Hi everyone! In lieu of a regular podcast episode, I'm uploading a bonus Ramble all about plant-based yarns and what to look for when you shop for them. I've chosen to do a little browsing at Amazon, Knit Picks, and Etsy as these are sites available to a lot of folks with yarns for those on a more modest budget, as well as more luxe options. Time stamps are available here to help you navigate this lengthier style of video: About Plant-Based Yarns and Things to Consider: 00:01:58 Amazon Browsing: 00:08:00 Knit Picks Browsing: 00:37:18 Etsy Browsing: 00:47:17 Ravelry Bundle: 00:54:50 A few things, plant-based yarns are out there in lots of places and from lots of retailers. Google "plant-based yarns" and you're bound to find something. This video is just a "starter course" on what to look for and things to consider. Like I mention here, read reviews (if they're available). I've provided links to sources I used when putting together this video. Feel free to read further about anything I mention here. Have a great day and I'll see you in the next one!
If you ever can buy LanaGrossa Meilenweit vegan, do it. Fot 400meter i pay 8 dollar in Europe. Its the most drapery cotton (with a bith poly) i ever used in 55 years.
I was amazed by your self control and not going down the rabbit hole of the non natural yarn. Any time I am shopping I start with yarn and next thing I know I am looking at lawn ornaments. 😂
Back when I was first learning to knit, I ambitiously made my husband a sweater with Sugar and Cream yarn. The color was gorgeous but one sleeve was about 2 inches longer. Also as the day grew longer, it stretched. A lot. By the end of the day, it was down to his knees😳 He was so proud and told everyone at work that I had made it lol. It was a good learning experience!
What valuable research. Some trivia for you: after World War One there were massive forest fires here in Northern California and to address this problem the Federal government imported eucalyptus trees from Australia to prevent the fires because their complex root system was believed to be a deterrent. Soldiers were sent to undertake this massive planting operation.What was unknown at the time was due to high concentrations of oils in the bark they were essentially planting exploding bombs which were fed by the massive amounts of shredding bark. Since the trees are not native to the US they are no longer planted in California. I am intrigued by the Devon based company that makes the tape yarn. Again my thanks.
I’m so glad! I know background music can be very distracting when it’s too loud (which doesn’t take much) so I’m happy this struck a good balance. That’s what I was aiming for. Thank you! ❤️
What a full video! I learned so much! Especially some of those plant based fiber terms. Thanks for all the research and time you put into this! And please keep doing the voodoo you do!!! ❤
Hemp! We need more hemp blend yarns. 1. Hemp “wears in” instead of wearing out. 2. It’s cooler and stronger than cotton. 3. It holds dye longer than other natural fibers, 4. It breathes and wicks moisture. 5. Unlike some viscose, no toxic chemicals or processes are used to create hemp yarns. And, for anyone concerned, it comes from a strain of hemp that does not contain thc or cbd (I don’t really care about that, but realize some do).
Yay plant fibers! Watched the ramble while working on a t-shirt with LB CoBoo. I just finished a tank top in Universal Yarns’ Bamboo Pop, also a cotton/bamboo blend. I love this fiber combo so much. The drape and the shine are slinkier than 100% cotton. Wanted to mention LB 24/7 Cotton, because their medium weight is a chainette that is stiffer and has none of the bounce of wool. Love it, but it will grip wooden needles and tire the hands if you’re a tight knitter. Once I adjusted things and used metal needles, the knitting went much more smoothly.
Thanks for your stellar video! I made notes, and sharing your video with my knitting friends. Your guidance on how to search for plant-based yarns on major websites is very valuable indeed!
Schachenmayr may be expensive b/c it is imported from Germany. In Germany, it is about 3 USD for 50g. Schachenmayr is located in the Black Forest and they produce really nice yarn - Regia is a super popular sock yarn here in Germany. Just FYI. 🙂
I have been using knitpicks yarn for the past 10 years. Billow is my favorite, but it is not as bulky as it says. It is extremely soft though. I really shouldn't watch this episode lol It is making me want to go and buy more yarn that I do not need. I think this is the most tempting video I have ever seen on yarn shopping reviews lol
So, about the Anne Brazilian yarn. It’s very fine, the biggest hook you can use is a 2mm, it’s a lace like project yarn. And Círculo is basically the best we have in Brazil in terms of yarns and tools. And getting anything else (ie imported) is pricey af. It’s the yarn I learned crochet on, and too thin for knitting.
Thank you for this. I live on the NC coast and our warm season is about 7 months. I realized after our unseasonably warm winter that I am not getting much wear with my wooly sweaters. I need more tees and light weight garments in my life.
Quince + Co. Willet cotton yarn is my ABSOLUTE go-to for my baby or soft drape wearables. It's probably the softest and easiest cotton I've ever used. It's a Maine based company, and it's from-scratch USA made!
Thanks for the cotton info. I'm lucky here in Minnesota we have a local yarn store that their mission was only to sell plant based yarn and they have been successful for about 4+ years. Yarn Tales 1.
I really enjoyed this shop along. I learned a lot more about the behavior of natural fibers from this! It would be super cool if you did a video discussing the more commonly used fibers and their behaviors/uses. It would be very helpful for someone who is finally ready to move away from basic acrylic into alternative fibers.
😊I literally gasped when we got to the tencel because I JUST ordered from her The Librarian 4 days ago!!!!!!! I am so glad you found her and I will totally rave I am sure when it arrives! Thanks for this in depth awesome explore! You are the best!
