Details About Our Blended Fibers
Hi! Hello. We're primarily Dyed to Order these days at Created by Elsie B. Our aim with this is to balance our smaller workspace with our desire to keep all our colorways easily accessible for your fiber needs; even if they aren't already dyed, labeled, and sitting on a shelf.
I mention this in the listing itself, but turn around time for these dyed to order fibers is currently 6 weeks; that time will vary depending on a variety of factors, but that's the baseline estimate & we'll be in contact after your order is placed in the event we'll need to extend your ship-by date.
Now on to the fiber bases:
Alpaca/ Silk
50% Alpaca, 50% Tussah Silk
Alpaca is considered to be a luxury fibre. The Alpaca is a camelid (related to camels) like the Llama. It produces a fairly fine, soft fibre that has been used for centuries in woven fabrics and vast amounts were imported to Europe for use in suiting. The main producing area are the mountainous South American countries of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, but animals have been successfully bred more recently in other countries, on a smaller scale.
• Alpaca micron count: 24-26
• Tussah silk micron count: 26-36
• Rated as next-to-skin for most
BFL/ Silk
70% Blue Faced Leicester, 30% Tussah Silk
The length of BFL paired with the strength of silk? Perfection! Both these fibers have a pretty shimmer so it makes the dyes shine. Tussah Silk is a wild silk. Made from wild tussah silk worms who eat juniper leaves and oak. As the silk is produced in the wild and not in a controlled environment the silk tends to be courser and less lustrous than Mulberry silk and a lot of spinners like the added texture it gives.
• BFL micron count: 25-27
• Silk micron count: 26-36
• Next to skin for most
• Beginner friendly, in that if you're determined to spin a wool/silk blend, start here. Otherwise, more Intermediate friendly.
BFL/ Seacell
70% Blue Faced Leicester, 30% Seacell
Similar in feel to Mulberry Silk, Seacell is a viscose fiber made from seaweed & it's honestly one of my favorites to add to blends. Because Seacell doesn't take on the dyes we use, it remains white and creates these beautiful streaks that blend into the finished project for the perfect amount of contrast.
• BFL micron count: 25-27
• Seacell micron count: 18-20
• Next to skin for most
• Intermediate friendly
BFL/ Firestar
70% Blue Faced Leicester, 30% Firestar
Subtle sparkle is what Firestar Nylon adds to any blend. It arrives to my shop white and takes on the dyes we're throwing, but differently than the wool it's paired with, it's so fun!
• BFL micron count: 25-27
• Firestar doesn't have a micron count
• Next to skin for most
• Beginner friendly - the Firestar is has a 'grippy-ness' to it that's similar to BFL & thus is easy to spin.
Falkland Merino/ Rose
60% Falkland Merino, 40% Rose Fiber
Rose fiber is a new biodegradable plant cellulose fiber harvested from the stalks of roses. Rose fiber is as silky, white, and strong as mulberry silk and feels similar to viscose bamboo.
• Falkland Merino micron count: 20-22
• Rose micron count: 19
Merino/ Rose/ Gold Sparkle
50% 21m Merino, 25% Rose fiber, 17% 25 micron Merino, 8% Silver Stellina
This is a fun fiber base for my sparkle & viscose fiber lovers! Rose fiber is a new biodegradable plant cellulose fiber harvested from the stalks of roses. Rose fiber is as silky, white, and strong as mulberry silk and feels similar to viscose bamboo. Stellina is similar to Angelina in texture & it stays gold during dyeing.
• Merino micron count: 21 & 25
• Rose micron count: 19
• Stellina doesn't have a micron count
• Next to skin for most
• Beginner/Intermediate friendly (Merino overall isn't super recommended for beginners, but that's what I learned on so..... I'm not gonna tell you it can't be done)
Merino/ Bamboo/ Silk
60% Merino, 20% Bamboo, 20% Silk
This blend is a soft classic - the wool paired with the viscose bamboo & the shimmery silk gives it added strength and texture. As usual, the bamboo will remain white & the silk will take the dye on differently than the Merino.
• Merino micron count: 21
• Bamboo micron count: 19
• Silk micron count: 10-13 (Mulberry), or 26-36 (Tussah)
• Next-to-skin
• Best for the Intermediate/Experienced spinner
Merino/ Seacell
60% 21m Merino, 40% Seacell
Similar in feel to Mulberry Silk, Seacell is a viscose fiber made from seaweed & it's honestly one of my favorites to add to blends. Because Seacell doesn't take on the dyes we use, it remains white and creates these beautiful streaks that blend into the finished project for the perfect amount of contrast.
