knitting

Ravelry is a new social networking site for knitters and crocheters...with plenty of green-friendly options.

Bright colors and unnaturally stretchy fibers are nice, but there are times when you just want to go back to the “classics.” Sourced from Wiltshire, Devon, Somerset and surrounding counties in Britain, Farm Yarns spins some of the most exceptional alpaca and organic wool yarn available anywhere.

Nestled in the peaceful beach bordering countryside of southern Maine, you’ll find one of the most sustainable yarn companies on the planet. Unexpected, no?

Simple, sustainable, kinetic…spinning is the bees knees. Supplies are hard to find at big-box craft chains, but you may get lucky at a yarn shop. Thankfully, the internet provides a bounty of resources, and plenty of eye candy to boot.

Internationally known for their knitting books, seasonal pattern magazines and luxurious wool yarns, England’s Rowan Yarns has finally ventured into the world of sustainable fibers. Available in DK/light worsted weight, Rowan’s 100% organic cotton PureLife yarn is already winning over crafters.

Organic yarns have been the majority of the fibers featured in our Yearn-Worthy Yarns series thus far. For this week’s installment, we are covering another vital element of green living and sustainable production - fair trade.

It’s not often that I write about a specific yarn instead of a whole company’s collective offerings. Rare as it is, I couldn’t resist when it comes to Knit One, Crochet Too’s 2nd Time Cotton yarn.

Knitting is a nice, eco-friendly hobby, right?

Granola Yarn is a collection of organic, recycled, sustainable, and artisan yarn, perfect for cozy-weather crafting projects! I’m no yarn expert, but to find all of this in one place - organic merino wool, soysilk (a vegan alternative to silk), and my fav, Peace Fleece, a company who supports independent shepherds in Russia, Israel, and the US - is like a knit one, purl two jackpot. Granola Yarn also sponsors an amazing charity project - knit or crochet a 12″square from your old yarn, send it to them, and they’ll make a blanket to donate to various charities.

Midnightsky Fibers Handspun yarns are spun and dyed using eco-friendly methods.

Midnightsky Fibers Handspun yarns are spun with care from wool and wool blended with other fibers including mohair, soysilk, silk, alpaca, corn, pine, bamboo, Angelina, nylon, camel, cashmere, and more. Special emphasis is placed on wool and wool blends with all natural and environmentally-friendly fibers used in the blends.

There is no doubt that the creative community has begun playing a pivotal roll in expressing the concerns of our changing environment, as well as inspiring change. Jennifer Marsh, a visual artist studying at Syracuse University, took her concern for the world's dependence on foreign oil to the next level by starting the International Fiber Collaborative in May of 2007.