Ideal Bite

in defense of the comment that the bamboo yarn is made in china: it makes sense that the spinning of the yarn takes place where the base material comes from (china). since so many factories are there, the yarn is just knit locally, saving fuel transporting it somewhere else.

I was interested in the pattern book highlighted on your site today; however, I was disappointed to find that the link is to Amazon.com and I no longer support that site. Are you aware that they sell magazines and books on animal fighting, as well as leg hold traps. Any business that puts its bottom line above the suffering of animals should not, in my opinion, be supported in any way.

Ditto on the Bamboo yarn comment above...we should be encouraging local production of products, especially when in China. I am the first to say that there is an issue with all the products made in china that originate elsewhere, but to label a 'suggestion' 'but it is made in China' is just a bit mean and focuses on the wrong thing. You could have easily turned it into a positive in say, "and this is one thing we realize is best produced in China given it is a natural crop for their country." Just my two cents (of bamboo :) )

As for local organic yarn: right here in Bozeman we have 13 Mile Lamb and Wool. Becky raises the sheep, shears them and processes the raw wool into yarn just 13 miles from downtown Bozeman. How's that for lessening your carbon footprint? 13 Mile yarn is available throughout the country. If you can't find it at your lys, contact Stix, Bozeman's yarn local yarn store, to order the vegetable dyed, predator-friendly, organic yarn- (406)556-5786

I just started knitting and have been looking for affordable eco-yarns so I was super excited to see this tip. I want to make a throw for my brother from hemp yarn - never used it, not finding much of a selection either...anyone have tips? Thanks!

It's a great time to be an eco-friendly knitter. There's a huge variety of wonderful yarns available. I personally can't sing the praises enough of the Blue Sky Alpaca or South West Trading Company's Soysilk and other eco-friendly yarns. There's all kinds of yarn available; organic cotton, wool, alpaca, recycled silk... in less traditional veins, there's also bamboo, soy fibers, banana fibers, seaweed fibers, and dozens of blends and fair trade options. It's a great time to be a knitter or crocheter!

Your ideas are interesting, but like much of the eco community your "target group" seem to be single, affluent, young people. Telling me to get a $9 - $17 ball of yarn is like telling me to fly. If you know of any eco sites for working class families please let me know. You won't help the earth if you only talk to your friends at Starbucks!

Ayesha, leaving aside the fact that readers here probably patronize their locally owned independent coffee store and not a corporate chain like Starbucks, and leaving aside the fact that dishing stereotypes and insults is probably not the best way to elicit helpful advice, here is an economical and eco-friendly tip for knitters on a budget: Recycle wool from old sweaters. Your local thrift shop or salvation army will likely have plenty of wool and even cashmere sweaters for only a few bucks each. Carefully unravelled, these sweaters (especially the man-sized ones) yield plenty of wool for your new knits and allow you to get new life out of old fiber that (in the case of torn or out-of-fashion sweaters) might otherwise end up in the trash. By creating demand for organic and fair-trade fibers, single and/or affluent people are helping to expand availability of pesticide- and cruelty-free products and ultimately lower the prices for everyone. For my part, I will continue to forego other, more ecologically harmful luxuries (such as children) so that I can afford to betake my single, cash-strapped, working-class ass down to the local organic cotton merchant and spend a few bucks on something I believe in.

While I think it is fantastic that environmentally conscious products are becoming available EGAD, who can afford this stuff? $17 for a skein of yarn. When a sweater probably takes several skeins, and then figure the labor to crochet/knit the item ... most of us do not have that much disposable income, and since I can't give my kids back, I would like to teach them how to be ecologically responsible, but not at the expense of having food to eat. Even if I were single and responsible for no one other than myself, couldn't do it. I live simply, so it isn't like I choose to have some gas guzzling, trendy vehicle with payments outside of my income bracket so I can't affort to pay a "few" extra bucks for yarn. The only place left to skimp is our food bill (which is sizabely smaller than most families our size that still manage to have food on the table, anyway) I would love to see how selling overpriced goods creates a reduction in price for the future? Granted I may occasionally lack vision, but how many lifetimes will it take before this "reduction" happens and how many households will continue to use products that are not conscientious because of this apparent elitist attitude, that makes good choices seemingly out of bounds for any person who thinks on a practical level. Having items available for a small percentage of people that are environmentally conscious is like moving the ocean with an eyedropper. It is not until change can happen on a massive level will these options have any effect on the footprints we leave this place. Further, Jo, it is rather arrogant to assume that the readers here only do what you do. We come in all flavors. It is not just a core group of who care about the earth. In fact, I would think that those you seem to have the most contempt for have even greater vested interest in preserving the planet for the future. So step off your high horse and lets work together in a way that can allow all people with an interest to make their contributions as they can. I hope this newsletter will broaden its scope to fill the cap, as there are dozens and dozens of sites on the net that only cater to the elite. But the beauty of the internet is that behind the type can be anyone from any walk of life. If the creators wish to really make an impact then they can stop preaching to the choir and be of true service to their fellow world citizens.

I'm enjoying the drama and all...but seriously, does anyone know anything about hemp yarn or not?