Sustainable Crochet: Sustainable Ways to Keep Your Hobby Green 

As crochet and other fiber arts continue to become popular, there are many ways you can go about being more sustainable with your hobby. We live in a world where everyone is glued to their screens. So it only makes sense that we all want to take our time and crochet something amazing to escape. From one ball of yarn to a gorgeous piece you can wear. Or all those little stitches coming together to make that perfect blanket or maybe even just something that will look great around your house. It feels so good to know you created it yourself.

While the crafting community is growing worldwide, we are also learning about the impact it has on our planet. Just because something is handmade doesn’t automatically make it sustainable or better for the environment. In fact, the textile industry (yes, even including specialty yarns designed for hand-crafters) can have some serious negative environmental impacts. Petroleum-based synthetic yarns shed harmful microplastics into our fragile ocean ecosystems when washed, while conventional cotton and animal fiber production can deplete topsoil and poison local watersheds with chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

But you don’t have to quit crochet to make eco-friendly changes! By learning where our materials come from, changing studio habits, and properly caring for our finished pieces, you can keep crafting and feel good about it too.

Understanding the Impact of Materials 

Before we can change the way we craft, we have to understand where our materials come from. Every single skein of yarn has a long life before it lands in our hands—from brand sourcing and material production all the way down to raw agricultural or chemical beginnings.

Synthetic Fibers and Microplastics 

Synthetic yarns like acrylic, nylon, polyester, and faux fur are popular for a reason. They’re cheap, come in every color of the rainbow, and can be machine-washed without fear of damage or distortion. But just because these plastics are softer to the touch doesn’t mean they’re friendly to our earth. Synthetic fibers are derived from non-renewable oil by-products and require vast amounts of energy and processing chemicals to produce. Yarns made from synthetic materials will not biodegrade either, meaning your old acrylic socks could still be sitting in a landfill hundreds of years from now.

They can also harm our ecosystem while you’re using them too! Every time you wash an acrylic sweater or blanket, tiny pieces of plastic known as microplastics break off and make their way through your sewage filtration system and right into the nearest river, stream, lake, or ocean. Once in our water systems, microplastics absorb toxic chemicals and are consumed by marine animals, introducing plastics into our food chain.

Environmental Cost of Traditional Natural Fibers 

Just because a fiber is natural doesn’t always make it sustainable. Keep these points in mind when you’re looking at conventionally sourced wool or plant-based fibers:

Conventionally Grown Cotton 

Also known as “the thirstiest crop,” conventional cotton can take upwards of 7,000 liters of water to grow one kilogram of cotton fiber. Conventional cotton is also grown using synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers that strip the soil of nutrients and pollute nearby watersheds.

Conventionally Raised Animal Fibers: 

Wool, alpaca, and mohair yarns are all natural protein fibers that grow on renewable sources— animals! However, mass livestock production can lead to over-grazing, erosion, and land degradation without proper land management. In addition, the hot-water “scouring” and heavy-duty chemical dyeing of raw animal fleeces can lead to toxic wastewater by-products if not treated properly.

Seeking out Yarn Alternatives 

Once you’ve had a chance to assess your current yarn stash, you can begin sourcing more eco-friendly alternatives next time you’re on the market for a new project. Yarn companies have started listening to eco-conscious crafters! There are now high-quality sustainable options for every type of project.

Organic Cotton 

Organic Cotton is made from seeds that are non-GMO and uses all-natural ways to finish. No synthetic pesticides, insecticides, or fertilizers. By using natural ways to grow organic cotton, it allows the soil to thrive. Soil will hold water better, create more life, and grow soft, breathable cotton that is 100% biodegradable. It’s hypoallergenic and has medium to high durability. Good for lightweight summer tops, baby’s, washcloths, dishcloths, dish cloths, and tote bags.

Hemp & Linen (Flax) 

Both hemp and flax are extremely eco-friendly plant-based fabrics. Hemp is the fiber derived from industrial hemp plants, while linen is made from the flax plant. They require far less water than cotton and grow thick and strong with no fertilizer or pesticide. Hemp and flax also have a process known as phytoremediation, which improves the soil they’re grown in by flushing out toxins and leaving the land more fertile for future growth. Hemp yarn has a tendency to feel stiff and crisp when crocheting, but softens with each wash and wear. Its tensile strength is unmatched, making it perfect for durable tote straps, market bags, placemats, rugs, and home décor.

Responsibly Sourced Wool 

Wool is without a doubt one of the most impressive fibers nature has to offer. Wool fiber is flame-retardant, hydrophobic (“water hates it”), moisture-wicking, thermoregulating, and fully biodegradable. When you’re shopping for sustainable wool, look for transparency in how and where the wool was sourced. Certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard ensure animals are treated humanely, the land is managed with soil-building, regenerative practices, and factories have procedures in place to reduce processing waste. Responsibly sourced wool is warm, elastic, and durable. Use it for cozy sweaters, winter cardigans, hats, and scarves you can pass down for generations.

