De-hairing and Spinning Qiviut (51 Yarns No. 35: Double Coated Inner Coat)

An unexpected, but very welcome addition to my 51 Yarns study! Come and join me as I figure out how to process raw qiviut, from washing through de-hairing and all the way through to spinning. We’ll talk about the different layers of fibre musk ox have and how to make them work for you.
DISCLAIMER: this is not what good quality qiviut is like!
**I love helping people learn about fibre arts... I also have to pay the bills! A lot of work goes into these videos so if you found it helpful, please consider supporting the channel by:
joining my Patreon: / tinyfibrestudio or buying me a ‘virtual coffee’ via my Ko-Fi account : www.ko-fi.com/t... Thank you!**
This series of videos is inspired by PLY Magazine's book 51 Yarns to Spin Before You Cast Off. The videos are listed in the order in which they were designated for the 51 Yarns Spinalong which coincided with the book's launch.
00:00 Intro
00:30 The Backstory
01:35 What is Qiviut?
02:27 The cost of qiviut
04:01 Exploring qiviut
04:50 First look
05:08 Why multiple coats matter
07:14 Washing/Scouring
7:55 Dehairing Overview
08:22 Skirt Hairs
08:47 Guard Hairs
09:31 Intermediate Hairs
11:08 Skin Flakes and other flaws
11:40 Fibre comparison
12:04 Down fibres
12:47 Dehairing conclusions
13:39 Interlude
14:16 Spinning Qiviut - Cost
15:18 Spinning Qiviut - Lack of Memory
16:41 Spinning Qiviut - Warmth
17:35 Sample spinning
Links
’51 Yarns To Spin Before You Cast Off’ Book: simplecirc.com...
Hey BrownBerry Podcast: / @heybrownberry
Middlebrook Fiberworks: www.middlebroo...
Qiviut Inc Mill Tour: • Qiviut Inc. Mill Tour
Qiviut Inc: qiviutinc.com
Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers Co-Operative www.qiviut.com
Musk Ox images from USFWS are used according to their Creative Commons License: creativecommon... No changes made.
Tools in the video
Wheels
• Hansencrafts miniSpinner Pro: hansencrafts.com
• Electric Eel Nano 2: www.dreamingro...
Other Tools
• Louet Cotton Carders (I'd call them fine carders since they have 110tpi, rather than 200-ish which is typical of cotton carders): www.louet.nl/p...

[@TinyFibreStudio]

An unexpected, but very welcome addition to my 51 Yarns study! Come and join me as I figure out how to process raw qiviut, from washing through de-hairing and all the way through to spinning. We’ll talk about the different layers of fibre musk ox have and how to make them work for you. **I love helping people learn about fibre arts... I also have to pay the bills! A lot of work goes into these videos so if you found it helpful, please consider supporting the channel by: joining my Patreon: www.patreon.com/TinyFibreStudio or buying me a ‘virtual coffee’ via my Ko-Fi account : www.ko-fi.com/tinyfibrestudio Thank you!** This series of videos is inspired by PLY Magazine's book 51 Yarns to Spin Before You Cast Off. The videos are listed in the order in which they were designated for the 51 Yarns Spinalong which coincided with the book's launch. 00:00 Intro 00:30 The Backstory 01:35 What is Qiviut? 02:27 The cost of qiviut 04:01 Exploring qiviut 04:50 First look 05:08 Why multiple coats matter 07:14 Washing/Scouring 7:55 Dehairing Overview 08:22 Skirt Hairs 08:47 Guard Hairs 09:31 Intermediate Hairs 11:08 Skin Flakes and other flaws 11:40 Fibre comparison 12:04 Down fibres 12:47 Dehairing conclusions 13:39 Interlude 14:16 Spinning Qiviut - Cost 15:18 Spinning Qiviut - Lack of Memory 16:41 Spinning Qiviut - Warmth 17:35 Sample spinning *Links* ’51 Yarns To Spin Before You Cast Off’ Book: simplecirc.com/ply-magazine/item/1122/51-yarns-to-spin-before-you-cast-off Hey BrownBerry Podcast: kzbin.info/door/A4KDVuFFd2juERyhAMwBxg Middlebrook Fiberworks: www.middlebrookfiberworks.com Qiviut Inc Mill Tour: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3m4aXeGfL1oeMU Qiviut Inc: qiviutinc.com Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers Co-Operative www.qiviut.com Musk Ox images from USFWS are used according to their Creative Commons License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ No changes made. *Tools in the video* Wheels • Hansencrafts miniSpinner Pro: hansencrafts.com • Electric Eel Nano 2: www.dreamingrobots.com/product/eew-nano/ Other Tools • Louet Cotton Carders (I'd call them fine carders since they have 110tpi, rather than 200-ish which is typical of cotton carders): www.louet.nl/product/hand-cards/?lang=en&v=79cba1185463

[@poptartthecat4038]

I loooove your videos they're so relaxing to watch while I spin. your voice is very soothing!

[@ritad673]

I have a bag of Qiviut as well as a bag of buffalo fiber to process, and I suspect the buffalo will be similar in structure. Thanks a megabilliokazillion for the information. You are priceless.

