Recycled yarn - King Cole

 Yarns are made using a variety of different types of fibres, from man made to natural they all have their advantages and disadvantages. Fibre artists will often pick one fibre source over another depending on a project they have in mind. If making potholders for example you would not be wanting to use an acrylic yarn especially if high heats are expected unless you don’t mind the yarn melting! However it is ideal for making garments as it generally has good after care when washing and drying. 

I have used quite a lot of different yarns over the years and like most, will have my favourites. From beautiful fluffy yarns that you can’t see the stitches to super chunky. I have experimented with t shirt yarn which looks great but is not conventional in its form. Ones that I have used have been from the selvedges of the material and curl inwards along the length. When unrolled it is much wider but flat instead of a tube shape. Although it has not been my favourite to use which is probably due to me not finding a suitable project yet, although I have seen some gorgeous images of baskets recently, I do like the concept behind it.

With that thought in mind I was intrigued when I came across a limited edition yarn made by King Cole which is marketed through the fact that they claim it is 100% recycled. Apparently the yarn is made purely from recycled fibres and then a certain palette of colours is chosen for the run. This run is not repeated therefore being a truly limited edition. This particular palette is gorgeous muted tones. I decided on getting a single ball in the shade of duck egg. I was very surprised at how soft it was and how well it worked up. I think we have in our minds that anything that is recycled and used in the textiles industry is a bit scratchy, and maybe a bit substandard when compared to from something made from the original source material. Those times are certainly heading towards being relegated to the history books. Steps are being made all the time to a more sustainable future and this is certainly a positive one. I of course had to make a cactus and am so pleased with the muted tones, from the colour of the body to the flowers and pom poms I think the colour choice is a pleasing one. I am now making more to go with it in different sizes along with some pumpkins. I can see me getting more of this in different colours before my local wool shop runs out. 


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