Made a Cumulus Tee by Petiteknit in knit picks Lindy Chain color Mist. It doesn’t split the way many cotton yarns do, for the reason you mentioned. It is a terrific wardrobe staple.
Such a fun video, and your self control is something to be marveled! I’m currently knitting the Anker’s Summer Shirt in Lion Brand Coboo and absolutely love it, and it’s easily found at your local Michael’s and Joann stores (coupons galore!). The sheen you see is actually from the bamboo content. Hope you’re having a lovely holiday weekend with your family! ❤
Yay, shout out to Treasure Goddess Yarns! A Friend & Indie Dyer here near Kansas City! This is her brand new line. Many are using it for the upcoming Marie Green 4 day knit along. I purchased the exact color you showed and am making a Summer Shawl/Scarf. Nice to work with. Looking lovely so far. Really enjoyed this super informative ramble on plant base fibers. Thank you!!
This is a great, informational overview. I have some truboo, I'll say it's definitely shiny and silky, I think it's mercerized but agree it doesn't say. I really like that thru hasn't an award tho, I'd heard that bamboo wasn't as environmentally good as one might expect, so I feel a bit better using it. ❤
Thank you for sharing! I've worked with several plant-based fibers for projects and enjoyed the change of pace/ feel of the fibers, but hadn't seen many on the ones you featured here. One drawback of plant fiber yarn is that because they don't stretch and bounce back, cables can be a nightmare of impossible to close holes. I completely scrapped a gorgeous project for that reason (and sadly, I was using the recommended yarn base!) Perhaps I'm not up to that level of skill, yet, but that experience taught me a lot about what to expect with plant fiber yarns. You're so wonderful to listen to! Thank you again!
I really enjoyed this video. The music in the background really made it 💯 for me lol…. and I learned a lot I am about to start a cotton bamboo top and I had it in my head that it was going to stretch not shrink so I think this video saved me a lot of time and heartache.
I’m so glad this was helpful and that you enjoyed the music. I had originally thought I would leave it out, but I kept going back to it feeling like something would be missing otherwise. Whenever I’m working on my computer or browsing in my office, I always have some music going in the background. It’s a vibe. ☺️
I just recently checked out the hobbi site and tried out their hobbi friends cotton 8/4 100% cotton yarn. It is a #1 super fine yarn 50g 174 yrds per ball/skein. I'm in love with it. I accidentally read the sizing wrong, but but fell in love. It's sooooo soft, has a beautiful drape on the blanket that i made. And the colors are just 😍🤩. I bought during their black friday sale and got each skien at $1.45. I believe the normal price is around $5 per skein. I think it is well worth it. I am making a basket style crochet stich pattern that does make the drape more stiff, so i really want to try this yarn in a more loose and light pattern. Definitely recommend as an option.
I am knitting with Coboo for a tee at the moment and so far I am liking the fabric it is creating. I also have KP Cotlin on hand which was supposed to be for one project that never got made (it happens) and some King Cole Bamboo Cotton that is waiting for me to start a cardigan. Since my LYS closed 😢, I shop online at Love Crafts, Knit Picks, or Webs.
This is pretty much how I go about online shopping, too. It was great to see how you discern and dissect the different reviews, as well. I think some of the lower star reviews are often ridiculous, and it's nice to see it's not just me. Thanks for another great video! Oh and PS - I've also been craving an acorn colored cardigan. I've been planning out my yarn and pattern for my birthday knitting project. 😊
Great video and info! Hope you do lots more plant based videos since its too hot here year round to do much with wool. Currently knitting the Edie Tee by Isabel Kramer out of Universal Bamboo Pop, 50% cotton, 50% bamboo. Loving the yarn and pattern so far! Thanks for the entertaining session!
I love your content so much! I really enjoyed this deep dive into an experienced knitter's thought processes when shopping for yarns. I would love to see an animal fiber rendition of this! Your content is highly valuable to me because it makes knitting more accessible to me as a beginner who likes to make informed decisions :)
Ooh I love Lion Brand 24/7 cotton! Lots of colors for a good price (especially when I buy it on sale at Joann’s). I do think it’s more of a DK yarn rather than worsted like they claim. I think this is because cotton tends to be heavier/yard and they’re basing the yarn weight on how many yards/100 grams. Which makes sense, but I tend to base it on stitches/inch because that’s what tells me if I’ll get gauge. Otherwise, I’m a big fan of Creative Linen from Rowan (ok, it’s a lot more expensive lol) which is 50/50 cotton and linen. Side note: every moment is an orange moment for me 😅
I really think that wool is only for very cold climates. We should embrace more plant fiber yarns and I want to see more patterns that look good in plant fiber yarns. Also i think cotton should be combined with a little bit of acrylic in order to be more lightweight.
One thing I found from less reputable companies is that they BRAND their product with a name that mimics the ingredient... so the lesson is really read the ingredient percentages. Example: Alpaca may only have 10% of Alpaca... but its called Alpaca Yarn. Read read read the fine print. 🙂
My anecdotal observation is that yarn with "alpaca" in the name is probably a 10-20% alpaca blend, while all the 100% alpaca yarns have artistic names which in no way suggest any relation to alpaca :/
This came at the perfect time. I was just complaining yesterday that I feel like so few people talk about plant-based fibers. I live in a warmer climate and love working with plant based fibers to stay cool and wear my knits year round. ❤🧶🌿 Such a wonderful video!
