Check out the description for links to all the resources mentioned (and a few extra fun ones) 😊 there’s some excellent information out there to help decide what the best yarn is for ya from the experts!!!
I think social media, knitting youtubers in particular, who talk about yarn or fiber acquisions EVERY episode are a big reason for the "big stash is bad" backlash. They sit in front of a wall of yarn that they never seem to use and show this week's yarn delivery. It comes across as mindless over-consumerism.
That's also a pet peeve of mine. I started making my own clothes to increase the quality and decrese the need to buy replacement pieces. And no, I'm not above shiny-new-yarn-syndrome. And then I look at those hoarded stashes and I really wonder, why? Espesially when the new aquisions is the maximum number of limited edition stuff. You just know it's going to end up on the shelf, unused.
I am ashamed to admit that I am a yarn and knitting tool hoarder. I have been knitting since childhood ( nearly 50 years). I like to begin new projects, but I never finish them. Last year I decided to do something about this problem. I frogged my old UFOs and knitted garments for my friends. And now I have actually managed to finish two garments for myself. 😊
I just came across your channel, and your topic ties in with something I am thinking about trying. I don't have a use for yarn ends and scraps, so while I try to save them, they end up in the trash , since I end up with so much. It's nesting season where I am, and I was thinking I should put my yarn scraps in a mesh bag, and hang out for the birds to use to line their nests. Natural fibers would be better, of course, but I think it could work.
(Textile conservator here) Maybe I misunderstood this part, but just to put it out there, Bamboo yarn is viscose rayon / rayon. You can’t spin bamboo fibre unless it’s been made into rayon. There are only a few plant fibres we can spin without them undergoing the rayon process, and even then, because we make rayon from plant pulp, you can be sold 100% pure cotton yarn and still have it be rayon and not spun cotton fibres because it uses chemically treated cotton pulp!
So if I buy a 100% cotton tee, there's a chance it's actually rayon made from cotton and not actually spun cotton? I thought all rayon was made from bamboo pulp.
@@denisel1553there is a chance but not that high since the rayon process costs more than just using regular cotton. All rayon is made from cellulose aka plant fibre, its just that bamboo is a available cheap source of it.
@@denisel1553mercerized is when cotton is dipped in alkaine solution that cause the fibre to become more smooth,shiny and Silk like. Rayon or synthetic silk is when plant fibres are dissolved into goop and then reformed into long silk like threads. Rayon making uses way harsher chemicals.
Thank you for discussing greenwashing!!! The only space I hear about it is anti-scam/anti-MLM and it gets labeled as “haters.” If anyone buys clothes from retail, they are wearing synthetic fibers and shouldn’t shame anyone for buying acrylic yarn. Heck, all socks have synthetic fibers 😆😆
Good point about buying clothing from retail - or even buying fabric to make your own clothes! It also applies to foods we buy at the grocery store! For instance, I come from an area where chickens are raised on a huge scale for supplying grocery stores all over the country. That scale is so huge that the run-off from the farms pollutes local streams and rivers, killing fish and other wildlife, and seeps into the water table. It's extremely difficult, if not impossible, to buy and live totally sustainably today. It comes down to doing what we can, when we can, as we can afford it. 🌎🌏🌍
If you have the option not to, that's what makes the difference imo. Certain areas only have certain fibers available to them (or only retail stores and no thrift shops), and it'd be unfair and elitist to shame the people living there for not making a choice they don't really have the option to make. But I do think it's fair to hold people with the option accountable. If you have the money to buy more sustainably and live in an area where you can but choose not to, then you've made the choice to not live as sustainably as you could, and I disagree with that choice
Really? God, I feel like I hear about greenwashing every day, but that's probably due to my areas of interest. It was a frequently-discussed topic when I was studying sustainable agriculture in high school and college. It's definitely become a buzzword at this point, but I'm glad more people are talking about it. Marketers have no shame, truly. 😂
Also, just a heads-up... there's lots of clothing available at retail stores that doesn't contain synthetic fibers. Some of it (especially the warmer stuff) is quite expensive, but I'm wearing an all-cotton t-shirt from Target. I have plenty of all-wool and all-cotton socks too. Of course, as discussed in the video, natural materials have an impact as well-especially non-Organic cotton, which requires _so_ much water. Just wanted to point out that it is actually a widely available option for warm-weather clothing, even in the plastics/synthetics-loving USA.
Exactly right about clothing! If people wanna be sustainable with clothes, instead of shaming people for openly buying synthetic clothing and fabrics / yarns, focus on what will happen with the clothes once the person is done. I say donate it to thrift stores! One person’s old sweater is another person’s new fave sweater!
I dont have a giant stash but I do have one and it may suprise you that it is because I am broke. If I have extra in my budget I will buy up clearance yarn because there are times I dont have the money to buy yarn and it gives me peace to know that I wont run out of the tool that brings me so much mental peace.
^THIS^ Stashing is huge if you don't have much money for yarn (also true of most other things). All of the strategies for saving money - buying on sale, people "rehoming" their yarn, thrifting & frogging thrift store items, yarn swaps, etc - are based on "getting it while the getting is good." Which, obvs, meaning hanging on to it until you're ready to use it.
I feel similarly! I have been feeling guilty for "binge" purchasing a cotton blend this week because it was on mega clearance and my stash was originally started over 15 years ago when I only did knitting and only basic af scarves. My stash is mostly yarn that was rehomed to my teenage self as crafty adults in my life moved towards higher end materials. Lots of single balls of yarn or novelty yarns. Neither fit my desire to learn crochet and make a wearable peice while living in SE US. I have a stash because giving it all away would take time, effort, and possibly leave me having to repurchase supplies at higher prices in the near future.
Yes! I've come to the conclusion that a lot of minimalist living requires decent funds, because if you don't keep anything extra in the house, whenever you need anything you have to be at liberty to purchase it. As our finances have tightened, we've stored more things "just in case."
@@hannahlevy6074 yeah full blown minimalism is for rich people. I have to order yarn online, no way am i paying 5euros of shipping costs for every new project when my projects are small. No I buy extra to avoid more sending costs, and that then sometimes does end up not being used but stashed... But I wont run out of possible projects.
For me, the most ethical option is likely wool. I live in England, and the UK is a long-standing wool-producing region. There are a variety of British wool yarns, sometimes only from specific British breeds of sheep, that don't need extensive shipping and packaging to reach us. We have at least semi-decent labour and wage regulations, so if it's grown and produced in the UK then those will almost certainly be enforced. Our national media *loves* reporting on labour law and national minimum wage violations, and HMRC (our national tax etc. office) has a name and shame list of organisations who breached NMW rules, which again the media love reporting on. So companies have a lot of incentives to stay off those kinds of lists and out of the media. Wool is biodegradable and wool not used for making yarn has other used, like being turned into insulation. There are few incentives for people to mistreat the sheep; well-cared-for sheep make for better yarn and yarn companies and shearers have little incentive to hurt the animals making them money. We also have strict animal welfare regulations and environmental regulations. Again, the media loves to jump on environmental damage stories like rivers being polluted, so again companies have incentives to stay out of that kind of media coverage. The cost of wool yarn is more expensive than basic acrylic, especially finer wools, but for me that's not a major issue. I rarely buy yarn outside of specific projects and I can work on a single project for several months. Thus, I might only need to buy a jumper's worth of wool every 3-6 months. That's the main reason working primarily with wool is easily accessible for me. I do maintain a small stash, but that's mostly leftovers from projects or yarn that I've bought for a specific project that I no longer want to make. I don't usually work with mixed natural and synthetic fibres. An exception to that is sock yarn with some added nylon for strength. I will use blended natural fibres, like wool-alpaca or wool-silk blends, but I still largely stick to 100% non-superwash wool.
At my job, we talk a lot about how England & the UK have their sh*t together when it comes to sustainability and ethical labor practices. Excellent example setters in that regard for the rest of the world!
@@nony_mation wool isn't the most popular fibre here by any means; it's definitely been supplanted by things like cheap and cheerful acrylic yarns. I think that's probably due to cost and the perceived difficulty of washing wool. It's a shame, honestly. Wool is a resource that we've produced for a long time, it's wonderfully suited to our climate, and it's really not as hard to take care of as it might initially seem. I've heard about some of the crumbling wool infrastructure of the US. I listened to the audiobook of Vanishing Fleece by Clara Parkes, which was a bittersweet read. I'm not sure how the state of our wool fabric and yarn production infrastructure stands in comparison, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's not at it's best.
As someone who moved to the UK from Canada, some labour practices are great, but I would not praise them entirely. The NMW is still not enought to live on and wages haven't risen in to keep up with the insane cost of living here. Also, your employer can fire you for no reason if it is under 2 years of employment. Yes, we get more paid holiday, but there is still a loooong way to go in terms of ethical labour compared to many countries in Europe. However, the wool supply is amazing and 'farm yarn' is relatively easy to come by.
@@HeatherConyers hence why I said we have semi-decent standards. There aren't many places where the minimum wage is enough to live on. We're hardly unique in that regard. Also, we have some rhyme or reason to why people are fired. Your employer has to be able to prove they had a valid reason and that they acted reasonably in the circumstances. If they don't, you could beat them in an employment tribunal and cost them a lot of money. They have to make reasonable attempts to correct and assist you before firing you (like training you if you're performing poorly or implementing accommodations if they're considering firing you due to long-term illness). We have anti-discrimination laws that mean you can't (at least openly) be fired for a set list of protected characteristics. It's not a completely lawless at-will wasteland at least. Could we be better? Yes. Are there worse places? Absolutely. Just look at the US.
@@nony_mation Haven't had the pleasure of working with Navajo-Churro wool yet, but it's on my yarn bucket list! The history of the breed is fascinating, as are the shepherding, spinning, and weaving traditions of the Navajo Nation.
I love how you highlighted the reasons why people prefer a large stash. I have a very large stash that is only now getting slightly overwhelming, but one of my favorite things to do when I'm feeling down is to go "shopping" in my stash. It keeps me from actual shopping and really inspires me to plan projects or decide what to destash or gift to friends.
a friend of mine and I will frequently do a trade-off, where we each shop the other's stash. Anything the other says they have a specific project for isn't up for grabs, obviously, but it still results in some nice projects that wouldn't be expected if I'd done both the shopping and the crafting
You could probably put me in the "hater of huge yarn stashes" camp, but not because I want to be out here telling people how much yarn is too much for them to have, but because what I actually hate is mindless over consumption. If someone truly loves and values their giant yarn stash and gets a lot out of it, that's great! What I don't like is when people do that just because they feel like they "should" have a large yarn stash because influencers do, or they're not actually getting anything emotional out of it, it just kinda happened because they like to buy yarn (which I get, I do too). And I think we're seeing this trend of people going on yarn low buys and no buys and having rules around how much yarn they bring in vs how much goes "out" in projects because there's been this encouragement of mindless over consumption in this space, and personally I'm glad to see the change even if it happened because of "haters" lol
I have a tiny tiny stash after clearing out (donating) stuff I wouldn’t use. My purchases are now project specific only now and I am staying 2 - 3 projects max as WIPs - 2 small projects and a longer haul project
I have had my stash blow up out of control due to working during lockdown but buying yarn because I did want to craft; I just didn't have time. I am trying to be mindful and limit my consumption, especially because as a grad student, I currently don't work. I won't say a no buy because I do want to reward myself here and there for passing my classes above the minimum but I am fortunate to be part of a circle of crafters I can reach out to when I have yarn to destash. I've done it a few times last year and I have put all my yarn where I can see it so when I think I want to make something I see while watching other creators, I can turn a bit and say, "No, you have enough to do right now."
The entire concept of a yarn stash was foreign to me when I started watching fiber after content. I've always found a pattern and then bought my yarn. Technically I did have a "stash" of sorts but it was all scraps. Occasionally I'd buy yarn for a project and then abandon it but then I'd come up with something else to do with it.
other diverse podcaster/knit artist recommendations: -made in the moment (Emma) -Alexandria masse -ikoxun -show me romi -hip knit hooray -string things by mel -lochness knits -thorn wing crochet
You said that many people are going to hate this podcast... and you are right. Just like the one where you talked about what knitting tools you don't need. The fact that it sparked a lot of comments made RUclips suggest this channel to me way over here in Finland. Congratulations! By controversiality you will achieve publicity. Just remember not to mind nasty comments. We, the nice and serious knitting community of the world, will support and love you. Please break up this pod into segments and talk about them in your coming podcasts. I love that you clearly have researched things, however you speak so fast that I as a non native English speaker am going to have to watch this over and over again 😂
I just started following Retro Claude and as someone who is struggling with both income and health, it's really nice to watch someone's videos who is in the similar situation. She mostly does sewing but I still like her personality and do like to watch those videos every now and then.
@@BreathingYarnI love Retro Claude - she's been doing stashbusting for the last year and currently shorts and compilations because of her health. She's predominantly vintage and historical but has a similar light delivery to you so I think you'll like her company whilst crafting. Excellent video. Am now going to look for the diverse channels you recommended as I too am on that hunt.
As a disabled fiber artist, I hate so much the moral high ground from folks about oh do micro crochet or only use fingering weight yarns for examples. These LITERALLY hurt me, I don't care that you think you're better than me cause I can't use them
I’m also disabled but at the other end - I can’t use bulky fibers because the weight of a project constrains my ability ( my back is f*ed). No one needs to shame anyone else on weight of yarn. It’s just silly lol
I’m new to your channel, and I appreciate your approach to controversial subjects. We are all consumers who participate in the economy and contribute to pollution and depletion of resources. When we point fingers at others, we need to remember that we also have three fingers pointing back at ourselves. I am doing a low-buy year in terms of yarn and other crafts for a whole bunch of reasons, not the least of which is my goal to become a more responsible consumer in terms of both finances and environmental impact. Fun fact: I am married to a materials engineer. I’m used to him questioning claims and asking for actual evidence when it comes to broad statements about environmental impact. We were listening to you while he cooked and I knitted, and we’re now both fans of your channel.