• Merino micron count: 21
• Seacell micron count: 18-20
• Next to skin
• Intermediate friendly
Merino/ Tencel
50% Merino, 50% Tencel
The high percentage of Tencel (a viscose fiber made from trees) gives it a really sleek finish & gives the prettiest drape. Because the tencel is well blended into the Merino there aren't noticeable white streaks, and a more general shimmer.
• Merino micron count: 21
• Tencel micron count: 19
• Next-to-skin in concept- would recommend more for outerwear, personally.
• Best for the Intermediate/Experienced spinner
Organic Polwarth/ Silk
80% Organic Polwarth, 20% Cultivated Silk
The Polwarth sheep was developed in Australia by breeding Merino rams to Lincoln/Merino ewes so the foundation stock is 75% Merino/25% Lincoln. The Polwarth sheep were developed to make a dual purpose sheep with a finer wool that would contribute a more significant portion of the ranchers income. Sourced from the Falkland Islands & processed in the UK.
• Polwarth micron count: 22-25
• Silk micron count: 10-13
• Next-to-skin
• Intermediate friendly
Polwarth/ Silk
85% Polwarth, 15% Silk
Polwarth sheep were bred in Australia in 1880. The foundation stock, 75% Merino/25% Lincoln, came about by breeding Merino rams to Lincoln/Merino ewes. This breeding was meant to develop a hardy sheep with finer wool that could withstand areas of higher rainfall and colder temperatures, for a truly dual-purpose sheep. This breed is now found in Australia, New Zealand and Falkland Islands. This wool has good bulk, and is very soft and silky. Pairing it with silk makes for a hint of luxury added to this classic wool.
• Polwarth micron count: 22-25
• Silk micron count: 10-13 (Mulberry), or 26-36 (Tussah)
• Next-to-skin
• Beginner friendly
Rambouillet/ Nylon
80% Rambouillet, 20% Nylon
Pairing the bouncy Rambouillet with stretchy nylon makes for an easy-to-spin-thin fiber base; we get feedback that this base often wants to be made into thin singles & it's a customer favorite for that exact reason.
• Rambouillet micron count: 22
• Nylon doesn't have a micron count
• Next-to-skin
• Best for the Intermediate spinner
Rambouillet Gold Sparkle
75% Rambouillet, 17% Merino, 8% Gold Stellina
This is a fun fiber base for my sparkle lovers! Stellina is made from polyester & nylon similar to Angelina in texture & it stays gold during dyeing. I do want to note that you'll want to wash this in cool/lukewarm water when caring for it because very heated water can damage the sparkle (just FYI- I haven't had anyone come back to me complaining, but I found this out the hard way)
• Rambouillet micron count: 22
• Merino micron count: 25
• Stellina doesn't have a micron count
• Next to skin for most
• Beginner/Intermediate friendly
Superwash Merino/ Nylon
80% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon
A classic for kid-friendly projects, the nylon gives this non-felting Merino extra rebound and strength.
• Merino micron count: 21
• Nylon doesn't have a micron count
• Next-to-skin
• Best for the Intermediate spinner
Superwash Merino/ Bamboo/ Nylon
60% Superwash Merino, 30% Bamboo, 10% Nylon
Affectionately nicknamed 'Panda' by our supplier, this blend is perfection for classic socks + high-wear items. Superwash Merino resists felting & with the added strength of the Bamboo with the bounce of the Nylon, this blend always makes the colors pop.
• Merino micron count: 21
• Bamboo micron count: 19
• Nylon doesn't have a micron count
• Next-to-skin
• Best for the Intermediate/Experienced spinner
Superfine Merino/ Silk
70% 18.5m Merino, 30% Mulberry Silk
Super soft wool with super soft silk? What a treat! Because the silk takes the dyes differently than the wool, it gives these hints of vivid color against the more muted soft Merino.
• Merino micron count: 18.5
• Silk micron count: 10-13
• Next-to-skin
• Intermediate spinner appropriate
Superfine Merino/ Cashmere
70% 18.5m Merino, 30% Cashmere
Super soft wool with super soft Cashmere? What a treat! Because the Cashmere is so short stapled pairing it with the soft Merino makes it easier to work with.
• Merino micron count: 18.5
• Cashmere micron count: 10-13
• Next-to-skin
• Intermediate/Experienced spinner appropriate
Targhee/ Bamboo/ Silk
80% Targhee, 10% Bamboo, 10% Silk
This blend is delicious (and can you tell that wool/bamboo/silk blends are classics?) with just a hint of Bamboo & Silk, it adds visual texture to the finished project.
• Targhee micron count: 23
• Bamboo micron count: 19
• Silk micron count: 26-36
• Next-to-skin
• Beginner friendly