Hi Taylor I love the 24/7 cotton Made a runner for table and would be beautiful to make tanks with has a great sheen to it and lovely to knit Taylor .. lots of info on these cotton yarns Somethings I didn’t know Thank you so much Your pods are always great !!! Have a wonderful week ahead 😊💝🇨🇦
Thanks for the info! I feel like I have a lot of experience already with plant based fibers because I can't wear wool at all, not even merino, superwash, etc. I do most of my garment knitting in acrylic or plant fiber blends. But I still learned some interesting things from this and I definitely want to look into some of the yarns you showed. 😊
I am currently knitting the Corran Cardigan (you have it in your bundle) and I am using DROPS Bomull-Lin. This is a 53% cotton, 47% linen blend. I am enjoying it very much. It doesn't come in many colours (mainly naturals), but it is an economical choice. I knit the Ankers Summer Shirt in LB Cooboo and I love it!
As always ,extremely educational as I am starting a summer T in cotton, hemp and polyester. Thank you so much for your research. Your podcasts are always so helpful.❤
I bought the catania yarn earlier this year as a substitute for my patons grace beeswax yarn that I ran out of. I enjoyed the catania yarn and it matches very well the the beeswax on my butterfly top/garment.
Schachenmayr is actually a really popular garment brand here in Germany. I use catania for amigurumis. The brand is also well known for their sock yarns.
Schachenmayr is the same company that makes Regia... some of the best sock yarn in the world. I would not hesitate to buy their products. It's good stuff, works up easily, and wears like iron.
Awesome information here! I will be re-watching to check out some of these terrific yarns. Currently I'm on a "yarn diet", but will buy for specfic projects. Thank you for sharing!
I'm shocked! Catania ist a German Yarn. And we can get it in Germany from 2,10€ to 2,90€ per 50g. 2,10€ is about 2,30$ I think. Wow. I will never say, that wool and other fibers are too expensive for me Here in Germany.🙈
Hope you're having a nice weekend! I'm working on some summer knits and also going through an orange phase. Just finished the Shima Tee with terra cotta as my main color. I think it's the weather. I tend to go for brighter, warmer colors when it starts getting hot out.
My local craft store just added Lion Brand’s recycled cotton/poly yarn on cones. Re-up with 651yds. Couldn’t resist. Testing lacy designs for a summer shrug.
Thanks for this. I only started knitting with wool two years ago. Before that I only used acrylic that I could buy at Joann’s. I just bought some Coast from Holst which is 45% cotton and 55% wool. I going to make I loved seeing some other options and what they can be used for. Great episode. ❤
Hi Tayler - loved, loved, loved this video. Thank you so much for explaining all the plant fiber yarn. I’ve always wondered about the different cotton yarn, Pima, mercerized, etc. and you explained this so well. Another great informative video!! I hope you’re feeling better. 💕
I love that you did a video specifically about plantbased yarns! I started knitting only with cotton yarns because I believed I was allergic for sheep wool yarns (spoiler, I'm not, I'm just sensitive). I had a lot of problems determining the weight of cotton yarns. Not all online yarn shops that I shop at will mention the weight of a yarn (in the Netherlands there is a different way to mention what weight a yarn is, but I don't get that yet). Most fingering weight cotton are around 300 meter per 100 grams, which is more like a sport weight meter per 100 grams combination in my books. I now know that cotton yarn is a bit heavier than wool yarn and that that is the reason why there are slightly less meters per 100 grams in a ball. But, when it comes to cotton, I still feel safer when I'm able to feel the yarn before buying it. Also, some of the really thin cotton yarns are made more for loom knitting and just knitting or crocheting. I believe the Anne yarn is such a yarn. It is a little bit rougher to knit/crochet with.
Timely and great topic! I’m so not ready for hot 🥵 weather. I’ve knit many a “spa” bath/face cloth with Cotlin by Knit Picks but don’t think I would use it for a garment. It sheds fibers like crazy when you are knitting with it, and it has a fuzzy/halo appearance and fades even with washing in cold water. I do dry it in the dryer so maybe if knitting a garment with it if it’s hand washed and air dry every time it needs laundering. I’d certainly skip Truboo by Lion Brand for knitting garments. Frogging a project right now in it but mostly because I picked a pattern that’s not appropriate for the yarn. However I’m noticing that the fabric the yarn creates would be very prone to irredeemable and frequent snags so nope. Anyone in the continental USA want 8 skeins of it in the color Navy (not even a true navy, more of a marine lagoon blue vibe)?
Schachenmayr is the most known yarn company in Germany for high quality sock yarn. All yarns I ever bought from this company seemed to me as high quality.
Ok I honestly wasn't even thinking about knitting with plant fibers, but now im hooked. I have some Cotton et Lin in my stash that I bought on clearance that I may have to go ahead and make up into something lacy :) Thanks for the enabling lo.
Right?! Same. I mean, I’ve always appreciated them, but it’s this last two months where I’ve been really diving down that rabbit hole that I’ve started to sort of obsess. 😍😅
Thanks for the great video! I watched this while knitting on my Seaborn Tee by Herbgarden knitwear, for which I'm using a bamboo cotton blend yarn from Stylecraft (so soft!!)
