[h-cost] Non destructive testing for wool/synthetic
Hi everyone, This is not directly historical but I knew this list would be my best chance of an answer. My uncle sent my 2 month old son a gift of a hand knitted cardigan which he bought from a charity stall. without a label I have no way to know if they have used wool or acrylic yarn. I know I can test using bleach or a burn test but I don't want to damage the garment is there a non destructive test I can do on a finished garment? Thanks Elizabeth ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Non destructive testing for wool/synthetic
Super fast way: wool is a natural fibre and has scales. So this means that like human hair you have a smooth direction and a not smooth direction. If you take a lock of hair, hold it tight you can easily run another finger down the length but it catches on the way up. Wool I think is less scaly, but acrylic is not scaly at all. So if you can get a few loose threads you could feel for that. Same reason woollens fluff up but worsteds are smooth. In worsted the fibres are spun in one direction in woollens they are in both directions so the fibres catch with the scales more readily. This will really only identify natural vs spun plastic though :) But wool also smells of wool when washed, and I find acrylic squeaks upleasantly when rolled between the fingers. My school uniforms used acrylic for the bulk of the fibres and this was the sensation I most recognise. A really good microscope would definitely identify the fibres :) Michaela On 18 August 2016 at 18:46, Elizabeth Jones wrote: > Hi everyone, > This is not directly historical but I knew this list would be my best > chance of an answer. > My uncle sent my 2 month old son a gift of a hand knitted cardigan which he > bought from a charity stall. without a label I have no way to know if they > have used wool or acrylic yarn. > I know I can test using bleach or a burn test but I don't want to damage > the garment is there a non destructive test I can do on a finished garment? > Thanks > Elizabeth > ___ > h-costume mailing list > h-costume@mail.indra.com > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume > -- http://arrayedindreams.com https://instagram.com/i.chimaera/ https://www.facebook.com/michaeladebrucecostumes/ ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Non destructive testing for wool/synthetic
Wool often has a distinct smell when wet. Try getting a bit wet and sniffing. -Original Message- From: h-costume-boun...@indra.com [mailto:h-costume-boun...@indra.com] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Jones Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 11:47 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: [h-cost] Non destructive testing for wool/synthetic Hi everyone, This is not directly historical but I knew this list would be my best chance of an answer. My uncle sent my 2 month old son a gift of a hand knitted cardigan which he bought from a charity stall. without a label I have no way to know if they have used wool or acrylic yarn. I know I can test using bleach or a burn test but I don't want to damage the garment is there a non destructive test I can do on a finished garment? Thanks Elizabeth ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Non destructive testing for wool/synthetic
If you know somebody who is allergic to wool - and they are willing - they could hold it and see if it triggers a reaction. Otherwise, microscope. You can buy pretty good microscopes these days, including some that plug into a computer via USB so you can capture images. Wool is scaly like hair, synthetic fibres are smooth. Rebecca Message: 1 Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2016 16:46:35 +1000 From: Elizabeth Jones Hi everyone, This is not directly historical but I knew this list would be my best chance of an answer. My uncle sent my 2 month old son a gift of a hand knitted cardigan which he bought from a charity stall. without a label I have no way to know if they have used wool or acrylic yarn. I know I can test using bleach or a burn test but I don't want to damage the garment is there a non destructive test I can do on a finished garment? Thanks Elizabeth ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Non destructive testing for wool/synthetic
If the reason you need to know is to figure out how to wash it, you could simply plan to hand wash it to be on the safe side. Baby things are small and usually don't take forever to wash or dry. If there are other concerns (such as potential allergy), the smell and feel tests should give you a clue. You can also ask other knitters to smell and feel it if you're not sure you know how to tell. Alternatively -- neither of the "destructive" tests requires more than, say, half an inch of yarn or a pea-sized quantity of fuzz. Carefully clipping off some "fuzz" from the inside without actually cutting any yarn, or looking for a place to clip a little off the inside of a seam allowance, could let you be sure. On Aug 17, 2016, at 11:46 PM, Elizabeth Jones wrote: > Hi everyone, > This is not directly historical but I knew this list would be my best > chance of an answer. > My uncle sent my 2 month old son a gift of a hand knitted cardigan which he > bought from a charity stall. without a label I have no way to know if they > have used wool or acrylic yarn. > I know I can test using bleach or a burn test but I don't want to damage > the garment is there a non destructive test I can do on a finished garment? > Thanks > Elizabeth > ___ > h-costume mailing list > h-costume@mail.indra.com > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume OChris Laning - Davis, California + http://paternoster-row.org - http://www.ravelry.com/stores/medievalknitting ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Non destructive testing for wool/synthetic
And now I remember where I recognize you from, Chris. Rav. I’m oh-so-imaginitively MarjorieW. ==Marjorie Wilser (wandering a bit off topic) > On Aug 19, 2016, at 7:46 AM, Chris Laning wrote: > > If the reason you need to know is to figure out how to wash it, you could > simply plan to hand wash it to be on the safe side. Baby things are small and > usually don't take forever to wash or dry. > > If there are other concerns (such as potential allergy), the smell and feel > tests should give you a clue. You can also ask other knitters to smell and > feel it if you're not sure you know how to tell. > > Alternatively -- neither of the "destructive" tests requires more than, say, > half an inch of yarn or a pea-sized quantity of fuzz. Carefully clipping off > some "fuzz" from the inside without actually cutting any yarn, or looking for > a place to clip a little off the inside of a seam allowance, could let you be > sure. > ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume