knitting

Green yarns, or yarns made out of environmentally friendly products, like soy and bamboo, are all the rage now. Have you heard of modal yarns, too? These yarns are produced from wood-pulp based cellulose, actually, beech-tree fiber, and it’s remarkably soft and supple. The trees are grown without the use of pesticides and fertilizers, which helps make the yarn more environmentally friendly, and it knits up better than cotton because it is shrink and pill resistant. Many people compare it to rayon yarns, but with more body and easier to knit with.

The yarn is being used in ready-made knitwear right now, but manufacturers are looking at producing lines of modal yarn for the home knitter, as well. They are also looking at blending modal yarn with other fibers to create superior characteristics in these new yarns.

So, what do you think of these new, environmentally-friendly yarns? Have you used them? I used a soy/wool blend for some big, toasty slipper socks for my husband, and I liked the yarn so much I bought more to make a hat or something. I haven’t tried the corn and bamboo yarns yet, but I have used organic cotton, and I love that for summer knitting.

Have you tried any of these trendy yarns, and do you like them? Let me know!

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