This is so helpful! I will say that KP CotLin (8-10 yrs ago) was very rough, with pieces of fiber that cut into my finger as I knit a cardigan for my mom. I haven't purchased it since, so I don't know if it's changed. Years ago I crocheted a skirt in cotton. It was so heavy the skirt was pulled/warped out of shape. So I frogged it and made a lap blanket. I love the looks of so many tees and sweaters, but the busts of the models are a fraction of my bust size so nothing fits me the same way. It's so disappointing to have the fabric act differently than expected. I really wish more models were bustier so I would have a better idea and maybe not spend a lot of money and time on something I don't want to wear. (sorry for my ramble, but I had the thought so many times watching this video and seeing so many gorgeous yarns).
My favorite cotton yarn is a Butterfly Super 10 Mercerized cotton yarn, (I believe that it is made in Greece but I could be wrong). it is a DK weight. I am not really fond of knitting with cotton but this knit up almost like a wool. Seems like it was a cable type plies rather than simple singles simply plied together so you don't get the usual yarn splitting while knitting. not easy to find but a beautiful yarn
Great video! I’m personally not a fan of buying yarn off Amazon because it’s usually more expensive than buying from a craft store or a brand (ex: Lions brand) directly and the options just aren’t great. I find it interesting because I do like shopping on amazon for most things because it’s usually cheaper and shipping is fast but for some reason not for yarn.
I will say the knitpicks Coltlin is soft but has little pieces of the linen that stick out and they make it feel really really prickly in my experience
This is good to know. I wasn’t able to see that on the site very well, but I imagine if I had taken a deeper dive into the comments, folks would’ve mentioned it. That sort of fiber shedding can definitely be irritating.
LisaR : Bought Lindy chain during a sale and solved splitting issue for me ♥️Also , sweet cotton from Webs is Montague ( Valley yarn) 100 % organic 50 gm / 110 yds . Soft as butter and holds up beautifully- it's not thick / Thin , but plied with a fine strand you can't see... giving it a slight pearl strand look to unknit yarn .. once knit , it has a slight texture but even and absolutely gorgeous to work with and wear . Amazing for kids / babies / & blankes.. This comes from an "all about the wool" knitter :)
24/7 cotton is stiff and cordlike but fine for like bags, coasters, placemats, and maybe would be good for shawls and open weave cardigans? I Haven't tried washing it yet, I hear it softens after washing. Definitely not soft before washing. (this refers to the worsted, not DK)
Circulo cotton is nice. Economical- a good workhorse. At my LYS we have the non mercized. Good for non clothing items. Love Berroco Pima 100 everything.
I feel like I need to mention this after seeing several yarn reviews stating the "color of the yarn was not as advertised". I used to have trouble discerning what color of yarn I would get when ordering online, but it turns out it was the way colors were represented on my laptop screen (no matter what color balance settings I would use). I get much better color representation on my phone than I do on my laptop. Luckily, I know someone who had most of the specific yarns in their stash that I have not been burned with buyer's remorse too often. I would also recommend, If you find a specific yarn that you like, to invest in yarn color cards, if available. But, I wanted to mention sometimes it is a user problem and not always the ads...
Hi everyone! In lieu of a regular podcast episode, I'm uploading a bonus Ramble all about plant-based yarns and what to look for when you shop for them. I've chosen to do a little browsing at Amazon, Knit Picks, and Etsy as these are sites available to a lot of folks with yarns for those on a more modest budget, as well as more luxe options. Time stamps are available here to help you navigate this lengthier style of video:
About Plant-Based Yarns and Things to Consider: 00:01:58
Amazon Browsing: 00:08:00
Knit Picks Browsing: 00:37:18
Etsy Browsing: 00:47:17
Ravelry Bundle: 00:54:50
A few things, plant-based yarns are out there in lots of places and from lots of retailers. Google "plant-based yarns" and you're bound to find something. This video is just a "starter course" on what to look for and things to consider. Like I mention here, read reviews (if they're available). I've provided links to sources I used when putting together this video. Feel free to read further about anything I mention here.
Have a great day and I'll see you in the next one!
If you ever can buy LanaGrossa Meilenweit vegan, do it. Fot 400meter i pay 8 dollar in Europe. Its the most drapery cotton (with a bith poly) i ever used in 55 years.
This is one of your best Rambles!!! Lots of information and inspiration too! Learned alot!
I tried to go to your merch shop, but the link said the page was moved or deleted.
"Not unless something strikes my fancy." Is my personal shopping clause of doom! 😂 Something ALWAYS strikes my fancy.
I was amazed by your self control and not going down the rabbit hole of the non natural yarn. Any time I am shopping I start with yarn and next thing I know I am looking at lawn ornaments. 😂
LOL! Honestly, I was pretty amazed I didn't have you guys shopping for new patio furniture. 😂
Back when I was first learning to knit, I ambitiously made my husband a sweater with Sugar and Cream yarn. The color was gorgeous but one sleeve was about 2 inches longer. Also as the day grew longer, it stretched. A lot. By the end of the day, it was down to his knees😳 He was so proud and told everyone at work that I had made it lol. It was a good learning experience!
Awww what a sweet story! ❤️
What valuable research. Some trivia for you: after World War One there were massive forest fires here in Northern California and to address this problem the Federal government imported eucalyptus trees from Australia to prevent the fires because their complex root system was believed to be a deterrent. Soldiers were sent to undertake this massive planting operation.What was unknown at the time was due to high concentrations of oils in the bark they were essentially planting exploding bombs which were fed by the massive amounts of shredding bark. Since the trees are not native to the US they are no longer planted in California. I am intrigued by the Devon based company that makes the tape yarn. Again my thanks.
