Tag: yarn

Let Your Fantasy Lead Your Wheel

Fantasy threads are made in twists, combining different types of these into various forms. Fantasy threads are used in sweaters and woven dresses, for upholstery fabrics and for the decoration of fabrics for men's and women's suits. These threads are often made with mixtures of natural fibers and made by man. In any case, they are designed for a specific end use, and can be varied by numerous possible combinations of fibers, twists, dubbings and colors.

Types of fantasy threads:

Bouclé

It is one of the most used fantasy threads. Bouclé (French hairlock) is a type of fabric whose surface resembles rip binding. Bouclé is made partly or entirely from hair yarn and effect twirl, often using knots, bumps and slings. It is characterized by tight waves that are projected from the body of the thread at moderately regulated intervals. Bouclé yarn is used for woven sweaters, knitted and flat knit dresses and upholstery fabrics. The fabric can be used for dresses and coats as well. The ratiné yarn is similar in construction to the bouclé, but the waves are continuously twisted and are not spaced.

Chenille Thread/Stumpwork

Chenille is a term derived from a French word meaning caterpillar. It refers to a luxurious yarn especially soft, with hair coming out everywhere. Combed wool is usually mixed with other fibers. This type of chenille yarn is used for clothing made of knitted fabric for external use. In thicker threads, chenille is used to obtain prominent superficial effects on suits and coats. .

Another type of chenille yarn is often called chenille skin, used for chenille rugs.

Metallic Thread

The metal thread is a sheet of metal, aluminum, gold or silver, coated on both sides with a flat or colored plastic film and then cut into narrow ribbons. Plastic-coated metal wires do not become obscured. Metal threads have been produced by joining aluminum sheets between two layers of clear or transparent plastic film. This is the thread called the metal leaf type. A second class called.

Metallic type uses a layer of polyester film (mylar) treated with vaporized metal that is subsequently joined between two layers of transparent film.

Spotted/Mottled Threads

It is made by twisting many times in a short space one end of thread around another, causing some or elongated places (specks) on the surface of the thread. Sometimes a binder is used to hold the speck in place. Specks are usually spaced at varying intervals. Spotted threads are sometimes also called button threads.

Paper Thread

It is made by cutting and twisting wet paper to form individual thread ends, which are then woven into knitting work or in foot and weft fabrics like other threads. Since these yarns have strength they are suitable for making burlap, fiber mats, car seat covers, hats and handbags.

Plastic Thread

It is the coated yarn made of natural or synthetic fibers and that has been submerged in plastic that adheres forming a protective layer. It has the peculiarity of being highly resistant to tensile, elongation and the chemical agents that act on it, advantage that differentiates it from metal threads, very sensitive to oxidation and attack of acidic products.

Splashed

Splashed is the thread with an elongated button that has been twisted forcefully and attached to a base thread. A seed thread is a thread provided with very small buttons, often made from man-made threads and applied to a natural or dyed base thread.

The button is a soft, elongated knuckle. The thread that forms these buttons can be continuous or can be made by wick flakes inserted at intervals between tie-down threads.

Combed Yarn

What was once an arduous process done by hand is now a highly specialized industrial technique. Combing the raw fibers that are used to make a thread or yarn is industry in and of itself. In this sector, the short fibers that carry unwanted plant material are removed, small impurities that still remain after the caring are separated and the fibers are processed.

This might seem like a waste, but these impurities are not beneficial to the

All this improves the uniformity of fiber length which is essential to achieve very fine yarns of good quality and strength.

The short fibers removed give rise to the sub product which is transported pneumatically to a press.

With regard to the production values stops achieved with state-of-the-art equipment fully automated, the order of ~70-75 kg per hour is reached, corresponding to about 500 strokes of the comb with a density of 80 gr/m. This high production is achieved thanks to computer synchronization throughout the line.

