Sustainable yarn

Sustainable Yarns

In recent years, conversations around sustainability have stretched far beyond food and fashion into the creative fibers we use every day. Yarn, often seen as a humble material for knitting, weaving, and crafting, carries a significant environmental footprint depending on how it is sourced, dyed, and manufactured. From the energy and water demands of cotton and wool production to the microplastic pollution of synthetic fibers, the yarn industry is at a turning point. Fortunately, makers and manufacturers alike are turning toward sustainable alternatives—fibers that are responsibly grown, ethically processed, and designed to last. Understanding what makes a yarn truly sustainable can help crafters make choices that align with both their creativity and their values.

Rather than re-iterating things that have already been written regarding the importance of sustainability and how the fiber industry is embracing it, this blog post will highlight yarns that we carry at Purls of Joy, how they support sustainability, and what you can make with them.

Berroco Remix, Chunky & Lite

"Reduce, reuse, recycle.

"How are you greening your knitting? Reducing doesn’t seem like much fun, and reusing generally means you’ve had to rip out a failing project, a painful part of any knitter’s process. Enter Remix, a 100% recycled Berroco yarn made using a low-impact manufacturing process patented in France. Remix was the result of over a year of collaborative work between mill and textile engineers."

Remix is made from 100% recycled fibers: cotton, linen, silk, nylon, and acrylic. Remix gives a second life to fibers that otherwise might end up in a landfill or in the ocean.

The yarn has a tweedy look: little flecks of lighter and darker colors, little nubs of texture. It knits up like a chunky cotton, not terribly stretchy, but with much more texture. This texture adds warmth and character to the fabric. A sweater knit with remix will immediately have the softness and coziness of a pair of well-worn jeans.

This sweater and matching cowl made from Remix Chunky will keep you warm and cozy all winter. Knitting this up in Remix Chunky will be a snap! Get the pattern here.

Additional patterns can be found on the Remix site.

Queensland Myrtle

Are you thinking of making something slinky for the holidays? Look no further than Queensland Myrtle which is subtitled "vegan silk."

Myrtle is a sustainable and eco-friendly choice for all your slinky endeavors. Crafted from 100% Lyocell, a "vegan silk" spun from Eucalyptus fibers, this yarn embodies the perfect fusion of luxury and environmental responsibility. Myrtle yarn is not only soft and silky to the touch but also compostable, ensuring that your crafting practices align with your values of sustainability. Choose Myrtle for your next project and let your creativity flourish while making a positive impact on the planet.

Looking for inspiration, Purls of Joy carries several patterns that Queensland suggests for using Myrtle including this vibrant top, the Katie.

This bright, flowy colorblock top is the perfect way to show off this silky yarn.

Come into the shop to feel Myrtle. You will not believe how silky soft it is! You will leave inspired to create a something from this eco-friendly product.

Noro Haunui Silk

According to Noro, “Natural fibers have great features that humans can not mimic. I want to leave these features as much as possible in my yarns. These natural states are intentionally left by using human hands and old machinery so that natural fibers are not over processed. All of this is so knitters can feel nature more closely when knitting with Noro yarns.”

Noro sources the Haunui wool from a family ranch in New Zealand. This family prides itself on the highest animal welfare standards. The sheep are not mulesed. The wool is not dyed. The colors of the yarn reflect the natural color of animals' fleece.

This yarn has a nubby appearance that belies the softness of the fabric it creates. You must come and feel it to truly appreciate how the ranch-to-fiber, low manipulation process has created something so cozy and special.

Bamboo Pop

Bamboo fiber has significant environmental benefits, stemming from the bamboo plant's rapid growth and minimal cultivation needs, such as low water and pesticide requirements. The plant also absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide, contributes to soil health, and the fabric itself is biodegradable. The initial manufacturing process for creating bamboo fiber encountered some environmental concerns, but newer closed loop processes alleviate these concerns and make the fiber fabrication process sustainable.

Soft, light & breathable, Bamboo Pop is a favorite hybrid bamboo yarn, 50% bamboo and 50% cotton.  Spun in a versatile sport/ DK weight, the yarn is popular for baby clothes, and blankets but can also be used for light sweaters, scarves & wraps.

Bamboo Pop comes in a wide range of colors and colorways that pop! The subtle sheen and smooth ply create a fabric with great stitch definition.  

Berroco Paperie

The final yarn highlighted in this article, Berroco Paperie, is a combination of cotton and paper. The paper is used to add flecks of color and texture to the cotton.

This is a fiber that is misleading to the touch: it feels a little stiff in its ball. Have faith: this yarn gets softer with each wash, yet keeping the vibrant flecks of color and texture. You can create almost anything with this fiber: tops, market bags, blankets.

Conclusion

Purls of Joy stocks many organic cotton yarns as well as everything covered in this article. Please view us as a source for your sustainable fiber needs. Drop in anytime and let us help you sustain your fiber arts and sustain the planet!

About Us

Purls of Joy is a Cooperative Fiber business located in Healdsburg, CA. More than a dozen fiber enthusiasts banded together in 2022 to sustain a local yarn shop in our community. As you can guess, with many members comes many priorities and values. Sustaining the business and sustaining our planet is something we all agree on. Please visit our website, or even better, in person.

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