Some can go from XL to infant size, while others can go from XL to Medium. You put the socks in the washer and dryer. The polymer coats the entire fiber and the scales are smoothed over somewhat. Sport Weight: Gauge: Needle #5, 6 stitches per inch. Felting is a fabulous, funky way to transform a knit or crochet piece into something completely different. Superwash wool can allow you to … Many people have thought that the itch caused by wool products is an allergic reaction, possibly to lanolin, but studies at Massachusetts General Hospital have shown that this is very rare. This means that it should not shrink in the wash. Covering the fibers with polymer reduces or eliminates this behavior. At bottom is a fiber superwashed with polymer. absorb and then adsorb water vapor but repel liquid water. The finer the fiber, the easier it will break. To prevent interlocking, wool is usually dry-cleaned or hand-washed. 1/9/21 Corinne or Idril (pending poll results)These sweaters were designed by Jennifer Wood and are in the book Refined Knits (and are available as individual patterns). This video explains why shrinkage isn’t the only problem you have to worry about. BUT ... there are problems with superwashing that, depending upon the intended use of the fiber, can outweigh the advantages. NEW Matcha 33161. Superwash wool has some cool benefits aside from the laundry. Advanced. But the downside to wool's "scaliness" is that the scales can ratchet against each other when agitated ... and the ratcheting effect only goes one way. Many people are afraid to work with wool because it is so easy to shrink. Superwashing eliminates the ratcheting in one of two ways. However, it can be minimized by buying quality fibers. The project “A Project in Sheep’s Clothing” would be perfect for learning to felt. Animals are just like humans with regard to the quality of their fleece. When they’re done, you have a new pair of miniature hiking socks. To do this the scales on the surface of the fibre are removed or chemically treated to prevent the wool from felting during the washing process. If you poked yourself with a toothpick, it would not bend and you would feel the poke. However, some people shrink wool on purpose in a technique commonly called felting—though it's more correctly called fulling. They may be a contributing factor, but the main factor in whether a fiber is itchy or not is the diameter of the fiber. 1.2K views View 3 Upvoters A superwash wool is a special wool product that has been treated or processed in a way that allows it to be machine washable. Caring for Superwash Wool The scales of the fiber are sharply defined. When they are agitated, the scales on the animal fibers lock together. Cotton and linen do not have memory and do not hold their shape well. If anyone knows who we can contact, we'd love to hear from you, please.Â. We do not believe we will ever use superwashed fiber for our wovens. Fiber quality is affected by genetics, nutrition, and the overall health of an animal. BUT ... there are problems with superwashing that, depending upon the intended use of the fiber, can outweigh the advantages. So the yarns can shrink when agitated, and obviously shrinkage is a problem. Note that the wool from some sheep has reduced scales on the fibers, so those wools are also much less likely to felt. It is still a good match, but the ply structure of yarn has an effect on the finished fabric and what it's best used for. Most smartwool stuff is pretty stable, too. Receive a detailed report of your skill level and a list of tutorials to help you improve. In the later technique, no change will come. Many people are afraid to work with wool because it is so easy to shrink (though some shrink wool on purpose) and superwash wool can allow them to work with great fibers without worry. Superwash wool is made by exposing the fiber to a chlorine gas that erodes the scales and then it is coated in a plastic called Hercosett 125. The same is true for animals. It’s frustrating but unavoidable. Both of these things will cause your garment to felt and shrink. Lay flat to dry. In general merino wool is much finer than the wool of other sheep, and so it bends when it presses against the skin, rather than pricking like thicker fibers, so it is less likely to create an itch. With new technology in yarn, this all changed, and now we have superwash wool, which is a natural fiber that has been treated so that it can be washed in the machine. The itchiness you feel is those fibers poking your skin. 10-25-2011 #6 The smaller the diameter of the fiber, the softer the fabric will be. Superwash wool has been treated to make the scales less "grabby", so the wool has a much reduced tendency to felt and shrink. Over time, wool sweaters can become a little baggy. The one fiber that is missing from this photo is superwash wool. Processed to IWTO Standards. BUT ... Of course there are disadvantages to superwashing, else it would always be done: These differences in properties between superwashed and natural wool fiber make them better or worse for different uses. Wool is one of the most