Oh my gosh that’s so sweet! I am also doing a low-buy year. I started last year and have loved it so much. And heck yea to materials engineers. Most of my friends are materials/plastics/packaging engineers so we are always asking eachother random questions about materials 😂
@@BreathingYarn Based on my experience during the first 10 weeks of the year, I think it’s going to take two to three years to get the inventory low enough for me to justify purchasing sweater or blanket quantities of anything!
New listener. Thanks for pulling together these topics. I was a definite yarn snob when I first started knitting and still prefer locally produced wool yarns. However, I craft a lot with acrylics for the ease of care. There are very few new parents who would appreciate a wool blanket that cannot be washed. I would rather use acrylic and see it used than wool that is left in the closet. I really appreciated that you pointed out that all yarns have an environmental impact. Sometimes I forget that in my preferences. Lots to think about. Thank you.
I make different choices regarding yarn for gifts too. There was a time when hand-washing a blanket wouldn't be seen as a big deal, but those days are long gone. Few parents even use cloth diapers anymore... but to be fair, it's hard to blame them given it's an unpleasant task and most have to go back to work full-time soon after the birth of their child.
I wish youtube gave us the option of liking a video multiple times. There were multiple points along this video where I went to go click the like button based on something you said only to realize that I had already clicked on the like button
I'm 68, a pensioner, living in the UK in a small village. My closest yarn store is over 10 miles away and I don't drive. I'm on a low-buy year again this year. The goal is to use more than I purchase. Having said that, I have 2 special projects this year that I've had to buy yarn for. I'm crocheting a gnome blanket using an acrylic yarn, simply because the finished item will be too heavy for me to hand-wash. The other project is a mystery shawl and I bought hand-dyed yarn from a local dyer to knit that. Last year I reduced my stash by over 5 kilos. Only one of my daughters crafts with yarn and I know she won't want any of my stash so I'm reducing the amount that has to be disposed of when I'm gone, lol
I am so impressed by this episode, which provides fantastic information for new and long-time knitters. Hell, it's good for all consumers, and no one gets away from that label. You've presented things in a neutral fashion, clearly and without overdoing it on any topic, recognizing that there's no line in the sand. You're obviously very knowledgeable and articulate on the topic. Thanks very much. K
Excellent video. The best part was honestly the not judging part. I know two women with huge stashes and the most amazing projects. There was a bit of irl drama over someone in a local group shaming them over their consumerism. It broke down into a massive argument on fb and at local meet-ups. People chose sides and it literally ended friendships. The backstory was that both women had come into crafting after a grief counselor recommended it. They had both lost young children. They bonded over learning techniques and finding special yarn. You never know what someone else is going through. I know a woman who exclusively uses a rayon that I don't care for because she's making things for an autistic person with sensory issues. I use a particular acrylic for a family member because of allergies. I know a man on a fixed income who uses super cheap Walmart yarn because that's what he can afford. I knew an older lady once who missed her deceased husband, and she wanted to make all of her grandkids an afghan with a block from one of his sweaters. She needed tons of yarn to finish and someone made her feel bad by telling her she was preventing other people from buying affordable clothing. Maybe the person you disagree with is just unethical or uneducated and you think you make things better.... but probably not. A good rule of thumb is that if they want your advice, they'll ask.
This was a great information resource, I would only add that if a fiber artist (ANY knitter or crotchet or weaver, etc.) is making their own clothes to any extent, they are part of the solution to the strain human existence puts in this planet… not the problem. We should always be supporting one another in that, not creating cliques and tearing each other down. Let’s always choose kindness over judgement.
@@BreathingYarnmaybe going into how to clock which labels for yarn actually matter? Like how organic is legally defined, but clean isn't. Or what a label specifically means, like cage-free VS free-range.
I love this entire discussion. ❤ I love all your videos and discussing these topics and costs because as much as fiber arts are arts and skills, they’re hobbies that cost money and it is unrealistic to expect every knitter to pay 50$ for like 50grams of yarn. Also as a fat person, it’s so upsetting seeing pricing for natural fiber yarns in such small quantities because I need to much more of it to fit my body.
It's also very hard to find representation for large bodies in the knitting/crochet community. I love my regulars, but they will often do oversized sweaters with 2-3 skeins of value yarn and I honestly could NEVER 😂. TLYC has been one of the only channels I've seen that actively discusses finding patterns with inclusive sizing and pointing out that it's not just a matter of adding stitches, it needs different shaping in some case that many pattern creators forget or just don't know. Body size for me is another point in the accessibility category, because you require even MORE ( More yarn, money, impact, time/energy) to make garments. I'm starting my first cropped vest and it's going to take 3 skeins of value yarn, and possibly one more if I want ribbing, so the investment is even higher for those of us who fall outside the stereotypical mold.
It always blows my mind in a store when I try on an XL shirt and I the body fits great but the sleeves wont go up past my elbow because they forget that larger sizes have larger arms. Or getting a turtleneck that flops around because they assumed neck circumference increases at the same rate as bust circumference. It's just like you said and I love TLYC as well for being such a beautiful sounding board for those fit issues. I also love Youngfolk Knits for this, she's a beautiful plus sized fiber artist (who also sews) and does a lot of pattern testing. Love her. It continues to make me sad how hard it is to find plus sized creators when they represent such a large percentage of the population.....I literally had someone say to me "do you think plus size people should have to pay more for clothing and plane seats since they need more fabric and take up more space" I wanted to scream and cry. I'd consider myself an inbetweener with sizing and I am all too aware that larger women have REAL problems that get so overlooked. My husband is a 3XL - 4XL and my blood boils at how hard it is to find clothing for him. I could go on and on about the healthcare system's failure to plus size women and ughhh I need to stop typing before I write a full essay.
This is brilliant! My daughter and I loved every part of it. We enjoy your vibe in general, but this was so great, and very informative. Also - Edible Thoughts Makes is a terrific channel.
I so appreciate you making this video. As someone who is trying to move toward more ethical and sustainable purchases, I loved the way you listed the different types of yarns and their concerns. I believe that we all need to be more aware of our impact on the world. Thank you for talking about all of this and providing another great video! ❤
Thank you so much for helping demystify the ethics that go into yarn practices. I've been thinking about it a lot more recently as we see Big box brands come out with "sustainability lines" and really we as a community need to be aware. Excellent use of being unbiased and thank you so much for mentioning more creators and makers of color! Happily subscribed.
First time viewer, and I really enjoyed your video. I think some of these things can really depend on your stage in life. I'm finishing up my second year of med school, and I'm in a time in my life when money is much more limited. I'm so glad that right now I have a stash that's on the larger side. It means I don't have to find room in my budget to purchase yarn and keep knitting. When I had a larger budget I would do more stashing, which has meant I can keep knitting now. My friends have gotten socks that I haven't had to purchase yarn for, and my stash has meant that I usually have the colors they want. I agree with you that people should knit with what they enjoy and what fits their budget. More expensive yarn doesn't mean a better product, especially depending on the qualities that you're looking for. If I'm giving a blanket to a new parent I want to make it with something they can throw in the washing machine and dryer without having a second thought as to whether it's too precious to use. That might mean superwash wool, acrylic, or cotton yarn, depending on the season and climate. I want to use superwash wool for friends who are getting their first pair of socks and need to be able to throw them in the washing machine, while I might use non-superwash wool or other natural fibers for someone I know has the time and bandwidth to hand wash or for myself or for an item that doesn't really require washing (shawls, for instance). If a yarn and project brings someone else joy then I'll never judge them for that. It doesn't have to be my preference to be great. I also appreciate you giving me some things to think about. While I don't buy much yarn right now I'll probably be able to buy more as I get into my residency and have a little bit more money. At that point the humane treatment of workers and animals and the environmental impact are probably going to play a more prominent role in my decision making. One other thing that I like to consider is the size of the company I'm buying from. I like buying hand-dyed yarn from small companies when I can, because I like knowing that my dollars are going to a human being rather than a shareholder.
Don't cut down on your knitting because you lack the funds. Sock yarns are fairly inexpensive (at least in Finland). You can knit cardigans and jackets which you wear over other clothes if the yarn is itchy. Sock yarns are durable. Use acrylic if you want something softer. When you are done with the studies and have a regular income you will be a terriffic knitter and then you can splash out on any yarn you like. Good luck with your future career as a terriffic doctor who knits absolutely fantastic things ❤
omg plugging myself as a neurodivergent, LGBTQ podcaster!! I havent seen many alternative/goth knitters, esp. asian ones, so I decided to convert my channel to a fiber art one! I loved this conversation and im hoping more cool ppl from your audience can come hang out w me if theyre interested
I got very excited about yarn when I started knitting and accumulated a LOT of it within about two years. it was starting to get overwhelming because I bought a lot faster than I used it up. but now that I'm at a place where I have to be mindful of my budget, it's so good to have stash to dig into
I really love Show me, Romi! He’s so chill to watch and is relatively new to crochet compared to a lot of big RUclipsrs so it’s fun to watch them expolore and learn especially since I’m at a similar stage. I’ve really liked seeing more masculine crochet aesthetics too since a lot of what I watched before finding his channel was super similar :’)
I am one of those who have a large collection of yarn, and it primarily consists of hand-dyed fibers from indie vendors. I feel a strong desire to support fellow small business owners, and I like to buy "memory yarns" from vacations. As a homeschooling mom and caretaker for my mother-in-law, I cannot simply go out and buy more yarn whenever I want. Most weeks, I only get to leave the house once to get groceries, so having yarn on hand is very beneficial to me, especially if I take on a test knit/crochet. My collection and my ability to start a project at any moment from my stash provide a mental escape and I am sure it does for others as well. I enjoy having several wips to go back and forth to and always finish them. Despite having a large collection, I keep it well-organized by documenting it all on Ravelry with photos and keeping up with exact yardage. This helps me manage it all, even the scraps. I know haul videos are popular on RUclips, and I have a few up on my own channel. However, I am reserved with what I buy. I do not buy just to buy or just because it is on sale. I think if we find ourselves in those situations, it can quickly land us in a small hoarding situation. For me, that would also lose the calmness of my stash and make it feel very overwhelming. I have seen people buy buggies full at end-of-the-season sales at big box stores, all while having totes upon totes in a storage building or barn and having zero idea what is in them. YT has definitely contributed to that "FMO" with haul videos. I believe, we all are adults and should do what makes us happy, but we also need to be mindful. We need to realize that yarn is not worth having credit card debt or financial stress. It is meant to bring joy... and that joy is going to vary from person to person, but that is ok.
Thanks so much for this video! I've been thinking so hard about a lot of these things as I try to establish a small business making sensory accessories with my crochet and it's been so stressful because I want to be perfect! It's so hard when there's so many issues to consider, but I really appreciate your approach of sharing information not to shame but just to sort of lay things out so people can choose what's most important to them. And especially that no one can do all of these things at once! Also I love that you mentioned the difference between post-industrial and post-consumer recycling because I just learned about it! I hope more companies start sharing that info!
Felicia from Sweet Georgia Yarns is a good recommendation from my subscription list. You were asking for recommendations of channels made by knitters who aren’t white women, she’s a successful RUclipsr and craft business owner and she has a lovely calming voice.
Coming from a retired organic farmer point of view, who has in the past obtained a 3rd party certificate for my practices. I kept sheep, llamas, donkey, angora rabbits and chickens, currently retired from animals however. MY sheep were wonderful lawn mowers and fertilizers as they went their droppings are high in natural nutients to rebuild the soil and decompose quickly. Their water requirements are meant mainly through the grass they munch down. The rare breads I kept were duel purpose and could have supplied both meat and lovely fleece. As for the plant material, both flax (linen) and nettle (ramie) can be water retted or dew retted, and both are lovely natural verses bleached. Nettle and hemp both put back into the soil and make great companion plants. They also provide a wide variety of nutrients for human consumption. Nettle also has the benefit of providing a natural dye, giving shades of green and yellow. Wool blended with a bit of mohair (nature's nylon) for a sturdy, and long-lasting sock yarn. Wool has the added benift of being water repellent provided all the oils are not stipped away, and the unspunnable bits make a great biodegradable mulch for the garden.
I'd just like to shout out my local materials exchange coop. I think of myself as a yarn scavenger, and it is easy to consume materials lower on the food chain with an organization in my town that is stocked with donations of unused yarn, fabric, roving, and other craft and fiber supplies. I also troll the bulk estate sale yarns and "treasure chest" fiber scraps at the textile center in my town, which is geared primarily towards spinners and weavers. I love designing projects around the high-quality fibers that I have been able to source cheaply, locally, and relatively ethically!
My favorite way of obtaining yarn has been getting knits from thrift stores. It is incredibly affordable (I've gotten several sweaters worth of yarn for less than 5$ each), as long as you have the time and patience to unravel them. The only problem I've encountered is that I don't always know the quality of yarn I will end up getting, but on the flip side, I can pick the yarn based on how the knit fabric feels, and that has been so helpful in learning to love wearing knits. I might invest in nicer yarn some day, if I feel that I've reached a more advanced knitting/crocheting level and have disposable income, but for now, thrifting has been incredible for fueling these hobbies. Over several thrifting trips I've ended up with two huge suitcases of yarn, and I've maybe spent 100$ total, and I'm not going to be putting any new fibers or pollution into the world.
