![[return to the blue blog]](images/blueroom/blue_sheep_box.jpg)
the knitsmithy the blue blog - archives works in progress finished projects free patterns contact: alison [at] knitsmiths [dot] us |
|
may 7, 2005
3 - 2 - 1... ignition... Thanks so much for all the tips on how to determine the fiber content of my mystery yarn! Since the back of the sweater is knit entirely in the green Bazic wool that I bought, I knew that the "wet wool smell" test wasn't going to be enough to answer my question. I was going to have to resort to something more drastic. So while hubby, the in-laws, and the kids were out of the house yesterday, I decided to give the burn test a try.
I lit up the match, held it to the yarn and... it stuck.
The yarn immediately melted and stuck to the match. Twice. On the third try, I got a small portion of it to light, but the flame quickly petered out, like when the wax from a candle smothers the candle's own flame. Alright, mystery solved. I actually love that it's acrylic. It seems only fitting that the retro, white bread sweater should be made of acrylic yarn. Don't you think? posted by alison at 9:06 am | in
giant white bread
Comments
yes, actually it seems quite appropriate. Now you know it will be easy care. It really is cute in all it's acrylicness. Posted by: julia at May 7, 2005 9:29 AMAck, I just re-read and saw that the back was wool. Oh well, at least now you know - maybe not wash and wear but still cute. Posted by: julia at May 7, 2005 9:30 AMYes, definitely! No nutritional content whatsoever. ;) Posted by: Andrea at May 7, 2005 10:41 AMI think once you put it all together, you should store it in the bread wrapper. Then it will be like a little retro event every time you take it out! Posted by: Dava at May 7, 2005 11:25 AMdo we get to see it on? it's a very cute top ;0) Posted by: cara at May 7, 2005 11:36 AMHa, Andrea! Very funny! Cara, sure, it's just not done yet. It still needs one sleeve and a whole bunch of weaving in ends. I hope to have it all finished this month. Posted by: alison at May 7, 2005 11:51 AMI just knew it! How could it not have been? But I am a little surprised because usually acrylic lets your hands know after a while. Yet even back in the White Bread Yarn Days they knew how to make better-than-Red-Heart acrylics. The sweater is looking great! Now I'm thinking, how can I modify that to make it suit me? :) Posted by: Daphne at May 7, 2005 1:23 PMGlad you did the burn test and found out! Acrylic is good for some things... I am making a baby blanket out of free acrylic yarn that someone gave me... Its not the most perfect thing in the world, but its useful for baby puke! Can't wait to see what this makes! Posted by: Dani at May 7, 2005 4:01 PMIt look great no matter what it's made out of Alison. And if knitting with it was good, wearing will be better! Enjoy your white bread sweater! Posted by: Debi at May 7, 2005 6:48 PMI think that the mystery yarn is mostly wool, because it didn't burst into flame. It may be part acrylic because of the melting. Another test is to put the yarn into a dish with bleach in it. Wool will dissolve. Better to find out now, before washing incorrectly. Posted by: Lorraine at May 7, 2005 9:41 PMWow, I've never seen melted acrylic before. The pyro in me is getting all excited to burn up some yarn to see what happens hehe :) Posted by: Vicki at May 7, 2005 11:14 PMIf you put wool in bleach it dissolves. That's another way to uncover the fiber content of "mystery" yarn. Posted by: susan at May 13, 2005 5:46 PM |
