Eco knitting supplies

[Uller]

Hi

I have recently taken up knitting but am really struggling to find yarn that isn't acrylic! My local craft store sells one type of untreated wool in 4 earthy colours, but that isn't going to keep me interested for long. Everything else seems to include various % of acrylic. I am looking for 100% wool, organic cotton, bamboo or hemp (if there is such a thing) - does anyone know of online suppliers of such things.

[Annpan]

It would help us if you could put a location (even just the country) in your profile. We are a world wide forum here

[Uller]

Sorry - I should have mentioned that I am in Woking, Surrey!

I am generally looking for online suppliers though

[Annpan]

Ahaa

I get mine for New Lanark mill, they are soil association approved organic 100% wool and I think the have some lovely colours... I get mine from their tiny shop but the do sell online, if you google it you should find it

[ina]

I have had several lots of organic rare breed wools (natural colours only) from these people:

http://www.organicpurewool.co.uk/organic.html


Not organic, but phantastic 100% Shetland wool, produced in Shetland from local sheep, in colours to dream of (I have a suitcase full!)

http://jamiesonsshetland.co.uk/jamiesons/


Another non-organic - genuine Guernsey wool (best thing I ever knitted - could wear it 24 hours a day!)

http://www.guernseywool.co.uk/


I think there was somebody else who mentioned another supplier - have to have another look...

[red]

try woolly shepherd

[Berti]

yes, nowadays it is hard to find the real thing but also it is true that there is MORE wools and naturals coming back in the shops, be they online or normal shops.
and of course you could learn to spin yourself ........*very* ish :)

I am in netherlands so cannot really help you with suppliers but I have heard UK has some real nice ones on yarn so I am pretty sure with all the links provided you will find something you like.
I also recommend jamieson and smith, although not eco, they are working environmentally friendly.

and another suggestion is to look for alpaca yarn, because alpacas are more environmentally friendly treated than sheep.
and it is sooooo sofffft *mmm*

berti

[Ratty]

Definitely try spinning yourself - the little drop spindles are very cheap (or fairly easy to make yourself I believe!) - its very rewarding.

I can fully recommend (ie, I've bought from them & been very happy!) the following http://www.fleming.flump.net/~webofwoo/shop/index.php (always worth a look in their Bargain section) and http://www.missbell.co.uk/ - handspun wool by a lovely local lady.

[Shirley]

http://theyarnyard.typepad.com/ is a blog which links to the Yarn Yard shop - the online shop is being revamped at the moment but it will be back up soon. Natalie is very helpful - and a quick look at her blog shows that she knows her stuff.

[Uller]

Thank you all for your suggestions - they all look fantastic, particularly Woolly Shepherd who also sells fair-trade banana leaf yarn, recycled sari silk and hemp - gorgeous!

I would agree that spinning my own yarn is very *ish*, but I am only a novice *ish* and a novice knitter - the spinning might have to come a bit later. My boyfriend's mum does spin some of her own in Australia, so maybe she could teach me one day.

Thanks again for your help

[Ellendra]

There are a lot of homespinners selling on http://www.etsy.com

[pouch]

yep, I agree, lots of people sell homespun wool on etsy, here are a few to look at:

http://www.shunklies.etsy.com
http://www.WildFireFibres.etsy.com
http://www.WonderfulWool.etsy.com

all based in the UK, so don't have to fly it half way around the world :)

[MuddyWitch]

I buy Green fibres' lovely hank wool; organic & natural dyes, ideal for my sensitive skin. Becareful though... they have such lovely other stuff on their site!

wwwgreenfibres.co.uk

MW

[snapdragon]

Free range sheep fleeces from ebay - clean up, spin and knit
Spindle spinning is not hard to learn and not costly - a stick and a doorknob or a 3£ spindle (yes they do come more expensive) some of the Etsy shops are a little expensive but places like scottish fibres have ready spun not quite so costly - If I spun more you could have some of mine but I havent much ready done as yet

[GabrielGadfly]

This may be a really stupid idea (I know nothing about knitting), but could you salvage yarn from items you find in a thrift store? I don't know how easy it would be to unravel something like that without damaging the material, but it might be a cheap alternative to buying the materials in raw form, especially considering the dirt cheap prices some thrift stores have.