I never understood the need to "shame" people for their choices, IMO you can inform people but without being condescending. e.g. there are a lot of people that are not aware that many superwash yarns are coated with a polymer, so just letting people know but without shaming is actually possible. Also luckily I was perfectly unaware that I should be "ashamed" for not liking or using bulky yarn I don't like the fabric it creates and therefore I never use it, I have seen a lot of the really bulky oversize sweaters and thought well good for them, it's just not for me, but next time I see it I'll have to remember to let them know that they are doing it wrong because I don't like working with bulky yarn. 😄
I want to weigh in on the accessibility issues with yarn, in saying that some yarn weights, lending to larger needle sizes actually make it more difficult for me to knit without giving myself RSI in the wrists. it may sound counterintuitive, but the larger motions actually have a greater strain on my wrists, elbows and shoulders which may or may not be conducive to yet another chronic condition I have lived with my whole life without a diagnosis for. on that note, its interesting that you mentioned that you're not having to think of these things because they don't effect you, because i'm sure there are some people like me who have just lived their whole lives thinking "oh this is just something everyone puts up with" about things that do bother me regarding accessibility issues in these areas because nobody's talking about them.
Thank you so very much for this informative video! I have always been the only one in my world of professionalism i.e., retired litigation paralegal in Denver, Colorado working for trial lawyers, found me being the only Black woman and person of color in most law firms I worked for. The only LYS owner in Colorado as a Black woman who welcomes customers in and watches the "SHOCK" on faces of the women who didn't know! You have hit the nail on the head. You are absolutely, nothing short of Amazing. Thank you for awesome content. Enjoy your week! CAB😊
I went to a local fiber market a few weeks ago, and the lack of diversity in not only the vendors but also the buyers was STAGGERING. It was absolutely wild to be so confronted by the fact that I might have been the only masc-ish knitter there, but seeing that there was only one BIPOC vendor was crazy to me.
I appreciate the way you broached so many topics, including POC representation and autism with overstimulation due to certain textures. I’m black and have AuDHD (both ADHD and autism), so I definitely love seeing diverse crafters on YT. I’m still a beginner (only in my second crochet project), and I’m slowly exploring YT’s fiber artist community. I’ve yet to specifically find autistic crochet content, but I’m sure it’s out there; crocheting is a GREAT way for me to stim and get some excess energy out of my body by just giving my hands something to do by muscle memory. I’ve also found several different black female knitters / crocheters or varying ages, so yay! We’re out here! 😊🧶 This was a wandering tangent of a thought, my bad. I’m done now and will edit this comment if I’ve forgotten something. 😂😅
That's awesome! I think there are more ADHD/Autistic creators out there than we know about because I have been diagnosed in that area (you can guess with what lol) but I dont feel super comfy talking about it on the internet because it just feels so vulnerable. I am willing to bet there are creators we know and love that fall on the spectrum and simply dont bring it up. Or at least that's my crafty conspiracy theory.
The truth is all our clothing and the material they’re made from, whether shop bought or handmade leave has an impact on the planet. It’s fast fashion that is having the biggest impact which includes massive stash hoards.
I went a little crazy buying yarn the year before I retired because I knew I would have limited funds in retirement and I am so happy that I have beautiful yarn in my stash to choose from.
As far as diverse channels goes love Nadia’s studio she is a crochet and crafting based channel. She is amazing for inspiration and very calm and chill.
Yessss! That’s exactly what I need. I don’t live in a very cold climate (in my opinion lol) and am always wanting to make my knits work better for that.
Before anything else, I must mention the channel "Amigurumis by Petus Ochoa". She is a creator from Mexico, and her patterns have been perfect for making gifts for older/religious relatives. I hardly ever see my culture reflected in yarn art, so it has been a treat making muñecas based off her work. This is a lovely video. It's refreshing to see open discussions about sustainability and ethics when it comes to yarn. I live in a climate where it's at least 70°F nearly all year long, so working with wool and acrylic just isn't feasible. It seems like the world of plant-based yarns is constantly evolving; it's almost overwhelming keeping up to date on it all. I always have to do a bit of research before each project to see if new yarns have released (and where they fall on the spectrum of affordability vs sustainability). Also, a smaller shout out to Norman from Nimble Needles and Mikey from The Crochet Crowd. It's nice knowing that the queer and crafting communities will always have a heavy overlap 💕
Great content. I just stood up in my seat when you mentioned local shopping... not only is the product you import shipped ocean or airfreight but....the chemicals and dyes used on that product before it is shipped are also imported to that country. Thank you for the videos!
Ultimately my uneducated opinion is buy what what makes you feel good as a person and what makes you happy. Because ultimately you’d have to research every little detail in order to know where and how your yarn comes about. Meaning each workers background from every company that touches the history of the yarn in someway. Meaning the dye back ground, the farm(s) background, the animals background, the shipping back ground, the feeds back ground, etc, you literally go down a rabbit hole. Which means I agree with you. Pick what’s important to you and makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside because in the end everything is a catch-22. I judge no one because someone is always judging me and someone is judging them. It’s just a hypocritical ladder that goes down hill. Idk if that makes any sense.
One new crochet channel that I’ve been watching is called “Show me, Romi”. Personally I think it’s different? Thanks for the amazing video! Super insightful - I had to stop my crochet to really think about the points you were providing. My eyes have been opened.
Thanks for this very interesting video! I totally agree with the "buy yarn according to your values if you can, don't feel guilty otherwise". When we have ecofriendly/ethical values we can get to this point where we feel so bad because we're buying something that's not 100% ecological, but I try to remind myself that it'll always be better than buying a cheap fast-fashion garment that's made with bad fabric in countries with bad working conditions. Also: in one of your earlier videos you mentioned 3 RUclipsrs, and several videos later I wanted to find them to follow them so that I have other quality knitting videos to watch for when I have catch up on all of yours. I fast-forwarded through the videos I had already watched to find them and there's one I couldn't find! I was hoping you would talk about it again later and you just did!! I had remember something like "mass knit" but got nothing on RUclips 😂 it was actually Maressa Made! Thanks for all these recommandations 😊
Thank you for starting this conversation! I hope more people start thinking about all of these issues. We need to be aware of all of the consequences of the choices we make in being consumers.
I've heard it said plant based yarn like cotton is less problematic due to it being vegan unlike wool but in Australia the cotton industry is pretty corrupt and has had a huge negative impact on the environment and water table. How 'vegan' is our cotton when hundreds or thousands of native animals may have died downstream because the cotton farms are stealing water and making rivers run dry? I'm not saying you should never buy cotton or that wool doesn't have it's problems but cotton certainly is not as animal cruelty free as some people would like to think. Just because the animals in question aren't on a farm being the actual product, doesn't mean they aren't being harmed.
As another materials engineer / knitter / sustainability practitioner, I am constantly surprised by how frequently this combination occurs. I know at least three. Great video which I will be sharing.
My ears perked up at materials science. I’m in school for materials engineering and love finding people with the same degree. That you’re a fiber arts hobbyist woman like me makes this an even better find!❤❤❤
Thanks for the discussion! This came up on Reddit the other day in a non-craft forum and yikes. Opinions and bums and all that. The Internet has a hard time with nuance. Accessibility: I have trouble with thicker yarns (over DK weight) for knitting because i have hypermobile joints and I can't hold the tension on thick yarn without pain, even with my splints on. I haven't figured a workaround.
WOW! Hi Isabella! This was SO incredibly informative. I'm an engineer too and a big proponent of buying local and using whatever yarn you like that's accessible to you. Thank you for putting all this together and sharing your expertise! and thank you so much for the shout out! What an awesome birthday present! 🤗💚✨
Loved this vid. Thank you for not making some of us feel dumb for not knowing things or feel ashamed for yarn we do buy. Personally I can’t afford much yarn but crocheting helps my mental health so it makes me sad when I see the negative comments online about what I can afford especially as a beginner😭 For more diverse RUclipsrs Show Me, Romi Ikoxun Jana CrochetCrys Honorable mention: OmaizingPaige is the only reason I didn’t give up crochet; her beginner tutorials are very helpful & i couldn’t see how to crochet correctly form other peoples vids. I love how personal she makes it feel too.
Thank you so much for saying this. I have been watching your channel for a bit and I appreciate you saying what needs to be said. I am actually writing a speech right now about sustainability in different fibers. This video is perfect for hearing the different sides of opinions for a lot of ethical problems in fiber arts.
thank you for the upload! this is such a great video and so well pulled together imo. in terms of youtube creators i like, i would really recommend Tazhi at stitches and starlight, and Lisa at soulful spinning. They both focus a bit more on handspinning but have some lovely videos about knitting too. A year or so ago i think Lisa did a series trying out spinning and knitting different wool breeds that I like to reference when i'm trying to choose the right wool for a project. I also like future fiber as well, her channel is definitely more knitting focused.
I really enjoyed your presentation of pros & cons about the different fibers, I use a wide range of fibers but try to avoid blended ones that are difficult to recycle as you said. As for diversity in the yarn community, I see more diversity on IG than here on YT, particularly more people from around the whole world, on YT there are more white women, particularly more *American* white women, I am white (I think, still trying to understand if Italians are white or not as for US standards 😅) but I live in Europe and I find many differences in our fiber artist lives... I'm trying to build my own channel to tell my experience of Italian crocheting in Switzerland, but I'm an absolute newbie. I'd love to find more youtubers talking yarn & crochet from different countries and coltures! ❤
I am basically a yarn hoarder. I wish I could be a minimalist and not have so much. Now that I have it all, I can't get myself to get rid of it. I have over 20 large bins of yarns. I used to own a business though. I know that is just an justistication, but that it when I started collecting all this yarn. I needed it to create items to sell. I did donate a lot of yarn I no longer used. Now I am trying to get the motivation to sell the rest of the yarn I don't use. I have been giving it to my granddaughters who are now learning the craft. So Maybe I won't sell some and just let them have it. I knew about most of the issues you talked about yarn. I used to buy just organic and ethical yarns. Now I have found that is not reasonable money-wise for me.
Thank you for this video - ❤ - Accessibility is a very real problem for me with allergies that prevent me from going into physical stores most of the time; and mobility struggles that make the lovely, small and local, stores inaccessible because of steps into the store, or narrow aisles, etc. So I do buy almost everything online, and I have a large stash so that when I am completely housebound I have a lot of project choices ranging from “done in a day” to “maybe before I am unable to craft at all/someday done”(I also sew…). But our children are grown, for now both of us are fully employed and with limited debt, and there are many people on my list for gifts. So I am very lucky that I can afford it financially and that, on the days I am well enough, I have time. Sometimes when a “future project” no longer appeals to me I make up “kits” of yarns and patterns to give to people who don’t have the ability to purchase their own materials, because I love to share the joy of making!
I think us knitters and crafters should think long term when sustainability is the theme. Production will always consume energy and water, its part of the industry process and cannot be avoid, in order to have yarn these are the consequences. However if we think that anything acrylic will take more than 400 years to return to nature, the lovely sweater we made will be longing around the oceans as microplastics for future generations to still consume after we die its too much for me to handle as a high probability. Any 100% natural fiber will decompose and be repurpused by nature.... and thats a much more relieving thought for me. Sometimes i dont have the money tobuy the fancy natural yarn i'll admit. but my ultimate decision is to always wait a couple of months and then get the money to buy and focus on other projects bc i have many many others.... Just my way of thinking! great video!
For handspinners going directly to a local farm is an option if there are farms near you. In Western Australia, last year's wool that was shorn for the health of the animals was thrown away because it was practically worthless. People still farm sheep for meat production. They still need a haircut to survive summer. In Europe there are many herds grazing as a historic landcare practice. The wool from these sheep is also thrown away because it's worthless 😮
UK hand spinner here, I buy all my fleece direct from the farm either in person or online. I only ever knit with my own yarn more from preference but the financial side also works :-)
Accessibility note: my ex with low vision knit, but only blanket/bulky yarn, and the bigger the ball the better. Definitely not going to be doing colour changes if they can avoid it. Not just for seeing stitches, but because they couldn't weave in their own ends, so some tasks required my help, and avoiding those tasks is one of the ways to make the craft accessible to them.
Really enjoyed this video! I've seen some WILD takes on some of these topics and it's nice to see someone being so open minded, inclusive, and informative all at the same time!
One thing I learned about recently is plant-derived polyamide?! So far, I’ve only seen one company that uses it, Schoppel-Wolle. I don’t know a lot about it. Could be an interesting topic to hear your perspective. Loved listening to this video! You really balanced nuance with a straightforward presentation style. Great work!
I’m really glad you’ve made this video. I feel like younger generations are more on the up and up about this sort of thing and not afraid to Google where items come from. Some people need a little education on it, though. And most definitely it’s important not to let perfection be the enemy of the good or the better!! Everyone is limited in some sort or fashion, but more flexible in ways others aren’t. All anyone can do is the best they can, and it’s important to try to do better where one can. About the stash thing - hoarding is definitely not okay, and really unsafe, if for no other reason than fire hazard, but usually more. Otherwise, people need to leave each other alone about it lol. That whole controversy is dumb. As always, your kitties are too adorable and make me smile! ❤
Hemp from Tibet and Nepal is fairly soft and I have found great pants and outer shirts with it and it can combine nicely with cotton like other linen fiber. Hats, bags, and wallets are durable and take dyes well.
