Re: [h-cost] Non destructive testing for wool/synthetic

[Marjorie Wilser]

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.
> 


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Re: [h-cost] Non destructive testing for wool/synthetic

[Chris Laning]

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
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OChris Laning  - Davis, California
+ http://paternoster-row.org - 
http://www.ravelry.com/stores/medievalknitting






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Re: [h-cost] Non destructive testing for wool/synthetic

[Rebecca Tonkin]

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


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Re: [h-cost] Non destructive testing for wool/synthetic

[Sharon Collier]

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
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Re: [h-cost] Non destructive testing for wool/synthetic

[michaela de bruce]

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
>



-- 
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https://www.facebook.com/michaeladebrucecostumes/
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