Very interesting. I always wondered why norcal has so many eucalyptus trees
Eucalyptus id all over So Cal, as well. Intended to help hold hills. Sadly, they have a very SHALLOW root system,
Coboo is very low twist so very very splitty. Extremely soft, I think the sheen is from the bamboo rayon content.
Music balance on this video was great! It wasn’t too loud and added to the mood!
I’m so glad! I know background music can be very distracting when it’s too loud (which doesn’t take much) so I’m happy this struck a good balance. That’s what I was aiming for. Thank you! ❤️
What a full video! I learned so much! Especially some of those plant based fiber terms. Thanks for all the research and time you put into this! And please keep doing the voodoo you do!!! ❤
Hobbii has an AMAZING selection of cotton yarns. Especially gradient cakes!
Hemp! We need more hemp blend yarns. 1. Hemp “wears in” instead of wearing out. 2. It’s cooler and stronger than cotton. 3. It holds dye longer than other natural fibers, 4. It breathes and wicks moisture. 5. Unlike some viscose, no toxic chemicals or processes are used to create hemp yarns. And, for anyone concerned, it comes from a strain of hemp that does not contain thc or cbd (I don’t really care about that, but realize some do).
Yay plant fibers! Watched the ramble while working on a t-shirt with LB CoBoo. I just finished a tank top in Universal Yarns’ Bamboo Pop, also a cotton/bamboo blend. I love this fiber combo so much. The drape and the shine are slinkier than 100% cotton. Wanted to mention LB 24/7 Cotton, because their medium weight is a chainette that is stiffer and has none of the bounce of wool. Love it, but it will grip wooden needles and tire the hands if you’re a tight knitter. Once I adjusted things and used metal needles, the knitting went much more smoothly.
Thanks for your stellar video! I made notes, and sharing your video with my knitting friends. Your guidance on how to search for plant-based yarns on major websites is very valuable indeed!
Schachenmayr may be expensive b/c it is imported from Germany. In Germany, it is about 3 USD for 50g. Schachenmayr is located in the Black Forest and they produce really nice yarn - Regia is a super popular sock yarn here in Germany. Just FYI. 🙂
Thank you for explaining all the different terminology used. It all makes much more sense now.😊
My pleasure Sandy!
Educational Rabbit Hole! I'm loving it. Very informative, as always. Thanks!
I have been using knitpicks yarn for the past 10 years. Billow is my favorite, but it is not as bulky as it says. It is extremely soft though. I really shouldn't watch this episode lol It is making me want to go and buy more yarn that I do not need. I think this is the most tempting video I have ever seen on yarn shopping reviews lol
So, about the Anne Brazilian yarn. It’s very fine, the biggest hook you can use is a 2mm, it’s a lace like project yarn. And Círculo is basically the best we have in Brazil in terms of yarns and tools. And getting anything else (ie imported) is pricey af. It’s the yarn I learned crochet on, and too thin for knitting.
Schachenmayr is one of the most common brands for yarn in Germany 😊
Good to know!
I wanted to comment the same 😅
Thanks for talking about cotton yarns. I can only use cotton and cotton blends. Wools make me turn red and itch.
My pleasure! There’s soo much out there to explore and enjoy. ❤️
This was great! Thanks so much for all the incredible info. I actually took notes lol 😂
My pleasure Amanda! I’m so glad this was helpful. ❤️
Keeper info. I needed the plant info. Thanks for sharing.
love the shopping tips. You deliver info in such a fair, fun and honest manner.
Thank you for this. I live on the NC coast and our warm season is about 7 months. I realized after our unseasonably warm winter that I am not getting much wear with my wooly sweaters. I need more tees and light weight garments in my life.
My pleasure! Thank you for watching Sara. I hope you can take some useful info away for future reference. ❤️
Quince + Co. Willet cotton yarn is my ABSOLUTE go-to for my baby or soft drape wearables. It's probably the softest and easiest cotton I've ever used. It's a Maine based company, and it's from-scratch USA made!
Agree!
Thanks for the cotton info. I'm lucky here in Minnesota we have a local yarn store that their mission was only to sell plant based yarn and they have been successful for about 4+ years. Yarn Tales 1.
I'm in Minnesota, International Falls, and would be interested in knowing where that MN yarn shop is.
Thank you, I loved this. It was like shopping with someone "in the know"!
I really enjoyed this shop along. I learned a lot more about the behavior of natural fibers from this! It would be super cool if you did a video discussing the more commonly used fibers and their behaviors/uses. It would be very helpful for someone who is finally ready to move away from basic acrylic into alternative fibers.
😊I literally gasped when we got to the tencel because I JUST ordered from her The Librarian 4 days ago!!!!!!! I am so glad you found her and I will totally rave I am sure when it arrives! Thanks for this in depth awesome explore! You are the best!
I’m a weaver in addition to knitting. Thank you for showing some coned yarn and giving me lots of weaving ideas.
Made a Cumulus Tee by Petiteknit in knit picks Lindy Chain color Mist. It doesn’t split the way many cotton yarns do, for the reason you mentioned. It is a terrific wardrobe staple.
Thank you for your research and this video. Great info
Oh... also... i have shopped online with a company called Ice Yarn in Turkey... and it was amazing service and the yarn was great quality.
I have knit with hemp yarn and yes it is stiff. It does get softer with every wash just like linen. Stitch definition is great with hemp too.
Such a fun video, and your self control is something to be marveled!
