As I have been learning more about fiber and the production of it, I have shifted some of the choices I’m making. Most of these shifts are completely by choice, one that I can think of at the writing of this, wasn’t a choice but it is what started it all for me.
This journey, that is what it has been, a journey, has taken place over the course of the last ten or so years.
Let me back up a bit before that though. This first started in my Mom’s fiber journey, years and years ago before the average stitcher looked at the fiber content on the label for anything other than “does it match what I have at home?”
My Mom learned to crochet at a young age and has always been a crafter. I grew up with boxes of acrylic yarn in every closet in our apartment. We used it for everything, not just crocheting; there were no knitters in our home, yet. She made these great baskets from the commercial pickle jars she brought home from work. She had a friend who punched the holes, because the plastic was really thick, to attach the handles. The bottom cover was crocheted to fit the bottom of the jar and attached to the rim with more holes. Then she made pom poms to make the face and tail of a bunny. So adorable. I wish I had a photo.
She made A LOT of those. Cutting all the pom poms, fuzz everywhere.
In the mid 90s she started getting hives on her arms. It was a long process of elimination but eventually we figured out that it was the acrylic yarn causing the hives.
For those who don’t know acrylic is a petroleum based plastic. These types of plastics are present in so many places in our lives. My theory is that because of the high amount of exposure to these plastics in our daily environment our bodies are saying no more. I was a few years younger than my Mom was when the hives started on me; not my arms but my ears.
Mom made the switch to cotton, which worked out well for her, most of her doll clothes are made of cotton.
I had already started making the switch to cotton and wool, knowing that it was just a matter of time. I was slowly becoming a “yarn snob”. Not that it had to come from a yarn shop or that it couldn’t come from a big box store, just that it couldn’t have any acrylic in it.
That worked for a while, until about 3 years ago. Then I started having issues with super wash wool. I didn’t understand so I did some research and learned that the super wash process strips the scales off the fibers, I knew that, but then the fibers are coated in a polymer, plastic. Ah! So I have been moving away from super wash. I have one project left that I will finish. At this point I can wear it and use it as a blanket for example but when I work with it for more than one session, I can feel the prickling in my ears begin.
My choices are shifting again. Since I need to work with wool, not super wash wool I have been learning more about the wool industry. There is A LOT of American wool to be had. This falls into line with the life style I live as much as I can. I love to support mom and pop businesses, local artists, farmers and ranchers. American wool gives me the chance to do that and get a product I can use while being a good steward of this world we live in.
I am now more than a “yarn snob”. My daughter and I haven’t been able to come up with a label for it. As much as I have the control, I am choosing to buy American wool. If it is produced here, processed here, dyed here, even better.
I did NOT throw away the yarn that I could no longer use. I donated the acrylic and other synthetic yarns to the community stitching group I was part of at the time.
The super wash has been given to my daughter and her friends.
I have kept all other non super wool, no matter where it came from.
My current favorite yarn is a heavy lace weight from Mountain Meadow Wool. I’ll more about it in next week’s newsletter. Sign up here if you don’t want to miss that!
Happy Making!
Azariahs Fibre Arts 