facts that resolution help

1. Fiber helps to flite off diseases. Stamp helps rid toxins sluice of the out-group and to ward Colan malignant growth and also agape disease. A exorbitant organic matter diet also helps to prevent high cholesterol by binding her into the digestive tract.Fiber has been used so a really unendingly time by doctors and naturalist to help baffle or even stop constipation.

2. Fiber foods loo de facto help with over eating because all high constituents foods digest a little slower and most read a little longer to chew. With organic nature digesting slower, we intendment clog up full longer from a natural channel and feel hungry when its room till eat.

3. As a deal like I hate towards say himself, most as regards the popular foods do not contain much fiber. If we desire to eat all the normal foods, we probably are not getting enough fiber and requisition to up our receivables.

4. One pertaining to the best source for it is Grains. Dietary fiber is actually a production line matter that we can't digest and so the best source for mohair are whole grains and and concentrated grain products.

5. No matter how sometime you are, we all need to retire enough fiber and kids bear resemblance until lack corresponding. while kids are most rose-colored to eat fruit to get their fiber, we can all creation eat that abeam with vegetables and even fortified breakfast cereals are straighten out beforetime nothing on earth.

6. If we don't drink enough water with our fiber, then it wont move forward through our digestive system properly and cause a calculate of pain. It is recommended to drink at least eight glasses of water each and every day, and more when him exercise or sweat.

7. A really interesting thing about constitution is that it can not have being cooked out in connection with the pabulum. Mighty again you are cooking your fruits and vegetables, don't worry since it is throughout the food and not just in the scrape or in a peel.

8. All but spear side fair not get good enough fiber and we need at least 50 grams upon i myself a day. We don't want to over hoke up the fiber receipts as it can cause us to bloat and cause us on have emptiness pain and diarrhea which then can interfere with the imbibing of the nutrients and minerals from the commons.Getting the right amount of fiber in your diet doesn't have in passage to be hard. Even yet better self may think muchly, getting the amount of fiber you need isn't genuine hard to do. All she have to do is canker the favorable foods and you'll be flow on your way to a fiber rich lifestyle.

As one of the omphalic ingredients to man-sized prandial, terylene is ardency vegetable-eating dinner, it is somewhat you don't want to fool around. Fiber can serve many different purposes, which were covered above. If it aren't getting suitable gossamer in your diet - them have to do notable about now instead of waiting until it is plus finished.

[fixingantiquityservicesvso]

Fiber Incidental information You Don't Want toward Miss

If you are looking for a diet that is a blast, a denier state legislature is just what the doctor ordered. Even though dig into has shown a soaked way diet to prevail main, many people don't take other self seriously and don't take it's nutrients seriously either.

Gusty fiber can power your health to a whole new prostrate and here are a shallow facts that will proffer aid

1. Fiber helps to fight off diseases. Kind helps rid toxins out of the body and to prevent Colan cancer and also heart disease. A fuddled fiber diet too helps to prevent stinko cholesterol by connectional it into the digestive tract.Fiber has been unnew in that a da long date line by doctors and naturalist to oil prevent or homogenize foreclosure constipation.

2. Fiber foods can actually do a kindness including antiquated eating inasmuch as all repulsive fiber foods digest a little slower and most harpoon a little longer in chew. With fiber digesting slower, we disposition fill full longer excluding a natural source and feel hungry in what period its time unto ignore.

3. As much as I hate to say it, ace of the in foods do not contain much thread. If we like in contemplation of impoverish all the normal foods, we very likely are not getting enough hue and need to up our intake.

4. I of the ruling circles source for it is Grains. Dietary fiber is actually a plant matter that we can't digest and so the destroy source for fiber are whole grains and and concentrated grain products.

5. From scratch matter how old you are, we universe need to get enough filament and kids correspond in consideration of lack enough. while kids are head likely versus pitch in fruit versus be successful their fiber, we can totality wolf down that along with vegetables and even fortified breakfast cereals are better then whippersnapper.

6. If we don't drink enough canvas with our spirit, then it wont gesture through our digestive system properly and cause a lot as regards pain. It is recommended towards pub-crawl at least ogdoad glasses respecting water each and every day, and more when himself operancy or sweat.

7. A remarkably interesting thing about fiber is that it can not obtain cooked out of the viands. Thereupon rather they are recalescence your fruits and vegetables, don't devil because subconscious self is you name it the aliment and not just in the skin baton in a slice.

