The following was originally posted at Redefining Eco and was cross posted here with their permission.
Over the holidays I picked up knitting. So far I’m a clumsy knitter, constantly dropping stitches and paying more attention to to the television than my knitting needles, but I’m working at it! My local fabric store carries hundreds of different options for sustainable knitting, so I thought that I would share a few ideas below to turn your latest crochet project into a sustainable work of art.
Photo courtesy of adiything’s flickr stream.
Why chose eco-friendly yarn? Many synthetic yarns are plastic and chemical based — so not only do they not feel as soft as the real thing, they are derived from petroleum and tons of chemicals. Some knitters might prefer vegan-friendly yarns and stay away from wool, and others might try to reincorporate gently used yarn from old sweaters into new outfits. You can find yarn made from bamboo, corn, andorganic cotton. You can also find yarn made from old plastic bottles, or old plastic bags.
Knit be Nimble even suggests to make your own knitting needles from chopsticks or wooden dowels. If you are inspired to make your own knitting needles, let us know – we’ll post a picture of your knitting tools on our blog!
Are there any great eco-friendly yarns that you swear by? Do you have any hot tips on great projects? Let us know by posting a comment below!
herban lifestyle 
I have heard that this is a new area for CSAs. There are wool and yarn shares that you can purchase.
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That sounds like a great idea! Our local farmers market has a new vendor who sells wools and yarns – gorgeous stuff!
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Cool stuff. My sister recently taught my wife to knit, so I find myself in yarn shops enjoying the colors and textures. We look for vegan yarns, and organic ones whenever possible.
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Yes, it’s incredibly fun to browse through yarn stores!
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