Ecological Knitting

For my work I do alot of reading on environmental protection and I read alot about mom’s and their concern about wanting to raise their children in a non-toxic environment.  I think the growing rate of autism and asthma, the influx of toxic toys coming from China, and high levels of mercury in fish,  in particular, are big scarry issues that mom’s worry about most.  Now there are some great websites out there to help you navigate through these concerns, supporting you in making choices for your family to help keep them safe and healthy.  Some of my favorites are mommyfootprint.com, SafeCosmetics.org, HealthyChild.org, Eco Fabulous, One Million Acts of Green, and
GreenMomsCarnival.

There are also some great books that I highly recommend: Cradle to Cradle, Hot, Flat and Crowded, and The Necessary Revolution.

As a crafter, there are many ways you can reduce your carbon footprint.  Try to source yarn made locally, naturally dyed yarns, and organic yarns whenever possible.  I’ve tried a few organic yarns and so far my favorites are Blue Sky Skinny Organic (comes in three shades of naturally ocurring colors), Blue Sky Skinny Organic Dyed (made with low impact dyes),  and Sublime Organic Cotton DK.

Knitter Magazine (Issue 5) contained an excellent article on “How to be an Ethical Knitter” by Lucy Siegle.  Here are some of her suggestions:

1.) Fighting Throw-Away Fashion:
Two million tons of textiles are sent to UK landfill sites each year, knitting is the perfect antidote to this fast-fashion culture.

2.) Question the Idea that Wool is a Natural Fiber
“…conventional yarn processing uses a host of synthetic chemicals and polluting processes including alkaline baths to remove grease, acid baths, anti-shrink processes, bleaching, dyeing, right through to finishing processes that can incorporate moth-proofing and even flame retardancy.  Add into that heady mix the fact that sheep are routinely dipped in organophosophate pesticides, and the perception of wool as a ‘natural’ fabric becomes laughable.”

3.) Beware of Chemical Cocktails and the Impact on Human Health
“…..many people are worried about the potential toxic transfer from yarns to human skin, and possibly into the bloodstream.  This remains an under-researched area.”  Some people think you eat what you wear; you drink what you put onto your skin.  Items made with organic volatile compounds can off-gas, which you take into your body through the air you breath.  Containers like plastic bottles are made with dangerous chemicals which can leach into the water which you drink.  If in doubt, choose more natural and if possible, 100% certified organic alternatives.

4.) Look to Third Party Certification
Greenwashing is a common problem, don’t rely on a firm’s own self certification process.  GOTS or the Global Organic Textile Standards is the gold standard in organic certification.  GOTS certification means that organic practices are followed throughout the manufacturing process, not just in the way the fiber is grown.

5.) Eco-Wool is not the same as Organic Wool
“Yarns that have certain eco merits – low impact production or from sustainable herd, but cannot lay claim to being organic are classified as ‘eco wool’.

6.) Knitting with Plant Based Yarns – a Cautionary Tale
Lenpur (made from tree bark) has been dubbed the ‘new vegetable cashmere’.  Milk yarns, and bamboo also offer silk like softness.  Bamboo is now referred to as the current “eco star fiber” because it grows rapidly and is an easily renewable resource (as opposed to petroleum based yarns which take hundreds of years to degrade).  However, it all depends on the processing…..”the vast majority is processed abroad – mainly in the Far East – using the same highly polluting chemicals used to produce viscose.”

Please share your ideas here so others can learn and together we can work to restore the health of our planet!