Each of the fibres I’ve explored with you over the past year has its own unique set of characteristics that brings something special to our crafting. We tend to use each of these fibres on their own, but sometimes, to meet a specific project requirement, we need to mix and match and make something completely different. Sometimes we need a fibre blend.
Generally, fibre blends are chosen to add strength to a yarn, such as blending nylon with wool to make sock yarn that will withstand the abrasion of being walked on. But fibres may be blended for other reasons, too. Fibre blends can make a fabric more easily washable; blends can increase the amount of yarn or cloth that can be made from a batch of fibre; or blends can make a luxurious fibre more affordable for consumers. Because blending fibres can be done for a wide variety of reasons, understanding the characteristics of each fibre can help us understand the potential characteristics of each blend.
All photos by Michelle Boyd.