The majority of my stash I inherited from my grandma after we cleaned out her house. What you said about yarn being a connection to people is real. Sometimes i think about using it up but then it would just be losing one of my last connections to her.
Possible point to think about, I agree that having the connection is amazing. But what about when you wear something from her stash, it's like a hug that you take with you!
What an interesting and informative episode! Honestly, for the all the points brought up in this video, my fix (while not feasible for everybody) was learning how to spin my own yarn from local sheep. I'm lucky enough to have a number of small homestead farms (less than 20 sheep total) that raise sheep for wool and are very involved in their community. They're happy to have people visit the farm and see how their animals are kept. While processing your own fleece definitely uses water, it's super minimal compared to big fiber farms. And a drop spindle to learn spinning can easily be made for less than $10. Of course, the downside is time investment. I would dare say time constraints rank as highly as financial constraints, so it's not a perfect solution. But it's as close to perfect as I've found when it comes to carbon footprint, sustainability (those sheep need to be sheared annualy regardless), supporting local, and ethical farming. And it's really just an amazing experience to go to a sheep shearing day at your local farm, buy a fleece from a sheep you got to meet, and take it all the way to a finished wearable/usable item. I recommend everyone try it at least once. As for fun and diverse (including geographically) crafty RUclips channels, I love: Fiber Tales Flannel and Purls We Grow Wild Katt Weaver The Republic of Me Stitches and Starlight (LOVE how she talks about fiber and crafting) Les Garcons James Watts
thank you for this video!! just recently made the jump from crochet to knitting (woo!) and realized that I wanted to start making larger projects and realized that I wanted to make a sweater had me thinking a lot about how to choose yarn! like, it's a project i'm going to spend a long time working on so i don't want to use cheap yarn, but yarn can get so expensive! luckily i found a hole in the wall yarn store near me selling some super beautiful yarn for dirt cheap. i'm talking $1.25 for a 2oz soft wool skein. so my suggestions for people is to see what your area has aside from craft stores! but nothing groups are great, but your town may also have a hole in the wall yarn store that you can take advantage of :)
Knitting is a wonderful activity with so many benefits for health and wellbeing that I don't think anyone should be made to feel bad for their yarn choices, so I am soooo glad that you took a comprehensive but balanced, fact-based approach for this video. My personal elephant in the room though is the dyeing of yarn, whatever its derivation. Dyeing is a huge polluter and makes massive demands of energy and clean water, but how often do we see this mentioned, almost never. 'Colour all the way' it seems. Hand dyed yarns are seen as the ultimate in luxury and yarn art, but 99% of them are made with artificial pollluting pigments. Maybe the yarn producers are missing a trick and should be selling natural dye kits to encourage us to dye our own yarn. Knitting is great, let's treasure every stitch.
This was an incredibly informational video, I learned so much new stuff about types of yarn. As a new-ish knitter (been knitting for about 2 years) a lot of this information was news to me! I had no idea that SW merino was coated in a polymer! Thanks for making this video and I hope you make more like this in the future. :)
Great topic! I was recommended this channel and episode by Skeindeer knits in her latest episode. I can only mention Norway where I live in regards to sheep farming and over grazing is generally not a problem here. Ruminants (domestic sheep and cows) have traditionally been sent to pasture in the mountains during the warmer months - they roam around quite freely, and it's not unheard of to meet them while walking or driving along the mountain roads. Here in Norway they have traditionally been vital in keeping the landscape open and not overgrown. Norman in the Nimble Needle podcast is great. I have learned so much watching his channel - and I've been knitting for 40+ years, it's the small nuances - and it's fun to learn new things in a craft I love! I didn't even know that yarn weights were a heated topic. At this stage in my life I don't really get to choose too much on what fibers and yarn weights to work with - my hands and shoulder dictates that. It's a bit annoying, but as long as I can knit I'm fine. I also spin a little - and for the longest time I wanted to spin thin, fine yarns.... until it dawned on me that I don't knit with lace yarn anymore so why should I spin the "perfect" thin yarn? Having much more fun now with a thicker spin aiming for DK/Worsted weight.
Great topic to cover and I would always advocate people seek out local producers. As a recent convert to spinning, I now have total control over the processing as I prefer to buy raw fleece and it is the actual .long slow process that is what makes it enjoyable, including foraging natural material for the dying.
Great video, thank you! I think stash size and ethical sourcing go hand in hand, IMO. If a knitter is responsible about how and where they get their yarn (e.g local farm festivals, local spinners who raise small flocks of sheep or alpaca, thrift shops, etc.), the size of the stash can be giant and that's okay ☺ On the other hand, if it's super unethical (e.g. pure acrylic made by mistreated underaged workers and shipped all the way from China), that's a whole other thing 🤨 I wanted to add a point about transparency, it's related to the greenwashing you mentioned. Small businesses (indie dyers especially!) rarely disclose where they source their yarns and when they do, it's usually South America or China. When they market their products, they say something like "pure hand-dyed 100% organic Merino superwash", which can sound very attractive to a novice, but for me, it has a lot of issues (1) what is the country of origin? (it's not the US!), 2) who certified it? (nobody knows), 3) superwash (i.e. microplastic), 4) acid dyeing requires a lot of water and it's bad for the environment). So, when I see "pure hand-dyed 100% organic Merino superwash", in my mind it's "imported wool of unknown origin with microplastic all over it dyed with acid dyes" 😐 A story from last year: there was a wool festival that went unsuccessfully and left many vendors without profit. A few people shared a post on Instagram where they tagged multiple small businesses that lost profits and encouraged people to check their websites and buy something. I had some money to spend and I went to check them all out with an intent to buy a few things. For each one, I went to check their Transparency/About section to better understand how they run their business (e.g. source of fiber, location, number of employees). Out of about 20 businesses I checked, only 3 honestly disclosed that all their yarn is imported from South America, others did not have any information about it, and only one business was a fully US-based shop with everything manufactured locally (and it was not a yarn shop🤷♀, they sold tools for weavers). I didn't buy any yarn from these businesses because I don't like being lied to (even by omission) and I want to support US wool businesses that support US sheep! Can these businesses have at least part of their wool sourced locally, not on another continent?
i havent seen the whole thing yet, but so far this is an amazing video. all i have to say is that "all yarn kinda sucks for the environment etc" is perhaps not as accurate as "all yarn has an impact on the environment and requires labor". it's not that it's all bad, necessarily- using energy and water is neutral at worst unless it's absolutely massive quantities for very little product. however, that still makes an impact on the environment. the sooner and more effectively we neutralize our attitudes around these things, the more effectively we can make educated decisions on our own choices as well as respecting and understanding the decisions of others. (edited for grammar)
Loved this episode. I hate that some dyers have gone completely non superwash or all natural dyes. I understand their reasons, but it's like you said, all yarn leaves an environmental footprint. A new poc podcaster to watch is Escarla. I love her stuff so far. A spanish speaking podcast to watch is El Punto Fijo. They are two friends who zoom, one lives in England, and the other one lives in South America. They do the normal format of finished objects, works in progress, and discuss patterns they think are trending. A tip for anyone looking for knitting podcasts in another language is to Google the word for knitting in whatever language you want and then search RUclips using that word and podcast together. For more Spanish podcasts, I usually search for "podcast de tejido". I also recently searched for Love Yarn Madrid and found some podcasts in Spain reviewing the Love Yarn Madrid festival. Thank you for another great episode!
I love your videos :) you have such a calming presence! I’ve been stressing myself out about the crochet project I’m working on today lol and something about your energy in this just made me go “oh yeah, this is a happy hobby!” Haha
Girl I just found your channel and can I just say, you are GORGEOUS! Wow! I was shocked at first and thought you had a while filter on your face until I started binging your videos and found out you barely even wear makeup? You’re absolutely stunning, and I absolutely love your style of content, especially the real & raw thoughts when you just vent to the camera. It feels like I’m sitting down listening to a friend, not just watching a content creator posing for content. So glad I found your channel.
i feel like you would really enjoy seji fields content, she has a deep interest in the construction and cultural histories of knitting (mostly northern european and japanese patterns) and is super fun to watch :)
I agree with you, that every yarn has some caveat. I was so interested in bamboo yarn, but then found out how polluting it's creation is, that it's a problem environmentally & to the workers who craft it. I have a big stash, from sales & people who are destashing. But it can be tricky figuring out projects that I have enough yarn for. Luckily I like scrap-busting!
Loved this video. I am a disabled person living in New Zealand and yarn is very expensive here and naturally a financial barrier to what yarns I buy, despite New Zealand being the land of Merino wool. 😄
Thank you for talking about mulesing. Its been on my radar for a while but from my (brief) research I thought it was still best practice, glad I know better now
I love spinning my own yarn. I know it's not for everyone but it gives me so much more control over fiber content and weight and it keeps me very conscious of material consumption in a way i don't think i would be otherwise. I don't know exactly where it fits in with the sustainability and environmental impact, but i imagine cutting out the milling step means less transportation and potential worker exploitation. I also LOVE working with hemp! The smell reminds me of my stoner sister and the yarn i've spun with it turned out so soft and next-to-skin comfortable. I can't wait to make socks or one of those granny hexagon shirts with it!
Thank you for talking about diversity in representation in knitting. As a Mexican-American, I definitely have a hard time relating with white creators in the fiber arts space both in the podcasts I watch and even irl going to craft circles in nyc. If anyone has any bipoc knitting podcast recommendations, I’m all ears. Thank you for this video.
I am currently a student and live in a city with a high living cost. Luckily I am quite privileged financially, since my parents currently pay my rent and living costs, but I am still very frugal and consider my spending choices quite a bit. Since my budget for shopping -and in that yarn- is not very high, I usually go to a department store and get yarn for specific projects, which at least carries some certificate. In that I always have to compromise with my values to a certain extent. I have frogged multiple of my previous projects to make different versions of them. Whenever I have scraps I try to save as much as I can, since I know that I can knit gauge swatches with it for the same yarn in a different color, before going out to spend a good chunk of money, or to make notions like place markers with them. That said I also am someone who gets very overwhelmed in cluttered spaces. Generally when I start to "own" too much I start showing strong symptoms of depression as well as other mental illnesses. So I try to keep my scraps to a minimal or just generally out of sight. I recently was gifted some very nice merino yarn from Scotland and it is almost a sweater quantity. Of course I am incredibly grateful for this generous gift and have been planing some patterns for this, but since I wont be able to knit it up until fall or winter, I have been incredibly stressed and have been spending all my free- and non-free time finishing my wips, so I can get to that gigantic ball of yarn faster.
I love hearing from the more minimalist perspective. I also find that I get really stressed when I have a cluttered space and a large stash stresses me out.
A significant point of correction: the idea that "organic" = no pesticides is entirely FALSE. *Some* companies, individually, may decide not to use pesticides BUT that... just does not work. Especially not if you are running an actual business. There is a reason starvation and constant fear of insects and blight were rampant only 100 years ago, when we DEFINITELY had access to things like vinegar and peppers, both "pesticide-free natural remedies." But lol that barely works when you have 10 houseplants, much less several acres of fields to harvest. "Organic" crops often use ORGANIC pesticides- which are not always safer! 'Organic' in this sense means 'contains carbon.' That's it. Some states have different regulations on what "organic" can mean, so if FL and TX have different laws, an item grown in TX can have labels according to what TX means but sell it in Florida. A particular company can have a practice different from state or federal law, like not using any pesticides vs. only organic pesticides, and also use the same label. So how do you know? Look it up. ::shrugs:: Ask the individual companies. See if their site has a FAQ.
Check out the description for links to all the resources mentioned (and a few extra fun ones) 😊 there’s some excellent information out there to help decide what the best yarn is for ya from the experts!!!
I think social media, knitting youtubers in particular, who talk about yarn or fiber acquisions EVERY episode are a big reason for the "big stash is bad" backlash. They sit in front of a wall of yarn that they never seem to use and show this week's yarn delivery. It comes across as mindless over-consumerism.
Oh yea, that to me is when it becomes more like hoarding. Buying yarn every week, enough yarn that one could never use in their lifetime.
That's also a pet peeve of mine. I started making my own clothes to increase the quality and decrese the need to buy replacement pieces. And no, I'm not above shiny-new-yarn-syndrome. And then I look at those hoarded stashes and I really wonder, why?
Espesially when the new aquisions is the maximum number of limited edition stuff. You just know it's going to end up on the shelf, unused.
I am ashamed to admit that I am a yarn and knitting tool hoarder. I have been knitting since childhood ( nearly 50 years). I like to begin new projects, but I never finish them. Last year I decided to do something about this problem. I frogged my old UFOs and knitted garments for my friends. And now I have actually managed to finish two garments for myself. 😊
@@creativian68That's amazing!
I just came across your channel, and your topic ties in with something I am thinking about trying. I don't have a use for yarn ends and scraps, so while I try to save them, they end up in the trash , since I end up with so much. It's nesting season where I am, and I was thinking I should put my yarn scraps in a mesh bag, and hang out for the birds to use to line their nests. Natural fibers would be better, of course, but I think it could work.
(Textile conservator here) Maybe I misunderstood this part, but just to put it out there, Bamboo yarn is viscose rayon / rayon. You can’t spin bamboo fibre unless it’s been made into rayon. There are only a few plant fibres we can spin without them undergoing the rayon process, and even then, because we make rayon from plant pulp, you can be sold 100% pure cotton yarn and still have it be rayon and not spun cotton fibres because it uses chemically treated cotton pulp!
