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When starting a knitting project a choice can be made to be a responsible crafter. Choosing yarn that is environmentally friendly is the choice to make. Organic yarn is yarn produced without the use of chemicals, including pesticides and fertilizers, or yarn produced from recycled material. Organic yarn is also beneficial in that it rarely uses harmful dyes, or when dyes are used they are more expensive non-toxic organic dyes. Organic yarns are quickly becoming popular and the first choice for many knitters. Three examples of organic yarn included cotton yarn, recycled silk yarn, and bamboo yarn.

Organic Cotton Yarn

The conventional cotton yarn has intensive pesticide use that not only effects the environment, livestock and people in the immediate vicinity but could possible effect area many kilometers away due to runoff. The disuse of pesticides is the main indicator of organic cotton yarn. High quality soil with good crop rotation is the key to a good organic cotton crop along with the support of beneficial insects which is an alternate towards pesticides. Organic cotton yarns usually come in light browns, grays and greens due to the lack of dye used in the production.

Recycled Silk Yarn

Recycled silk yarn takes waste silk from industrial weaving mills in India transporting it to Nepal to be spun by women who are in great need of work and money. Recycled silk yarn uses no dyes and produces an always unique ball of yarn perfect for small luxurious projects. Luxurious is the word, recycled silk yarn are expensive reaching 10 dollars for 80 yards of yarn.

Bamboo Yarn

Bamboo yarn is another new form of organic yarn, yet has caught on quickly and is becoming very popular. This renewable resource is beneficial for many reasons included that in order to be harvested the plant itself is not killed. Also if not woven with other materials organic bamboo yarn is completely biodegradable. Unlike organic cotton yarns bamboo yarn can be sold in all colors because high quality organic dyes are used for color additives.

When yarn is made from animals, wool for example, in order for that yarn to be organic, that animal must be fed completely organic feed as well as raised under organic standards. These three examples are just a few examples of organic yarn available for use. If your favorite yarn is not yet organic, the popularity of organic yarns is spreading and it soon will be. Happy knitting.

Learn more about this author, Jean Eva Dickie.
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