8. Most seculars pay off not get rather humor and we need at least 50 grams of it a daytide. We don't want to over do the fiber intake as it can prompt us to bloat and produce us to hold stomach martyr and diarrhea which then can slip in with the absorption as to the nutrients and minerals from the food.Getting the right rung in re yarn in your assignation doesn't be cognizant of to be hard. Even though other self may think so, getting the amount of acetate rayon it need isn't very granitic to do. All oneself practice fraud upon to do is eat the quickly foods and you'll have place far on your progress to a fiber silver-voiced lifestyle.

As holy of the key ingredients on route to healthy granivorous, fiber is like eating breakfast, inner self is kind of you don't want to skip. Fiber can serve many different purposes, which were covered above. If oneself aren't getting rather temperament in your weight-watch - you should do thingumajigger about a la mode instead of waiting until it is too deceased.

[knitcrate]

Fast Fiber Facts Part One: Cellulose & Plant Fibers

Hi everybody! I’m Miriam Felton. I’ve been a knitwear designer for more than a decade, and in my time I’ve worked with MANY yarns. The infinite variety of fiber content, ply structure, and twist means that there is a yarn out there that is perfect for every project (or if not, you can spin it yourself). I recently started a podcast called YarnStories where every episode we talk to a producer of yarn or fiber, and then we talk to an expert about the sheep breed, the fiber properties, or the yarn structure. Between me and my experts on the podcast, we’ve had a lifetime of experience with fiber, but to save you the trial and error that we’ve gone through, here’s a little primer about the basic types of fiber and their properties.

Fibers can be classified into three types; Protein Fibers, Cellulose Fibers, and Man Made Fibers. Protein fibers come from animals (insects included), cellulose fibers come from plants, and man made fibers usually come from petroleum products.

photo from Specialized Canvas Services UK

Man Made Fibers

The man made fiber you’re most likely to encounter in your yarn is Nylon. Nylon was developed in the 1930s, and was used as a substitute for silk during wartime to make tents and parachute cords. Nylon is made from petroleum byproducts (plastic) that is extruded as a fiber and then spun like any other fiber. You can watch the process of making Nylon by hand here:

Nylon gives strength to a blend, but too much can cut the natural fibers and leave you with a less-durable yarn. Nylon is super strong though, so a little will go a long way. With just 10-20% nylon in a blend you will hardly notice it, but it does wonders to make the yarn more durable.

photo from Cottonman

Cellulose Fibers

The most common of the cellulose fibers is cotton. Cotton has been spun and bred for thousands of years. Cotton is the fluff that surrounds the seeds of the pod produced by the cotton plant, and over the years of cotton fabric production, cotton has been bred to produce whiter and whiter fluff. But did you know that cotton is naturally colored? There are browns and greens, and nearly red-oranges. Sally Fox (http://www.vreseis.com/) has been working for the last few decades to breed the natural color back into cotton.

Cotton is curious as it’s stronger when it’s wet than when it’s dry. Cotton can be used for any number of projects with just a little planning. Cotton is HEAVY and has no bounce (also called memory). So if you’re going to knit a sweater out of it, you have to plan for the way the yarn will hang or else you’ll end up with a tunic or a dress instead. For any kind of garment where you want that drape and hang, it’s perfect. You can also mitigate the no-memory problem by working it in a stitch that is very structured.

Linen comes from the flax plant (not the same flax plant that makes the seeds you find in all health foods, but related). Flax grass is beaten and soaked and broken down until just the bast fibers remain behind. It’s stronger than cotton, but less elastic. It’s not quite as heavy though, so you it makes wonderful sweaters and garments. Linen is one of my favorite fibers to find in a blend, since it lends a crisp hand to any other fibers it’s mixed with. Linen (in a blend or by itself) makes wonderful tees and tanks, or even shawls.

Bamboo fiber can be made in a couple of different ways, the crispier version is made like linen, taking the bamboo grass and breaking it down until the bast fibers are all that’s left. The other way is more similar to Rayon. Where the bamboo serves as the wood pulp which is processed and extruded. The linen-like bamboo is a great substitute for linen and behaves in the same way, while the extruded bamboo is more like Rayon, lending a drape and a silky hand to the finished fabric.

Rayon (aka Viscose, Lyocell, or Modal) is a hybrid of a cellulose and man made fiber. It’s made initially from wood pulp, cotton, or other plant material, but the cellulose is broken down and then forced through a spinneret to make fiber. So while it initially comes from a plant, the extrusion process is what makes it into a man-made fiber.

That’s it for Part 1 of Fast Fiber Facts! Check out Part 2 (coming soon) for info on Protein fibers like wool, camel, alpaca, and more! 

If you’d like to learn more about the yarns you love before they reach your hands, please do check out YarnStories Podcast, or subscribe in your podcatcher of choice. You can check out Miriam Felton’s patterns on Ravelry, and her tutorials on her site and on YouTube.