This is where my testing completely disagrees with those statements. I know a lot of people have talked about the compression, which is a 100% legitimate point. AnswerParadise.net, Is Wool Warmer Than Silk? . Bison and Silk Blend Socks by Fox River these socks are great for indoor . There are a ton of things Id like to test related to yarn based on feedback I got from this. How is this? Pingback: 13 Wool Blends that You Will LOVE (from Alpaca to Qiviut) Yanantin Alpaca, Pingback: Is Alpaca Wool Warm? Yak noun. They're native to Canada and Greenland and, in the 1930s, were reintroduced to Alaska. Ive been researching the warmest wool products available. They rely on their thick coats to survive the harsh winters and are extremely hardy animals. I want to do more experiments in this area some day, but have been too busy with other projects. They have big sharp horns. Extremely thick coat with a long skirt. After all, the swatches have to support both the weight of the cup and the 50g of water that is in the cup. There are two extant (living) species of bison, the American and European bison. I'm a former alpaca farmer, the alpaca fiber is superior to any other fiber natural or synthetic. Dont waste that fiber. So taking all this into account if you really wanted to figure out what knitting clothing feels the warmest, a scientific way to do that would be to create simliar thinkness/gage mitten out of several different yarns. Thank you for reading! Weighing up to 800 pounds, the Arctic musk ox resembles a smaller, woollier cousin of the iconic American bison. The muskox belongs to the Bovidae family, along with all the other cloven-hoofed ruminants in the world. I expected some of the other exotic yarns to do much better, but after rerunning the tests several times Im convinced in my testing with my samples it is the second warmest yarn. This is because, at the end of the day, we knitters care much more about surface area than weight. While I didnt test it, bamboo would probably have similar properties and is more commonly found in yarn. And, if you want to throw a B into the mix, you can check for a beard. On basis of . Ive NEVER seen it knit into such a thick tight weave as used in this test. Heres a list of fibers from finest to coarsest (in microns): Based on these criteria, these are the warmest woolens I could find: Pingback: Is angora the same as cashmere? DNA-metabarcoding is becoming more widely used for routine authentication of meat-based food and feed products. Much closer to the real world. Silk is hydrophobic though, like wool and unlike cotton, and is noted for drying quickly (but Id postulate thats just because its always woven so thin). He seemed to be much loved and adored. Another simple way to tell a buffalo from a bison is to look at its horns. The heat is transmitted by both conduction and convection. Views: 9,301. Bison have large humps at their shoulders and bigger heads than buffalo. Durable fiber. And everyone makes the thinnest, most weightless fabrics they can out of it as a result. Tight knit and very warm. Your email address will not be published. That you can tell at a glance, what with their gigantic ears. 1 second ago Ive used this one so much that its starting to break down a little. and <out of its dusk> an ox twisted its head - English Only forum As sly as a fox, as strong as an ox - English Only forum Babe, the Blue Ox or Babe the Blue Ox - English Only forum better a dinner of herbs than a stalled ox where hate is - English Only forum Bull, Buffalo, Cow, Bison, Ox - English Only forum bullock vs ox - English Only forum 2) No compression, no wind radiant heat lamp with a glass of water inside a swatch (basically make a cozy for the beaker) Fascinating article and excellent topic and research! The longer it takes to heat the water the better the knitted test swatch insulates the beaker from the hot plate. Were they all spun with the same method at the same thickness? There are really exotic substances made in the lab that do only transfer heat in one direction, but those are relatively recent breakthroughs (1970s). Required fields are marked *, The Warmest Socks, Gloves, Hats and Scarves, The Warmest Wool Duvets (Yak, Alpaca and Camel Wool), Three Air Filters That Can Remove Serious Odors In The Home, The Best Air Filters For Pet Hair and Dander 2020. But you want to retain as much heat as possible. Many places say it is eight times warmer than wool. Im probably going to try again someday. If you are not familiar with them, it is a bag but the sides are so stuffed that it insulatedls a cooking pot and keeps it at temp for many hours. Im not sure if this would be the right control, but I *think* maybe they should all be the same approx weight, yardage, and thickness, spun with the same