Best way to re-waterproof a canvas tent

[monsterbunny]

I am waiting on an order of Yak wool - purportedly waterproof!
Although as it is for a minuscule spring cardie, I am not envisaging romping in downpours.

I’d be really interested to hear you're your impression about yak wool, campanula. It’s supposed to be warmer than merino with greater air and water permeability but I’ve no experience with it. There’s a UK company called Tengri selling yak wool garments but their prices are way beyond anything I can afford.

For years I’ve used New Zealand Swanndri shirts that are marketed as water resistant. The seams are lockstitched and the fabric has a loose weave but is remarkably strong. It’s wind resistant rather than windproof so is better at moisture management, for sweaty types like me, and water beads on the surface so is easily shaken off. It can take some heavy rain too but as with all woollen outer layers moisture adds considerably to the weight and takes an age to dry out.

I know a good knitter so if you know of anywhere I can reliably source yak wool at a reasonable price your help would be much appreciated.

 

[campanula]

My wool arrived and I have started knitting it - a lovely texture, almost hemp-like but softer. The wool is 50% yak (combed and ethically sourced) and 50% merino (but I cannot say what the provenance of the merino is (given the ethics of cheap merino and mulesing, it is something I try to take into account). Anyway, Lang, a German yarn company, are the producers. The feel of the garment is light, but warm (the reviews this wool gets are always off the scale) so I didn't balk too much at paying £7.50 per 100gr (running length 130metres).
You might find it helpful to actually ask on a knitting site such as Ravelry - there is a forum and a mass of info regarding different yarns.

I wear merino base-layers for winter work - always warm and, as far as I am concerned, the old materials such as wool and silk can still hold their own against the weight of the modern textile industry. As far as ethics go, there are complex issues surrounding plant fibres such as bamboo (the rendering cellulose into useable textiles has poor ecological prospects....although nothing is as bad as cotton (organic or otherwise).

You might want to consider some of the small-scale spinning products using locally produced wool (such as Blue-faced Leicester or Cumbrian Herdwick sheep)

 

[moose]

I’d be really interested to hear you're your impression about yak wool, campanula. It’s supposed to be warmer than merino with greater air and water permeability but I’ve no experience with it. There’s a UK company called Tengri selling yak wool garments but their prices are way beyond anything I can afford.

I got a couple of balls of Tengri yak yarn for christmas, and it's lovely to knit with, but as you point out, to do a whole garment would cost £££ (I made a small scarf ) There's a company called Lotus yarns who produce pure yak in a variety of weights, and about half the price, but I have only seen it online and not stroked it. However it's made in China and makes me nervous about the welfare of the yaks! They also sell camel and er... mink yarns http://www.trendsetteryarns.com/lotusyarns.asp

The blends such as the Lang yarns that campanula mention are a reasonable cost and seem to retain most of the characteristics of pure yak, so probably a good alternative.

 

[monsterbunny]

I've seen the 50:50 blends but I was hoping for some first hand experience of 100% yak wool before I shell out big wedge. I'm a fan of merino too and, like yourselves, provenance is important. This is why I stick to Icebreaker (expensive) for merino where it can be traced back to the farm and avoid cheap cashmere.

Thanks to both of you. I'll dig around a bit more before I commit.