Ecological Wool

After last week's post about the 'bling-ful' Feza novelty yarns, this week's post is all natural. One of my favorite yarns is Cascade Yarn's Ecological Wool. Although Asheville Homecrafts carries a few of the dyed shades, right now the natural colors are very well stocked. In creamy ivory, several different browns, many shades of grey and combinations, they are in the colors of real sheep. The hanks are huge - 478 yards and 250 grams (almost 9 ounces). If you are making a sweater, that is way fewer ends to weave in than your average 100 yard skein!

The shop has 2 sample sweaters for you to see, touch, maybe even knit for yourself. The top photo (courtesy of Cascade yarns - my own photo isn't quite this nice!) - is a lovely pullover that transitions from one color to the next. Knit in the round, it's a good introduction to 2-color knitting as you work the transition rows. The other sample sweater is a basic raglan pullover - a perfect first sweater for the new knitter ready to move on to a more involved - but not difficult - project. Both patterns are available free when you buy the yarn - Just ask!

The lower photo is not a store sample but was made by a local knitter. It's a variation of Jared Flood's Cobblestone that was knitted in color 8087 - a rich chocolate brown. Also a raglan construction, it was knit with size 9 needles and took about only about 2 1/2 skeins. Because of the large gauge and pleasant hand of Eco Wool, it was a relatively quick knit. Now this yarn isn't baby-soft. It's a bit rugged, but that is one of its charms.

Note that the sweater wasn't quite finished when this photo was taken. The intrepid knitter reworked the neckline to make it fit more closely - more 'manly.' Once finished, this pullover was worn a good bit last winter, when wool sweaters were all the rage in our chilly mountain climate.

Knitters review took a look at Eco Wool a while back - check out what Clara had to say. Of course Ecological Wool is just one of the many yarns to choose from. There are so many others that it boggles the mind. But for a good, basic, natural, economical yarn, this may just get your vote.