Willeke wrote on Dec 28
th, 2006 at 8:39am:
I have no experience with yakhair, but think making it wet would help.
But wait for Matthias for a 'learned' answer.
Willeke
I just caught this thread... For protein fibres I'd try steaming first. Get a full boil going on the kettle and then steam the pouch. wrap the warm pouch around a rock (hey a hot rock would be even better) and then steam it again. The heat should allow the fibres to slide against one another a little and at the same time become more elastic. You can set shape into wool relatively easily.
Of course this all depends on the construction of the yarn, that of the fabric, and the material. My experience is with muskox, rather that yak, but the wool/guard hair are similar. There should be enough oil in the hair already unless it's been chemically scoured (unlikely).
Matthias