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Weekly Fiber News ~ Patterns ~ History & Lore
May 16, 2026
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📰 The Fiber Feed: Top News
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Polyester’s Lack of Environmental Traceability: A new report from the Bremen Cotton Exchange argues that mandatory fiber traceability may not always lead to more sustainable textiles. The report authored by Veronica Bates Kassatly and Terry Townsend warns that natural fibers like cotton and wool are facing growing certification and tracing requirements, while polyester (which makes up nearly 60% of global fiber production and is derived from fossil fuels) is often exempt from similar scrutiny. The authors say this uneven treatment could place costly burdens on farmers and producers in developing countries without delivering meaningful environmental gains. | Read more at Bremen Cotton Exchange
Chicago Business Owners Work to Open New Mill: Two owners of a Chicago craft store are working to bring textile production back to the windy city by opening a fiber mill focused on natural, sustainable materials. While the Inclement Craft co-owners, Aaron Storm and Nathaniel Millard, are still in the early phases of launch (securing capital and a mill space in the city), it could mark the beginning of manufacturing returning to Chicago. “Practicing fiber arts is almost an invocation of ghosts,” Storm said. “You’re moving your body in the same ways other people have moved their bodies for thousands of years to create an object.” | Read more at Medill Reports
Wool Performance Benefits in Pilates: A recent article by International Wool Textile Organisation explored how wool, the “original performance fiber,” is a perfect fit for low-impact exercise like Pilates, a form of rehabilitative exercise that’s done on a reformer. The article details how wool’s natural breathability and sustainability offer distinct advantages over synthetic activewear fabrics. IWTO notes that during Pilates, you move through exercises of holds and rests, with body temp rising and falling. “Thanks to a phenomenon known as heat of sorption, wool supports your body temperature in a way synthetics can’t,” the article writes. | Read more at IWTO
2026 Color Trends for Makers: This year’s trending yarn palette is a blend of warm earth tones (terracotta, ochre and clay) with electric blues and crisp black-and-white combos, according to Happywool. These colors are especially well suited to mosaic crochet and graphic knitwear, offering makers fresh ways to add contrast and modern style to their projects. | Read more at Happywool
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From Field to Fabric Workshop: This hands-on summer workshop in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, walks participants through the traditional process of turning flax into linen. Hosted at the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, the program explores harvesting, retting, breaking, scutching and spinning. It also covers the historic tools and methods used during this ancient practice. | Read more at Discover Lancaster
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