Knit green! Rustic yarn from nature.
Hello friends,
Sometimes, inspiration comes from unexpected places. That's exactly what happened to me this week while searching for yarn for breezy summer knits. My quest took a surprising turn... leading me to hemp yarn! 🌿
Hemp is one of the fastest-growing plants on earth and doesn’t need a lot of water (unlike cotton) or harsh chemicals. It’s incredibly eco-friendly and seemed like a perfect match for sustainable knitting dreams, right? Well, almost.
The dream of creating airy, oh-so-eco-friendly garments needed a bit of rethinking. Turns out, hemp yarn, while charmingly rustic, is a bit too stiff and feels more like twine than the yarn we usually use.
Disappointed but not defeated, I delved deeper, and a world of possibilities unfolded. Hemp yarn, it turns out, is perfect for knitted accessories.
📔 For example, the Ilene Bag pattern, a free and beginner-friendly design, immediately caught my eye. It's the perfect summer project, and a haven for leftover yarn.
I was even tempted to start right away (two skeins of Drops Belle from my Zephyr sweater were calling my name), but then I remembered the unfinished Mellow Mood video tutorial. Priorities, right? 🙂
Here's what makes this bag the perfect project:
Only 100 grams of plant-based yarn is needed! You can use leftover DK weight yarn, ideal for stash-busting. Check out free yarn guide on my website.
Nearly 4,000 inspiring projects on Ravelry for endless creativity
This project is the perfect gateway to exploring hemp yarn! Or even nettle yarn! (We'll get to this very soon.)
Video: How to Knit a MARKET BAG (so cute and practical!)
If you’re like me and prefer one video tutorial over ten PDF patterns, here’s a cute market bag (Ravelry) with the same lace stitch from Sheep & Stitch. It’s larger and has two handles.
🧶 So, what hemp yarn can we try? My search for the best quality hemp yarn led me to some incredible resources.
First, I found a softer option with a cotton blend: Buddy hemp yarn by Wool and the Gang.
Composition: 55% Hemp, 45% Organic Cotton
Yarn weight: 100g (yardage is 100g=190 yds/174m)
While the website showcases clothing options made with this yarn, I recommend starting with a single skein for a bag project to assess the texture and experience before diving into a top.
✨ For the adventurous knitters among us: Ora Fabulous Fibres is a treasure trove waiting to be explored!
They offer a wide variety of other sustainable fibers beyond hemp, perfect for those who love to experiment with their craft. I was amazed by their yarn options like Sasawashi Bamboo, Linen Paper yarn, and even Banana Silk! Imagine the unique and eco-friendly projects you could create!
Thinking about a bag? Here are my row yarn picks from Ora Fabulous Fibres:
Hemp yarn
Nettle yarn
This store is located in Australia, but they ship worldwide. They also have a store on Etsy (with over 10,000 sales and 1,900 reviews) if you'd like to read feedback from other crafters (but keep in mind that shipping is cheaper on their website).
This unusual plant-based yarn may not be the hero we initially envisioned, but with a bit of exploration and an open mind, it can lead us to a place of creative fulfillment and sustainable wonder.
❤️ I hope this newsletter sparks your inspiration for summer knits with a touch of green!
Warm regards,
Julia Piro
Knitwear Designer & Esenotes Curator
P.S. Looking for even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram or Facebook!
