Amia Yarn is a new yarn company dedicated to locally-sourced and -spun yarn. Their current offerings are heavy on the alpaca and llama, although they may add more fibers later.
“Local” yarns like Amia and Beaverslide are becoming a hot item. Most knitters and crocheters don’t realize that the carbon footprint for a skein of yarn can be rather staggering. A typical yarn may begin as a fleece shorn from a sheep in Australia, shipped to a mill in Peru, dyed at a factory in the United States, then shipped in its final form to your local yarn store.
Aside from all that travel, local yarns are often produced with sustainability, humane practices, and organic methods in mind. Beaverslide raises their own sheep and offers 100% organic yarn in addition to their regular fare. Green Mountain Spinnery yarns are spun from 100% New England yarn sourced from local farmers, and spins it in their own mill in Vermont without the addition of harsh chemicals.
If you need any further incentive, Amia is offering 15% off orders over $50 through August 31st, 2008.
