Blending Fibers
Here at Legacy Lane, we offer a variety of blending fibers. All are natural fibers, except nylon. In order to minimize our carbon footprint, fibers are sourced from Canadian suppliers as often as possible. As a processing client, if there are specific fibers that you would like, but which are not listed here, please contact us and we'll see if we can find some for you. We are happy to blend specialty client-sourced fibers but please contact us prior to shipping, to ensure there are no special requirements needed to accommodate your fiber. Please note that we do charge a blending fee for client-sourced fiber, whereas our in-house blending fibers have the blending fee built into their cost.
Blending Fibers We Offer
Merino Wool
Sheep have been part of the fabric of human civilization for more than 10,000 years. Some people feel that the reason for this enduring relationship is because wool is composed of the same protein that makes up the outer layer of human skin and the fiber works in total harmony with your body's own protection mechanisms. At Legacy Lane, we offer various natural shades of merino wool. These include white, oatmeal, brown, grey, charcoal and black. Merino is the finest sheep's wool on the market today. The merino we offer is all superwashed which means it is hypo-allergenic; it adds softness with its 19 micron count; increases the fiber's ability to absorb dye; and also discourages the fiber from felting. When merino is blended with alpaca or llama, even in small ratios, it adds elasticity, durability and memory to the yarn. Laboratory tests have shown that wool fibers resist tearing and can bend back on themselves more than 20,000 times without breaking. Cotton breaks after 3,200 bends, silk fibers break after 1,800 bends, and rayon fibers break after just 75 bends. Adding wool to your yarns will help them last for years.
Hemp
Hemp fibre is the longest, strongest and most durable of all natural fibres. It is resistant to mold and ultraviolet light and the more you use the fiber, the softer it gets. Hemp holds its shape well, creating less stretch and a longer life. Unlike conventionally grown cotton, hemp cultivation does not require vast amounts of chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and fertalizers to grow well. Grown in rotation with other crops such as corn and legumes, hemp farming can be completely sustainable. At Legacy Lane we offer a variety of different hemp colours. Please contact us to see what we have in stock.
Bamboo
Natural bamboo fiber is incredibly soft, strong and durable. Adding bamboo to a blend also adds elasticity, moisture absorption, and ventilation. This cellulose fiber is extracted directly from bamboo culms and has a 3" staple length. It is the fastest-growing plant on earth, and is considered an incredibly sustainable resource. Growing bamboo increases air quality and the fiber can be cultivated without fertilizers or pesticides. Bamboo is creamy in colour with a high sheen, similar to silk. Bamboo is naturally porous and instantly wicks moisture away from the body as well as giving fiber blends a faster dry time. This fiber is beneficial for allergy sufferers as it has natural antibacterial properties and greatly discourages the formation of bacteria and fungi. Bamboo is excellent to blend in small amounts with alpaca or llama. It gives a shiny luster and softness to the yarn, taking it to the next level of "exotic".
Nylon
Nylon is a lustrous fiber which contains carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen elements. This fiber is known for it's smoothness, light weight and high strength to weight ratio. Nylon is often added to garments at points of wear such as knees, elbows, toes and the heels of socks and its strength is not lost with age.
Why We LOVE Alpaca Fiber So Much...
Here at Legacy Lane we primarily process and use alpaca fiber to make our yarns and finished products. There are many reasons why we’re all enthusiastic about this fiber and the amazing animals which produce it. Alpaca fiber is seven times warmer and three times stronger than sheep’s wool. It is also incredibly soft and luxurious to touch. Alpaca fiber is hypoallergenic, water-repellant and has an amazing insulation value. Because of Legacy Lane’s commitment to the environment, we also prefer alpaca, as an animal, because of their minimal impact on Mother Nature. These animals have delicate padded feet, which are gentle on the earth and they are rarely known to damage fencing or trees. They feed on native grasses with their unique flat front teeth. These teeth allow them to ‘cut’ the grass, causing less damage than cows or sheep that pull the whole plant, contributing to over-grazing and the degradation of pastureland. Alpaca manure is also considered an effective low-odor, organic fertilizer, which provides valuable nutrients for organic gardening. If all of this isn’t enough, have you seen these animals? They are super cute with a gentle and soothing demeanor and they communicate with a soft, calming, humming sound. By choosing alpaca fiber, we are also helping support small, family-run alpaca farms and improving the overall sustainability of the textile industry world-wide.
Processing Reservation
To make your processing reservation please call 506-433-5604 or email us at, legacyln@nb.sympatico.ca