You’re absolutely right! I totally forgot to bring that up and I also forgot to bring up mercerized cotton
@@BreathingYarn What's the story with mercerized cotton? I'm new to crochet & mercerized cotton was the first yarn I bought.
So if I buy a 100% cotton tee, there's a chance it's actually rayon made from cotton and not actually spun cotton? I thought all rayon was made from bamboo pulp.
@@denisel1553there is a chance but not that high since the rayon process costs more than just using regular cotton. All rayon is made from cellulose aka plant fibre, its just that bamboo is a available cheap source of it.
@@denisel1553mercerized is when cotton is dipped in alkaine solution that cause the fibre to become more smooth,shiny and
Silk like. Rayon or synthetic silk is when plant fibres are dissolved into goop and then reformed into long silk like threads. Rayon making uses way harsher chemicals.
Thank you for discussing greenwashing!!! The only space I hear about it is anti-scam/anti-MLM and it gets labeled as “haters.” If anyone buys clothes from retail, they are wearing synthetic fibers and shouldn’t shame anyone for buying acrylic yarn. Heck, all socks have synthetic fibers 😆😆
Good point about buying clothing from retail - or even buying fabric to make your own clothes! It also applies to foods we buy at the grocery store! For instance, I come from an area where chickens are raised on a huge scale for supplying grocery stores all over the country. That scale is so huge that the run-off from the farms pollutes local streams and rivers, killing fish and other wildlife, and seeps into the water table. It's extremely difficult, if not impossible, to buy and live totally sustainably today. It comes down to doing what we can, when we can, as we can afford it. 🌎🌏🌍
If you have the option not to, that's what makes the difference imo. Certain areas only have certain fibers available to them (or only retail stores and no thrift shops), and it'd be unfair and elitist to shame the people living there for not making a choice they don't really have the option to make. But I do think it's fair to hold people with the option accountable. If you have the money to buy more sustainably and live in an area where you can but choose not to, then you've made the choice to not live as sustainably as you could, and I disagree with that choice
Really? God, I feel like I hear about greenwashing every day, but that's probably due to my areas of interest. It was a frequently-discussed topic when I was studying sustainable agriculture in high school and college. It's definitely become a buzzword at this point, but I'm glad more people are talking about it. Marketers have no shame, truly. 😂
Also, just a heads-up... there's lots of clothing available at retail stores that doesn't contain synthetic fibers. Some of it (especially the warmer stuff) is quite expensive, but I'm wearing an all-cotton t-shirt from Target. I have plenty of all-wool and all-cotton socks too. Of course, as discussed in the video, natural materials have an impact as well-especially non-Organic cotton, which requires _so_ much water. Just wanted to point out that it is actually a widely available option for warm-weather clothing, even in the plastics/synthetics-loving USA.
Exactly right about clothing! If people wanna be sustainable with clothes, instead of shaming people for openly buying synthetic clothing and fabrics / yarns, focus on what will happen with the clothes once the person is done. I say donate it to thrift stores! One person’s old sweater is another person’s new fave sweater!
I dont have a giant stash but I do have one and it may suprise you that it is because I am broke. If I have extra in my budget I will buy up clearance yarn because there are times I dont have the money to buy yarn and it gives me peace to know that I wont run out of the tool that brings me so much mental peace.
Love this perspective, thank you for sharing
^THIS^ Stashing is huge if you don't have much money for yarn (also true of most other things). All of the strategies for saving money - buying on sale, people "rehoming" their yarn, thrifting & frogging thrift store items, yarn swaps, etc - are based on "getting it while the getting is good." Which, obvs, meaning hanging on to it until you're ready to use it.
I feel similarly! I have been feeling guilty for "binge" purchasing a cotton blend this week because it was on mega clearance and my stash was originally started over 15 years ago when I only did knitting and only basic af scarves. My stash is mostly yarn that was rehomed to my teenage self as crafty adults in my life moved towards higher end materials. Lots of single balls of yarn or novelty yarns. Neither fit my desire to learn crochet and make a wearable peice while living in SE US. I have a stash because giving it all away would take time, effort, and possibly leave me having to repurchase supplies at higher prices in the near future.
Yes! I've come to the conclusion that a lot of minimalist living requires decent funds, because if you don't keep anything extra in the house, whenever you need anything you have to be at liberty to purchase it. As our finances have tightened, we've stored more things "just in case."
@@hannahlevy6074 yeah full blown minimalism is for rich people. I have to order yarn online, no way am i paying 5euros of shipping costs for every new project when my projects are small. No I buy extra to avoid more sending costs, and that then sometimes does end up not being used but stashed... But I wont run out of possible projects.
For me, the most ethical option is likely wool. I live in England, and the UK is a long-standing wool-producing region. There are a variety of British wool yarns, sometimes only from specific British breeds of sheep, that don't need extensive shipping and packaging to reach us. We have at least semi-decent labour and wage regulations, so if it's grown and produced in the UK then those will almost certainly be enforced. Our national media *loves* reporting on labour law and national minimum wage violations, and HMRC (our national tax etc. office) has a name and shame list of organisations who breached NMW rules, which again the media love reporting on. So companies have a lot of incentives to stay off those kinds of lists and out of the media. Wool is biodegradable and wool not used for making yarn has other used, like being turned into insulation. There are few incentives for people to mistreat the sheep; well-cared-for sheep make for better yarn and yarn companies and shearers have little incentive to hurt the animals making them money. We also have strict animal welfare regulations and environmental regulations. Again, the media loves to jump on environmental damage stories like rivers being polluted, so again companies have incentives to stay out of that kind of media coverage. The cost of wool yarn is more expensive than basic acrylic, especially finer wools, but for me that's not a major issue. I rarely buy yarn outside of specific projects and I can work on a single project for several months. Thus, I might only need to buy a jumper's worth of wool every 3-6 months. That's the main reason working primarily with wool is easily accessible for me. I do maintain a small stash, but that's mostly leftovers from projects or yarn that I've bought for a specific project that I no longer want to make. I don't usually work with mixed natural and synthetic fibres. An exception to that is sock yarn with some added nylon for strength. I will use blended natural fibres, like wool-alpaca or wool-silk blends, but I still largely stick to 100% non-superwash wool.
At my job, we talk a lot about how England & the UK have their sh*t together when it comes to sustainability and ethical labor practices. Excellent example setters in that regard for the rest of the world!
@@nony_mation wool isn't the most popular fibre here by any means; it's definitely been supplanted by things like cheap and cheerful acrylic yarns. I think that's probably due to cost and the perceived difficulty of washing wool. It's a shame, honestly. Wool is a resource that we've produced for a long time, it's wonderfully suited to our climate, and it's really not as hard to take care of as it might initially seem. I've heard about some of the crumbling wool infrastructure of the US. I listened to the audiobook of Vanishing Fleece by Clara Parkes, which was a bittersweet read. I'm not sure how the state of our wool fabric and yarn production infrastructure stands in comparison, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's not at it's best.
As someone who moved to the UK from Canada, some labour practices are great, but I would not praise them entirely. The NMW is still not enought to live on and wages haven't risen in to keep up with the insane cost of living here. Also, your employer can fire you for no reason if it is under 2 years of employment. Yes, we get more paid holiday, but there is still a loooong way to go in terms of ethical labour compared to many countries in Europe. However, the wool supply is amazing and 'farm yarn' is relatively easy to come by.
@@HeatherConyers hence why I said we have semi-decent standards. There aren't many places where the minimum wage is enough to live on. We're hardly unique in that regard. Also, we have some rhyme or reason to why people are fired. Your employer has to be able to prove they had a valid reason and that they acted reasonably in the circumstances. If they don't, you could beat them in an employment tribunal and cost them a lot of money. They have to make reasonable attempts to correct and assist you before firing you (like training you if you're performing poorly or implementing accommodations if they're considering firing you due to long-term illness). We have anti-discrimination laws that mean you can't (at least openly) be fired for a set list of protected characteristics. It's not a completely lawless at-will wasteland at least. Could we be better? Yes. Are there worse places? Absolutely. Just look at the US.
@@nony_mation Haven't had the pleasure of working with Navajo-Churro wool yet, but it's on my yarn bucket list! The history of the breed is fascinating, as are the shepherding, spinning, and weaving traditions of the Navajo Nation.
I love how you highlighted the reasons why people prefer a large stash. I have a very large stash that is only now getting slightly overwhelming, but one of my favorite things to do when I'm feeling down is to go "shopping" in my stash. It keeps me from actual shopping and really inspires me to plan projects or decide what to destash or gift to friends.
a friend of mine and I will frequently do a trade-off, where we each shop the other's stash. Anything the other says they have a specific project for isn't up for grabs, obviously, but it still results in some nice projects that wouldn't be expected if I'd done both the shopping and the crafting
You could probably put me in the "hater of huge yarn stashes" camp, but not because I want to be out here telling people how much yarn is too much for them to have, but because what I actually hate is mindless over consumption. If someone truly loves and values their giant yarn stash and gets a lot out of it, that's great! What I don't like is when people do that just because they feel like they "should" have a large yarn stash because influencers do, or they're not actually getting anything emotional out of it, it just kinda happened because they like to buy yarn (which I get, I do too). And I think we're seeing this trend of people going on yarn low buys and no buys and having rules around how much yarn they bring in vs how much goes "out" in projects because there's been this encouragement of mindless over consumption in this space, and personally I'm glad to see the change even if it happened because of "haters" lol
I have a tiny tiny stash after clearing out (donating) stuff I wouldn’t use. My purchases are now project specific only now and I am staying 2 - 3 projects max as WIPs - 2 small projects and a longer haul project
I have had my stash blow up out of control due to working during lockdown but buying yarn because I did want to craft; I just didn't have time. I am trying to be mindful and limit my consumption, especially because as a grad student, I currently don't work. I won't say a no buy because I do want to reward myself here and there for passing my classes above the minimum but I am fortunate to be part of a circle of crafters I can reach out to when I have yarn to destash. I've done it a few times last year and I have put all my yarn where I can see it so when I think I want to make something I see while watching other creators, I can turn a bit and say, "No, you have enough to do right now."
The entire concept of a yarn stash was foreign to me when I started watching fiber after content. I've always found a pattern and then bought my yarn. Technically I did have a "stash" of sorts but it was all scraps. Occasionally I'd buy yarn for a project and then abandon it but then I'd come up with something else to do with it.
other diverse podcaster/knit artist recommendations:
-made in the moment (Emma)
-Alexandria masse
-ikoxun
-show me romi
-hip knit hooray
-string things by mel
-lochness knits
-thorn wing crochet
You said that many people are going to hate this podcast... and you are right. Just like the one where you talked about what knitting tools you don't need. The fact that it sparked a lot of comments made RUclips suggest this channel to me way over here in Finland. Congratulations! By controversiality you will achieve publicity. Just remember not to mind nasty comments. We, the nice and serious knitting community of the world, will support and love you. Please break up this pod into segments and talk about them in your coming podcasts. I love that you clearly have researched things, however you speak so fast that I as a non native English speaker am going to have to watch this over and over again 😂
Using a slower playback speed might make it easier for you to understand.
I just started following Retro Claude and as someone who is struggling with both income and health, it's really nice to watch someone's videos who is in the similar situation. She mostly does sewing but I still like her personality and do like to watch those videos every now and then.
I love sewing RUclipsrs. I follow a couple, so I am all about this recommendation!
@@BreathingYarnI love Retro Claude - she's been doing stashbusting for the last year and currently shorts and compilations because of her health. She's predominantly vintage and historical but has a similar light delivery to you so I think you'll like her company whilst crafting. Excellent video. Am now going to look for the diverse channels you recommended as I too am on that hunt.
As a disabled fiber artist, I hate so much the moral high ground from folks about oh do micro crochet or only use fingering weight yarns for examples. These LITERALLY hurt me, I don't care that you think you're better than me cause I can't use them
I’m also disabled but at the other end - I can’t use bulky fibers because the weight of a project constrains my ability ( my back is f*ed). No one needs to shame anyone else on weight of yarn. It’s just silly lol
Thank you both for sharing! I really appreciate it 🥰
I’m new to your channel, and I appreciate your approach to controversial subjects. We are all consumers who participate in the economy and contribute to pollution and depletion of resources. When we point fingers at others, we need to remember that we also have three fingers pointing back at ourselves. I am doing a low-buy year in terms of yarn and other crafts for a whole bunch of reasons, not the least of which is my goal to become a more responsible consumer in terms of both finances and environmental impact. Fun fact: I am married to a materials engineer. I’m used to him questioning claims and asking for actual evidence when it comes to broad statements about environmental impact. We were listening to you while he cooked and I knitted, and we’re now both fans of your channel.
Oh my gosh that’s so sweet! I am also doing a low-buy year. I started last year and have loved it so much.
And heck yea to materials engineers. Most of my friends are materials/plastics/packaging engineers so we are always asking eachother random questions about materials 😂
@@BreathingYarn Based on my experience during the first 10 weeks of the year, I think it’s going to take two to three years to get the inventory low enough for me to justify purchasing sweater or blanket quantities of anything!
New listener. Thanks for pulling together these topics.
I was a definite yarn snob when I first started knitting and still prefer locally produced wool yarns. However, I craft a lot with acrylics for the ease of care. There are very few new parents who would appreciate a wool blanket that cannot be washed. I would rather use acrylic and see it used than wool that is left in the closet.
I really appreciated that you pointed out that all yarns have an environmental impact. Sometimes I forget that in my preferences.
Lots to think about. Thank you.
Oh thank you!!!
