Wool or not??

[shadow]

How can I tell whether yarn is wool or not? I want to try to felt a purse but I have a lot of yarn from trades that are missing labels. I am not sure what they are made of. There is not a lot of yarn there so I hate to waste the yarn by testing it. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks! Barb

[charitas32]

Warning these are only suggestions extrapolated from my knowlege of wool. Does the yarn smell like wool, go sniff the 100% stuff and you'll know what i mean. The lanolin content of wool leaves your hands feeling softer! Or do you have a friend with allergies who is prepared to suffer for your sake. Hope this helps alittle. I once spent 2 hours trying to felt acrylic wool by hand ( it was frogged from a very expensive but hideous poncho and i assumed it had wool in) good work out for my arms but otherwise a waste of time

[Melissa]

There's something you can do called a 'burn test.' You take a piece and set it on fire! Acrylic melts. Wool burns like hair, cotton burns more ashily.

 

This link might help.

[shadow]

Thank you!