Costs today have been reduced dramatically compared to previous-generation machines, as significant energy savings have been achieved, fewer minor styling erasers thanks to excellent fiber selection and high machine efficiency and short machine downtime, among other improvements.

The fully automatic roll changer and thread splicer produce the best splice quality and the automatic roll transport system complete the features in the modern styling systems. Through these innovations the modern system was able to improve over the past machines

Classifying Fibers

The spinning is based on mechanical procedures and unlimited length with unlimited raw materials.

These materials or elements can be divided into 3 classes:

  1. Short filaments (short fiber) such as cotton, wool etc.
  2. Intermediate length filaments such as hemp, jute and wool.
  3. Filaments of determined length such as silk.

In the process we will first work with machines called flap, card, which is reduced to cleaning the fiber. The following machines of the process to regularize the base of the fiber for further processing..

When talking about yarn or yarns, or even of simple fibers twisted with each other, we talk about the base material (this is important no matter what the desired output is) and since ancient times, it has been marketed based on its quality, with a measure of length, thickness and weight.

Cotton yarns, wool, silk, etc., even if they are apparently cylindrical there is more variation, and still lack a lot of what we have come to expect in modern life, uniformity, since it does not have a regular diameter, therefore its thickness cannot be determined as a wire, etc.

Where it turns out that it can only be based on length and weight.

The classification of the fibers are in two groups:

  1. Constant Weight System
  2. Constant Length System

When it is necessary to refer to the thickness of a yarn or thread it is clear that it is difficult measuring it due to the small size and by the irregularity due to the twisting and tension of the yarn especially in the natural fibers.

An indirect system of expressing thickness was then used and the concept of numbering and title arose.

In spinning systems there are several forms of holder or numbering of yarns whether the source material is cotton, wool or synthetic.

There are several methods for numbering threads. The coexistence of all of them is due to the inertia of the custom, since with some only of them would be sufficient.

Numbers that describe the characteristics of a thread are called the title, and must be preceded by the technique that was used.

Numbering systems are classified into two groups well differentiated by their opposing approaches: Direct Systems and Reverse Systems.

The Many Uses of Thread

Special crochet threads are usually treated threads. They are very soft threads, 100% cotton. And, if you want to make quality items, of excellent quality.

The most important feature of these threads, which differentiates them from thread for other use, is that they are mercerized.

It is a special procedure for treating cotton. It was invented by JhJohnon Mercer in 1844. Mercer was an English scientist who specialized in textile issues. Later, in 1890 the system was perfected by H. A. Lowe. This process involves treating cotton fibers with sodium hydroxide. The mercerization swells, and brings shine and softness to the cotton strands.

The process of John Mercer, from where this word comes, mercerization, achieved a swollen fiber, with a lot of resistance and that managed to make the fiber better at absorbing the different inks and dyes. The problem was that during the application of this treatment, the total volume of material was greatly reduced.

H. A. Lowe's contribution to this system was to retain the tight cotton fiber during the process to prevent it from shrinking. He got what he wanted and also got a glossy finish for crochet threads.

This mercerizing process alters cotton fiber, and causes the walls of plant cells to inflate and transform into reflective surfaces. This causes the silk-like shine and softness of the crochet threads that we enjoy so much.

The current mercerizing system continues to use this process developed more than a hundred and fifty years ago. Some crochet threads have double mercerization, which gives them twice the strength and shine. They are more expensive, but useful when you need threads that have even more quality.

In crochet, in addition to using cotton as a raw material, other materials can be used. We can use wools of different types, such as mohair or cashmere. You can also use materials such as bramante, silk, raffia, macramé (a decorative textile made by knotting and weaving), metal threads: silver and gold, acrylics, fabric strips, leather laces and the list goes on.

There are countless different options in today's crochet threads. They are almost limitless and each one can help you continue to reach new levels of creativity.