I make different choices regarding yarn for gifts too. There was a time when hand-washing a blanket wouldn't be seen as a big deal, but those days are long gone. Few parents even use cloth diapers anymore... but to be fair, it's hard to blame them given it's an unpleasant task and most have to go back to work full-time soon after the birth of their child.
I wish youtube gave us the option of liking a video multiple times. There were multiple points along this video where I went to go click the like button based on something you said only to realize that I had already clicked on the like button
Thank you 😊 🥰 I really appreciate you saying that!
I'm 68, a pensioner, living in the UK in a small village. My closest yarn store is over 10 miles away and I don't drive. I'm on a low-buy year again this year. The goal is to use more than I purchase. Having said that, I have 2 special projects this year that I've had to buy yarn for. I'm crocheting a gnome blanket using an acrylic yarn, simply because the finished item will be too heavy for me to hand-wash. The other project is a mystery shawl and I bought hand-dyed yarn from a local dyer to knit that. Last year I reduced my stash by over 5 kilos. Only one of my daughters crafts with yarn and I know she won't want any of my stash so I'm reducing the amount that has to be disposed of when I'm gone, lol
your gnome blanket sounds very cute. congrats on the stash reduction!
I am so impressed by this episode, which provides fantastic information for new and long-time knitters. Hell, it's good for all consumers, and no one gets away from that label. You've presented things in a neutral fashion, clearly and without overdoing it on any topic, recognizing that there's no line in the sand. You're obviously very knowledgeable and articulate on the topic. Thanks very much. K
Thank you very much! I appreciate you saying that 😊
Excellent video. The best part was honestly the not judging part. I know two women with huge stashes and the most amazing projects. There was a bit of irl drama over someone in a local group shaming them over their consumerism. It broke down into a massive argument on fb and at local meet-ups. People chose sides and it literally ended friendships. The backstory was that both women had come into crafting after a grief counselor recommended it. They had both lost young children. They bonded over learning techniques and finding special yarn. You never know what someone else is going through. I know a woman who exclusively uses a rayon that I don't care for because she's making things for an autistic person with sensory issues. I use a particular acrylic for a family member because of allergies. I know a man on a fixed income who uses super cheap Walmart yarn because that's what he can afford. I knew an older lady once who missed her deceased husband, and she wanted to make all of her grandkids an afghan with a block from one of his sweaters. She needed tons of yarn to finish and someone made her feel bad by telling her she was preventing other people from buying affordable clothing. Maybe the person you disagree with is just unethical or uneducated and you think you make things better.... but probably not. A good rule of thumb is that if they want your advice, they'll ask.
Wow, such amazing stories in the people you know (and yourself). Such a lovely perspective :)
This was a great information resource, I would only add that if a fiber artist (ANY knitter or crotchet or weaver, etc.) is making their own clothes to any extent, they are part of the solution to the strain human existence puts in this planet… not the problem. We should always be supporting one another in that, not creating cliques and tearing each other down. Let’s always choose kindness over judgement.
Always kindness over judgment 🥰
You are SUCH a good science communicator!! Please do more videos like this, I could listen to them all day
Omg yes. I’m also so open to topic ideas!
@@BreathingYarnmaybe going into how to clock which labels for yarn actually matter? Like how organic is legally defined, but clean isn't. Or what a label specifically means, like cage-free VS free-range.
As a younger and more chaotic person, I love watching Jaida from Mrs. Moon and Heaven!!
I love this entire discussion. ❤ I love all your videos and discussing these topics and costs because as much as fiber arts are arts and skills, they’re hobbies that cost money and it is unrealistic to expect every knitter to pay 50$ for like 50grams of yarn.
Also as a fat person, it’s so upsetting seeing pricing for natural fiber yarns in such small quantities because I need to much more of it to fit my body.
It's also very hard to find representation for large bodies in the knitting/crochet community. I love my regulars, but they will often do oversized sweaters with 2-3 skeins of value yarn and I honestly could NEVER 😂. TLYC has been one of the only channels I've seen that actively discusses finding patterns with inclusive sizing and pointing out that it's not just a matter of adding stitches, it needs different shaping in some case that many pattern creators forget or just don't know.
Body size for me is another point in the accessibility category, because you require even MORE ( More yarn, money, impact, time/energy) to make garments. I'm starting my first cropped vest and it's going to take 3 skeins of value yarn, and possibly one more if I want ribbing, so the investment is even higher for those of us who fall outside the stereotypical mold.
It always blows my mind in a store when I try on an XL shirt and I the body fits great but the sleeves wont go up past my elbow because they forget that larger sizes have larger arms. Or getting a turtleneck that flops around because they assumed neck circumference increases at the same rate as bust circumference. It's just like you said and I love TLYC as well for being such a beautiful sounding board for those fit issues. I also love Youngfolk Knits for this, she's a beautiful plus sized fiber artist (who also sews) and does a lot of pattern testing. Love her. It continues to make me sad how hard it is to find plus sized creators when they represent such a large percentage of the population.....I literally had someone say to me "do you think plus size people should have to pay more for clothing and plane seats since they need more fabric and take up more space" I wanted to scream and cry. I'd consider myself an inbetweener with sizing and I am all too aware that larger women have REAL problems that get so overlooked. My husband is a 3XL - 4XL and my blood boils at how hard it is to find clothing for him. I could go on and on about the healthcare system's failure to plus size women and ughhh I need to stop typing before I write a full essay.
This is brilliant! My daughter and I loved every part of it. We enjoy your vibe in general, but this was so great, and very informative.
Also - Edible Thoughts Makes is a terrific channel.
You’re too kind! And thank you for the recommendation!! I can’t wait to check her out 😊
I so appreciate you making this video. As someone who is trying to move toward more ethical and sustainable purchases, I loved the way you listed the different types of yarns and their concerns. I believe that we all need to be more aware of our impact on the world. Thank you for talking about all of this and providing another great video! ❤
Thank you so much for helping demystify the ethics that go into yarn practices. I've been thinking about it a lot more recently as we see Big box brands come out with "sustainability lines" and really we as a community need to be aware. Excellent use of being unbiased and thank you so much for mentioning more creators and makers of color! Happily subscribed.
I feel like I know just enough to know that I don't know anything. It's wild to me just how complex all these things are!
First time viewer, and I really enjoyed your video.
I think some of these things can really depend on your stage in life. I'm finishing up my second year of med school, and I'm in a time in my life when money is much more limited. I'm so glad that right now I have a stash that's on the larger side. It means I don't have to find room in my budget to purchase yarn and keep knitting. When I had a larger budget I would do more stashing, which has meant I can keep knitting now. My friends have gotten socks that I haven't had to purchase yarn for, and my stash has meant that I usually have the colors they want.
I agree with you that people should knit with what they enjoy and what fits their budget. More expensive yarn doesn't mean a better product, especially depending on the qualities that you're looking for. If I'm giving a blanket to a new parent I want to make it with something they can throw in the washing machine and dryer without having a second thought as to whether it's too precious to use. That might mean superwash wool, acrylic, or cotton yarn, depending on the season and climate. I want to use superwash wool for friends who are getting their first pair of socks and need to be able to throw them in the washing machine, while I might use non-superwash wool or other natural fibers for someone I know has the time and bandwidth to hand wash or for myself or for an item that doesn't really require washing (shawls, for instance). If a yarn and project brings someone else joy then I'll never judge them for that. It doesn't have to be my preference to be great.
I also appreciate you giving me some things to think about. While I don't buy much yarn right now I'll probably be able to buy more as I get into my residency and have a little bit more money. At that point the humane treatment of workers and animals and the environmental impact are probably going to play a more prominent role in my decision making. One other thing that I like to consider is the size of the company I'm buying from. I like buying hand-dyed yarn from small companies when I can, because I like knowing that my dollars are going to a human being rather than a shareholder.
Thank you and excellently put! Also, good luck with med school, that’s wild and you’re awesome!!! 👏
Don't cut down on your knitting because you lack the funds. Sock yarns are fairly inexpensive (at least in Finland). You can knit cardigans and jackets which you wear over other clothes if the yarn is itchy. Sock yarns are durable. Use acrylic if you want something softer. When you are done with the studies and have a regular income you will be a terriffic knitter and then you can splash out on any yarn you like. Good luck with your future career as a terriffic doctor who knits absolutely fantastic things ❤
omg plugging myself as a neurodivergent, LGBTQ podcaster!! I havent seen many alternative/goth knitters, esp. asian ones, so I decided to convert my channel to a fiber art one! I loved this conversation and im hoping more cool ppl from your audience can come hang out w me if theyre interested
Flannel&Purls is like the Bob Ross of knitting!
That’s the best description ever, I’m sold!!!
I got very excited about yarn when I started knitting and accumulated a LOT of it within about two years. it was starting to get overwhelming because I bought a lot faster than I used it up. but now that I'm at a place where I have to be mindful of my budget, it's so good to have stash to dig into
I really love Show me, Romi! He’s so chill to watch and is relatively new to crochet compared to a lot of big RUclipsrs so it’s fun to watch them expolore and learn especially since I’m at a similar stage. I’ve really liked seeing more masculine crochet aesthetics too since a lot of what I watched before finding his channel was super similar :’)
I am one of those who have a large collection of yarn, and it primarily consists of hand-dyed fibers from indie vendors. I feel a strong desire to support fellow small business owners, and I like to buy "memory yarns" from vacations. As a homeschooling mom and caretaker for my mother-in-law, I cannot simply go out and buy more yarn whenever I want. Most weeks, I only get to leave the house once to get groceries, so having yarn on hand is very beneficial to me, especially if I take on a test knit/crochet. My collection and my ability to start a project at any moment from my stash provide a mental escape and I am sure it does for others as well. I enjoy having several wips to go back and forth to and always finish them. Despite having a large collection, I keep it well-organized by documenting it all on Ravelry with photos and keeping up with exact yardage. This helps me manage it all, even the scraps. I know haul videos are popular on RUclips, and I have a few up on my own channel. However, I am reserved with what I buy. I do not buy just to buy or just because it is on sale. I think if we find ourselves in those situations, it can quickly land us in a small hoarding situation. For me, that would also lose the calmness of my stash and make it feel very overwhelming. I have seen people buy buggies full at end-of-the-season sales at big box stores, all while having totes upon totes in a storage building or barn and having zero idea what is in them. YT has definitely contributed to that "FMO" with haul videos. I believe, we all are adults and should do what makes us happy, but we also need to be mindful. We need to realize that yarn is not worth having credit card debt or financial stress. It is meant to bring joy... and that joy is going to vary from person to person, but that is ok.
Thanks so much for this video! I've been thinking so hard about a lot of these things as I try to establish a small business making sensory accessories with my crochet and it's been so stressful because I want to be perfect! It's so hard when there's so many issues to consider, but I really appreciate your approach of sharing information not to shame but just to sort of lay things out so people can choose what's most important to them. And especially that no one can do all of these things at once!
Also I love that you mentioned the difference between post-industrial and post-consumer recycling because I just learned about it! I hope more companies start sharing that info!
Felicia from Sweet Georgia Yarns is a good recommendation from my subscription list. You were asking for recommendations of channels made by knitters who aren’t white women, she’s a successful RUclipsr and craft business owner and she has a lovely calming voice.
Coming from a retired organic farmer point of view, who has in the past obtained a 3rd party certificate for my practices. I kept sheep, llamas, donkey, angora rabbits and chickens, currently retired from animals however. MY sheep were wonderful lawn mowers and fertilizers as they went their droppings are high in natural nutients to rebuild the soil and decompose quickly. Their water requirements are meant mainly through the grass they munch down. The rare breads I kept were duel purpose and could have supplied both meat and lovely fleece. As for the plant material, both flax (linen) and nettle (ramie) can be water retted or dew retted, and both are lovely natural verses bleached. Nettle and hemp both put back into the soil and make great companion plants. They also provide a wide variety of nutrients for human consumption. Nettle also has the benefit of providing a natural dye, giving shades of green and yellow. Wool blended with a bit of mohair (nature's nylon) for a sturdy, and long-lasting sock yarn. Wool has the added benift of being water repellent provided all the oils are not stipped away, and the unspunnable bits make a great biodegradable mulch for the garden.
I'd just like to shout out my local materials exchange coop. I think of myself as a yarn scavenger, and it is easy to consume materials lower on the food chain with an organization in my town that is stocked with donations of unused yarn, fabric, roving, and other craft and fiber supplies. I also troll the bulk estate sale yarns and "treasure chest" fiber scraps at the textile center in my town, which is geared primarily towards spinners and weavers. I love designing projects around the high-quality fibers that I have been able to source cheaply, locally, and relatively ethically!
My favorite way of obtaining yarn has been getting knits from thrift stores. It is incredibly affordable (I've gotten several sweaters worth of yarn for less than 5$ each), as long as you have the time and patience to unravel them. The only problem I've encountered is that I don't always know the quality of yarn I will end up getting, but on the flip side, I can pick the yarn based on how the knit fabric feels, and that has been so helpful in learning to love wearing knits. I might invest in nicer yarn some day, if I feel that I've reached a more advanced knitting/crocheting level and have disposable income, but for now, thrifting has been incredible for fueling these hobbies. Over several thrifting trips I've ended up with two huge suitcases of yarn, and I've maybe spent 100$ total, and I'm not going to be putting any new fibers or pollution into the world.
I never understood the need to "shame" people for their choices, IMO you can inform people but without being condescending. e.g. there are a lot of people that are not aware that many superwash yarns are coated with a polymer, so just letting people know but without shaming is actually possible.
