Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
deFinitiOn
A
micron
is one millionth of a meter. With regard to wool, it refers to the diameter of a single fiber. The
smaller the number, the finer the fiber.
Longer fibers will be easier for a beginner to spin, while shorter fibers will produce a more delicate
yarn that is difficult for a new spinner to work with. Each has its benefits and drawbacks.
A good fleece will be relatively clean, without excessive amounts of short hairs and unusable fiber.
(Photo courtesy of Steven Depolo)
Similarly, the shade of the fleece can affect how you are able to use the end-product. If you plan
to dye the fleece, brighter whites will return bright colors. On the other hand, darker colors might
be desirable to just spin without dyeing at all. There is definitely a growing trend toward naturally
colored fleeces that don't require dyeing.
Another readily visible factor when analyzing a coat or a fleece is the amount of
crimp,
or character,
that it has. This refers to the amount of wave and curl that you see in the fibers and will have an
effect on the way that the fleece spins up. The crimp will also affect how the final product looks
and feels.
