CAN YOU THINK OF ANY TIME DURING YOUR DAY THAT YOU ARE NOT TOUCHED BY FIBERS?

fibers Animal Fibers Plant Fibers Man-made/Synthetic

Animal fibers Wool from Sheep

Shearing Sheep Just like a haircut Overdue for shearing freshly shorn A professional can shear a sheep in Less than 2 minutes and will remove The fleece in one piece. In which season does the Shearing take place?

How does sheepskin differ from wool?

Alpaca Llama Camel

Cashmere Goat Mohair/Angora Goat Angora Rabbit

Horsehair Yak Yaks are large bovine animals living in the mountainous areas of Asia, such as Tibet, Mongolia, and the Himalayas. To keep warm in these cold climates, they grow a coarse long hair with an under layer of down similar to cashmere. Yak hair resembles human hair and is sometimes used in hair extensions. WATCH OUT!

Opossum The Problem. The Australian Brush Tailed Possum was introduced into New Zealand in 1850’s and with no natural predators their numbers have grown to plague proportions. Government agencies have not been able to eliminate continued significant damage to native forests and endangered wildlife species. The Solution. Possums fur is an ideal fiber for knitting yarns. A thriving fur industry means an enduring effort to harvest the invasive species, sending funds, jobs and international attention to the very heart of the problem. Knitting yarns almost always feel good in your hands, but knitting with possum yarn feels good on your conscience. Possum Fiber Yarns are Luxurious and Versatile

Silk Where does silk come from? Silkworms are not worms, but caterpillars The larvae of moths The silk comes from their cocoons

Females laying eggs Larva eating mulberry leaves Growing larger before making cocoon Trays with silkworms Sorting cocoons 5-8 cocoons reeled at one time SERICULTURE A labor intensive industry requiring many workers and a carefully controlled environment for the silkworms

Weaving silk cloth Why is silk so expensive? 110 cocoons for a tie 630 cocoons for a blouse 3000 or more for a dress

Plant Fibers Cotton What is the significance of cotton in US history?

Flax / Linen Flax Plants Flax Seeds Flax is called linen after it is spun and woven

Other Bast Plant Fibers Ramie Hemp Jute

Other Bast Plant Fibers SISAL ABACA Abaca drying in Costa Rica Most abacá is pulped and used in a variety of specialized paper products including tea bags, filter paper and banknotes. Used for rope and is resistant to salt water damage. Traditionally used for rope and twine, as well as paper, cloth, wall coverings and carpets. Major production is in Brazil.

Manufactured Fibers Man-Made Synthetic Rayon Polyester Lyocel/tencel Acrylic Acetate Nylon Latex Spandex Fiberglas Lycra Soysilk Bamboo Synthetic Fibers are the result of an extensive research by scientists to increase and improve upon the supply of naturally occurring animal and plant fibers that have been used in making cloth. Man-made fibers are those that are made artificially, but from from natural raw materials (often cellulose from wood).

Bamboo and Soy Bamboo Fabric This incredible grass is very versatile. Not only a material for floors and furniture, a yummy snack, a Panda bear staple, and a houseplant that even the most negligent of plant owners can’t kill, bamboo is fast becoming an easy fabric choice for fashion designers. Bamboo grows about a yard per day without the use of pesticides or fertilizers. Bamboo is rarely replanted, because it shoots back up after it’s cut down. As a fabric, bamboo has some wonderful natural properties. First of all, the feel of bamboo is amazing, like silk and cashmere combined. It’s also hypoallergenic and many people who typically experience allergies to fabric find bamboo to be a good solution. There are also natural properties in bamboo that make it resistant to bacteria, and therefore also resistant to bacteria-caused odor. The ultimate self-drying fabric, bamboo wicks away water faster than cotton. Soy silk This material feels just like it sounds, silky, and is derived from the waste used in making tofu. The soy protein is extracted and the fibers are forced out, then cut just as typical fabric would be. What is Soybu?

Choosing which fibers to wear Cold weather…Animal fibers INSULATE Warm weather…Plant fibers “BREATHE” allow air to CIRCULATE

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