Also luckily I was perfectly unaware that I should be "ashamed" for not liking or using bulky yarn I don't like the fabric it creates and therefore I never use it, I have seen a lot of the really bulky oversize sweaters and thought well good for them, it's just not for me, but next time I see it I'll have to remember to let them know that they are doing it wrong because I don't like working with bulky yarn. 😄
I want to weigh in on the accessibility issues with yarn, in saying that some yarn weights, lending to larger needle sizes actually make it more difficult for me to knit without giving myself RSI in the wrists. it may sound counterintuitive, but the larger motions actually have a greater strain on my wrists, elbows and shoulders which may or may not be conducive to yet another chronic condition I have lived with my whole life without a diagnosis for.
on that note, its interesting that you mentioned that you're not having to think of these things because they don't effect you, because i'm sure there are some people like me who have just lived their whole lives thinking "oh this is just something everyone puts up with" about things that do bother me regarding accessibility issues in these areas because nobody's talking about them.
Thanks for the points on diversity. TL yarn crafts is one of my fave channels.
I like her channel too!
Thank you so very much for this informative video! I have always been the only one in my world of professionalism i.e., retired litigation paralegal in Denver, Colorado working for trial lawyers, found me being the only Black woman and person of color in most law firms I worked for. The only LYS owner in Colorado as a Black woman who welcomes customers in and watches the "SHOCK" on faces of the women who didn't know! You have hit the nail on the head. You are absolutely, nothing short of Amazing. Thank you for awesome content. Enjoy your week! CAB😊
Omg thank you and you’re amazing!!
I went to a local fiber market a few weeks ago, and the lack of diversity in not only the vendors but also the buyers was STAGGERING. It was absolutely wild to be so confronted by the fact that I might have been the only masc-ish knitter there, but seeing that there was only one BIPOC vendor was crazy to me.
I appreciate the way you broached so many topics, including POC representation and autism with overstimulation due to certain textures.
I’m black and have AuDHD (both ADHD and autism), so I definitely love seeing diverse crafters on YT. I’m still a beginner (only in my second crochet project), and I’m slowly exploring YT’s fiber artist community. I’ve yet to specifically find autistic crochet content, but I’m sure it’s out there; crocheting is a GREAT way for me to stim and get some excess energy out of my body by just giving my hands something to do by muscle memory.
I’ve also found several different black female knitters / crocheters or varying ages, so yay! We’re out here! 😊🧶
This was a wandering tangent of a thought, my bad. I’m done now and will edit this comment if I’ve forgotten something. 😂😅
That's awesome! I think there are more ADHD/Autistic creators out there than we know about because I have been diagnosed in that area (you can guess with what lol) but I dont feel super comfy talking about it on the internet because it just feels so vulnerable. I am willing to bet there are creators we know and love that fall on the spectrum and simply dont bring it up. Or at least that's my crafty conspiracy theory.
The truth is all our clothing and the material they’re made from, whether shop bought or handmade leave has an impact on the planet. It’s fast fashion that is having the biggest impact which includes massive stash hoards.
I went a little crazy buying yarn the year before I retired because I knew I would have limited funds in retirement and I am so happy that I have beautiful yarn in my stash to choose from.
As far as diverse channels goes love Nadia’s studio she is a crochet and crafting based channel. She is amazing for inspiration and very calm and chill.
The Harry Knit is a podcaster and designer from Brunei! It’s interesting to see how she interprets trends to work better in her tropical climate
Yessss! That’s exactly what I need. I don’t live in a very cold climate (in my opinion lol) and am always wanting to make my knits work better for that.
Before anything else, I must mention the channel "Amigurumis by Petus Ochoa". She is a creator from Mexico, and her patterns have been perfect for making gifts for older/religious relatives. I hardly ever see my culture reflected in yarn art, so it has been a treat making muñecas based off her work.
This is a lovely video. It's refreshing to see open discussions about sustainability and ethics when it comes to yarn. I live in a climate where it's at least 70°F nearly all year long, so working with wool and acrylic just isn't feasible. It seems like the world of plant-based yarns is constantly evolving; it's almost overwhelming keeping up to date on it all. I always have to do a bit of research before each project to see if new yarns have released (and where they fall on the spectrum of affordability vs sustainability).
Also, a smaller shout out to Norman from Nimble Needles and Mikey from The Crochet Crowd. It's nice knowing that the queer and crafting communities will always have a heavy overlap 💕
Thank you!!!! Love these channels 🥰
Great content. I just stood up in my seat when you mentioned local shopping... not only is the product you import shipped ocean or airfreight but....the chemicals and dyes used on that product before it is shipped are also imported to that country. Thank you for the videos!
Ultimately my uneducated opinion is buy what what makes you feel good as a person and what makes you happy. Because ultimately you’d have to research every little detail in order to know where and how your yarn comes about. Meaning each workers background from every company that touches the history of the yarn in someway. Meaning the dye back ground, the farm(s) background, the animals background, the shipping back ground, the feeds back ground, etc, you literally go down a rabbit hole.
Which means I agree with you. Pick what’s important to you and makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside because in the end everything is a catch-22. I judge no one because someone is always judging me and someone is judging them. It’s just a hypocritical ladder that goes down hill. Idk if that makes any sense.
One new crochet channel that I’ve been watching is called “Show me, Romi”. Personally I think it’s different?
Thanks for the amazing video! Super insightful - I had to stop my crochet to really think about the points you were providing. My eyes have been opened.
Thanks for this very interesting video! I totally agree with the "buy yarn according to your values if you can, don't feel guilty otherwise". When we have ecofriendly/ethical values we can get to this point where we feel so bad because we're buying something that's not 100% ecological, but I try to remind myself that it'll always be better than buying a cheap fast-fashion garment that's made with bad fabric in countries with bad working conditions.
Also: in one of your earlier videos you mentioned 3 RUclipsrs, and several videos later I wanted to find them to follow them so that I have other quality knitting videos to watch for when I have catch up on all of yours. I fast-forwarded through the videos I had already watched to find them and there's one I couldn't find! I was hoping you would talk about it again later and you just did!! I had remember something like "mass knit" but got nothing on RUclips 😂 it was actually Maressa Made! Thanks for all these recommandations 😊
Thank you for starting this conversation! I hope more people start thinking about all of these issues. We need to be aware of all of the consequences of the choices we make in being consumers.
I've heard it said plant based yarn like cotton is less problematic due to it being vegan unlike wool but in Australia the cotton industry is pretty corrupt and has had a huge negative impact on the environment and water table. How 'vegan' is our cotton when hundreds or thousands of native animals may have died downstream because the cotton farms are stealing water and making rivers run dry?
I'm not saying you should never buy cotton or that wool doesn't have it's problems but cotton certainly is not as animal cruelty free as some people would like to think. Just because the animals in question aren't on a farm being the actual product, doesn't mean they aren't being harmed.
Thank you for sharing. That’s devastating to hear about!
As another materials engineer / knitter / sustainability practitioner, I am constantly surprised by how frequently this combination occurs. I know at least three. Great video which I will be sharing.
I know, it’s crazy! I had no idea
My ears perked up at materials science. I’m in school for materials engineering and love finding people with the same degree. That you’re a fiber arts hobbyist woman like me makes this an even better find!❤❤❤
Some of my favorite POC yarn art creators are Show me, Romi! And Nadia’s studio
Omg thank you!!!
Ooo I may need to go check out Nadia's studio, that's my daughter name! ❤❤❤
Thanks for the discussion! This came up on Reddit the other day in a non-craft forum and yikes. Opinions and bums and all that. The Internet has a hard time with nuance.
Accessibility: I have trouble with thicker yarns (over DK weight) for knitting because i have hypermobile joints and I can't hold the tension on thick yarn without pain, even with my splints on. I haven't figured a workaround.
I can't really work with it because of how much I need to move my wrists. At least with crochet, I haven't tried to knit more than sock weight yarn.
WOW! Hi Isabella! This was SO incredibly informative. I'm an engineer too and a big proponent of buying local and using whatever yarn you like that's accessible to you. Thank you for putting all this together and sharing your expertise! and thank you so much for the shout out! What an awesome birthday present! 🤗💚✨
Omg, thank you and happy birthday 🥳 love love love your channel!
My knee-jerk reaction to large stashes has always been to scoff at the overconsumption, but hearing the points you made was eye-opening!
That was my perspective too, it was a recent shift in hearing other talk about why that have large stashes that it started to make sense.
Loved this vid. Thank you for not making some of us feel dumb for not knowing things or feel ashamed for yarn we do buy. Personally I can’t afford much yarn but crocheting helps my mental health so it makes me sad when I see the negative comments online about what I can afford especially as a beginner😭
For more diverse RUclipsrs
Show Me, Romi
Ikoxun
Jana
CrochetCrys
Honorable mention:
OmaizingPaige is the only reason I didn’t give up crochet; her beginner tutorials are very helpful & i couldn’t see how to crochet correctly form other peoples vids. I love how personal she makes it feel too.
Thank you so much for saying this. I have been watching your channel for a bit and I appreciate you saying what needs to be said. I am actually writing a speech right now about sustainability in different fibers. This video is perfect for hearing the different sides of opinions for a lot of ethical problems in fiber arts.
thank you for the upload! this is such a great video and so well pulled together imo. in terms of youtube creators i like, i would really recommend Tazhi at stitches and starlight, and Lisa at soulful spinning. They both focus a bit more on handspinning but have some lovely videos about knitting too. A year or so ago i think Lisa did a series trying out spinning and knitting different wool breeds that I like to reference when i'm trying to choose the right wool for a project.
I also like future fiber as well, her channel is definitely more knitting focused.
I really enjoyed your presentation of pros & cons about the different fibers, I use a wide range of fibers but try to avoid blended ones that are difficult to recycle as you said.
As for diversity in the yarn community, I see more diversity on IG than here on YT, particularly more people from around the whole world, on YT there are more white women, particularly more *American* white women, I am white (I think, still trying to understand if Italians are white or not as for US standards 😅) but I live in Europe and I find many differences in our fiber artist lives... I'm trying to build my own channel to tell my experience of Italian crocheting in Switzerland, but I'm an absolute newbie. I'd love to find more youtubers talking yarn & crochet from different countries and coltures! ❤
I am basically a yarn hoarder. I wish I could be a minimalist and not have so much. Now that I have it all, I can't get myself to get rid of it. I have over 20 large bins of yarns. I used to own a business though. I know that is just an justistication, but that it when I started collecting all this yarn. I needed it to create items to sell. I did donate a lot of yarn I no longer used. Now I am trying to get the motivation to sell the rest of the yarn I don't use. I have been giving it to my granddaughters who are now learning the craft. So Maybe I won't sell some and just let them have it. I knew about most of the issues you talked about yarn. I used to buy just organic and ethical yarns. Now I have found that is not reasonable money-wise for me.
Thank you for this video - ❤ - Accessibility is a very real problem for me with allergies that prevent me from going into physical stores most of the time; and mobility struggles that make the lovely, small and local, stores inaccessible because of steps into the store, or narrow aisles, etc. So I do buy almost everything online, and I have a large stash so that when I am completely housebound I have a lot of project choices ranging from “done in a day” to “maybe before I am unable to craft at all/someday done”(I also sew…). But our children are grown, for now both of us are fully employed and with limited debt, and there are many people on my list for gifts. So I am very lucky that I can afford it financially and that, on the days I am well enough, I have time. Sometimes when a “future project” no longer appeals to me I make up “kits” of yarns and patterns to give to people who don’t have the ability to purchase their own materials, because I love to share the joy of making!
That’s so lovely!
I think us knitters and crafters should think long term when sustainability is the theme. Production will always consume energy and water, its part of the industry process and cannot be avoid, in order to have yarn these are the consequences. However if we think that anything acrylic will take more than 400 years to return to nature, the lovely sweater we made will be longing around the oceans as microplastics for future generations to still consume after we die its too much for me to handle as a high probability. Any 100% natural fiber will decompose and be repurpused by nature.... and thats a much more relieving thought for me. Sometimes i dont have the money tobuy the fancy natural yarn i'll admit. but my ultimate decision is to always wait a couple of months and then get the money to buy and focus on other projects bc i have many many others.... Just my way of thinking! great video!
For handspinners going directly to a local farm is an option if there are farms near you. In Western Australia, last year's wool that was shorn for the health of the animals was thrown away because it was practically worthless. People still farm sheep for meat production. They still need a haircut to survive summer. In Europe there are many herds grazing as a historic landcare practice. The wool from these sheep is also thrown away because it's worthless 😮
UK hand spinner here, I buy all my fleece direct from the farm either in person or online. I only ever knit with my own yarn more from preference but the financial side also works :-)
Accessibility note: my ex with low vision knit, but only blanket/bulky yarn, and the bigger the ball the better. Definitely not going to be doing colour changes if they can avoid it. Not just for seeing stitches, but because they couldn't weave in their own ends, so some tasks required my help, and avoiding those tasks is one of the ways to make the craft accessible to them.
That is the best explanation for superwash I’ve ever heard. Thank you
Really enjoyed this video! I've seen some WILD takes on some of these topics and it's nice to see someone being so open minded, inclusive, and informative all at the same time!
That’s so sweet of you to say! It’s definitely not perfect but I still feel like I captured my stance pretty well. 😊
One thing I learned about recently is plant-derived polyamide?! So far, I’ve only seen one company that uses it, Schoppel-Wolle. I don’t know a lot about it. Could be an interesting topic to hear your perspective.