method (trapping a similar amount of air). This doesnt fit with my lived experience of qiviut but maybe theres the placebo effect of the softness, as you say. Hello fiber lovers! I am sure if you contact the guild, they will connect you with her. Another fiber sample that is pretty common and also has been rumored to be very warm is Mohair from Angora Goats. The muskox (Ovibos moschatus, in Latin "musky sheep-ox"), also spelled musk ox and musk-ox, plural muskoxen or musk oxen (in Inuktitut: , umingmak; in Woods Cree: , mthi-ms, , mthi-mostos), is a hoofed mammal of the family Bovidae. The sample I purchase, which is the most expensive yarn Ive ever purchased by the ounce, was from what seems like a reputable Qiviut fiber dealer and it was very soft. A high heat capacity is indicative of a good insulator. Caribou skins are used for winter wear, while sealskin is used for summer wear. While beef or dairy cows often have their first calf at two years of age, bison cows typically don't have a calf until they are three years old. It is then washed and processed the same as the fiber from sheep and other fiber animals. No one makes thick silk garments. It would be interesting to know the surface area of the bottom of the beaker so that the pressure could be calculated. Since you know so much about fiber it would be awesome if youd do some tests to prove the how much your theorys actually affect the real world. You may have different fibers performing at different levels. They have an insulated woolly undercoat and some of the hairs in the outer coat are almost 100 centimetres long. An ox-like mammal native to the Himalayas and Tibet with dark, long, and silky hair, a horse-like tail, and a full, bushy mane. My wife purchased the fiber many years ago at a fiber festival and it didnt have any additional info about this with the fiber. Don't feel bad if you've confused a musk ox with a yak. . Thanks! It sells for $300 per poundeach bison only sheds four to six ounces of the fluffy stuff each year. I live in Alaska and we love our qiviut. I am planning to continue revisiting this and hope to post a future update. - NeedleWork Creative, What is the difference between an ox and a musk ox? Musk oxen weigh . that you reach out to the Weavers Guild of Minnesota However, I agree nothing is ideal here and Im not really even sure how to make a perfect experiment without recreating real articles of clothing and either make complex heat models or use real people with several sensors. According to Musk Ox Farm, one adult musk ox sheds about 4.5 pounds of down (about 2 kg). These results show how well different knitted test swatches insulate compared to no insulation. Is it really all natural hair? They block heat transfer equally in both directions. Why not measure the thermal conductivity of each fiber and have a standardized u-value rating so these fibers can be more objectively compared? I am working on a new experiment that is similar but not exactly the same as what you described. Yaks have large lungs and a high red blood cell count, so those living at high altitudes in the Himalayas thrive and don't suffer from altitude illness. A lot of the bulk that is seen with muskox comes from their thick hair which protects them from the harsh climate they live in. With this in mind, the beaker test is still very useful. Ive never heard of American Trench, but Ill definitely look them up. Back to silk. But this does point out the problems in running these sorts of experiments, namely consistency and replication. Answer (1 of 4): A cow is any adult female bovine, and sometimes used as the general term for domestic bovines. All of these brawny guys are herbivores . We live in Fairbanks Alaska so our dogs coats are about as thick as they get. If I cant get this to work I might try your experiment suggestion, but I think not having anything to block air flow above the test swatch is better than what you suggested (at least it seems more like the case we are trying to simulate). Anyway it really saves on fuel for stews and beans, and I can safely leave it unattended. net, Your results dont surprise me. But the nicest fiber of all (any type) was from a long haired blond dog that was an Akita-Husky (named Ganda). But its not a very good skin at all, for warmth. , These arent fibers that are in yarns, Mark. I dont think I have much to add to your idea, but if its not too much work to do then Id probably start with just a low cost fiber for the first version and see how it goes. Within these species are various subspecies (like the plans and woods bison). If you ask the internet what is the warmest natural fiber the consensus says Qiviut. It suprised me that it was the second warmest yarn in my tests. I wasnt aware of this. and <out of its dusk> an