Natural Fibers and Wool Spinning

Yesterday in class we learned a lot about natural fibers. The ones we focused on were wool, silk, cotton, and linen. Wool and silk are called protein fibers because they come from animals. Cotton and linen, on the other hand, are cellulosic fibers because they come from plants. Here are some things we learned about each fiber:

• Wool
• Has lanolin oil, which is used in ointments and cosmetics
• Is the warmest natural fiber
• Comes from sheep and other animals
• Silk
• Is made from the cocoons of silkworms
• The process of harvesting the fiber kills the worm
• The color and quality of the silk can be varied based on the worm's diet
• Is lustrous and comfortable in a range of temperatures 
• Cotton
• Is relatively inexpensive
• Is used for warmer temperatures because it's absorbent and breathable 
• Is a plant fiber, coming specifically from the seed
• Linen
• The coolest natural fiber
• More absorbent than cotton, and considered more luxerious
• Wrinkles easily
• Comes from flax and is a "bast" fiber

We also had the opportunity to spin our own yarn out of wool fibers, which was a fun activity. By had, it took quite a bit of time to make just one foot of two-ply yarn! It was also difficult to keep the consistency the same throughout the yarn. Mine ended up lumpy in some parts and thin in others! It was cool how after handling the wool, all of our hands felt soft from the lanolin. 

Natural Wool Fiber, source