Loved listening to this video! You really balanced nuance with a straightforward presentation style. Great work!
I’m really loving bio-based plastics starting pick up steam. I expect them to become increasingly more popular over the next 10 years. (Hopefully)
I’m really glad you’ve made this video. I feel like younger generations are more on the up and up about this sort of thing and not afraid to Google where items come from. Some people need a little education on it, though. And most definitely it’s important not to let perfection be the enemy of the good or the better!! Everyone is limited in some sort or fashion, but more flexible in ways others aren’t. All anyone can do is the best they can, and it’s important to try to do better where one can.
About the stash thing - hoarding is definitely not okay, and really unsafe, if for no other reason than fire hazard, but usually more. Otherwise, people need to leave each other alone about it lol. That whole controversy is dumb.
As always, your kitties are too adorable and make me smile! ❤
Channel rec for male knitters I absolutely love Arne and Carlos. They’re Norwegian designers.
although difficult to work with, hemp yarn makes fantastic grocery/market/produce bags.
Hemp from Tibet and Nepal is fairly soft and I have found great pants and outer shirts with it and it can combine nicely with cotton like other linen fiber. Hats, bags, and wallets are durable and take dyes well.
The majority of my stash I inherited from my grandma after we cleaned out her house. What you said about yarn being a connection to people is real. Sometimes i think about using it up but then it would just be losing one of my last connections to her.
🥰🥹 thank you for sharing!
Possible point to think about, I agree that having the connection is amazing. But what about when you wear something from her stash, it's like a hug that you take with you!
What an interesting and informative episode! Honestly, for the all the points brought up in this video, my fix (while not feasible for everybody) was learning how to spin my own yarn from local sheep. I'm lucky enough to have a number of small homestead farms (less than 20 sheep total) that raise sheep for wool and are very involved in their community. They're happy to have people visit the farm and see how their animals are kept.
While processing your own fleece definitely uses water, it's super minimal compared to big fiber farms. And a drop spindle to learn spinning can easily be made for less than $10. Of course, the downside is time investment. I would dare say time constraints rank as highly as financial constraints, so it's not a perfect solution. But it's as close to perfect as I've found when it comes to carbon footprint, sustainability (those sheep need to be sheared annualy regardless), supporting local, and ethical farming. And it's really just an amazing experience to go to a sheep shearing day at your local farm, buy a fleece from a sheep you got to meet, and take it all the way to a finished wearable/usable item. I recommend everyone try it at least once.
As for fun and diverse (including geographically) crafty RUclips channels, I love:
Fiber Tales
Flannel and Purls
We Grow Wild
Katt Weaver
The Republic of Me
Stitches and Starlight (LOVE how she talks about fiber and crafting)
Les Garcons
James Watts
Oh my God, a fellow engineer! I like you more with each video
Engineers Unite!!! 😆
thank you for this video!! just recently made the jump from crochet to knitting (woo!) and realized that I wanted to start making larger projects and realized that I wanted to make a sweater had me thinking a lot about how to choose yarn! like, it's a project i'm going to spend a long time working on so i don't want to use cheap yarn, but yarn can get so expensive! luckily i found a hole in the wall yarn store near me selling some super beautiful yarn for dirt cheap. i'm talking $1.25 for a 2oz soft wool skein. so my suggestions for people is to see what your area has aside from craft stores! but nothing groups are great, but your town may also have a hole in the wall yarn store that you can take advantage of :)
Knitting is a wonderful activity with so many benefits for health and wellbeing that I don't think anyone should be made to feel bad for their yarn choices, so I am soooo glad that you took a comprehensive but balanced, fact-based approach for this video. My personal elephant in the room though is the dyeing of yarn, whatever its derivation. Dyeing is a huge polluter and makes massive demands of energy and clean water, but how often do we see this mentioned, almost never. 'Colour all the way' it seems. Hand dyed yarns are seen as the ultimate in luxury and yarn art, but 99% of them are made with artificial pollluting pigments. Maybe the yarn producers are missing a trick and should be selling natural dye kits to encourage us to dye our own yarn. Knitting is great, let's treasure every stitch.
Love this addition to the conversation!
From what I know, “organic” foods and products still use pesticides quite a bit. They just were not chemically synthesized in a lab pesticides.
This was an incredibly informational video, I learned so much new stuff about types of yarn. As a new-ish knitter (been knitting for about 2 years) a lot of this information was news to me! I had no idea that SW merino was coated in a polymer! Thanks for making this video and I hope you make more like this in the future. :)
Thank you 🥰 I’m so glad!!!
Great topic! I was recommended this channel and episode by Skeindeer knits in her latest episode. I can only mention Norway where I live in regards to sheep farming and over grazing is generally not a problem here. Ruminants (domestic sheep and cows) have traditionally been sent to pasture in the mountains during the warmer months - they roam around quite freely, and it's not unheard of to meet them while walking or driving along the mountain roads. Here in Norway they have traditionally been vital in keeping the landscape open and not overgrown.
Norman in the Nimble Needle podcast is great. I have learned so much watching his channel - and I've been knitting for 40+ years, it's the small nuances - and it's fun to learn new things in a craft I love!
I didn't even know that yarn weights were a heated topic. At this stage in my life I don't really get to choose too much on what fibers and yarn weights to work with - my hands and shoulder dictates that. It's a bit annoying, but as long as I can knit I'm fine. I also spin a little - and for the longest time I wanted to spin thin, fine yarns.... until it dawned on me that I don't knit with lace yarn anymore so why should I spin the "perfect" thin yarn? Having much more fun now with a thicker spin aiming for DK/Worsted weight.
Great topic to cover and I would always advocate people seek out local producers. As a recent convert to spinning, I now have total control over the processing as I prefer to buy raw fleece and it is the actual .long slow process that is what makes it enjoyable, including foraging natural material for the dying.
Great video, thank you! I think stash size and ethical sourcing go hand in hand, IMO. If a knitter is responsible about how and where they get their yarn (e.g local farm festivals, local spinners who raise small flocks of sheep or alpaca, thrift shops, etc.), the size of the stash can be giant and that's okay ☺ On the other hand, if it's super unethical (e.g. pure acrylic made by mistreated underaged workers and shipped all the way from China), that's a whole other thing 🤨
I wanted to add a point about transparency, it's related to the greenwashing you mentioned. Small businesses (indie dyers especially!) rarely disclose where they source their yarns and when they do, it's usually South America or China. When they market their products, they say something like "pure hand-dyed 100% organic Merino superwash", which can sound very attractive to a novice, but for me, it has a lot of issues (1) what is the country of origin? (it's not the US!), 2) who certified it? (nobody knows), 3) superwash (i.e. microplastic), 4) acid dyeing requires a lot of water and it's bad for the environment). So, when I see "pure hand-dyed 100% organic Merino superwash", in my mind it's "imported wool of unknown origin with microplastic all over it dyed with acid dyes" 😐
A story from last year: there was a wool festival that went unsuccessfully and left many vendors without profit. A few people shared a post on Instagram where they tagged multiple small businesses that lost profits and encouraged people to check their websites and buy something. I had some money to spend and I went to check them all out with an intent to buy a few things. For each one, I went to check their Transparency/About section to better understand how they run their business (e.g. source of fiber, location, number of employees). Out of about 20 businesses I checked, only 3 honestly disclosed that all their yarn is imported from South America, others did not have any information about it, and only one business was a fully US-based shop with everything manufactured locally (and it was not a yarn shop🤷♀, they sold tools for weavers). I didn't buy any yarn from these businesses because I don't like being lied to (even by omission) and I want to support US wool businesses that support US sheep! Can these businesses have at least part of their wool sourced locally, not on another continent?
i havent seen the whole thing yet, but so far this is an amazing video. all i have to say is that "all yarn kinda sucks for the environment etc" is perhaps not as accurate as "all yarn has an impact on the environment and requires labor". it's not that it's all bad, necessarily- using energy and water is neutral at worst unless it's absolutely massive quantities for very little product. however, that still makes an impact on the environment. the sooner and more effectively we neutralize our attitudes around these things, the more effectively we can make educated decisions on our own choices as well as respecting and understanding the decisions of others. (edited for grammar)
Loved this episode. I hate that some dyers have gone completely non superwash or all natural dyes. I understand their reasons, but it's like you said, all yarn leaves an environmental footprint.
A new poc podcaster to watch is Escarla. I love her stuff so far.
A spanish speaking podcast to watch is El Punto Fijo. They are two friends who zoom, one lives in England, and the other one lives in South America. They do the normal format of finished objects, works in progress, and discuss patterns they think are trending.
A tip for anyone looking for knitting podcasts in another language is to Google the word for knitting in whatever language you want and then search RUclips using that word and podcast together. For more Spanish podcasts, I usually search for "podcast de tejido". I also recently searched for Love Yarn Madrid and found some podcasts in Spain reviewing the Love Yarn Madrid festival.
Thank you for another great episode!
I love your videos :) you have such a calming presence! I’ve been stressing myself out about the crochet project I’m working on today lol and something about your energy in this just made me go “oh yeah, this is a happy hobby!” Haha
OMG you're gonna make me cry. You are so right, this is a happy hobby!!! I kinda want to make a sweater that says that lol
Girl I just found your channel and can I just say, you are GORGEOUS! Wow! I was shocked at first and thought you had a while filter on your face until I started binging your videos and found out you barely even wear makeup? You’re absolutely stunning, and I absolutely love your style of content, especially the real & raw thoughts when you just vent to the camera. It feels like I’m sitting down listening to a friend, not just watching a content creator posing for content. So glad I found your channel.
i feel like you would really enjoy seji fields content, she has a deep interest in the construction and cultural histories of knitting (mostly northern european and japanese patterns) and is super fun to watch :)
I use the new to you tab and find some new creators. I see makers from all over the world. It's fun.
This was so informative! Thank you so much for going into such detail! I personally would love your proposed side video just about recycling. ♻💚
I agree with you, that every yarn has some caveat. I was so interested in bamboo yarn, but then found out how polluting it's creation is, that it's a problem environmentally & to the workers who craft it. I have a big stash, from sales & people who are destashing. But it can be tricky figuring out projects that I have enough yarn for. Luckily I like scrap-busting!
Loved this video. I am a disabled person living in New Zealand and yarn is very expensive here and naturally a financial barrier to what yarns I buy, despite New Zealand being the land of Merino wool. 😄
Thank you for talking about mulesing. Its been on my radar for a while but from my (brief) research I thought it was still best practice, glad I know better now
Thank you for this amazing video!
My favorite POC yarn art creator at the moment is Seji Fields.
I love spinning my own yarn. I know it's not for everyone but it gives me so much more control over fiber content and weight and it keeps me very conscious of material consumption in a way i don't think i would be otherwise. I don't know exactly where it fits in with the sustainability and environmental impact, but i imagine cutting out the milling step means less transportation and potential worker exploitation.
I also LOVE working with hemp! The smell reminds me of my stoner sister and the yarn i've spun with it turned out so soft and next-to-skin comfortable. I can't wait to make socks or one of those granny hexagon shirts with it!
Thank you for talking about diversity in representation in knitting. As a Mexican-American, I definitely have a hard time relating with white creators in the fiber arts space both in the podcasts I watch and even irl going to craft circles in nyc. If anyone has any bipoc knitting podcast recommendations, I’m all ears. Thank you for this video.
Thank you! I really appreciate you sharing your perspective.
I am currently a student and live in a city with a high living cost. Luckily I am quite privileged financially, since my parents currently pay my rent and living costs, but I am still very frugal and consider my spending choices quite a bit. Since my budget for shopping -and in that yarn- is not very high, I usually go to a department store and get yarn for specific projects, which at least carries some certificate. In that I always have to compromise with my values to a certain extent. I have frogged multiple of my previous projects to make different versions of them. Whenever I have scraps I try to save as much as I can, since I know that I can knit gauge swatches with it for the same yarn in a different color, before going out to spend a good chunk of money, or to make notions like place markers with them.
That said I also am someone who gets very overwhelmed in cluttered spaces. Generally when I start to "own" too much I start showing strong symptoms of depression as well as other mental illnesses. So I try to keep my scraps to a minimal or just generally out of sight. I recently was gifted some very nice merino yarn from Scotland and it is almost a sweater quantity. Of course I am incredibly grateful for this generous gift and have been planing some patterns for this, but since I wont be able to knit it up until fall or winter, I have been incredibly stressed and have been spending all my free- and non-free time finishing my wips, so I can get to that gigantic ball of yarn faster.
I love hearing from the more minimalist perspective. I also find that I get really stressed when I have a cluttered space and a large stash stresses me out.
1:00 The random kneading cat paws...🐱😂🤣🤣😭😭
A significant point of correction: the idea that "organic" = no pesticides is entirely FALSE. *Some* companies, individually, may decide not to use pesticides BUT that... just does not work. Especially not if you are running an actual business. There is a reason starvation and constant fear of insects and blight were rampant only 100 years ago, when we DEFINITELY had access to things like vinegar and peppers, both "pesticide-free natural remedies." But lol that barely works when you have 10 houseplants, much less several acres of fields to harvest.
"Organic" crops often use ORGANIC pesticides- which are not always safer! 'Organic' in this sense means 'contains carbon.' That's it.
Some states have different regulations on what "organic" can mean, so if FL and TX have different laws, an item grown in TX can have labels according to what TX means but sell it in Florida. A particular company can have a practice different from state or federal law, like not using any pesticides vs. only organic pesticides, and also use the same label.
So how do you know? Look it up. ::shrugs:: Ask the individual companies. See if their site has a FAQ.