 Recycled & Upcycled Yarns  

One of the best ways to live sustainably is to use what you already have. Many mills are now taking post-consumer plastic bottles or even cotton factory offcuts to create soft, breathable yarns that would otherwise take centuries to break down in a landfill. Another yarn alternative is to look for thrifted clothing made from cotton you can cut into “t-shirt yarn.” This sturdy yarn is thick, works up quickly, and is great for basketweave stitches. You can also visit your local thrift store to find a previously loved wool sweater to unravel and knit with your new supply of one-of-a-kind rustic yarn!

Mindful Practices for a Sustainable Studio 

Sustainability isn’t just about buying “green” yarn. How you approach your crafting habits and techniques plays a huge role in living an environmentally friendly crafting lifestyle. Simple changes in your studio will save you money and help you think more creatively about each project.

Dig Through Your Stash:  Before you go yarn shopping for your next project, take inventory of what you have! Can you substitute a similar yarn you already own? Can you combine several partial skeins you’ve been saving for years to create a speckled sweater or striped blanket? Can you double up lighter-weight yarn to satisfy a heavier gauge? “Stashing” not only prevents the demand for new production, but it also helps you use up old yarn you forgot you had.

Be Mindful of Tool Consumption:  Grabbing inexpensive plastic hooks can add up over time. Next time your hook breaks or you need a new size, look for sustainable wood alternatives made from FSC-certified forests or bamboo. Not only are bamboo hooks lightweight and biodegradable, but many companies are now offering handcrafted hooks made by local artisans. Yarn needles, tape measures, stitch markers, and storage crocks can often be found secondhand as well!

Learn How to “Frog” Properly:  Did you know that it’s impossible to ruin yarn? When you crochet (or knit), you create a series of interconnected loops that can be easily undone. If you made something that doesn’t fit you (or you) anymore, take a deep breath and carefully rip it back into the yarn ball. From there, you can wash the material (more on that below!) and start from scratch with zero waste. 

Reduce Fiber Waste:  Small pieces of yarn too short to save can add up over time. Next time you’re finishing a project, save the bits and bobs in a jar. These can be used for eco-friendly stuffing for amigurumi toys later on. Undyed natural fibers can go into your compost pile at home, and if you have scraps of natural wool that are less than two inches long, consider saving them outside in the spring for birds to use in nesting materials.

Taking Care of Our Finished Pieces 

Taking care of our finished pieces is just as important as being mindful of how we source our materials. How you wash and store your handmade items can greatly impact how long they last.

• Air It Out: Homemade clothing, like wool sweaters and hats, can be worn multiple times before washing. Merino wool has anti-odor and anti-stain properties, hanging your sweater outside may suffice. Spot cleaning with gentle soap can be used for stains rather than laundering the whole sweater.
• Handwashing Is Best: Whether you need to deep clean a wool sweater or brighten up a bouquet of cut flowers, cold water and a mild soap can clean just about anything. Opt for a phosphate-free wool wash or gentle laundry detergent. Don’t use bleach or fabric softener on natural fibers.
• Stop Microplastics in Their Tracks:  If you do have items made from synthetic fibers that need washing, try washing them inside a microfiber catching washbag. You can also buy special filters that attach to your machine and catch microfibers before they go down the drain.
• Lay Flat to Dry:  Heavy hooked items like winter scarves, blankets, or knit sweaters should never be hung on a drying rack to dry. Gravity will stretch out your stitches over time, leaving you with a misshapen project. Lay dry items flat on their sides to maintain shape.
• Make Your Mistakes Beautiful:  Fixing holes, tears, and snags with visible mends is a great way to reuse old clothes and add personality to your stitches. Rather than throwing that sweater with a loose thread out, learn how to embroider cool designs or take your stitch game to the next level with creative crochet hook choices!

Inspiring Others to Craft Sustainably 

Every time I take my yellow-label Patagonia fleece jacket to the thrift store, buy locally-made wood crochet hooks, or pull an old wool sweater to unravel, I’m putting my values into action. Living sustainably isn’t a race or an all-at-once lifestyle change. It’s about making better choices when we can.

I’ll never tell you to get rid of all your acrylic yarn, because that’s just asking for more waste. But hopefully next time you’re winding down that brand-new skein of cotton yarn, you’ll pause and consider just how far that yarn has come to get to your crochet hook. Together we can choose organic fibers, save money by “frogging” old projects, and care for our belongings longer. When we care for our materials, value the time it takes to make something by hand, and take pride in caring for our finished pieces, we can continue our craft and feel good about it too!

For more information on ethical crochet, the fast fashion versus slow fashion effects on the environment, check out my new book, Stash with Purpose: The Art of Ethical Crocheting on my Amazon Author Page. If you want to read it for free, join my post release review team. We are sending the link out on October 11th, so join the team now.