Yarn & fiber folks -- I need help to ID some yarn

[Tansy_Gold]

This morning I acquired about 40 skeins of absolutely gorgeous yarn. Many are imported, some are hand-spun. Most are labeled with fiber content, country of origin, etc.

However, some are not labeled at all, and I would like to find out, if I possibly can, what they're made of. Are there any simple tests to determine whether a particular yarn is wool, mohair, silk, cotton, synthetic, etc? I realize it probably isn't possible to ID everything, like "75% wool, 25% linen," but if I can at least determine the primary fibers, I'd be very happy.

Thanks,

Tansy Gold

[knitter4democracy]

1. There are ways to test.

The best one to is to go outside with some metal pots or buckets and some water and try burning small bits of the yarns. Wool doesn't burn well at all and will keep going out. It also smells like burnt hair. Cotton will burn rather quickly. Acrylic will melt and burn fairly quickly. Those should eliminate most of them. As for the rest, post pics, and I'll see what I can figure out.

[troubleinwinter]

3. The "burn test" is somewhat helpful.

Wool or cottons will generally leave an ash that will fall to dust in your fingers. Synthetics leave a hard melted bit.

The absolute wool test is with bleach.

Blends can sure be 'iffy'!

[troubleinwinter]

2. For wool:

Put a snippet in a coupla tablespoons of chlorine bleach (Chlorox or whatever). If the yarn is GONE in the morning, it's pure wool. (Your chlorine should be relatively fresh).

If you have some longish threads left, you have a 'blend'.

If you have nice yarn left, you have a synthetic.