"Corn Yarn" Stronger Than Wool

Corn Yarn Stronger Than Wool FARM HOME Clothes A Minnesota couple that recently started selling yarn made out of corn fiber says it offers some advantages over conventional yarns     Paul Tatge and Meg Mjoness of Benson Minn exhibited at the recent Big Iron show in West Fargo N Dak They ve formed a company called Corny Goodness that sells Ingeo corn fiber that s made into yarn and then hand-dyed The yarn comes in 100-gram 240-yard skeins and is available in 30 different colors     The couple also sells patterns for making hats shopping bags scarves shawls stocking caps baby caps berets neck warmers and placemats      We ply and dye the fiber ourselves in our home It makes a beautiful yarn says Tatge Corn yarn is good for farmers because it s another use for a crop they already grow It s the world s first manmade fiber made 100 percent from an annually renewable plant resource     According to Tatge Cargill owns the process that turns corn kernels into fine fibers which are then spun into thread The starch/sugar in the kernels is fermented resulting in lactic acid that s used to produce polylactide resin PLA which is then extruded and spun into fiber      We buy the thread from a company in South Carolina and then ply multiple threads together to make the yarn says Tatge Corn yarn resembles natural fibers but has a pearly sheen     According to Tatge corn yarn is breathable wicks moisture comfortable and has natural insulating warmth It s also color fast ultraviolet ray resistant wrinkle resistant as well as resistant to odor-causing bacteria microbes mildews and molds     Corn yarn is washable and can be dry-cleaned It s much stronger than cotton and gains strength with multiple washings although the cause for this isn t known says Tatge It s a very durable fiber that softens up with use The more you use it the nicer it feels However corn yarn can t be ironed because at 350 degrees the fibers will melt     The couple plans to soon offer a corn-and-wool blend Corn fiber is stronger than wool so the two materials complement each other The wool has just enough corn in it so the wool won t shrink when you wash it says Tatge     Corn yarn costs more than acrylic yarn but less than wool or alpaca yarn says Tatge You might say it s the cheapest of the exotic fibers     A single skein sells for $12 plus S&H     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Paul Tatge Corny Goodness 1819 Kansas Ave Benson Minn 56215 ph 320 304-1399; Paul@cornygoodness com; www cornygoodness com

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