[Tanna]

I just discovered this little tidbit, and thought I'd share it here. Maybe someone has already posted it somewhere, but what the heck.
I love to shop for yarn at garage sales and thrift stores, and often come home with yarn that is missing it's label. I recently wanted to pull out all my wool yarn to do a felting project, but wasn't sure how to find out what yarns were 'really' wool, vs scratchy acrylic.

A friend told me to burn a small bit of it. If it melts it's acrylic or some other petroleum based mess. If it stinks like hair, it's probably wool or another animal. If it lights up like a little wick, it's cotton.

I tried this on yarns that I knew first, to see how they reacted. It was just as she told me! Then I tested several many of my mystery yarns and was able to quickly identify them. Too Cool!!

I'm sure this isn't the only method, what other ways do you identify Mystery Yarn??

 

[jaykayone]

very interesting , i'm going to try it - thanks !

 

[e.ridenh]

((((( Yes, I know about these methods but thank you for bringing it up and refreshing my memory.

I tried to convince our knitting and crocheting, real world crafters to make helmet liners, caps, beanies, etc., out of wool because if the troop happened to be wearing a non-GI issued item such as these and if they were made of anything except WOOL, and if caught in combat, any kind of live fire, aerial attacks or IEDS that caused explosions then fires, a troop would get burned worse.

They wouldn't listen and sent them anyway. As we have a son in combat right now, I gave them this and in a calm voice: "If your son or daughter........yada, yada". They quit doing so. Thank goodness.

Now, anything not GI-ISSUED isn't to be worn while in full uniform and outside the barracks/sleeping tents, etc. I suspect it happens, though.

The non-wool items can be used as 'comfort' items and anything from home with a personal touch is a morale booster. Some like to sleep in a cap as the winters in Iraq can dip below freezing at night. To knock around the barracks,, too while wearing a cap/hat like a rocker in a band would be something they'd probably do.

I've got pics from our son's first tour all around the barracks at the FOB (forward operating base) but nothing from the COP (combat out post), of course. Pictures of dust storms, too.

He's due back 12 July when their year is up then they go back to Ft. Stewart, GA, turn in their gear, draw their new living quarters assignments, take care of paperwork then all go on block leave for two weeks. He should be home for his 26th b/day which is 31 July.

Once again, TY for bringing this up as I, too in the early years of supporting troops made helmet liners, etc., out of cammy yarn which is acrylic and also used cotton.

As the military issues cold weather gear, to include the helmet liner, I no longer make those but do send coin socks, coasters, book marks, etc.

TTYL!

Donna Rae
Brandon, Iowa
~~~~~

cf

I just discovered this little tidbit, and thought I'd share it here. Maybe someone has already posted it somewhere, but what the heck.
I love to shop for yarn at garage sales and thrift stores, and often come home with yarn that is missing it's label. I recently wanted to pull out all my wool yarn to do a felting project, but wasn't sure how to find out what yarns were 'really' wool, vs scratchy acrylic.

A friend told me to burn a small bit of it. If it melts it's acrylic or some other petroleum based mess. If it stinks like hair, it's probably wool or another animal. If it lights up like a little wick, it's cotton.

I tried this on yarns that I knew first, to see how they reacted. It was just as she told me! Then I tested several many of my mystery yarns and was able to quickly identify them. Too Cool!!

I'm sure this isn't the only method, what other ways do you identify Mystery Yarn??

 

[jbachman]

Another method is to put a small amount of bleach in a custard cup. Put in a snip of the yarn. If it disintigrates it is wool or natural fiber. If it doesn't, it is man made fiber. I put mine in the bleach in the morning, go to work and check when I come home.