Nora writes:
<<Has anyone tried weaving or knitting with yarn spun from clean fiber
but not washed after spinning?>>
Depends on the effect you're after and what the washing is supposed to
accomplish and what type of fiber you've got :)
Many fibers fluff up a bit when washed, and I think they all relax from
the tensions imposed by being prepared for spinning, being spun, and
being wound onto a bobbin under some degree of stretch. While some
yarns will be the same in looks, handle, and length before and after
washing (assuming they're not blocked), most yarns will change,
sometimes dramatically. Then there's dyes--often they're not rinsed out
all the way before spinning, and they could bleed on other colors if
washed in the finished piece.
Weaving yarns usually aren't washed before using, because part of the
usual finishing process, a wet wash to 'full' the cloth, involves
allowing the yarns to relax, fluff a bit, and possibly slightly felt
together. IOW, the fluffing and shortening of the yarn is built into
the assumptions when the cloth is planned, at least for woolen and
semi-woolen type yarns. Worsted was (and I assume still is) finished
somewhat differently because the goal is very smooth and fine, not soft
and fluffy.
Knitting, OTOH, usually assumes that the yarn is fully relaxed before
you start. If you have a yarn that could change characteristics a LOT
when washed, like one made of fine wool, then it really needs to be
washed before knitting, at least if you want an end product that doesn't
change significantly in size and characteristics when *it's* washed. A
yarn that you know from experience won't change much could be used
without washing. Wools that are wavy rather than crimpy are pretty
safe. In my experience, most yarns that have no wool aren't a problem,
but I haven't gone out of my way to experiment in this area.
FWIW, blocking a yarn after washing can cause problems when the finished
product is washed, unless you plan for the change. Blocking stretches
yarn somewhat--more if very crimpy wool is used, more if lots of tension
winds the yarn onto the blocker. I never block my yarns, singles or
plied, because of this.
Holly
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