Different Fiber Types for Spinning, understanding spinning fibers

Experienced spinner explains the differences in common spinning fibers from plants and animals.

[@resa367]

Thanks, newbie here, so informative!

[@robertlombardo8437]

I'm trying to do agave yarn, also known as cactus fiber. I live in the California desert so it grows everywhere. Everywhere! My understanding is it's not all that different to process and spin than flax is. But I haven't been able to find anyone online who has a detailed video on how to work it.

[@laurahackett7045]

We have a fiber bunny and their hair is my absolute favorite. She's an English/french mix and she's very large so we get quite a bit of fiber from her. I have to trim her hair when she starts to molt because she doesn't tolerate being brushed/plucked and I can easily fill a grocery bag with her fiber after each hair cut.

[@abittwisted]

Bamboo is a chemically created rayon fiber from the bamboo. Bamboo in its natural state has no fine fibers like this. Its chemical intensive and not good for the environment. I don't recommend any rayon or non natural fibers. I'd like to try Yack and Buffalo. Mostly I do wool and flax.

[@tools4ewebycarolhowe496]

Thanks for sharing!

[@reneedavis5601]

Very informative. tfs :)

[@fromfarmtoyarn8173]

Renee's Crochet Designs Thanks. I hope it was helpful.

[@kayleeturner3631]

Do you have any videos on how much yarn will make a skein and the weights of raw fiber vs the weight of the finished skein?

[@Scronkc]

I live in CO wondering where the yak farm is? Would love to check it out. Missed my chance at the reptile farm when I went to dunes :(

[@fromfarmtoyarn8173]

My yak is from a farm up by Fairplay, Colorado. They tend to come to the yearly Llama Days festival in Fairplay at the end of July.

[@janeeni]

Great vid, thanks ❤️ May I ask have you ever attempted spinning Cottonwood Fibre (the fluff from female Cottonwood tree)? And is it hard to accomplish? 🙏 🌻

[@fromfarmtoyarn8173]

J Quin Essence Thanks. I’ve only done cotton a few times. Likely from cotton plants (I doubt from trees). Not my favorite although if I over spin and keep it short I can get through it in a pinch. Fluff from a cottonwood tree sounds fun to try.

[@user-rt4yi3cd8i]

ممكن ترجمه عربي

[@zazzabie1242]

Bison fiber! Talk about poking the bull. I’m wondering what some of the more exotic stuff is like.

[@fromfarmtoyarn8173]

I’ve been told they don’t collect the bison fiber until the bison is dead. It’s only on the bison being killed for meat. The yak fiber (and of course my alpaca fiber) is sheared from the animal during a haircut. So the animal gets to live another day - with a new hairdo.

[@zazzabie1242]

I’m mostly remembering from Mike Rowe. He did an episode on yak and bison fiber collection, they put the bison in a big cattle chute and when he picked its hair it got pretty mad. And at one point he got a yak calf and was running away on an atv from a very angry mama yak.

[@fromfarmtoyarn8173]

Yikes! I’ll have to look that one up. Sounds entertaining. I’m glad all my alpacas do is sometimes try to spit at me. 😂

[@zazzabie1242]

I was trying to find Angora rabbits at our local livestock swap, no Angoras but my daughter walked away with a Lionhead. I like little bunny Foofoo though, sweet little bunny.