I’m currently knitting the Anker’s Summer Shirt in Lion Brand Coboo and absolutely love it, and it’s easily found at your local Michael’s and Joann stores (coupons galore!). The sheen you see is actually from the bamboo content. Hope you’re having a lovely holiday weekend with your family! ❤
Yay, shout out to Treasure Goddess Yarns! A Friend & Indie Dyer here near Kansas City! This is her brand new line. Many are using it for the upcoming Marie Green 4 day knit along. I purchased the exact color you showed and am making a Summer Shawl/Scarf. Nice to work with. Looking lovely so far.
Really enjoyed this super informative ramble on plant base fibers. Thank you!!
This is a great, informational overview. I have some truboo, I'll say it's definitely shiny and silky, I think it's mercerized but agree it doesn't say. I really like that thru hasn't an award tho, I'd heard that bamboo wasn't as environmentally good as one might expect, so I feel a bit better using it. ❤
Thank you for sharing! I've worked with several plant-based fibers for projects and enjoyed the change of pace/ feel of the fibers, but hadn't seen many on the ones you featured here. One drawback of plant fiber yarn is that because they don't stretch and bounce back, cables can be a nightmare of impossible to close holes. I completely scrapped a gorgeous project for that reason (and sadly, I was using the recommended yarn base!) Perhaps I'm not up to that level of skill, yet, but that experience taught me a lot about what to expect with plant fiber yarns. You're so wonderful to listen to! Thank you again!
I really enjoyed this video. The music in the background really made it 💯 for me lol…. and I learned a lot I am about to start a cotton bamboo top and I had it in my head that it was going to stretch not shrink so I think this video saved me a lot of time and heartache.
I’m so glad this was helpful and that you enjoyed the music. I had originally thought I would leave it out, but I kept going back to it feeling like something would be missing otherwise. Whenever I’m working on my computer or browsing in my office, I always have some music going in the background. It’s a vibe. ☺️
Thanks for all the information ℹn your video today. It was very useful. ❤
Wow. Thanks for all the research. This video is invaluable. ❤
I just recently checked out the hobbi site and tried out their hobbi friends cotton 8/4 100% cotton yarn. It is a #1 super fine yarn 50g 174 yrds per ball/skein. I'm in love with it. I accidentally read the sizing wrong, but but fell in love. It's sooooo soft, has a beautiful drape on the blanket that i made. And the colors are just 😍🤩. I bought during their black friday sale and got each skien at $1.45. I believe the normal price is around $5 per skein. I think it is well worth it. I am making a basket style crochet stich pattern that does make the drape more stiff, so i really want to try this yarn in a more loose and light pattern. Definitely recommend as an option.
I am knitting with Coboo for a tee at the moment and so far I am liking the fabric it is creating. I also have KP Cotlin on hand which was supposed to be for one project that never got made (it happens) and some King Cole Bamboo Cotton that is waiting for me to start a cardigan. Since my LYS closed 😢, I shop online at Love Crafts, Knit Picks, or Webs.
Thank you so much for this! I look forward to your upcoming hand dyed plant based yarns (especially if they're dark and moody).
This is pretty much how I go about online shopping, too. It was great to see how you discern and dissect the different reviews, as well. I think some of the lower star reviews are often ridiculous, and it's nice to see it's not just me. Thanks for another great video! Oh and PS - I've also been craving an acorn colored cardigan. I've been planning out my yarn and pattern for my birthday knitting project. 😊
Great video and info! Hope you do lots more plant based videos since its too hot here year round to do much with wool. Currently knitting the Edie Tee by Isabel Kramer out of Universal Bamboo Pop, 50% cotton, 50% bamboo. Loving the yarn and pattern so far! Thanks for the entertaining session!
I definitely think I will be. All this research has really turned me onto plant based yarns. ❤️🌱
I love your content so much! I really enjoyed this deep dive into an experienced knitter's thought processes when shopping for yarns. I would love to see an animal fiber rendition of this! Your content is highly valuable to me because it makes knitting more accessible to me as a beginner who likes to make informed decisions :)
Ooh I love Lion Brand 24/7 cotton! Lots of colors for a good price (especially when I buy it on sale at Joann’s). I do think it’s more of a DK yarn rather than worsted like they claim. I think this is because cotton tends to be heavier/yard and they’re basing the yarn weight on how many yards/100 grams. Which makes sense, but I tend to base it on stitches/inch because that’s what tells me if I’ll get gauge.
Otherwise, I’m a big fan of Creative Linen from Rowan (ok, it’s a lot more expensive lol) which is 50/50 cotton and linen.
Side note: every moment is an orange moment for me 😅
I really think that wool is only for very cold climates. We should embrace more plant fiber yarns and I want to see more patterns that look good in plant fiber yarns. Also i think cotton should be combined with a little bit of acrylic in order to be more lightweight.
One thing I found from less reputable companies is that they BRAND their product with a name that mimics the ingredient... so the lesson is really read the ingredient percentages. Example: Alpaca may only have 10% of Alpaca... but its called Alpaca Yarn. Read read read the fine print. 🙂
100%.
My anecdotal observation is that yarn with "alpaca" in the name is probably a 10-20% alpaca blend, while all the 100% alpaca yarns have artistic names which in no way suggest any relation to alpaca :/
This came at the perfect time. I was just complaining yesterday that I feel like so few people talk about plant-based fibers. I live in a warmer climate and love working with plant based fibers to stay cool and wear my knits year round. ❤🧶🌿 Such a wonderful video!
