Fiber Foundations

This lesson explores the earliest known uses of fiber by humans. We'll examine archaeological evidence and historical artifacts that show how prehistoric societies gathered and processed fiber for clothing, shelter, and tools. Understanding these origins gives us insight into the deep human connection with fiber materials.

In this lesson, learners will explore a variety of traditional fiber practices from around the world. From the alpaca weavers of the Andes to the silk artisans of China, we’ll consider how geography, culture, and available materials shaped regional fiber techniques and aesthetics.

In this lesson, learners will explore a variety of traditional fiber practices from around the world. From the alpaca weavers of the Andes to the silk artisans of Japan, we’ll consider how geography, culture, and available materials shaped regional fiber techniques and aesthetics.

In this lesson, we’ll examine how fibers like wool, alpaca, and silk are harvested from animals. Learners will explore different techniques such as shearing, combing, and cocoon collection, while considering the impact of these methods on fiber quality and animal welfare.

This lesson introduces the harvesting processes for plant-based fibers like cotton, flax, and hemp. Students will learn about traditional and modern methods such as retting, decortication, and ginning, and analyze how these processes affect the final fiber.

Learners will explore how regenerated cellulose fibers like viscose and rayon are made. This lesson covers the chemical transformation of plant pulp into spinnable fibers and discusses the advantages and environmental concerns of these semi-synthetic materials.

This lesson examines fully synthetic fibers, their petrochemical origins, and how they are extruded into usable forms. We’ll discuss their impact on textile industries and how they compare with natural and regenerated fibers in performance and sustainability.

In this lesson, learners will gain hands-on experience with grading wool, alpaca, and similar fibers. We'll explore criteria such as micron count, staple length, and crimp to assess fiber quality and intended use.

This lesson focuses on evaluating the quality of plant-based fibers. Students will assess fiber strength, fineness, and length using examples like cotton and flax, and learn how plant fiber grading influences textile performance.

Learners will explore quality indicators for regenerated and synthetic fibers, including consistency, luster, and tensile strength. We’ll also compare these with natural fiber grading systems and discuss the challenges in standardizing synthetic materials.

This lesson provides an overview of how to clean raw animal fibers, particularly wool. Learners will experiment with scouring techniques, understanding how to remove lanolin, dirt, and debris while preserving fiber quality.

Students will explore how to prepare raw plant fibers for crafting. This includes breaking, scutching, and hackling flax or hemp, and comparing traditional and modern approaches to processing cellulose-based fibers.

This lesson introduces fiber alignment and blending techniques. Learners will practice using hand carders, drum carders, and combs to create fiber preparations for spinning or felting.

In this lesson, learners will explore how commercially prepared viscose, synthetic, or mill-processed rovings can be integrated into their projects. We’ll cover tips for handling slippery or uniform fibers and discuss preparation differences from raw materials.

Students will learn the purpose and structure of a fiber sample card. This lesson will walk through the essential information to record, such as fiber type, origin, preparation method, and grading details.

This lesson focuses on organizing fiber sample cards into a coherent catalog. Students will explore digital and physical methods for categorization and reflect on how documentation enhances creative practice.

Learners will be introduced to best practices for photographing fiber samples and labeling them consistently. This lesson emphasizes clarity, scale, lighting, and visual organization for use in digital or physical catalogs.

This lesson dives into the ecological effects of different fiber types, examining factors such as water usage, chemical processing, biodegradability, and long-term sustainability.

Students will analyze fiber production from a social and ethical lens. This lesson includes discussions on animal welfare, indigenous rights, and labor conditions in fiber supply chains.

In this lesson, learners will synthesize what they’ve learned to compare the sustainability of natural, regenerated, and synthetic fibers. They’ll assess trade-offs and explore innovative approaches in the fiber industry.

This lesson introduces foundational vocabulary used in fiber evaluation and documentation. Students will define and apply terms like crimp, staple length, luster, and denier.

Learners will explore how fiber characteristics influence end use. Through handling and evaluation, they’ll connect terms and properties to real-world crafting applications.

This final lesson in the terminology module encourages students to compare and contrast fiber families using a matrix or chart. The exercise helps clarify functional differences and reinforce key concepts.

In this lesson, students begin planning their final project: a fiber sample catalog. They will select a diverse set of fibers to document, review course competencies, and outline their project format.