Wool gets a lot of attention in the yarn spinning world, but what about vegan fiber for spinning? If you have never tried spinning Egyptian cotton before, then you are in for a real treat. Learn more about Egyptian cotton for spinning and check out all the fabulous hand dyed shades we offer in this fun and informative article.
What’s So Special About Egyptian Cotton?
Egyptian cotton is a rare breed of cotton that’s prized for its extra long fibers and its ability to create exceptionally smooth yarn. The name doesn’t just refer to the place where this special cotton is grown. It is a gold standard of excellence that can only be applied to this exceptional cotton varietal!
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How Do You Spin Cotton Fiber?
If you are new to spinning cotton fiber then you are going to love our Egyptian Cotton Combed Top Roving. It comes in one continuous roving strand that’s pre-drafted and ready to spin. This is much preferable to the cotton fiber that comes in fluffy cloud form and needs a lot of prep work before it is ready to spin. The other nice thing about Egyptian Cotton is that the staple length is longer than regular cotton which can make spinning easier. The staple length ranges from 1.25 – 2 inches.
How Do You Dye Cotton Fiber?
Cotton takes dye easily and can be dyed in fiber form or yarn form. It is so much fun to experiment with different dye techniques and many dyes can be created with things you can find around the house. Try it out with powdered drink mixes, teas, coffees, vegetables, and fruits. You can read more about the cotton dyeing process over on the Fiber Artsy website.
If you would prefer a more straightforward approach, you could also purchase commercial dyes at a craft store near you. You don’t even really need to purchase any special kinds, because cotton takes to dye very easily. Start with a natural, untreated Egyptian Cotton fiber like the one we have available in our Etsy Shop. You can read more about the differences between dyeing wool and cotton over on the Countryside website.
We also offer a wide variety of richly saturated and sophisticated colors of Egyptian Cotton fiber that have been dyed for you using safe, colorfast dyes. All of our Egyptian Cotton fiber is vegan, sustainable, biodegradable, and 100% cruelty free. With 25 colors to choose from, it can be hard to decide which ones you want to buy. If that’s the case, be sure to check out our collection of curated color packs in Earth Tones, Jewel Tones, and Neutrals.
Have you attempted dyeing cotton before? Do you have any other questions about Egyptian Cotton? Please leave a comment below or reach out to us on social media!
