Greencraft and criteria

The CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) group that I've belonged to is very clear that local produce trumps organic produce in what farms are part of the CSA.  It's got me thinking about what trumps in my yarn hand.  And I promise not to continue the card metaphor.

I felt so good about weaving with yarn from Vermont Organic Fiber Company.  It was a 50-50% blend of organic Merino wool and organic cotton yarn.  It was soft and warm for baby blankets and mufflers.  Sustainability determined their price structure:  their goal was for participants at every stage of production - from shepherds to the spinning mill - to receive what they need to stay in business, which meant that organic did not cost more.  Unfortunately, they sold their O-Wool knitting yarn line and went out of business.


In Norte Chico (currently Peru) in 3000 - 1800 BCE, the Andeans were growing cotton in naturally colored pink, blue, and yellow.  I dream of yellow towels and baby blankets in traditional baby colors.  We now have organic naturally colored cotton in shades of brown and green. 

I understand that rayon is made from recycled bast fibers, so I like weaving with it.  Well, I'd probably like it even if it weren't recycled.  I'm neither a textile engineer or a chemist, but the processing the cotton, hemp, linen, jute, and such go through to become rayon must be amazing.  Rayon sparkles brilliantly, and none of the source fibers do. 

Bamboo also goes through chemical processes to transform the trees' pulp into the silky yarn with a marvelous sheen and hand.  Some producers use a more environmentally safe process than others.  The good news is that bamboo grows so fast that it's sustainable, but it's not organic or necessarily ecologically safe.

I live in North Carolina, and textiles are a major concern in our identity and our economy.  Maybe were is more accurate in our economy.  I like that I have a source for yarns that are still produced in North Carolina.  I've heard rumors that alpaca farmers in the Asheville area produce a fine weaving yarn, but I haven't been able to get any details or contact information. 

I just found out about silk that is harvested after the silkworms mature and leave their cocoons.  One producer is Ahimsa Silks (http://www.ahimsasilks.com); ahimsa means non-violent in Hindi .  They spin and weave the silk.  I'll have to look for a source for yarn so I can weave with a clear conscience! 

It'd probably be easier if I had one criteria that trumped all others.  Maybe Kermit is correct when he says "It's not easy being green."