Home-grown, handspun, natural fiber yarn for knitting, crocheting and weaving.

Real Yarn is a cooperative effort of nature, animals, kids, and me!

Real Yarn is made from naturally-colored, home-grown, hand-spun animal fiber.

Our original herd consisting of a variety of sheep, llamas, cashmere goats and angora rabbits was raised on our high-altitude ranch located in Southern Colorado at 8500 ft. This climate is perfect for fiber-bearing animals, providing cold winter temps and mild short summers.

The actual fiber-to-yarn process is my job…clipping, brushing, carding, combing and spinning. I get great ideas from my kids on blending and coloring.

We have since moved to Salida, CO and continue to raise llamas and angora rabbits.  I produce natural fiber yarns from our own fiber stash and from alpaca fiber from our friends at Paca Peace Ranch in Westcliffe, CO.

I thoroughly enjoy providing a natural, high-quality, and very unique yarn to my fellow fiber artists and friends!

1. Keep the fiber at a consistent temperature
2. Avoid agitation. This includes, rubbing, scrubbing, pulling, or twisting.  When wet, each individual fiber is relaxed and likely to stretch and lock with other fibers in the washing process..and we all know that felting can be the undesired result.  So…

To avoid felting or shrinking follow these simple steps:

1. Fill two basins with lukewarm water.  Add a mild soap, such as “Wash” (from Kookaburraco.com); the other basin will be your rinse water.  We’re filling both sinks at the same time to keep the temperatures consistent.
2. Place the garment in the wash basin, gently pushing it to the bottom.  Keep this action to a minimum: a couple of times is all that you need (remember–no agitation).  Let it soak for 10 minutes or so.
3. Now, we’re going to scoop and hold the garment to one side of the sink and let the water drain out; when the sink is empty, gently push/press out extra water from your item.
4. Now gently scoop up your whole garment in both hands (remember, we are trying not to stretch it out) and put it in the rinse water.  Push down once.  Let it soak for 10 minutes or so.
5. Again, scoop and hold to one side of the sink and let the water drain out between your fingers.  Gently push/press extra water out.  With both hands, lift and squeeze (no twisting or stretching).  Lay it flat on a fresh dry bath towel.  Loosely, roll the garment up in the towel. Softly, push and press the towel roll to remove extra water (again, no twisting).
6. Unroll the towel and carefully lay out your garment on another dry towel.  Gently reshape the item to desired shape and size.  Allow it to air-dry.

Remember the two keys and delight in your handmade natural fiber items!

Knitted, crocheted or woven projects can be used regularly and enjoyed for years.

]]> http://www.realyarn.com/2009/03/how-do-i-wash-my-natural-fiber-garment/feed/ 0 http://www.realyarn.com/2009/03/my-natural-fiber-outpost/ http://www.realyarn.com/2009/03/my-natural-fiber-outpost/#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:48:44 +0000 Angela http://www.realyarn.com/?p=28 Hi, Thanks for stopping in at Real Yarn.  I AM catching up with the 21st century and am excited to start this website for fiber enthusiasts. My goal here is to create a resource for natural yarn and batts for my fellow fiber artists. Whether you knit, crochet, spin, felt, needle-felt or weave, I have a special handspun yarn for you.

I focus on creating yarns and batts from our herd of hand raised, naturally-colored animals: angora rabbits, cashmere goats, llamas, guanaco-crosses, various sheep, and our friends’ alpacas and even the occassional camel.

I spin a variety of yarns–everything from lace-weight angora, to super thick, or unique & textural, dyed & bead-bedecked artyarns. After sheering time this spring, I will also offer a variety of freshly carded batts for you spinners out there.

Check in often and see what’s new!

-Angela