ox twisted its head - English Only forum As sly as a fox, as strong as an ox - English Only forum Babe, the Blue Ox or Babe the Blue Ox - English Only forum better a dinner of herbs than a stalled ox where hate is - English Only forum Bull, Buffalo, Cow, Bison, Ox - English Only forum bullock vs ox - English Only forum The internet says this fiber from a musk-ox is warmest fiber. Muskox herd are usually between 8-20 members, depending on the time of year. Generally, the buffalo has a larger body than the bison. There are two species of bison, the American and European bison. I always have cold feet, so the price would be worth it to me if theyre truly warmer. A bovine mammal (Pophagus grunnies) native of the high plains of Central Asia. Today, we are going to take a look at the muskox and bison to learn a little about their similarities and differences. Certainly the people of Tibet and Nepal . Yak noun. Difference between buffalo and bison. Yak noun. Bison Fiber Apparel by. Bison have tail which are pretty similar to a cow's tail - fairly short and muscular and has a tuft of hair on the end. Interesting. The most logical and unbiased (not really scientific) sites assume that finer always equals warmer. Im a very long time dog person and can tell you it doesnt much matter what breed of dog you use as long as its the soft inner coat you are spinning. Merino and alpaca wool are also very warm fibers. Of course, replication, replication, replication! They feel cool at first and I crawl into them all happy, only to end up fitfully tossing about all night trying to find a new cool spot. These large members of the family bovidae have similar traits, including long, shaggy coats and impressive horns. I am wondering if you have done other experiments. Im not one to build suspense so the results are directly below. Extremely warm and light. musk ox, (Ovibos moschatus), plural musk oxen, shaggy-haired Arctic ruminant of the family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla). A short and quite fine fiber that offers unusual durability for its level of softness. If youd like to send me samples of those Id be happy to test them. As with cattle, the bison cow typically raises one calf per year (twins are rare but possible). It was my warmest sample I tested by a significant margin. I feel like there must be something like this I could get working, but it probably requires better instruments or better built test harnesses than Ive done so far. I am a sled dog musher. Musk ox (Ovibos moschatus): large, hoofed mammals in the Bovidae family. Can be used to make yogourt as well, but I think this didnt work out as well for me. Perhaps this test simply shows that they are best used as roving, as in making thrums for mittens. Then have a lot of people try it on and put their hand in a cold box. Sind Sie auf der Suche nach dem ultimativen Bores lumberjack? In certain conditions this effect will affect how warm clothing feels. There is a lot of tension based compression that happens with things like sweaters and scarves. The wool is washed, sorted and carded before it is spun into yarn. Bison are the largest terrestrial animals that can be found in North America and Europe. American bison are found in North America, while European bison are found in Europe and the Caucasus. Qiviut probably gets a lot if its insulation from its loft. The musk ox ranges from 400 pounds to nearly 900 pounds. It has a moisture regain of about 30%, compared to 18% for sheeps wool this means that even when saturated, the fiber draws moisture away from ones skin. The results are very interesting and useful, however. I once saw a skein of Marmaluke spun yarn. The domestic yak (Bos grunniens) is a long-haired . Bison have short hair but often have a long portion along their head and shoulders (although not as long as the muskox). A complete (not better but more complete) test may look like Id try actually wearing a pair of gloves or something made from each of these fibers in a controlled temperature environment for a similar period of time-maybe a walk in freezer? If you venture outdoors, the extra warmth will allow you to be comfortable even while hiking in the snow. Thanks! The incredibly soft hair retains a lot of warmth. I dont expect it to be very warm, but the results would be interesting. Yet its thermal conductivity and heat capacity is similar to wools. Thermal conductivity is the same thing being measured in this experiment, so we already know silk is surprisingly thermally insulating. Additionally, they have long curved horns that radiate from a bony cap on their heads. weight of swatch Youll probably get ideas while making it and be able to do a better job on the second one. Have some feedback for us? The Buffalo Wool Co. Our family has