Published on May 7th, 2009
If you’ve been waiting to add some hemp fiber to your life now has never been a better time to do so. Hemp for Knitting offers a wide variety of yarn in a multitude of weights and colors.
I know we’ve already sang the praises of hemp but it stands to be repeated. Hemp is a fast growing plant that is pest resistant reducing the need for both water and pesticides and herbicides. Hemp also helps nourish the soil right where it is planted, reducing the need for fertilizer.
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Published on April 30th, 2009
Here’s another eco-friendly yarn option for those who use animal fibers: Eco Wool from Sirdar in the U.K.
Eco Wool comes in DK weight in 50 gram balls. It looks quite lovely and natural.
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Published on April 23rd, 2009
When it comes to cotton yarn, I’m a very picky knitter. I am not a fan of cotton yarn that is stiff, has no give and is a little bit rough. I especially hate that cotton ply that splits the second you make a mistake and need to back knit and it just falls to pieces. Ugh, my hands hurt just thinking about it.
So I’m pretty excited about Knit Picks Simply Cotton yarn. Simply cotton is 100% organic cotton yarn available in worsted and sport weight. See how strong and soft it looks?!
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Published on April 16th, 2009
I’m on the fence about this yarn and not so sure that it is “yearn worthy” but felt that a good discussion about it was.
Caron yarns has a new entry into our yarn vernacular called Simply Soft Eco. Simply Soft Eco is similar to Caron’s other yarns made from acrylic, but contains 20% of recycled PET content.
If you recall PET is plastic water or soda bottles and is popping up in recycled form in various places such as EcoFelt, fabric blends, clothing, bags, and even boats! What I find really wonderful about this yarn is that it has recycled content, a huge selection of colors and that it is available in big box stores - great for when you don’t have access to a small indie shop.
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Published on April 9th, 2009
I have Spring fever. Bad. I can’t wait for the warmth and the sun of the season. I think that’s why I am quite currently fawning over Sublime’s organic yarns.
Sublime offers soft and soothing colors that seem perfect for this time of year. They come in organic cotton as well as organic merino wool. Organic options enough for everyone.
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Published on April 2nd, 2009
Thirteen Mile Farm is located in big sky country in Belgrade, Montana. Here you’ll find about 100 sheep being raised on a farm that looks out for the environmental concerns of its livestock and the land.
Owned and operated by Becky Weed and Dave Tyler, this pair are still learning ways to green up their farm but currently practice crop and animal rotation, use plants instead of chemicals for fertilizers and never use antibiotics or hormones in their sheep. They are certified organic by the USDA
and have a Predatory Friendly certification as well. That means they do not use lethal methods to deter predators. This is especially crucial in areas such as Montana and other farming states where important predators are on the come back, such as wolves.
While these are great and wonderful points about the farm, we’re here for the yarn!
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Published on March 26th, 2009
Located in the Pacific Northwest, Midnightsky Fibers is a great little yarn and fiber company that offers a variety of eco-friendly yarns and fibers.
From wool and wool blends to soysilk yarns, Midnightsky offers hand spun and hand dyed yarns and fibers. Special emphasis is placed on wool and wool blends with all natural and environmentally-friendly fibers used in the blends.
All of their yarns and fibers are available in their natural state, dyed, or hand painted, in addition to a number of fiber clubs and sock yarn clubs. They source their yarns and fibers from other small companies committed to supporting small artists and environmental issues.
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Published on March 19th, 2009
Meaning “a place of trees,” Treliske is a 3000 acre organic farm, certified by the New Zealand Biological Producers and Consumers Council since 1986. Farmed by the Aitchison family for 3 generations, Treliske grazes Merino, Crossbred and coloured sheep flocks and principally produces high quality certified organic wool, on the South Island of New Zealand.
The Treliske merino wool range includes organic babywear, baby blankets, knitwear and knitting wool yarns which free from harmful chemicals. It is natural, undyed and unbleached and is grown and manufactured without the 8,000 chemicals found in the textile industry.
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Published on March 5th, 2009
Can great yarn come from pampered sheep? If those sheep are loved, cared for, and are able to graze safely. If they are never separated from their friends and families. If they are never sold, given away or eaten, then for Homestead Wool the answer is yes.
Located in Monroe, Wisconsin, Homestead boasts a healthy and happy flock of 92 sheep and a couple of alpacas and great pyrenees that help protect the sheep. Homestead takes great pride in the care of their flock. Their happiness and good care is their utmost concern.
All of the fiber from the sheep is washed and dyed on the farm. Most of it ends up for sale after being carded. All of their yarn is handspun on the farm and comes in a variety of weights including single-ply and double-ply.
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Published on February 26th, 2009
I am a very textural person. I love it. The more bumps, knobs, twists and turns in fiber, fabric and paintings, the more interested I am in the piece.
In my knitting, I go back and forth between simple, smooth knits that I’ll work into intricate cables and patterns, then back to bumpy knits that get worked into simple, smooth stockinette stitch. That’s why I love this great raw yarn from Hubu.
We’ve talked about the awesome properties of hemp in both yarn and fabric form before but never as a raw material that can be knit with. The hemp bark yarn is just that, the bark of the hemp plant.
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