Recycled yarn offers many environmental and economic advantages

Recycled yarn offers many environmental and economic advantages; foremost among them being that it keeps waste out of landfills and oceans while simultaneously conserving water, energy, and raw materials that would have otherwise been required to create new yarn products.

Recycling yarn production is more sustainable than conventional cotton production - eliminating irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides; decreasing land used for growing cotton; saving energy by not steaming, boiling, and dying the yarn; as well as saving time through less energy consumption during the manufacturing process.

Recycled yarns can be created from various materials. Most commonly, fiber-based recycled yarns are created from pre-consumer textile scraps - for instance, residual cotton fibers from denim jeans production can be spun and plied into cotton-based yarn. Depending on its source material, recycled yarns may feature various characteristics and properties but most are strong and long-lasting.

Fabric-based recycled yarns are created using fabric remnants reclaimed from charity/thrift stores; for instance, old T-shirts donated can be cut up into strips and woven together into yarn, although this method may prove more difficult when knitting projects such as rugs and bath mats.

Both recycled yarn types can be found widely available, in an assortment of colors and weights. Those containing recycled content tend to cost more than those without any recycled component; secondhand yarn offers an ideal way to get started with recycled yarns; it can be found anywhere from thrift stores to auction sites and can often provide great opportunities to experiment with various recycled yarn types.

Recycled yarn from manufacturers who incorporate recycled content is another option, often labeled to indicate this fact. Recycled yarn tends to be more consistent in color, texture, and strength than secondhand options while still having the advantage of coming directly from its source.

Before purchasing recycled yarn, you must perform thorough research and swatch. No matter if it is fabric- or fiber-based recycled yarns, determining your correct gauge before knitting projects that rely on accurate gauge for fit and size is crucial. You can do this by knitting a sample swatch in your intended pattern and then weighing it (a kitchen scale will come in handy here). Once you know how much yarn is in one skein divide that number by its yardage to figure out how many more you need for completion of your project.