[@TinyFibreStudio]

Thank you Rita! Ooh, buffalo sounds like fun - I’ve never worked with it so you’ll have to let me know how it goes.

[@revchantilly]

I have a bit of not-so-processed qiviut and your video was very helpful.

[@nystrompalannetmaria594]

Love everything about you and your videos, Becks! Thank you for still doing them. Be well 💕

[@Amanda-yf7vj]

Absolutely beautiful!!!! Definitely so much work though!! Soo neat that you got all the layers!! I came across a sale of the down layer for 50.00 an ounce I grabbed at it!! Love your videos!!!!

[@SherrisPlace]

I so love your videos! Thank you 🙏

[@kathleenmcadams7392]

I am so happy you made a video about qiviut! I purchased a small amount at a fibre festival a few years ago, but my spinning is nowhere near good enough to try anything with it...yet. I had been considering my hand spindles, but am now rethinking my plan and may end up blending it and spinning on my wheel. Thank you!

[@sondragingery5949]

This was really interesting. Thanks!

[@susanrath803]

This video was extremely helpful to me. You answered a lot of questions I've had about WPI.

[@TinyFibreStudio]

Excellent news! I’m so glad to hear it was helpful! :)

[@stonewallsfarm3105]

I am currently detaining English Sheepdog fiber to spin for a friend. I’m finding that i have best success pulling out the hair from the cut end. Crazy amount of work, but lovely soft white and grey fluff results.

[@Elizabeth-foolishmortal]

That was very interesting Becks. Your patience and attention to detail is amazing.

[@wycohibito]

I find your videos so informative. Thank you for making them. And for not making me do the math on what it would be in the USA.

[@TinyFibreStudio]

You’re very welcome. The majority of my viewers are from the USA so either I do the maths for you or you all miss half the video doing the currency conversion yourselves! 😂 It’s in all of our interests for me to do it!

[@jacquelinesalem2776]

What good fortune! A Qiviut encounter:) You have done a great job sharing what you have done and learned here. Thank you. I am soooo glad you are posting again.

[@cdj1013]

Great video, thanks!

[@kayleepollander7755]

Your sweater is gorgeous! What pattern is it?! Also kudos for being able to dehair so much fiber! Such a feat!

[@TinyFibreStudio]

Thank you! This sweater is Radiate by Joji Locatelli in John Arbon’s Devonia DK. Hope that helps!

[@miserybutane298]

just a thought, the skirt hairs could be useful if one was to try and make their own hair canvas with it.

[@brslaby]

Thanks to this video I gained the confidence to buy two oz of raw qiviut fiber. I’m so excited!

[@TinyFibreStudio]

Oooh, that is exciting! Keep us updated on your progress with it!

[@linr8260]

Ooooooh so interesting. Congrats on finding it! I wonder if the longest hairs could be used as stiffening like horsehair...

[@TinyFibreStudio]

I’m glad you enjoyed it. 😊 I’m sure it could be used as stiffening - they’re really similar to horsehair.

[@manicspinner1959]

This is a WONDERFUL video about qiviut. LOVELY! Well done!

[@scriptgoddess]

Fascinating process! Thank you so very much for detailing this process!

[@beverleylawton6899]

Thank you so much for this video, Becks. As always, your video was fascinating and comprehensive. I shall probably never obtain any of this amazing fibre here in the UK, but your in depth discussion on it was invaluable. Thank you for putting all the time and energy into making this for us. 😊🙏

[@TinyFibreStudio]

Well you never know! Keep your eyes peeled at fibre festivals! 👀 I’m happy I was able to document the process for those who aren’t able to experience it for themselves.

[@10amTracy]

Thank you for this video! Does anyone out there know whether any vendors sell qiviut at Rhinebeck?

[@qiviutinc]

Thank you for the shout-out! Hmm was your fibre perhaps sheared? Our raw qiviut (combed by hand from the hides) has nowhere NEAR that many guard hairs! Good on you for persevering with that particular sample...

[@TinyFibreStudio]

You’re very welcome - I love what I’ve seen of your business and hope to be able to order some from you one day so I can see what the good stuff is like! I don’t think it was sheared - the guard hairs all had roots still attached. But as far as I know it came from a live muskox who lived in a wildlife park in Scotland so the people who harvested it were probably not experts in it from a fibre-gathering standpoint. I suppose it’s also possible that the different climates in Scotland led to it being shed differently.

[@qiviutinc]

@@TinyFibreStudio the person who removed that quantity of guard hair from a live muskox must have been a brave soul!! :D

[@TinyFibreStudio]

😂 Yeah, I’ve no idea! I’d love to know why it was like that. If I ever get to visit the wildlife park it lived at I’ll have to ask!

[@brslaby]

Would combing more easily separate the guard hairs from the qiviut itself?

[@TinyFibreStudio]

Great question. Others might have a different experience but I tried it on my combs (Valkyrie Extra Fine) and it just blended it together more. I think it’s easier to separate while it’s still organised in a sheet.