Gourt > Arts > Crafts > Textiles > Handspinning > Spinning Fibers
- For other meanings of fiber/fibre please see Fiber (disambiguation).
Fiber or fibreThe spelling fibre is used in Commonwealth countries, and is sometimes used in the United States as well. is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread. Fibers are of great importance in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissues together. Human uses for fibers are diverse. They can be spun into filaments, thread, string or rope. They can be used as a component of composite materials. They can also be matted into sheets to make products such as paper or felt. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials.
Fibers used by man come from a wide variety of sources.
- Natural fibers include those produced by plants, animals, and geological processes. They can be classified according to their origin:
- Vegetable fibers are generally based on arrangements of cellulose, often with lignin: examples include cotton, linen,hemp jute, flax, ramie, sisal and . Plant fibers serve in the manufacture of paper and cloth.
- Animal fibers consist largely of particular proteins. Instances are spider silk, sinew, catgut and hair (including wool).
- Mineral fibers comprise asbestos. Asbestos is the only naturally occurring mineral fiber.
- Man-made fibers may come from natural raw materials or from synthetic chemicals.
- Many types of fiber are manufactured from natural cellulose, including rayon, modal, and the more recently developed Lyocell. Fiberglass and optical fiber, which are made from purified natural quartz, are also man-made fibers that come from natural raw materials.
- Synthetic fibers are a subset of man-made fibers, which are based on synthetic chemicals (often from petrochemical sources) rather than arising from natural materials by a purely physical process. Such fibers are quite often made from nylon, polyester, or acrylic polymers, although pure polyacrylonitrile fibers are used to make carbon fiber. More exotic fibers have strong bonding between polymer chains (e.g. aramids), or extremely long chains (e.g. Dyneema or Spectra). Elastomers can even be used, e.g. spandex.
@YasmineGalenorn Re: fibers--My son is already asking if we'll get a spinning wheel. He loves this stuff.
melissa_marr (Melissa Marr) Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:48:02 -0000
@YasmineGalenorn Re: fibers--My son is already asking if we'll get a spinning wheel. He loves this stuff.
Advanced Cerametrics Produces Superior Boron Carbide Fibers for Armor with Viscose Suspension Spinning Processhttp://tinyurl.com/yc94g6q
nanopatents (Alton Parrish) Fri, 25 Dec 2009 18:38:15 -0000
Advanced Cerametrics Produces Superior Boron Carbide Fibers for Armor with Viscose Suspension Spinning Processhttp://tinyurl.com/yc94g6q
Wool: Breeds of Sheep - Maintained at Oklahoma State University. General information, photos, history of breed, bibliographies.
Alpacas From Mile End Farm - Information and photographs from Mile End Farm (UK). History, fiber, alpaca care, and cost of ownership.
Meta Description: [ Classical Alpacas website. Alpacas are alternative livestock for the British farmer or smallholder. ]
Blue Rose Farm - Home to miniature sheep of various colors, and chickens. Includes photos and story about the farm.
Cotton: From Field to Fabric - Educational overview from the National Cotton Council.
Meta Description: [ Describes the major steps involved in producing and processing cotton. ]
Department of Textile Fabrics - Article from the Smithsonian Institution covering the basic natural fibers.
Fiber Plants - An article on less-well-known fiber plants and their protential.
Meta Description: [ Fiber Plants for clothing, ropes, paper etc. ]
Fibercritters - An email discussion list for anyone having an interest in those animals who provide fiber for fiber artists. Information on how to join; message archives for members only.
Meta Description: [ fibercritters: A list for anyone having in interest in those animals who provide fiber for fiber artists, felters, weavers, ]
Flax and Linen Overview - Basic history, biology, growing, preparation, and end use. From The Linen House, an online store.
Meta Description: [ Largest linen manufacturer in Belgium. Fabrics and finished products for cloths, table, kitchen bed and paintings. Company and consumer information. ]
Llamapaedia: Wool from Llamas. - Fiber glossary, characteristics, evaluation, testing, grading, production; shearing information.
Mohair - An article which discusses selecting, preparing and spinning mohair.
Meta Description: [ ranch home plan new mexico ranches for sale nevada horse ]
Priscilla Lowry Silks - A silk historian and medievalist, lecturer, designer and maker. Includes descriptions of lectures, seminars and workshops.
Meta Description: [ Priscilla Lowery, Silk historian and medievalist, lecturer and designer/maker ]
Qiviut (or Qiviuk) - Luxurious down fiber from the Muskox. Hints on preparing and spinning the fiber; vendors.
Meta Description: [ Information about Qiviut (Musk Ox) Fiber ]
Redbud Wool Farm - A shepherd's farm in rural central California. Photos of fleeces by animal's name, tips on washing fleece.
Meta Description: [ redbudwoolfarm.com ]
Silk: The Stuff of Dreams - Using this exotic fiber -- qualities of silk, silk yarns, spinning silk.
Meta Description: [ Using this exotic fiber -- qualities of silk, silk yarns, spinning silk. ]
Soybean Protein Fiber - Background on this fiber produced from soybeans, describing the process.
Meta Description: [ Swicofil is the trusted name in the textile industry for soybean protein fibers and yarns. The healthy and hazardfree natural origin green fiber ]
Wool Facts from the American Sheep Industry Association - Includes fact sheets, newsletter, history, care and processing of wool.
Meta Description: [ The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) web site is designed to be the comprehensive stop for all industry information, from markets to industry contacts to consumer assistance. Both current and historical information can be accessed through the ASI site. ]
Wool: Navajo-Churro Sheep - Origin, history, characteristics and preservation of this rare breed. Breeder list. Published by Navajo-Churro Sheep Association.
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