Welcome!

I started this website to share what I've learned about eco-friendly yarns. My goal is to help other knitters navigate through complicated yarn choices: organic, natural, alternative fiber, vegan, fair trade, naturally dyed, and so forth. It's my way of combining my passions for knitting and environmentalism.

 

Here's what you'll find on this website:

Green Values: reviews the different qualities that can mean 'green'
Green Fibers: talks about the environmental impact of different fibers
Yarn Chart: provides some basic eco-info for over 100 different yarns
Resources: points you towards books and websites with more information
About Me: contact info and a bit of my personal background

 

And here's my overall advice for being a green knitter:

- The greenest choices are unbleached, naturally colored, minimally processed yarns in natural fibers like alpaca, mohair, buffalo, linen, and hemp (notice: I didn't include rayons like bamboo and soy fiber).

- For wool and cotton, which tend to be more water- and chemical-intensive, choose yarns that are certified organic or from a small, sustainably-run farm.

- If you want colors outside the natural spectrum of greens, browns, whites, grays, and black, then look for yarns that are plant-dyed or dyed with low-impact acid dyes.

- Support local environmental awareness by choosing local yarns when possible and by asking for green yarns at your local yarn store.

- Since the environmental impact of a garment is determined over its full life cycle, be environmentally-conscious in how you wash and treat your knits.

 

Happy Knitting!