An important rule when choosing a ball is to rub it against your skin to feel it in contact with the body. If the touch is soft and warm, it will be a good choice and you won't be disappointed when you make a wearable. This test should be done whenever we buy balls, but especially when we want to knit baby clothes (as even more care is needed), seek out threads you find skin is delicate, soft and smooth to your skin.

Tip: It is preferable to use threads that can be machine washed.

Crochet yarns are sold in 150 gram skeins and in 25, 50 and 100 gram balls. The balls are ready for use when they are bought, but the skeins, must be altered before using them, you will have to make them balls.

The ideal thickness of yarn will depend on the kind of work you plan to do. There are factors that can influence this thickness, such as spinning type, moisture, or storage.

A Short History of Spinning

The spinning wheel is a very old tool and has often been important as a symbol. Among the best known is that of St. Elizabeth of Hungary who spun for the poor.

Wrongly associated, popular culture has linked the wheel to the tale of Sleeping Beauty. This error arose from the proliferation of illustrations showing the protagonist pricking herself with a hypothetical needle on a wheel. However, the wheel does not consist of any needle-like part. Originally, Sleeping Beauty was punctured with a spindle.

In India, the wheel is a symbol of the struggle against British imperialism. As part of his campaign of civil disobedience, Gandhi convinced his followers that the best way to attack the British Empire was not to buy Manchester's textile products and make the clothes themselves by hand. The campaign inspired many people and succeeded in peacefully hurting the interests of powerful colonialism, helping the peoples of India achieve independence. Thus, the wheel became one of the symbols of India's independence.

The wheel first appears in about 3000 BC.

The spindle spinning wheel arrived in Europe from the oriental region towards the end of the 12th century. It began to spread in Central Europe in the 13th century, as the source evidenced by prohibitions on the use of the spindle spinning wheel for the guilds associated with cloth making.

The following prohibitions are documented, for example: 1224 Venice, 1256 Bologna, 1268 Paris, 1280 Speyer, 1288 Abbeville, 1292 Siena, 1305 Douai. In the crafts regulations of the Weber von Speyer it is expressly permitted only for the production of yarn.

The reason for the restriction to yarn is controversial. The bans may have been enacted to protect the high quality of the wool yarn produced with a hand spindle. For example, the so-called Livre des metiers from Bruges (ca. 1349) states that wool spun with the spindle spinning wheel is generally too weak, uneven, insufficiently rolled and too knotty. The spindle spinning wheel remained banned for guild use in some regions until the 15th and 16th centuries.

The first pictorial proof of a (still hand-driven) spinning wheel dates back to 1480. The inventor of this completely new functionality of the spinning device is unknown. Leonardo da Vinci later designed a spinning mechanism with a longitudinal spinning wheel, which probably did not spread. A foot powered was developed in the middle of the 17th century.

The first mechanical spinning machines of the 18th century were used as templates for both of the above-powered spinning wheel systems. The slightly older Spinning Jenny is based on the two-stage settling technique of the simple spindle, while the spinning frame developed almost simultaneously used spinning wheels.

Even after the introduction of more modern spinning machines, the spinning wheel was still used in the domestic area and was not drive-out of style until the 19th century.

Even today, modern spinning wheels are being built and developed by numerous craft companies, mostly for the needs of leisure spinners. There are even electrically operated spinning "wheels" in which the pulling of the thread is still done by hand, while the flywheel is replaced by the electric drive. This spinning equipment are mainly used in small businesses.

The Many Fibers of Spinin

The most enjoyable aspect of spinning is that you get to work with many different types of fiber. Each one brings with it its own properties that make it challenging to work with. Each one has its own unique character when it is completed.

Natural fibers, without exception, require several successive processes to obtain clean and uniform fiber, suitable for yarn. This short fiber, (a few centimeters), has a rough or twisted surface that facilitates its cohesion with similar fibers.

Natural fibers can be:

Of animal origin.

  • Wool
  • Silk
  • Mohair
  • Cashmere
  • Angora

Plant-based.

  • Cotton
  • Linen
  • Jute
  • Hemp

And artificial fibers.

