“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
― Confucius

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In today’s email:

• Knitspiration: Why hemp is great for warm weather knits
• Stitchionary: An look into the bird's eye
• Pattern Pick: This bag is perfect for hemp yarn
• PLUS: The perfect gift, bird words, and more

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Disclaimer: This newsletter may contain sponsored ads and affiliate links.
When you buy using them, you support our work here at The Yarnist, as we get a small commission.

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💡 Knitspiration

🌿 Hemp Yarn: The *Other* Plant Fiber

We've discussed cotton, linen, and bamboo, but there are other plant fibers that are used for yarn.

Today we're talking about that *other* plant used for recreation.

You don't smoke it, but it can still be a lot of fun to use.

It's hemp, and it's a bit of a wonder plant. Here's why...

What is Hemp?

Hemp is a botanical class of Cannabis sativa strain grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use. While it comes from the same family as Marijuana it generally contains such small amounts of THC that there is little to no psychoactive effect.

Instead hemp plants have been used for textiles going back 50,000 years.

It's one of the fastest growing plants on earth and has been turned into everything from paper (including the Gutenberg Bible), rope, clothing, and animal feed.

Hemp is processed in a similar way to linen and the fibers can be spun into something knit-able.

Is hemp really eco-friendly?

As mentioned before, hemp is one of the fastest growing plants on Earth.

It doesn't require much water or pesticide in order to grow.

On top of that, it is processed into usable fiber without any harsh chemicals.

So yes, it's pretty darn sustainable!

What are the advantages of hemp yarn?

Hemp shares many of the advantages of other plant based yarns.

Here are a few of them:

• Strong & Durable
  ​This fiber is seriously strong. Like stronger than steel in both tensile strength and compressive strength.
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• Mold and Mildew Resistant​
  Hemp fibers contain chemical compounds that bacteria and fungi do not like. And because it is highly porous it doesn't hold onto moisture.
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• Good Insulator​
  That highly porous characteristic also means that it does a great job of trapping air for insulation. That means it will keep you cool in warm weather and warm in cool weather. 🤯
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• Absorbent​
  Hemp basically acts like a sponge, so it pulls moisture away from the body and dries quickly.
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• It Doesn't Pill​
  Yup! It's so strong and it's not going to fray or pill due to wear and tear. In fact it will only get softer with time!

What are the dis-advantages of hemp yarn?

Hemp is good at a lot of things, but its not perfect.

Here are a few drawbacks of hemp:

• Inelastic​
  Strength comes with some side effects. Hemp doesn't like to move, so it doesn't stretch much at all.
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• Rough​
  Yes hemp will get soft the more its used, but it doesn't start out that way. 100% hemp yarns can be a pain in the butt (and the hands) to work with.
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• It Splits A Lot​
  Hemp yarns tend to be a little "stringy" and are prone to splitting.

What projects are best for hemp yarn?

Hemp is GREAT for home goods like rugs, placemats, market bags, and dishcloths.

However it can also be a nice option for lace tops or shawl coverings for warm weather.

😍 Hemp Yarns We Love

Here’s some of our favorite hemp based yarns you might want to check out:

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Just Hemp by Lion Brand Yarn - Get It Here​

Details - Bulky Weight (CYC #5) | 100% Hemp (93yds / 100g)

Just Hemp fits all temps! This yarn is 100% hemp, which feels cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Like linen and other plant fibers, hemp works up into a durable fabric with wonderful drape.

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Meraki by Berroco Yarn - Get It Here​

Details - DK Weight (CYC #3) | 71% Cotton 24% Hemp 5% Polyester (131yds / 50g)

A soft yarn made of a thick and thin textured hemp and cotton blend. The yarn has a lovely pebbly texture with a subtle color effect that creates a beautiful stonewash effect. Its light hand and soft drape make it perfect for easy breezy summer projects.

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Hempster by Patons - Get It Here​

Details - DK weight (CYC #3) | 45% Cotton, 55% Hemp (190yds / 100g)​

This hidden gem of a yarn may be discontinued, but you can still find plenty of it on Amazon. Hempster yarn is light, all natural, and creates amazing stitch definition. It’s a DK weight, which keeps it from being too thick and stiff, while being heavy enough for everyday projects. With Hempster, you get a matte, linen-y, slightly slubby, and gorgeous yarn.

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Hemp cord by Hemptique - Get It Here​

Details - 100% Hemp​

If you want to use hemp for more "crafty" things that aren't knit, this cord is great for macrame, string art, and jewelry making

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So there you have it. A quick overview of hemp yarn.

What do you think? Will you be trying out hemp soon?

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📆 Daily Stitch

Bird's Eye Lace Stitch

Have you heard the word about the bird?

I thought everybody's heard about the bird...

Well this stitch consistent of net made up of little holes.

Like bird's eyes. Little and round. Get it?!

Who comes up with these names?! 🤪

Learn this Stitch

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🧶 Pattern Pick

A Bag for All Reasons by Uma Padu

Hemp is great for projects that need to be nice and sturdy.

Knit bags tend to be very stretchy, but you can make this market bag a lot stronger with nice hemp yarn.

Then it'll be perfect to carry to the grocery store, beach, or your next project.

Get This Pattern

😂 Knits & Giggles

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Thanks for reading!

Before you go...below you'll find a few ways we can work together, and other bits & bobs: