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Weekly Fiber News ~ Patterns ~ History & Lore
March 14, 2026
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📰 The Fiber Feed: Top News
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Wool is Not Waste: A major advocacy movement is gaining traction this month to reclassify raw wool within the European Union. A current regulation designed to prevent the spread of disease deems unprocessed wool an animal by-product unless properly treated. Since the cost of shearing and regulated handling outpaces the value of many types of wool (often from meat breeds with coarser fiber), farmers find it’s cheaper to dispose of it. Policy change advocates argue that raw wool doesn’t carry the risks of, for example, foot and mouth outbreaks or mad cow disease, and therefore shouldn’t be classified with blood and carcasses. They are pushing for policymakers to recognize wool as a high-value, sustainable agricultural product. | Read more at IWTO
American Crochet’s Big Milestone: Celebrating 22 years in the industry, the independent pattern brand American Crochet recently relaunched its platform with an improved user experience. The new site features an expanded pattern library, a free pattern blog, instant downloads and mobile-friendly shopping. American Crochet is a mission-driven organization that participates in charity blog hops and community events. | Read more at Barchart
Cotton’s High-Tech Future: At the upcoming Bremen Cotton Conference (March 25–27) in Germany, scientists are planning to showcase how cotton textile waste can now be converted into valuable raw materials. One presentation will show how a process called hydrolysis can be used to break down old clothes into sugar molecules, which can then be used as a natural starting ingredient to make new materials, like bioplastics. | Read more at Fibre2Fashion
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The Alpaca Advantage: There are a number of advantages to alpaca wool, especially for those with sensitive skin. Unlike sheep’s wool, alpaca fiber is lanolin-free, which means it’s hypoallergenic. The fiber is also hollow, making it three to five times warmer but significantly lighter; it’s water resistant, has an elegant drape and is more comfortable year-round due to its breathability. Another reason some folks prefer alpaca over sheep’s wool is because the fiber scales are 80% smoother than merino. If you have allergies, find wool to be “prickly” or simply want a lighter fiber for your next project, alpaca wool might be the solution for you. | Read more at Alpaca Direct
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Under the Sea: Fiber artist Mulyana’s new exhibition at the Eskenazi Museum of Art in Indiana features suspended fish and coral reefs made from yarn and recycled materials, exploring themes of climate change and underwater biospheres. | Read more at Indiana Daily Student
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