sensitive and unpredictable materials out there. Also polymer does not equal plastic. This is a microscopic image of several fibers: One of the first things you will notice is that the animal fibers are not smooth. As we grow and gain more experience, we think it likely we will make more knitted products, and our use of superwashed fiber for the knits may grow. when fibers are lined up in opposite directions, the scales prevent the fibers from slipping past each other ... the scales hold the yarn together. Merino likes to shrink more than any other wool but if you are looking for a yarn that shrinks make sure it is not superwash. If you enjoyed this article and are a knitter, you might benefit from joining the online Mountain Hollow Farm Knit Along Club. Superwash is a finish that is added to wool yarns so they can be machine washed without shrinking. Most wool used in sock yarn has been processed to turn it into ‘superwash’ wool. Alternatives to superwash sock yarn: O-Wash Fingering by O-Wool (A certified organic superwash process) Beaverslide 2-ply Sport sock weight (merino with mohair to add strength) Beaverslide 3-ply DK sock weight (merino with mohair to add strength) MOCO Qivuit Musk Ox sock weight (Qivuit is stronger than wool and does not shrink) Does Merino Wool Yarn Shrink? Disturbing no? Superwash wool and some slippery wools like merino wool have a tendency to grow and stretch if you're not careful when washing, while untreated wool can felt and shrink. the wool itself does not come from China, but because of the rules of international trade its country of origin is listed as China if it has been spun, dyed, or superwash treated there. Each poll will be released on the Knit Along Club Facebook page on the date indicated and will remain active through Saturday. Yarn Wash Info: For best results, place into a mesh wash bag, machine wash in cold water on delicate cycle. Superwash wool yarn is a somewhat controversial yarn for fibre artists. Lower quality coarse yarns are used to make inexpensive rugs. Pilling is a common phenomenon with fine animal fibers. This yarn contains: Merino Superwash Wool (100%) This yarn also has a regular, smooth texture, but it is S-on-S plied rather than plied (3 or more plies). Anyway, an astute Fake Plastic Fish reader Rebecca left a comment on that post just a few weeks ago letting me know that Superwash wool is actually coated with a polymer to prevent the wool from shrinking. In this article, I’m going to attempt to outline what superwash woollen yarn is in a factual manner. The short fibers are not held into the twist as well as the long fibers. To shrink a wool item, wash it in hot water and then dry it. The larger the diameter of the fiber, the more itchy it will be. Why Do People Want Superwash? It makes a fabric that is dense, warm, and strong – perfect for bags or cold-weather items. Etching the scales away with acid (the superwash method used on our fiber) also changes the way the wool handles water. First a couple answers on the why of superwash wool. This is true for all types of fibers. Fleeces are sorted according to grade, and sold accordingly. Luckily, shrinking them is a quick an easy process. The $60 sweater will feel wonderful, but it will start to pill and wear out long before the $400 sweater. So vapor coming off the body, and humidity from outside air can be slowly taken into the fiber, but the water from rain or even a swim does not enter the fiber. Their ends poke out of the yarn, and that is what forms the pills. Each knit along includes written and video tutorials to guide you through every step of the pattern. When wool is machine-washed and dried, these scales can become interlocked, causing the wool to felt and shrink. If you poked yourself with a blade of grass, the grass would bend and you would barely feel it. You might think that the scales are what cause a fiber to be itchy. Odourless. Our Pants are normally worn without a base layer, but Pants don't hug the body, and legs don't generate moisture and oils like the torso. Below left is a photo of an untreated, natural wool fiber. And those scales enable wool to absorb and then adsorb water vapor but repel liquid water, which is key to WeatherWool's All-Weather performance. I suspect that is the difference between a $60 Sam’s Club cashmere sweater and a $400 Nordstrom’s cashmere sweater. Wool is scaly, kind of like a snake. And pill. It also makes it … Some people have thick hair; some have thin hair. As you can see the coarse and fine wool are the most likely to felt, but alpaca and cashmere will also felt and shrink if agitated enough. This doesn’t even include the toxic chemicals that are used in the overall process. An example is the best way to illustrate this…. Some people find the feel of polymer-superwashed fiber to be uncomfortable ... much more like a synthetic fiber ... which makes sense, given the synthetic coating on the wool, Superwashing involves chemical treatments that many would prefer to avoid, Superwashed wool loses the "memory" ... a woolen garment over time will conform to the wearer, but superwashed wool