Alt Fiber: 25 Projects for Knitting Green with Bamboo, Soy, Hemp, and More

by Shannon Okey, Sasha Gulish (Photographs)

Like any modern, responsible citizen or fervent DIYer, you’ve probably been using salvaged materials for years. But did you know that the fastest growing trend in knitting and crochet takes reduce-reuse-recycle to a whole new level? In Alt Fiber , popular craft author, teacher, and blogger Shannon Okey presents more than twenty-five patterns for jackets, skirts, sweaters, wraps, socks, bags, and more using nonallergenic plant fibers. And these aren’t just any fibers . . . from the seaweed-derived Seacell yarn, which transmits vitamins and nutrients to your skin when you wear it, to soy-based yarns made from tofu manufacturing waste, alternative fibers are good for the environment, easy to care for, and more available than ever.

Since these fibers don’t work up or drape like wool or cotton yarns, Shannon channels her enthusiasm and expertise into teaching crafters of all skill levels about the properties of alt fibers, how to incorporate them into existing patterns, and even how to hand-dye them. And with contemporary designs contributed by Knit Brit’s Andi Smith, Acme Knitting Company’s Jillian Moreno, Julie Armstrong Holetz, Sivia Harding, Laura Chau, Kate Jackson, Keri Williams, and other up-and-coming designers, Alt Fiber is a must-have addition to overstuffed stash bags everywhere. Whether you make a pine wrap, a bamboo coat, a kenaf bag, or a corn T-shirt, knitting green has never been so easy.

Genres: Knitting, Nonfiction, Crafts

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Shannon lives in Cleveland, Ohio with her husband, comic book artist Tamas Jakab and their furry "children," a dachshund and 2 cats who have made several appearances in her books.

Shannon runs her own publishing company called Cooperative Press, which publishes both books and Knit Edge magazine. She writes...a lot.

Reviews

[Rachael Lauritzen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice intro to eco-friendly, plant-based fibers. Lots of fun patterns. I only wish that some of the yarns she mentions were still in production.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book features patterns from alternative plant-fiber yarns. Going beyond cotton, Okey presents abaca (Manila hemp, a banana species), agave, bamboo, banana, cattail, corn fiber, fique (pineapple family), hemp, kapok, kenaf (hibiscus family), linen, lyocell (wood-pulp), milk fiber, milkweed, nettle, pineapple, ramie, SeaCell, sisal, and soy. She also includes silk since it is often blended with alternative fibers. There is a resource section to help locate the more unusual yarns.

As for the patterns themselves, my main critique is that more general overview photos are needed for a number of the patterns. Many more photos would help to get a full grasp on what the garment shape is, or how the colorwork pattern plays out. When the photos seem incomplete, it makes me wonder if there is a design problem.

Several cute patterns do include: Sea Creature Möbius Necklet made from Tilli Tomas Soie de la Mer (70% silk, 30% seaweed); the Phoenix Quick Wrap made from South West Trading Co Phoenix SoySilk; and the Summer Pine Shawl, crocheted from Habu Textiles 100% pine ribbon.

[Robert Beveridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shannon Okey, Alt Fiber: 25+ Projects for Knitting Green with Bamboo, Soy, Hemp, and More (Ten Speed Press, 2008)

Quick survey of different, increasingly-available fibers that one wouldn't immediately think of using for knitting (some mentioned in the subtitle as well as a number of others; I find myself most intrigued by corn fiber), with a number of projects to showcase the properties of each. The first part of that sentence is the book's weakness; I thought the initial survey was shorter than it should have been. I'm assuming it was edited down for space constraints. Wish they'd have just added another sixteen pages and let Okey get into more detail on the fibers. The projects, as always, are interesting, but it seems to me the survey is the real draw here, and should have gotten equal face time. Still, some fun things to do here. *** ½

[Jaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this look at the different fibres. As someone who is investigating knitting with Banana this was the first book to mention it. Loved it enough to purchase it. Will look forward to exploring this great fibre stories in the years to come!

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy projects for the beginner knitter

[Kristine]

a good book. no pattern screamed out at me to make it, but there were a lot of nice things that I think I could go back and look again.

[Mckinley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Plant-based fibers (! - certainly she means more than non-acrylic)). Needs better photos.

[Emmalee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book for people allergic to wool.