Feature
| PLANT-BASED YARNS
PT
HE
OWER
of
plants
We delve into the world of plant-based
yarns to fi nd out what’s so special about
crafting with plant fi bres…
BY BECKY SKUSE
any of us learnt to realised the huge potential of plant fi bres.
M
crochet using cotton We’ve seen plenty of new yarns launched,
because it’s so smooth, using organic cotton, bamboo and hemp, as
strong and easy to work well as more unusual yarns made from soya
with. But what about other plant-based bean fi bre, banana skins and even nettles.
yarns? We hear a lot about the amazing All this means that there has never been
qualities of different animal fibres like a wider choice of plant-based yarns, in a
wool, alpaca wool and silk, but the variety of textures, blends and weights. So
special qualities of plant-based yarns if you’re confused about whether cotton,
tend to be overlooked. In fact, plant hemp or bamboo will be best for your next
fibres are just as unique, with their own crochet project, read on for the low-down
special properties that offer a variety on the main plant fi bres available.
of benefits for crochet projects. As well
as offering unique anti-bacterial and Cotton
UV-light protection, many plant-based A classic fi bre for crochet and knitting,
yarns are also more environmentally cotton is the best-known and most popular
friendly, using less resources to create plant-based yarn, largely because it’s so
the fibre than other yarns. versatile and cheap. Cotton grows as soft,
Marie Wallin, Head Designer at Rowan white, fl uffy fi bres around the seed of the
Yarns says: “Plant yarns tend to be cooler cotton plant, in tropical and sub-tropical
to wear because they don’t have the scales regions around the world. The short fi bres
that animal hair has, which traps warm are harvested in the autumn and spun into a
air against the skin. Plant fi bres are also vast range of yarns.
shorter in length so they have to be spun Cotton is one of the most common fi bres
tighter, which makes the yarn quite heavy for yarns and every yarn company usually
in comparison to animal yarns. The key
quality of a plant-based yarn is the twist
– a high twist gives good stitch defi nition,
Patons Eco Cotton
which is important for crocheted and
100% certified
knitted projects. Most plant yarns also
organic cotton, 9
take colour well and the colour tends to be solid shades and 3
clearer and more saturated in quality.”
variegated shades,
Plant-based yarns are a popular choice
machine wash at
40°C, 50g, 130m,
for vegans and for many other crafters who
3.25mm hook,
Organic suffer with sensitive skin or allergies to
RRP £2.95, www.
cotton is soft
animal fi bres. These crafters have created a patonsyarns.com.
and ideal for
children.
growing demand for plant-based yarns and
in the last few years, yarn companies have
62 | INSIDE Crochet
IC3.feat.plant-based yarns.FINAL.indd 62 7/7/09 16:00:23
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