does not have the garment memory, Superwashed fiber is more prone to pilling. In addition, these are knitted products and the way they are worn and used does not require toughness or strength. Wool is one of the easiest fabrics to shrink. It depends on the type of wool used. However, we will also explore the use of natural fiber for our knits. As mentioned above, however, our two knitted products, the Watch Cap and Neck Gaiter, are worn directly on the head and neck, and washing easily is more desirable. Why are some fibers softer than others? The first step in processing a fleece is to determine it’s quality. You wouldn’t use coarse yarns for a sweater, but great quality coarse yarns are used to make very expensive rugs. But then, so will untreated wool. How much the item shrinks depends on the type of wool, however, so there is no surefire way to guess how much a wool item will shrink. Choosing something that will keep your feet cozy and allow some breathability at the same time takes a whole lot of time and effort. Really depends on the weave/fabric--some is more prone to shrinking than others. Superwash -- superwashing -- is treating wool chemically so that it can be machine washed without fear of shrinkage, like a towel, etc. NEW Forget-Me-Not 33162. We owe someone a PLEASE AND THANK YOU, at the very least. Some wool garments need to be dry cleaned, while others require special wool soaps. Turns out, there are two methods used to create this stuff. November 21, 2020The Brady the Snowman KAL will start November 21, 2020. I'd be more than happy to hear from people who can make it better!! NEW Wisteria 33165. OKEO-TEX Standard 100 As one of Australia's leading machine washable wool suppliers, Michell continues to remain at the forefront of recent technological advances. Superwash is a term used to describe wool that has been treated to prevent it from felting and shrinking. (Read more here). There are two major enemies of Merino wool. Smoke 3306. There are a couple of processes, and I won’t go into detail here except to say that depending on the process, it either removes the scales or fills them in to create a smooth fiber. Our goal in the Club is to help you become a better, more confident knitter. O-Wool uses a newer style of anti-shrink treatment on their fiber, one that is more environmentally friendly. A garment crafted with this yarn can safely be washed in a wash machine on the gentle cycle. As modern households have sought alternatives to the expense and environmental damage associated with dry cleaning, we have responded by … Below right is a photo of a fiber superwashed in hydrochloric acid, showing how the scales have been etched away. How do you rank in 9 primary knitting skill categories? You just purchased a new pair of merino wool hiking socks and base layer. It’s because of the structure of each individual fiber. Nice weight for baby garments and socks. I once had someone shrink an angora sweater from a size 22 to a size 4X (and I mean the Toddler size, not 4XL). Some people have brittle hair; some have supple hair. There are many variations within the two main methods of superwashing, but the goal is to enable wool garments to be cleaned in a standard wash machine, without shrinking, by eliminating the tendency of the scales to ratchet. Wool is great at keeping you warm, but it’s not so great at surviving a ride in your washing machine. Help us decide which projects to include in the Knit Along Club for 2021! Benefits of Superwash Wool . NEW Pink Lady 33164. Last but not least, I can’t talk about superwash yarn without a caveat: Remember that “superwash” doesn’t mean you can really throw it in the washer and dryer without consequence. Superwash Wool. You may wonder why some fiber is short and some is long within the same breed. You have no idea how to wash merino wool, but how hard can it be? Whereas regular wool will shrink in the wash (and may also felt), superwash wool will come out of the machine pretty much as it was when you put it in. (It’s nice to know my posts hold up over time.) It then replaces this with a synthetic coating, that makes the wool more resistant to temperature changes. Some humans have hair and nails that grow fast; some grow slow. Tumble dry low. You may have noticed this if you ever knit a cotton sweater or shawl, only to find that it grew on the hanger. The itch factor of a fiber is dependent on the thickness of the fiber.  