62: The Way Wool Works

Why can a wool sweater feel so light and still keep us warm? What gives yarn its bounce? And what does “worsted” actually mean?

In episode 62, Anne and Steph welcome Northern Lights member Kristal for a conversation about the way wool works. A knitter, spinner, and enthusiastic explorer of all things fibre, Kristal brings samples, stories, and the kind of curiosity that leads you to pull yarn apart just to see what’s happening inside.

We talk about wool’s relationship with warmth and moisture, what happens during felting, and how the preparation and spinning of fibres influence the yarn on our needles. Along the way, there’s a drop spindle that lives up to its name and a sweater that grew to rather unexpected proportions.

In this episode:

• Kristal’s journey from knitting to spinning and processing fleece
• Wool fibres, scales, and moisture
• Wet felting and needle felting
• Crimp – the little bends that contribute to wool’s bounce
• Woollen-spun, worsted-spun, and semi-worsted yarns
• Rooing – collecting fleece that a sheep naturally sheds
• Why worsted-spun and worsted weight mean different things

Mentioned in this episode

Thank you to Made By Barb for the fibre illustrations discussed in our conversation:
https://www.madebybarb.com/

For your next knitting adventure, explore more at Anne’s Norwegian Knitting.