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http://www.bbcgreen.com/Lifestyle-Family/Fashion/knitting?CMP=KAC-STK Stitch up
Marissa-Catherine Carrarini Wool: Knitting and the environment When it comes to being a trendy green, making your own knits is just as cool as owning a pair of Stella McCartney pumps Once the preserve of grannies in rocking chairs, the humble art of knitting is experiencing something of a renaissance in the UK.
From celebrities to city workers, balls of wool are back in fashion and making an appearance everywhere from the pub to the cinema. The ethical bit According to Rachael Matthews, founder of London knitting circle, Cast Off, and co-owner of eco wool shop Prick Your Finger, our return to knitting is as much to do with ethics as thrift. “Knitting used to be a financial necessity but it is important for different reasons now. It is much more to do with social and environmental awareness.
” For many consumers, the make-up of a typical high street jumper – its CO2 emissions, conditions for factory workers and cotton farmers – is cause enough to seek alternatives. Knitting is an immediate DIY route to a fairer, more sustainable wardrobe. And you can enhance your ethical credentials even further by opting for organic, local, fair trade or even recycled yarn.
Healthy balance But it’s not all about principles. “Knitting is very therapeutic,” says Matthews. “It is a repetitive hobby and that can be really calming.” Knitting advocates have claimed it can help with stress and anxiety by slowing down your pulse rate. No wonder it has been touted as the new yoga. Then there’s the financial benefit – knitting can be very healthy for your wallet, with a new jumper costing as little as £12 to make.
There’s also the thrill of creating something unique, says Amanda Firestone from the Brighton Stitch n’ Bitch group. “I'm nearly finished with my very first cardigan –it's taken me a long time but it has just been an amazing experience." Beyond fashion Too scared, or impatient, to knit a whole jumper? Quirky hot water bottle covers, cushion covers, mobile phone wallets, bags, bookmarks, curtains, cakes and children’s toys are just a few of the non-fashion items you can create from a ball of wool. “I even knitted a window with a landscape once,” says Matthews. “I chose yarn the same way you choose paint – I used linen to knit a rock so it looked cold and wet.” Knitting isn’t just about new clothes, it is also good way to fix up old favourites.
Why not reduce the charity shop (or rubbish) bag by adding accessories to your clothes? Give your clothes a makeover with old buttons, laces, patterns, or whatever you find lying around. Alternatively, you could unthread a jumper and use the wool for something else. As a broader eco statement, knitting is also a good way to stick to the mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle. Charity shops are great for finding unused wool at bargain prices, while specialist wool shops, such as Eco Annie (Annie Sherburne), sell cast-offs, organic, local and eco dyed yarns.
Social circles Thanks to its rising popularity, knitting doesn’t have to be a solitary pleasure. These days, you’re likely to find grannies happily chatting to students and city workers learning new tricks from housewives. Most knitting groups sit in pubs or cafes, but at Knit-Chicks in London’s Ritzy cinema you can knit while watching the latest romance or thriller.
Amanda Firestone from the Brighton Stitch n’ Bitch knitting group is 25 and loves the social side of knitting, as well as the environmental benefit. “Our group is really lively – we're all very friendly and happy to offer advice or aid where we can. And because we're all different ages and skill levels there's a lot to talk about and plenty to learn”.