by Karen Ellis

Created on: May 15, 2009

Organic is a term that has been with us for some time, since the 1930's, actually. It has spread out in our world, in the amount of regulations as well as in the abundance of products. As with fruits, vegetables or packaged consumables, a manufacturer can not just call their product organic, because they think it will make them more money. There are precise guidelines they must follow. These same restrictions and more (dying, washing and preparation) are governmentally upheld if a yarn manufacturer uses the word organic to describe their product. And remember, the words natural and eco-friendly do not mean the same as organic.

Organic Restrictions

Whether yarn is produced from plant or animal origin, it must not be grown or raised with any chemical inducements. That means, no herbicides or pesticides on plants and animals feed was used. Animals must be raised to the same specifications as food animals (no chemical laden foods, no chemical inoculations, etc.). Organic cotton producers are watched carefully as this product is ordinarily one of the biggest culprits in chemical usage. Many manufacturers of organic natural-based yarns offer their product in natural colors (without dying). However, they are also allowed to dye the yarn with natural methods, such as with vegetable dyes or organic tea.

Types of Organic Yarns

Traditionally, we think of wool, cotton and linen as yarns that may be listed under the organic terms of use. However, there is also alpaca, lama, goat, camel and rabbit that are sources for these yarns. In addition, there may be some you never heard of, or even imagined, such as banana leaves, bamboo, silk or hemp. Packaging of organic yarns may also tout the term cruelty-free, which means the animal, from which the fibers were rendered, was harmed in no way.

Organic Plant Based Yarn

Cotton is the most readily available organic plant based yarn. As it becomes more widely requested, more manufacturers will supply it and the price will become less expensive. Organic cotton yarn is as durable as ordinary cotton yarn. There is no difference in it's quality other than it's growing and processing stipulations. When not dyed with organic colors, it comes in natural hues of light brown, green and gray.

Bamboo yarn is not as easily found as cotton. Although bamboo is an easily renewable product, making it eco-friendly to use, there is a complicated and long process to make it into usable yarn. This makes organic bamboo yarn,

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