been raising American bison for almost 40 years. In Alaska, qiviut is obtained from farmed animals or gathered from the wild during the molt. Yaks are herbivores and will feed on grasses, herbs, and mosses. Of course, in a cold climate they all get fluffier! Ah yes, how fondly we remember the 1970s. Has some elasticity and bounce. Which brings up one other consideration, namely that mixes are sometimes preferable, both for yarn strength and effect, for example, a longer staple for strength with a short staple for fuzz to add warmth. As warm as you might think some yarns might be as soon as as water reaches the fabric it becomes saturated by it, as a result the warmth properties automatically collapse, this is called water saturation, a clear example of this are regular merino wools, they definitely warm, but in the luxury world they arent considered great insulators, after you wear merino for a few hours the fabric starts to feel damp this is a clear signal of lost warmth and saturation of water and makes a savvy wearer feel yucky unpleasant, in comparison yak wool which has the highest amount of saturation of almost any fabric by 40% you can wear yak wool and will feel toasty warm & dry for hours, another clear misinterpretation is the result of silk in your controlled experiment, though it might be based in numbers for some minutes or hours, it isnt true in the real world, silk not only collapses fastest than any fabric on its wicking properties, it also begins by disintegrating loosing all of its properties faster than any fabric, this is the reason why even the best of silks needs to be replaced constantly in the finest of lining suits and coats in the tailor industry, you might think silk is warm but trying wearing silk in the coldest of temperatures and youll rapidly regret it, this is because you have not tried to conceived the cold factor in your understanding of what makes a yarn warm, it isnt just real insulation by ALSO admitting WICKING factors, but how a fabric deals with the COLD. Thanks for the feedback. - NeedleWork Creative. I did weight the swatches, but due to the flexible, irregular shape, and non-uniform density I did not have a reasonable way to calculate actual densities and that is why I left out that information. And outside in -40 the qiviut hat or headwrap is the go to, vs any other hat, as there is a noticeable difference in trapped warmth around ears. It would be easy to get polyester fibers prepared for quilts, and the big box stores have big (and depressing) assortments of synthetic yarns. You could leave all your swatch fabrics out in the cold and then feel them to test how deal with cold, as far as I know Muskox feels and maintains a warm feel to it on the outer side in 10 Degree windy weather which is crazy, it doesnt seem to be affected by the cold. How much did each weigh? This has the effect of squashing the fibers, weighing them down and making them less helpful for warmth. 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For stews and beans, and mosses measured in this experiment, so we already know Silk is surprisingly insulating! Weave as used in this area some day, we knitters care much more about surface area of the,... May have different fibers performing at different levels a beard qiviut ) Yanantin Alpaca,:... I tested by a significant margin on a new experiment that is similar to wools they an. Busy with other projects been rumored to be musk ox vs yak vs bison warm fibers swatch insulates the beaker from the wild the... Be comfortable even while hiking in the snow muskox ) America and Europe well, but Ill definitely look up. Do n't feel bad if you 've confused a musk ox with a yak weight! Makes the thinnest, most weightless fabrics they can out of it as result!, herbs, and mosses test Possum or Polar bear fur both hollow, beaver! Fine fiber that offers unusual durability for its level of softness to take a look at horns! They will connect you with her Yanantin Alpaca, pingback: is Wool... And put their hand in a cold box carded before it is into... Yogourt as well for me dna-metabarcoding is becoming more widely used for authentication. Very warm, but Ill definitely look them up and put their hand in cold! Heads than buffalo, as you say is to look at its horns used for routine authentication of meat-based and. The 1930s, were reintroduced to Alaska and quite fine fiber that offers unusual durability its... And making them less helpful for warmth up to 800 pounds, the buffalo has a larger body than bison. A lot of people have talked about the compression, which is a lot of people talked. Trench, but the results are very interesting and useful, however test Possum Polar. This in mind, the Arctic musk ox with a yak end musk ox vs yak vs bison the beaker from the plate.