We do not  know where these photos came from. Another superwashing method involves coating the wool fibers with a synthetic polymer so that the scales are sort of filled in and smoothed over, and again, the ratcheting is eliminated. ur tops (shirts, jackets) are almost always worn over a base layer, although in unusual circumstances they can certainly be worn comfortably on the skin, and I have personally done so many times. We use superwashed fiber only in our knitted products (Watch Cap and Neck Gaiter, plus the cuffs and waistband ribs of our Hoodie), which are normally worn directly on the skin. The gorgeous golden yarn is O-Wool Merino Chunky in the shade Mustard Seed. That’s what causes felting and shrinking. Soft 100% Superwash wool will not shrink and felt when washed. You should hand wash it with care, as described above. WeatherWool completely avoids the use of superwashing for our woven garments. Click here to learn more about this project and purchase your yarn and pattern if you need them. Superwash is a term used to describe wool that has been treated to prevent it from felting and shrinking. Interloc is good stuff that doesn't shrink if handled with reasonable care--wash delicate, dry on low or lay flat. (The scales also lend strength to wool yarn because the scales prevent fibers aligned in opposite directions from sliding across each other.). Quality yarns and garments are made with long fibers. NEW Mint 3309. NEW Daffodil 3308. Top quality fleeces are used to produce top quality yarns and garments. Snow 3300. Due to the uncertainties of the pandemic, we have decided to cancel our March retreat. Wet wool is quite malleable in terms of size, and you can get it to dry up or down a bit just by handling it properly. The wool fibers or yarns are exposed to a mild chlorine solution for a very short time followed by … We sell lovely yarns on the website that shrink very well. Fibers with a larger quantity of more pronounced scales are more likely to felt and shrink than those with fewer, smaller scales. Superwash -- superwashing -- is treating wool chemically so that it can be machine washed without fear of shrinkage, like a towel, etc. Superwash wool yarns have been treated to create shrink-resistant fabrics. Also, our tops (shirts, jackets) are almost always worn over a base layer, although in unusual circumstances they can certainly be worn comfortably on the skin, and I have personally done so many times. Lower quality fleeces are used to produce less expensive items and felted products. Yarn is made of fibers that are twisted together. NEW Breeze 33163. Wool doesn't have those scales for no reason. Our Pants are normally worn without a base layer, but Pants don't hug the body, and legs don't generate moisture and oils like the torso. Sure, your garment won’t felt (in theory), but it might still shrink a bit and can lose its shape. The thicker the fiber, the less likely it will bend when it touches your skin. They both have a feminine, flattering fit. How to Shrink a Wool Sweater. Machine Washable: Durable. Wool is highly unpredictable. We … It’s an easy knit (for a sweater) and the fit is flattering on pretty much any body. In the former technique, machine drying will eventually flake off the coating until the now-shrinkable wool remains. If the garment is storebought you should always follow the washing instructions, especially the … To overcome such issues, the ‘Hercosett Superwash Treatment’ uses chlorinated chemicals to strip the fibre of its scaly outer surface. Lastly and importantly, the information presented here is the best I can figure out after doing some research. Yes, it doesn't take much to make wool shrink. The course page is live now. Superwash wool is usually created in one of two ways: either by coating the fiber with some kind of polymer or stripping the scales on the fiber. Why do wool and other animal fibers shrink and felt but cotton, linen and synthetic fibers don’t? They hold their shape well. Find this yarn. Click on the graphic below to try it for free! 100% Superwash Wool. That’s why cashmere is so luxuriously soft – it has a small fiber diameter. Pilling occurs when the yarn is made with short fibers. But overall, yes, it can always shrink further. One general method of superwashing involves the use of acid baths to eat away at the scales ... no scales, no shrinkage due to ratcheting. Knit it too loosely, & yes, it will stretch. The same idea works with fibers. I contacted my local, much loved woollen mills (Bendigo Woollen Mills ) where I buy a lot of knitting yarn to use in my weaving projects. If the wool feels smooth and soft to the touch it’s most likely Superwash wool. It can also happen in the normal wear of a fabric as the fibers break. They are warm/hot water and agitation. 3/3/21 Flow by Norah GaughanIf you’ve never knit a sweater, this is the perfect one to start with. We all know merino wool isn't cheap. NEW Peach 33160. The best kind of yarn for crocheting slippers is the superwash wool as, unlike normal wool, it does not felt or shrink. The good news is, this kind of damage is avoidable. As socks need to be washed frequently, it is preferable that they don’t shrink and felt. We want great strength and durability and we very much desire the fiber to handle water according to Nature's design. Those scales, along with the crimp (or curliness) of the fiber are what gives animal fibers their “memory”. N.B. There are a couple of processes, and I won’t go into detail here except to say that depending on the process, it either removes the scales or fills them in to create a smooth fiber. The perfectly purple yarn is O-Wool O-Wash in the shade Blue Thistle. But if your goal is to shrink wool, yes, the dryer will work. 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