Wool "Laster" - what is it? Characteristics, reviews

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:47

In order to understand what Luster wool means, you need to have an understanding of the basic principles of yarn production.

Steps in making wool

95% of all wool comes from sheep. Although other animals can be the source of raw materials: goats, llamas, dogs, camels and rabbits.

After shearing, the yarn goes to the spinning mill. At this stage, a variety of debris is present in the fibers: sticks, blades of grass, dirt. With the help of ripping-scutching machines, the fleece is cleaned of impurities. The next step is repeated washing, which allows you to get rid of the smallest dirt. Next - coloring: for 3 hours at a temperature of 120 degrees, the raw material is aged in a dye solution. Now it is ready for the carding unit, from which it emerges as a thin web. All further processing is reduced to the gradual separation and compaction of the strands. Such material is called roving. Original bobbins are formed from it, which are placed in a sealed container with an acid solution - this is the beginningturning ordinary wool into yarn labeled "Laster". The next step is coating with artificial resins and spinning. Why is such processing needed and what is it - wool "Laster"? Knowing the properties of wool will help to understand this.

Features of wool

Wool is animal hair suitable for spinning and knitting. Its characteristics are determined by the structure of the hair shaft and its chemical composition.

• Rolling occurs due to the adhesion of scales located on the surface of the entire rod. In the product, this leads to shrinkage if the washing conditions are not observed and the formation of coughing.
• The lightness of the fibers is due to the cavity inside the rod filled with air and dry cells.
• Hygroscopicity. Due to the porous structure of the hair, the material absorbs and retains moisture from the air. In the future, it slowly evaporates from the surface of the clothes and does not allow the body to cool down.
• Crease resistance is a consequence of the increased elasticity of the fibers.
• Low thermal conductivity.

When treated with acid, the scales are shortened, and the resins wrap the fibers in a thin film. This is what "Laster" wool is - a yarn that has the advantages of ordinary yarn and at the same time does not roll, does not prick, does not shrink and has enhanced brilliance. But is this yarn ideal for knitters?

Advantages and disadvantages of wool "Laster"

Treatment of wool fibers with acid andResin is a chemical process that changes the original properties of the raw material. What characteristics of Luster wool distinguish it from classic wool?

1. Glitter and a wide range of yarn colors. After coating with polymer resins, the color becomes rich and saturated, as it reflects light better. Regular wool has a matte finish and rarely comes in bright colors.
2. Tactile sensations. Wool "Laster" - soft and silky, when knitting it glides slightly on the needles. It is very comfortable to work with her. And in the sock, the yarn does not annoy with its prickliness.
3. Non-collapsibility. When rubbed, it does not form pellets, and after washing it does not shrink. This property is not suitable for some knitting techniques, such as Fair Isle, where the product must be cut to form fronts and armholes. The ability to stray makes the woolen fabric windproof.
4. The quality of thermal conductivity and hygroscopicity deteriorate due to the decrease in fiber porosity.
5. The price of such yarn is higher than the usual one, because 2-3% of the mass is lost during processing.

When choosing a yarn, you should be guided by what properties the finished product should have and what technique will be used. There is a perfect coat for every occasion.

Types of wool for knitting

Shiny, smooth, pleasant on the body - this is the "Laster" wool. What is wool otherwise? Criteria by which yarn is judged:

• thinness (hair thickness) - the thinner, thebetter quality;
• wool length;
• tensile strength;
• raw material color;
• plasticity.

Specialists classify yarn according to each of these criteria, and for ordinary consumers, the choice narrows down to knowing the characteristics of the wool of certain animals.

• Alpaca. The wool of artiodactyl animals, distant relatives of camels, is long, thin, very strong and light. Often used for children's products. It has about 20 colors in the palette, and extra-class raw materials are not dyed. 100% alpaca is very expensive, so blends with synthetics and wool from other animals are used for the production of yarn.
• Merino. The most expensive raw material is the Merino sheep breed. Their coat is the thinnest, longest, incredibly strong and elastic. Even thermal underwear and clothes for children are made from yarn - weightless hypoallergenic things. The cost of 100% yarn is high, so it goes on sale as part of mixtures with other types.
• Cashmere. It is obtained not even from wool, but from the fluff of a mountain goat. Once a year, during the spring molt, about 150-200 grams of fluff are combed out by hand from one animal. The woven thread is thin and strong, and products made from it are famous for their incredible comfort - they are warm, light and durable. Of the minuses, one can single out the formation of coughing in places of contact with other things, as well as the fear of high humidity.
• Angora. We are talking about the wool of Angora rabbits - soft, fluffy, but prone to molting. Therefore, angora can be foundonly when blended with other fibers that have a stabilizing effect.
• Mohair. This wool is sheared from angora goats. The result is an airy and warm yarn, it is elastic, silky. Mohair must be mixed with other threads to strengthen the yarn. On sale you can find mixtures with a maximum mohair content of no more than 83%.
• Superwash wool. Superwash (SW) is Hercosset's patented acid and polymer treatment technology. What it is? Wool "Laster" loses about 3% of its mass, while Superwash - up to 7%. "Super Wash" is a more expensive technology, it improves the performance of wool products.
• Wool. If the label says "wool", it means sheep. This is an inexpensive yarn, very warm, durable, but requiring careful care - it can shrink and fall off when washed. It tends to prick, so it requires an additional layer of clothing under itself.

Laster wool producers

The most widely such yarn is represented by the German brand Vita, which is produced in factories in India, China and Turkey.

1. Vita Cassandra - 100% wool "Laster", 100 g - 400 m.
2. Vita Luster Wool - 100% Luster Wool, 100 g - 336 m.
3. Vita Sapphir - 45% Luster wool, 55% acrylic, 100g - 250m.
4. Vita Brilliant - 45% Luster wool, 55% acrylic, 100g - 380m.
5. Vita Smily - 30% Merino wool "Laster", 5% silk, 65% acrylic, 50 g -225 m.
6. Vita Caprice Lux - 100% wool "Laster", 100 g - 400 m.

Other manufacturers have Superwash wool in their collections:

• Alize (Turkey) SW 100 - 75% wool SW, 25% polyamide, 100g - 420m.
• Vita Candy - 100% wool SW, 100g - 178m
• Fibranatura Lima (Made in Turkey for an Italian brand) - 100% SW wool, 100g - 260m
• Fibranatura Inca - 100% wool SW, 100g - 97m
• Fibranatura Dona - 100% SW Exstra Fine Merino, 50g - 115m

Yarn reviews and caring for it

What are the reviews about the wool "Laster"? According to most needlewomen, it is very pleasant to work with yarn, it is great for embossed patterns, as it retains its volume after repeated washings. The color is stable for most, but may vary in different batches. Many confirm that Laster wool is a fabric that can be washed in a machine at a temperature of 30 degrees. Dry horizontally. The product does not have to be ironed, as the threads are very elastic and resilient, take their original shape on their own.

The yarn is really silky and a bit slippery. When connecting two segments, the knots must be tied very tightly, as they can be untied due to the threads sliding over each other.

Many knitters recommend using "Laster" wool for children's things - the yarn does not prick and does not cause allergies. You can knit all kinds of clothes from such threads: sweaters,hats, scarves and mittens - products are exceptionally warm and comfortable to wear.