| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
iamiknit
New Pal
Canada
35 Posts |
 Posted - 06/02/2006 : 08:11:56 AM
|
I just bought Hempathy-an Elsebeth Lavold yarn. It is cotton, hemp and modal. Anyone know what that is? All I could find is that it is somehow a wood byproduct, but would like to know what it is. Nice feel to it-working on a summer shrug/sweater...
thanks, karen |
|
|
maribelaprn
Permanent Resident
USA
2022 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2006 : 09:02:12 AM
|
I posted this before....
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Modal is a bio-based fiber made by spinning reconstituted cellulose from beech trees. It is about 50% more hygroscopic, or water-absorbent, per unit volume than cotton is. It is designed to dye just like cotton, and is color-fast when washed in warm water. Modal is essentially a variety of rayon.
Textiles made from Modal do not fibrillate, or pill, like cotton does, and are resistant to shrinkage and fading. They are smooth and soft, more so than even mercerized cotton, to the point where mineral deposits from hard water, such as lime, do not stick to the fabric surface. Like pure cotton, modal needs to be ironed after washing.
Modal is a registered trademark of Lenzing AG, an Austrian company specializing in textiles and fibers, particularly natural fibers made from cellulose. In the United States, pure Modal has begun being used in household linens such as towels, bathrobes, and bedsheets. Bed Bath & Beyond, for example, sells its newly-released Modal sheets under the name Pure Beech. Indian textile companies, in particular, have taken to Modal, and are expected to produce around 4000 tons of it in 2005.
2006 shawls/throws completed: 11
2006 socks completed: 4
WIP: Baltic Sea shawl (Fiber Trends) in Rowanspun 4 ply
My blog: http://maribelaprn.blogspot.com/
|
 |
|
|
Katheroni
Permanent Resident
USA
1355 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2006 : 09:27:04 AM
|
| maribelaprn - Thanks for that answer. It is very interesting. I find that modal blends are really great to work with (I'm working on a tank in Hempathy right now myself!), but I didn't know about the other benefits. All hail wikipedia. |
|
|
|
Dicksie
Permanent Resident
USA
1995 Posts |
|
|
iamiknit
New Pal
Canada
35 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2006 : 8:29:02 PM
|
| maribelaprn, thank you for the info, that's kind of cool. Im doing a lace edging in it right now and it has nice body, we'll see tomorrow how it likes the knitting machine. karen |
|
|
|
argoknit
Seriously Hooked
USA
711 Posts |
|
|
Stacey14
Permanent Resident
1120 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2006 : 06:30:57 AM
|
I have a set of sheets made from Modal - they are HEAVEN!
My Blog:On And Off the Needles
|
|
|
|
gwtreece
Permanent Resident
USA
7250 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2006 : 09:27:05 AM
|
Have to check out the sheets.
Wanda
My Blog
|
|
|
|
pinecone70
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
393 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2006 : 8:28:05 PM
|
| I liked Hempathy, it's really nice, but I find that the threads untwist as I'm working. Has anyone noticed that? |
|
|
|
Bethany
Permanent Resident
USA
1546 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2006 : 08:03:32 AM
|
I just finished Picovoli out of Hempathy (I should post it!) and I'm not sure I noticed the threads untwisting. I did notice that it's very easy to pick up only one of the plys when you meant to pick up both of them.
Also, if this stuff knits up at the 5.5 stitches an inch it claims on the ball band, then I'm a guy. And while it's hard to tell over the Internet... I'm not a guy. I got 6 stitches an inch after washing, and easily could have gone higher, but lower... I don't think so.
Aside for anyone who's using Hempathy to knit with... you did wash your swatch, right? :-) It gets larger after washing. At least, mine grew substantially. Luckily, I had washed my swatched so I did math to take it into account. Unluckily, my efforts to take it into account did not work as well as I'd hoped. Luckily, I still like the top: it's just not as tight as I had originally intended.
I like the yarn well enough, it's very attractive. However, I think next time I knit a top I want to use larger yarn. :-) |
|
|
|
pinecone70
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
393 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 07:33:14 AM
|
| Just wanted to mention that I machine washed and dried the lace wash cloth I had made from Hempathy. It's absolutely gorgeous, drapey fabric after washing! The horseshoe lace I used somehow grew sideways, but I think it's the pattern rather than a yarn personality, and I don't care about that in a wash cloth. I would definitely make clothing from this if I can find it again. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Knitter's Review Forums |
© 2001-2010 Knitter's Review |
|
|
|
|
Modal