Chemical fibers are obtained by extrusion: regenerated cellulose in the case of artificial fibers or synthetic polymers in the case of synthetic fibers. These fibers are long, i.e. they are already spun to be able to manufacture fabrics with them, but they can also be cut to spin them as if it were natural fiber.

The wool of the sheep is easily synthesized, as it is curled by nature, but can also spin the hair of other animals, such as yak, goat, angora rabbit, and alpaca, among others.

The Art of Recycling Clothes

Recycling wool or yarn clothing can be a solution for knitting in crises. Face it we have all been there, but many of us have never taken the plunge.

When I was younger, there were times when there was not enough money left to buy yarn. Depending on the project we have in mind it can be a significant outlay to buy the balls of yarn we need to weave our garments.

I learned then that it is important not to let the crisis stop me! So I came up with a simple solution that allowed me to create the item I had in mind without breaking the bank as it were. How? We can recycle clothes. We can recycle the yarn.

The first place to search is in the closets and storage spaces, those rooms that we have dedicated to storing the output of our projects.

When we look through the clothes we have in storage it becomes apparent why we will not be wearing a certain item again. Though if we look closely we can see the reason why we originally purchased them. In clothes that are no longer worn we can find a wealth of resources for future projects. Things that have fallen out of favor can get a second chance on life.

Before we begin we should be clear that we are only interested in cotton yarn and wool garments, although you could also be served some synthetic fabrics, given they have similar properties.

If you can't find what you are looking for, check the rakes, the cheap ones, the second-hand clothes stores, etc..

The web is also helpful, since you can shop and find the opportunity to recycle clothes that are sometimes completely new.

The garments have to be checked in great detail, first, however. Go over them from top to bottom and front to back. Handmade wool and cotton garments are ideal, but they are very rare. Better to recycle plain colored clothes than multi-colored garments or those made from pieces of fabrics. We want long strands with very few knots where it was joined.

How it is done

With the garment clean, we'll have to start unstitching its parts. We'll look for the seams and undo everything we can.

We will separate all the pieces: the collars, the sleeves, each piece that was previously sewn with a needle.

We'll start undoing each piece from the top, from the last points that were made. Make sure to identify these carefully before you begin.

The most comfortable and sensible way to go about this is to make balls while undoing the parts. That way we won't end up with a mess of threads. In addition, with the tension of the ball, the yarn loses the curly shape it gets when it is knitted together.

The next step is to make it into skeins. There are winders marketed in different sizes, volumes and prices. Slower, more laborious and homemade, but just as effective, will be to use the backrest of a chair or the open and outstretched arms of some "volunteer". My husband was mine for several projects. He watched tv during the process.

We'll wash the skeins again to smooth the thread. If we don't like the color it has, we can dye it in this process. We can also smooth the thread of the skeins with steam.

When the skeins are dry, we'll have to make them into balls again. To do this, we will reuse the different systems that we have seen above: skeins, chair or volunteer.

And now I do think we have everything we need for our next project.

Know Your Yarn

Fiber yarn consists of transforming the (x) fiber into (y) yarn, this operation takes place when the different properties are utilized to obtain a desired result. This is done through addition of threads, when twisting several short fibers at once to bind them together and produce a continuous strand; when they are spun (twist) long filaments you get stronger threads, also called yarns.

The way the fibers are spun to produce yarn has a direct influence on the properties and appearance of the final product. The direction of spinning when producing yarn also influences the texture of the fabric.

Yarn with S torque or Z torque.

Natural fibers—except silk—are short; are processed to produce yarns with which fabrics will be manufactured. Nonwovens are produced directly from fiber. 'Chemical fibres', both artificial and synthetic, go through the yarn process during manufacture; this results in long, continuous filaments, which must be cut if they are to be mixed with natural fibers.

The yarn is done in several stages. The process of yarn manufacturing can be of two types: artisanal and industrial.