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Spinning Study Group Samples: Sept 2020 - to present

28 Jan 2021 4:48 PM | Susette Shiver (Administrator)

This page summaries the work of the Local Cloth Spinning Study group from its inception September 2020 to the present continuing via monthly meetings. Eventually, we plan to produce a booklet detailing information on fiber obtained from farmers and producers within our Blue Ridge Fibershed. Updated last: Feb 2021

Below are snapshots of fibers spun at study group sessions since September 2020 to jog our memories and so that others can see our starting materials.

I hope to add photos of finished yarn down the road from the participants!
Please see the blog entitled Local Cloth, Fiber Farmers for more details on many of the fibers and where they were obtained.

For the study, fiber samples are transported to Echoview Fiber Mill where various characteristics are measured.

Here is a link to a glossary of measurements made of our study fibers using the OFDA system at Echoview Fiber Mill.
In particular, fibers with a comfort factor (CF) of at least 95% are best for for clothing worn next to the skin, such as scarves. This means that 95% of the fibers have a measurement of 30 micrometer (abbreviated μm) diameter or less. For comparison, a human hair is between 17 μm to 181 μm.
To see a wool fiber at the cellular level click here with indications of how the structures in a fiber contribute to the fiber's overall properties, from Woolmark.

Summary of Fiber Characteristics

Listed below are the study group fibers listed by month with comfort factor, fiber diameter, and staple length data that is most relevant to spinners.
Link to the Excel file for this data (Sept 2020- Mar 2021). This chart and the reproduction below will be updated periodically.