So I’m not the only one who noticed this! I love merino but OMG you can’t wear a merino camisole with 30 degrees (celsius), it’s crazy!
Excellent resource!! I want to make a linen top for the summer!! Thank you!
Absolutely LOVE the window shoppings with you haha as a beginner this is so cool... thank you for all your videos!!!
Hi Taylor
I love the 24/7 cotton
Made a runner for table and would be beautiful to make tanks with has a great sheen to it and lovely to knit
Taylor .. lots of info on these cotton yarns
Somethings I didn’t know
Thank you so much
Your pods are always great !!!
Have a wonderful week ahead 😊💝🇨🇦
Oh so excited about this episode! ❤
I'm glad! I hope it comes in handy. ❤️
Thanks for the info! I feel like I have a lot of experience already with plant based fibers because I can't wear wool at all, not even merino, superwash, etc. I do most of my garment knitting in acrylic or plant fiber blends. But I still learned some interesting things from this and I definitely want to look into some of the yarns you showed. 😊
Lots of beautiful yarn!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🧶
I am currently knitting the Corran Cardigan (you have it in your bundle) and I am using DROPS Bomull-Lin. This is a 53% cotton, 47% linen blend. I am enjoying it very much. It doesn't come in many colours (mainly naturals), but it is an economical choice. I knit the Ankers Summer Shirt in LB Cooboo and I love it!
This is great to know! A good cotton linen blend is really so nice. ❤️
Thank you for this very interesting video! It highlights my night! ❤
It's my pleasure Yasmine! Thank you for watching!
For splitting, I have found that changing my tools helps with that. Specifically, bamboo tools tend to work best, for me, with "splitty" yarns.
Great advice here!
WOW!! Amazing research by you! Great information and links for us to use. I thank you so much for this ramble.
As always ,extremely educational as I am starting a summer T in cotton, hemp and polyester. Thank you so much for your research. Your podcasts are always so helpful.❤
24/7 yarn is my favorite to crochet bag’s. I have crochet tops too. It holds up really good. The stitch definition in crochet is really nice.
I bought the catania yarn earlier this year as a substitute for my patons grace beeswax yarn that I ran out of. I enjoyed the catania yarn and it matches very well the the beeswax on my butterfly top/garment.
Schachenmayr is actually a really popular garment brand here in Germany. I use catania for amigurumis. The brand is also well known for their sock yarns.
Catania really is a classic here in Germany. I already used it as a kid 30 years ago.
Schachenmayr is the same company that makes Regia... some of the best sock yarn in the world. I would not hesitate to buy their products. It's good stuff, works up easily, and wears like iron.
Awesome information here! I will be re-watching to check out some of these terrific yarns. Currently I'm on a "yarn diet", but will buy for specfic projects. Thank you for sharing!
Schachenmeyr is a pretty old and well kown yarn brand in Germany. They are known for their sock wool
I'm shocked! Catania ist a German Yarn. And we can get it in Germany from 2,10€ to 2,90€ per 50g. 2,10€ is about 2,30$ I think. Wow. I will never say, that wool and other fibers are too expensive for me Here in Germany.🙈
Hope you're having a nice weekend!
I'm working on some summer knits and also going through an orange phase. Just finished the Shima Tee with terra cotta as my main color. I think it's the weather. I tend to go for brighter, warmer colors when it starts getting hot out.
My local craft store just added Lion Brand’s recycled cotton/poly yarn on cones. Re-up with 651yds. Couldn’t resist. Testing lacy designs for a summer shrug.
Ooo yes! Great find! ❤️❤️
Schachenmeyer is a popular brand here in Germany. Although I wouldn’t recommend the sock yarn. It’s terribly scratchy. The Catania I buy regularly.
Thanks for this. I only started knitting with wool two years ago. Before that I only used acrylic that I could buy at Joann’s. I just bought some Coast from Holst which is 45% cotton and 55% wool. I going to make I loved seeing some other options and what they can be used for. Great episode. ❤
I'm going down the Peacock Yarn rabbit hole....thanks!
Hi Tayler - loved, loved, loved this video. Thank you so much for explaining all the plant fiber yarn. I’ve always wondered about the different cotton yarn, Pima, mercerized, etc. and you explained this so well. Another great informative video!! I hope you’re feeling better. 💕
Great informative video. Thank you!
❤what a great informative video!❤
I love that you did a video specifically about plantbased yarns! I started knitting only with cotton yarns because I believed I was allergic for sheep wool yarns (spoiler, I'm not, I'm just sensitive). I had a lot of problems determining the weight of cotton yarns. Not all online yarn shops that I shop at will mention the weight of a yarn (in the Netherlands there is a different way to mention what weight a yarn is, but I don't get that yet). Most fingering weight cotton are around 300 meter per 100 grams, which is more like a sport weight meter per 100 grams combination in my books. I now know that cotton yarn is a bit heavier than wool yarn and that that is the reason why there are slightly less meters per 100 grams in a ball. But, when it comes to cotton, I still feel safer when I'm able to feel the yarn before buying it.
Also, some of the really thin cotton yarns are made more for loom knitting and just knitting or crocheting. I believe the Anne yarn is such a yarn. It is a little bit rougher to knit/crochet with.
Timely and great topic! I’m so not ready for hot 🥵 weather. I’ve knit many a “spa” bath/face cloth with Cotlin by Knit Picks but don’t think I would use it for a garment. It sheds fibers like crazy when you are knitting with it, and it has a fuzzy/halo appearance and fades even with washing in cold water. I do dry it in the dryer so maybe if knitting a garment with it if it’s hand washed and air dry every time it needs laundering. I’d certainly skip Truboo by Lion Brand for knitting garments. Frogging a project right now in it but mostly because I picked a pattern that’s not appropriate for the yarn. However I’m noticing that the fabric the yarn creates would be very prone to irredeemable and frequent snags so nope. Anyone in the continental USA want 8 skeins of it in the color Navy (not even a true navy, more of a marine lagoon blue vibe)?
Great information here. Thank you for sharing this!
I’ve purchased CotLin but haven’t tried them yet. Good to know, thx!
Schachenmayr is the most known yarn company in Germany for high quality sock yarn. All yarns I ever bought from this company seemed to me as high quality.
In addition to that: If you want to watch someone work with Catania, Nimble Needles here on UA-cam uses it for his tutorials as far as I know
Ok I honestly wasn't even thinking about knitting with plant fibers, but now im hooked. I have some Cotton et Lin in my stash that I bought on clearance that I may have to go ahead and make up into something lacy :) Thanks for the enabling lo.
Right?! Same. I mean, I’ve always appreciated them, but it’s this last two months where I’ve been really diving down that rabbit hole that I’ve started to sort of obsess. 😍😅
Bamboo has shine and silky feeling.
Thanks for the great video! I watched this while knitting on my Seaborn Tee by Herbgarden knitwear, for which I'm using a bamboo cotton blend yarn from Stylecraft (so soft!!)
This is so helpful! I will say that KP CotLin (8-10 yrs ago) was very rough, with pieces of fiber that cut into my finger as I knit a cardigan for my mom. I haven't purchased it since, so I don't know if it's changed.
Years ago I crocheted a skirt in cotton. It was so heavy the skirt was pulled/warped out of shape. So I frogged it and made a lap blanket.
I love the looks of so many tees and sweaters, but the busts of the models are a fraction of my bust size so nothing fits me the same way. It's so disappointing to have the fabric act differently than expected. I really wish more models were bustier so I would have a better idea and maybe not spend a lot of money and time on something I don't want to wear. (sorry for my ramble, but I had the thought so many times watching this video and seeing so many gorgeous yarns).
My favorite cotton yarn is a Butterfly Super 10 Mercerized cotton yarn, (I believe that it is made in Greece but I could be wrong). it is a DK weight. I am not really fond of knitting with cotton but this knit up almost like a wool. Seems like it was a cable type plies rather than simple singles simply plied together so you don't get the usual yarn splitting while knitting. not easy to find but a beautiful yarn
I used Shine (orchid) with your FFTP mohair and loved how it came out for a pullover
Great video! I’m personally not a fan of buying yarn off Amazon because it’s usually more expensive than buying from a craft store or a brand (ex: Lions brand) directly and the options just aren’t great. I find it interesting because I do like shopping on amazon for most things because it’s usually cheaper and shipping is fast but for some reason not for yarn.
Hi Missus Earl. I did not know that cotton yarns can shrink! Thanks for the heads up.
You can buy Queensland yarn at some LYS in USA I have purchased some here in MA. Thanks for the yarn road trip I enjoyed the ride.💕. Iris
I will say the knitpicks Coltlin is soft but has little pieces of the linen that stick out and they make it feel really really prickly in my experience
This is good to know. I wasn’t able to see that on the site very well, but I imagine if I had taken a deeper dive into the comments, folks would’ve mentioned it. That sort of fiber shedding can definitely be irritating.
LisaR : Bought Lindy chain during a sale and solved splitting issue for me ♥️Also , sweet cotton from Webs is Montague ( Valley yarn) 100 % organic 50 gm / 110 yds . Soft as butter and holds up beautifully- it's not thick / Thin , but plied with a fine strand you can't see... giving it a slight pearl strand look to unknit yarn .. once knit , it has a slight texture but even and absolutely gorgeous to work with and wear . Amazing for kids / babies / & blankes.. This comes from an "all about the wool" knitter :)
Great podcast thank you
Thank you Joan!
Love this episode! I made a misurina with lindy chain and it turned out beautiful. Love this yarn, wish it came in a heavier weight.
If you do end up buying any of these yarns please do an update on them once you’ve seen them in person.
24/7 cotton is stiff and cordlike but fine for like bags, coasters, placemats, and maybe would be good for shawls and open weave cardigans? I Haven't tried washing it yet, I hear it softens after washing. Definitely not soft before washing. (this refers to the worsted, not DK)
Beautiful options!!
Hi! Circulo si a cotton company from Brazil is the Best cotton I ever knitt ,but I m from Argentina so I truly recomend them .
Circulo cotton is nice. Economical- a good workhorse. At my LYS we have the non mercized. Good for non clothing items. Love Berroco Pima 100 everything.
I feel like I need to mention this after seeing several yarn reviews stating the "color of the yarn was not as advertised". I used to have trouble discerning what color of yarn I would get when ordering online, but it turns out it was the way colors were represented on my laptop screen (no matter what color balance settings I would use). I get much better color representation on my phone than I do on my laptop. Luckily, I know someone who had most of the specific yarns in their stash that I have not been burned with buyer's remorse too often. I would also recommend, If you find a specific yarn that you like, to invest in yarn color cards, if available. But, I wanted to mention sometimes it is a user problem and not always the ads...
Great job
I’ve found in a few of the cotton projects I’ve made that it doesn’t t bounce back so you have to be very careful in planning